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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 16, 2020 0:41:43 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 7:12, 15 December 2020
www.wonderful1.comTuesday, 15 December 2020 saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 7:12 Scholarly note: All seven descriptors of this verse are prefixed by the definite article and should be translated that way – “saying, ‘Amen! the blessing, and the glory, and the wisdom, and the thanksgiving, and the honour, and the power, and the strength, are to our God -- to the ages of the ages! Amen!’” YLT What we have in this verse are the words of those around the throne as they proclaim words of praise and worship to the One on the throne, “saying: ‘Amen!’” It means something like “verily,” “truly,” or “so let it be!” The heavenly congregation is singing out a doxology of praise, and what they have to proclaim is a surety. Beginning with “Amen” indicates the strongest affirmation that can be made. The honors are great, and they are directed to the Lamb that was slain, but who lives forevermore. Being prefixed by the definite articles implies the completeness and the totality of what each word signifies. They are the highest and most perfect forms of each pronouncement. The words are – “Blessing.” Rather, it says, “the blessing.” In Greek, it is the word eulogia. It signifies adulation, praise, blessing, and so forth. It is a word of commendation. Being prefixed by the article, it is the highest and most concrete form of adulation that can be pronounced. Next, we read, “and glory.” Rather, it is “and the glory.” The Greek word is doxa. Strong’s defines it as “honor, renown; glory, an especially divine quality, the unspoken manifestation of God, splendor.” Being prefixed by the article, it is thus conveying the infinite worth of the One seated before them. They then call out, “and wisdom.” Rather, it is “and the wisdom.” The Greek word is sophia. It signifies skill, insight, intelligence, and the like. One can see the root of both the words sophistication and philosophy. The word itself comes from sophos, meaning wise, learned, clever, or skilled. An earlier root is the word saphēs, signifying “clear.” The right application of knowledge is worked out in wisdom. One can have knowledge and not be wise. But “the wisdom” belongs to the Giver of knowledge, and everything He does indicates clarity of thought, skill, and application of that which is of the first importance. Solomon calls wisdom “the principal thing” in the proverbs. Being prefixed by the article, the heavenly choir is saying that the embodiment of this “principle thing” sits before them on the throne. Next, it reads, “Thanksgiving.” Rather, it says, “and the Thanksgiving.” The Greek reads, eucharistia. One can see in it the root of “eucharist.” This word signifies gratitude and the giving of thanks. As it is prefixed by the article, it is saying that the very Source of all that is worthy of thanks and gratitude belongs to the Lord God. He is the Source of all things. Therefore, all that is praiseworthy ultimately originated in Him. From there, they call out, “and honor.” Rather, it is “and the honor.” It is the Greek word timé. It signifies a priced value or worth. The question is, “What is the value of the One being praised?” The answer is hē time, or “the price.” In other words, He is the One of infinite value. Nothing can price Him, and therefore, He is the Value of values. He is the One beyond possible evaluation of value and so we can only say “the price.” It next reads, “and power.” Rather, it reads, “and the power.” It is the Greek word dunamis. It is a vibrant word signifying “ability to perform.” It can signify deeds, energy, efficacy, and so on. Being prefixed by the article, it signifies that He is the epitome of all such things. There is no lack in His ability to perform, and He is the Source of all energy and power. They then call out, “and might.” Rather, it reads, “and the might.” The Greek word is ischus. It implies force, ability, strength (absolutely). It is therefore the might to overcome resistance. As it is prefixed by the article, it signifies that the Lamb is the One who has absolute ability to overcome that which must be overcome to serve whatever purpose is needed. In His case, He is the definition of that ability, as is evidenced in His overcoming death and the grave. These magnificent qualities are then said to be “to our God.” As it is the Lamb who is on the throne (verse 7:9), then it is an explicit reference to the deity of Jesus Christ. Only a heretic, and the world is full of heretics, can deny that this is the intent of the words. Jesus Christ is fully God, and He is fully man. And He is so “forever and ever.” The Greek reads, “to the ages of the ages.” It is a superlative way of multiplying the thought, just as in the English “forever and ever.” It will never end, it will continue on unabated, and the qualities are the property of Him in this eternal stream of existence. The words then finish with the word they began with – “Amen.” So it is, and so it shall be. Life application: In this great heavenly scene, in verse 7:10, the redeemed (the great white multitude, and certainly inclusive of the twenty-four elders) cried out “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Now, and only now, the angels join in the exultation of God. The angels could not join in the previous doxology because angels cannot be redeemed; only humans have that privilege and grace bestowed upon them. But together with the redeemed of the world, the angels can rejoice, just as they have since the beginning. As Jesus said – “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10 Because angels can rejoice in the salvation of humans, they join the heavenly cry, which is stated in their highest form, as revealed in the definite articles which precede each honorific. Created beings can give blessing, but this is only based against an ultimate standard of blessing – “the blessing.” We can bestow power (such as on an elected official), but this is being gauged against the ultimate power. Such is the nature of Christ our God. He embodies the fullest expression of the things we can only partially understand or convey. He is the richest and most complete expression of every good and perfect thing, and to Him alone belongs acknowledgment of this. Let us never fail to return to Him the fullest praise He is due. He is worthy of it. He is JESUS. Great and awesome and powerful God – You alone are worthy of our highest praise and honor. Forgive us when we fail to give it to You, and help us never to exalt a part of Your creation above You. All things are from You, and therefore, to You alone belongs the deepest stirring of our souls, expressed in worship and praise. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 17, 2020 1:42:53 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 7:13, 16 December 2020
www.wonderful1.comWednesday, 16 December 2020 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” Revelation 7:13 John’s eyes have seen and his ears have heard the resounding doxology of praise to God from the great multitude standing before the throne. But John is not understanding the meaning of it all. This is apparent, and so verse 13 begins with, “Then one of the elders answered.” In common usage, the word “answer” signifies to reply to the submission (be it a question, interjection, and so on) of another. However, to answer in the Bible – at times – is a form of speaking that presupposes a question in the mind of another, even if no question has been asked. Thus, there is the taking up of a conversation, answering, without being specifically asked about a matter first. One example of this is found in John 12 – -------------------------------- 27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.” 29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” 30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die. John 12:27-33 -------------------------------- Jesus knew the people were pondering where the voice came from, and without being asked directly about it, He initiated a response to answer the question He knew existed in their minds or between themselves. This is the case now in Revelation. The elder knows John wants to ask what is going on and where all these people came from. In order to preempt him, the elder answers. As John says, “saying to me.” This identifies John specifically as the focus of the narrative. In other words, the heavenly vision has been given specifically for John to record. But he cannot properly record that which he does not fully understand in order to make it meaningful to those who will later read it. Previously, several options of who these twenty-four elders are were given. One was that they were the twelve Patriarchs from the Old Testament and the twelve Apostles from the New. If this is correct, and it is mere speculation, then which of them has come before John to answer him? The question cannot be definitively answered, but if it were one of the twelve apostles, which would it be, and wouldn’t John recognize him? If the elders represent the Patriarchs and Apostles, then there is a 50/50 chance that John already knew the elder. For all we know, it could be a vision of John (of the future) answering his own question that he knew perplexed him when he was given the vision while at Patmos. That is simply a fanciful speculation, but it is one possibility. Regardless though, the question which is set before him, even though he never asked it, is “Who are these arrayed in white robes.” The order of the Greek is different. It literally reads – “These, who have been arrayed with the white robes -- who are they, and whence came they?” YLT The highlight is on the robes. It is understood already from Revelation 3:4, 5 that the white robes signify righteousness, and that from an external source – “You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy [righteousness]. 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments [externally granted], 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.” John does not understand why there is such a highlight on this particular group of saved believers, standing there before the throne. What sets them apart from others who were saved by the Lamb? John knows that this is the period of time after the church age. This was made evident previously. There is a time coming on the earth when there will be great judgment, as is testified to by the visions he has already seen. But in the midst of the scenes of these woes, there is also a place for great rejoicing in heaven. In John’s inability to understand, the elder states the question in order to offer an answer. He does this by first asking who these people in white robes are. He then asks, “and where did they come from?” John is looking, he sees these people introduced in the middle of an explanation of the terrors coming upon the world, and he is confused. “The world is being judged for rejecting God’s offer of Christ Jesus. The Lamb has sealed Jews during this period, but who are all these people, and where have they come from?” The obvious meaning is “when” are they from. It is as if John’s mind is asking, “If the world is in judgment, these must be (?) from some other time. Or am I missing something?” The answer is next to be provided. Life application: As noted above, the elder’s question implies that John should know the answer. He may have been getting him to think on the matter. John had already heard the words of Jesus in Revelation 3:5 about those who “shall be clothed in white garments.” This is a good lesson for all teachers of the Bible, and even for those who are simply sharing the gospel with others. Just because you know the answer, it doesn’t mean you should just give it out. Asking questions of those you are teaching or evangelizing will stimulate them to think for themselves. Likewise, when studying your Bible, you should ask questions of the text and pray for God to illuminate the glorious words of life to you. Who are these clothed in white? Stand by for the answer. But remember the lesson of righteousness – we overcome the world through properly directed faith in Jesus Christ. When we do, we are covered in His righteousness and will be granted eternal life. What a bargain for those who have been offenders before God, and yet who are now accepted by Him. In His grace, He sent us the remedy. In His love, He sent JESUS! Yes, Lord God! How wonderfully beautiful it is to stand in Your glorious presence and to know that we are free from the guilt of sin – not because we deserve it, but because of simple faith in the work of Jesus! We stand grateful and humbled by the wondrous workings of You in our lives. All glory, all power, all majesty, all honor – these belong to You alone! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 18, 2020 0:23:02 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 7:14, 17 December 2020
www.wonderful1.comThursday, 17 December 2020 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:14 In the previous verse, an elder is said to have asked John about the great multitude in white standing before the throne. His words were, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” With that in mind, we read John’s words, saying, “And I said to him.” The verb is present tense and should read, “And I have said to him.” We are being drawn into the narrative with the use of the present. With that understood, John continues, “Sir, you know.” The Greek reads Kyrie mou sy oidas, “My Lord, you know.” It is a respectful way of acknowledging him as an authority or superior. Further, it is a veiled way of saying, “I have no idea.” He is implicitly acknowledging that the information is surely known to the elder, but John has not been able to grasp it. This takes us back to a similar dialog from the Old Testament. When Ezekiel was taken to the Valley of Dry Bones, it reads – “And He said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ So I answered, ‘O Lord God, You know.’” Ezekiel 37:3 These questions are not to make the one being asked look uninformed or naïve about a matter. Rather, they are asked to highlight the matter to the reader of the account. It is a way of drawing those who read the words into the narrative in order to focus more precisely on what is being conveyed. Further, it then highlights the superlative nature of what is being presented. Standing in a valley full of dry bones, one would think, “There is only death and decay evidenced here.” But the question, “Can these bones live?” highlights the otherwise impossible nature of the question. The same is true here in Revelation. Asking, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” highlights the source of their position. Just like dry bones coming to life, what would otherwise be impossible is now to be presented and explained to the one viewing the scene. With that understood, we read, “So he said to me.” What John had hoped for was not to be kept from him. The answer to the question that eluded him is provided with the words, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation.” The structure of the Greek reads, “These are the (ones) coming out of the tribulation the great.” First, the Greek is a present participle. The people “are coming” and continue to come out. In this, one must remember the lesson from Revelation 1:19 which said, “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.” In short, “the things which are” was explained as the set time known as the church age. After that comes “the things which will take place after this,” meaning after the church age. That was then initiated in Revelation 4:1, saying, “After these things.” In other words, John is viewing the events of the tribulation period, and there are people “coming out” of it before his eyes. The host standing before the throne is being added to. Further, in saying, “the tribulation the great,” it is a superlative way of saying that there is a time of tribulation which exceeds other times of tribulation. It is those, during that time of great tribulation, that are coming out, and who have “washed their robes.” A clearer reading of the Greek would be, “and they did wash their robes” (YLT). It is an aorist verb. In their coming out, they have washed their robes. It is a completed action; the robes are clean. It is the same symbolism already seen in Revelation. Their robes were unclean, and they have now been purified. The sense is seen in Isaiah 1:18 – “‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ Says the LORD, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.’” The robe is the visible garment, and it thus symbolizes the state of the person. These people were impure, and now they are pure. They were deemed sinful, and now they are deemed sinless. The elder then explains how this happened with the words, “and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” It is important to notice that it is not in their shed blood that they are deemed righteous. It does not say, “they were martyred and have thus earned the right to purification.” It is certain that during this great tribulation many will be martyred, and for a host of various reasons. However, only those who have come to God through faith in Christ will stand before the throne, purified and holy. It is the blood of Christ that purifies from sin, and only that. Any other blood is either in a different category, and it cannot purify (see Hebrews 10:4), or it is already tainted with sin if it is in a human being (due to original sin), and it can only increase the impurity before God. Life application: Some believe the tribulation being mentioned encompasses the entire church age, beginning right in the first century. Various passages and statements from both Jesus and the apostles seem to indicate this. In Acts 14:22, we read this – “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Others believe that the tribulation being mentioned refers only to the second half of the tribulation period. In other words, the tribulation doesn’t turn into the “Great Tribulation” until a set point just before the opening of the seventh seal. Although the first option, the entire church age, is seemingly a possibility, it dismisses the clear timeline set by the Lord in verse 1:19 (noted above) and which is then defined in verse 4:1 (noted above). Further, it dismisses the clear distinction between “tribulation” in general and “the tribulation the great” highlighted here. The structure of the words, and the use of the two definite articles, sets this period apart from all others. Thus, this option is incorrect. Another option is that it is referring to the second half of the tribulation period. This is not clearly thought out. The reason is that if the church age ends at the rapture, and these redeemed are only from the second half of the tribulation period, then you have all the people between the rapture and this expected “Great Tribulation” period in some sort of limbo that the Bible doesn’t mention. It is not a good view. Rather, what is spoken of in Revelation (such as the four horsemen and the disaster they bring on the earth) encompasses the entire seven-year period foretold in Daniel 9:24-27. And so, verse 14 is a clear indication that this multitude encompasses the entire tribulation period. The events in this heavenly scene (which is going from category to category) are not to be taken chronologically in order to set forth a doctrine of mid-tribulation, pre-wrath, or post-tribulation rapture. Rather, what is being viewed here is an overall panorama of what occurs during the tribulation period. To attempt to shove these events into a chronological sequence in order to justify a personal opinion on the timing of the rapture is unsound, and it will lead to a convoluted hermeneutic. The sequence of the rapture is defined by Paul in his writings. We are to look for it there, and then apply that doctrine – meaning pre-tribulation – to our theology. With this understood, many people will face the hard choice of accepting Christ and being martyred, but they will prevail. Because they properly direct their faith, they will have their robes washed in the blood of the Lamb. The immense grace of God is demonstrated, even in this time of great tribulation. Faith has been, is, and always will be the way to be right with God. This is because of the nature of God, what He expects from man – meaning for us to highlight Him and what He has done, and not to exalt ourselves and what we have done – in order to be in a right standing with Him. And what God has done for the redemption of man comes down to one thing, and one thing alone – the giving of His Son to bring us back to Him. The Bible is, above all else, about JESUS! Lord Jesus, we know that there is no point in time where Your grace and mercy will fail. Instead, You remain the same yesterday, today, and forever. All You ask is that we have faith in Your work on our behalf and understand that our work is insufficient to bring us back to You. All the credit belongs to You alone. And so, all the praise – for all eternity – belongs to You alone. Praise You, O God, amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 19, 2020 0:34:52 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 7:15, 18 December 2020
www.wonderful1.comFriday, 18 December 2020 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. Revelation 7:15 The ones referred to now are those standing before the throne who have come out of the great tribulation, having washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. Understanding this, the elder speaking to John continues, saying, “Therefore they are before the throne of God.” Standing before the throne of God, then, is a result of having washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. The clear implication is that they would not be standing there otherwise. It is what Peter refers to – “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.” 1 Peter 1:17-19 Paul speaks of the same type of cleansing in Ephesians 5 as well. They were impure due to sin, but they were redeemed unto God by His grace through their faith in the work of Jesus Christ. In this capacity, the elder says they “serve Him day and night in His temple.” Here, the word latreuó is used. It signifies to serve God in worship. In the New Testament, it is always used in connection with serving a deity – be it the true God or otherwise (including the creation itself, such as in Acts 7:42 or Romans 1:25). This was the original purpose of man when he was placed in the Garden of Eden. Translations say man was placed there to “tend and keep” the garden, but that is surely not the intent. He was placed there to worship the Lord and to observe the watch of the Lord, meaning serve Him. This is now restored to these who have come out of the great tribulation. They will forever be in the presence of God, signified by the term “day and night.” It is there in His temple that this is so. The word translated as “temple” is naos. It signifies a temple, shrine, or sanctuary. In John 2:19-21, Jesus uses the term when speaking of Himself – “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ 20 Then the Jews said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?’ 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body.” This temple of God is what Paul refers to in Ephesians 2:21 – “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22 These saints have found their place of rest, and they have found their eternal abode. This is evidenced by the next words, “And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.” In this, the word skénoó is used. It signifies to dwell in a tent or a tabernacle. It is the word used when speaking of Christ’s incarnation – “And the Word became flesh, and did tabernacle among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of an only begotten of a father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (YLT) Here we have the realization of the Feast of Tabernacles from Leviticus 23 being applied to these people. The feast is fulfilled in Christ (as are all of the Feasts of the Lord), but they are applied to the believer only when the person comes to Christ. For example, Christ is the Passover Lamb of the Feast of Passover, but He is only a person’s Passover sacrifice when he comes to Christ. The same is true with the Day of Atonement. Christ is the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement, but He only becomes the atoning sacrifice for a person when His work is applied to him by faith. There are three “pilgrim” feasts in the Feasts of the Lord where all of the men of Israel were to go to worship the Lord in Jerusalem. These pilgrim feasts were given as typological representations of the believers’ inclusion in what the Lord had done. Those feasts are the Feast of Unleavened Bread (fulfilled as is recorded in 1 Corinthians 5), the Feast of Weeks (fulfilled as is recorded in Romans 16 and 1 Corinthians 16), and the Feast of Tabernacles (fulfilled as is recorded in 2 Corinthians 5:7, and elsewhere). These people, standing before the Lord, now participate in what Christ Jesus made available to all through His work. These people of God are now eternally tabernacling with Christ who is the Tabernacle of God. He is the place where God dwells and reveals Himself, ceaselessly and eternally, to His people. Life application: This great multitude has regained what was lost in Eden – direct access to God and the joy of worshipping and serving Him. Man was created outside the garden and only placed there afterwards. When he was placed in the garden, it was with the intent of eternally fellowshipping with God. That right was lost when Adam sinned, and man has been toiling the ground ever since. For those mentioned in these verses of Revelation, that toil has ended. They are in His presence and view Him directly. It is the restoration of what was lost – granted to the fallen and redeemed sons of Adam. This is the hope of the people of God and the joy which each of us should long for with every fiber of our souls. Jesus Christ came and tabernacled among us. But His glory was veiled during His earthly ministry. When we see Him in His temple, it will be with all of His unveiled glory. He will spread His glory over His people, and they will never again fear or want. This is the great hope of all believers in what God has done through Jesus Christ. What was lost is regained. What is now wrong will be made right. Exile from God’s presence is restored once again. And it is all because of our glorious Lord – our Redeemer and our Savior. It is all because of what God has done through JESUS! Lord, it is so marvelous to think on what You have done – a plan which spans time itself and which was meant to restore that which was lost so long ago. It is so beautiful to see how You have slowly and methodically revealed Yourself through the pages of the Bible and how those things are coming to a glorious fulfillment. Thank You for the story of Jesus. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 20, 2020 1:40:55 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 7:16, 19 December 2020
www.wonderful1.comSaturday, 19 December 2020 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; Revelation 7:16 The verse is much more striking in the Greek, bearing several emphatic negatives that increase in intensity as the verse progresses – “Not they will hunger anymore, neither will they thirst anymore, nor at all shall fall upon them the sun, nor any scorching heat.” The emphasis is given to show the complete contrast to their having come out of the Great Tribulation. The terrible woes they faced are behind them, because the Lord has redeemed them. As none of these negative things will ever affect them again, then the opposite can be expected (as will be seen in the coming verse). The words of this verse are based upon words found in the first half of Isaiah 49:10 – “They shall neither hunger nor thirst, Neither heat nor sun shall strike them.” The seventh chapter of Revelation corresponds to the seventh letter of the Hebrew aleph-bet. The seventh letter, zayin, pictures a mattock, and it signifies “nourish.” In this chapter are found the great multitude. Because of Christ, they shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore. They are secure in Christ for all eternity. With these things in mind, the elder speaking to John says of them, “They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore.” As noted above, the Greek is much more emphatic, saying, “Not they will hunger anymore, neither will they thirst anymore.” In the coming time of tribulation, there has already been a note of famine, as evidenced from the rider on the black horse with a pair of scales in his hand. The words uttered then were, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius.” One’s very means of existence will be measured out by weight. And that is only for those who are willing to submit to the authority that controls making purchases (the mark of the beast of Revelation 13:16, 17). For those unwilling to take the mark, there will only be deprivation and hunger. Jeremiah, in the book of Lamentations, reveals how terrible death by hunger truly is – “Those slain by the sword are better off Than those who die of hunger; For these pine away, Stricken for lack of the fruits of the field.” Lamentations 4:9 Along with the hunger is the greatest of terrors when it is faced – thirst. Of all of the agonies that Christ faced on the cross, the only one He called out for relief from was His thirst. Man was created from the dust. Only a continuous intake of water is what keeps us from returning to the dust. Without it, we will die, and the death that is faced is excruciating as the body desiccates. The pangs of hunger are surely outweighed by the terrible pangs of thirst. Despite having faced these deprivations, those standing before the throne are guaranteed eternal relief from such ever again. Never again shall hunger or thirst pursue them. Instead of selling themselves out for temporary relief, they anticipated the glory that lay ahead of them, having faith that the word of the Lord would provide them relief. Instead of following unrighteousness, ultimately leading to eternal deprivation, they hearkened to the words of Christ in the beatitudes – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6 After proclaiming these things, the elder speaking to John then says, “the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat.” Again, as noted above, the Greek is more emphatic – “nor at all shall fall upon them the sun, nor any scorching heat.” The idea of the sun falling upon someone is open exposure to the sun. Those in the tribulation who do not submit to the rule of the authorities will have no home to dwell in. There will only be exposure in the open areas – heat, anguish, and burning. The sun will be so oppressive that it is as if it is literally pressing down upon them, igniting their skin until it burns. The “scorching heat” is the Greek word kauma. It signifies a glaring, burning heat. It is only found elsewhere in Revelation 16:9. Thus, it is another clue that Revelation is not chronological in these events. Rather, they are categorical. These people in Revelation 7 are those who have come out of the great tribulation at any time during its seven-year period. This shows that evaluations anticipating a “pre-wrath,” or a “mid-tribulation, ” rapture are unsound because they rely on a chronological analysis of that which is not necessarily chronological. This wind, described here as kauma, is known as the sharav in Isaiah 49:10. That signifies a burning heat and parched ground where the air carries a quivering glow or glare. The Greek translation of Isaiah 49 uses the term, kausón – a burning heat. It used twice in the gospels and also James 1:11 – “For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.” This burning heat – described as kauma, sharav, and kausón – is the burning heat found in the Mideast that arises and scorches everything. The temperatures can rise from a favorable day to a terrifying heat in a very short amount of time, killing anything unprepared for its onslaught. Without adequate protection and sufficient water, anguish and death can be anticipated during such an event. These people, standing before the throne, have prevailed. They were willing to give up their lives in order to gain eternal life. The promises of never facing such terrors again have been given. The Lord is faithful to those who have demonstrated faith. Life application: The time of the tribulation will be agonizing even for those who can buy and sell, meaning those who have received the mark of the beast. How much more difficult for those who have chosen Christ over the devil, and who are willing to die rather than take the mark? For those who fail to call on Jesus before the rapture, there will be a chance to turn to Him during the tribulation, but it will be a terrifying time of deprivation and death. How much better to get right with the Lord now and avoid the terrible choices that must be made during those terrifying days to come! Don’t wait until the world quakes with war, famine, disaster, and calamity. Call out to God through Christ now. His plan was set in motion from the very beginning. But man’s fate was also sealed at that time as well. Without accepting what God’s plan offers, the ultimate fate will come about – separation from God for all eternity. But through hope in Messiah, God’s offer of peace to humanity, we have the assurances of eternal delight and filling in His presence. This is all because of God’s offer of pardon and reconciliation. This is all because of JESUS! Jesus, You are abundantly merciful to the fallen sons of man. How great is Your love that You will continue to stretch out Your hands to man, even during the time of tribulation that lies ahead! Your promise to those who respond to the call is beautiful – never again shall they hunger or thirst or be destroyed by the heat of the day. Praises to You for Your tender mercies. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 21, 2020 1:59:34 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 7:17, 20 December 2020
www.wonderful1.comSunday, 20 December 2020 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17 In the previous verse, the first half of Isaiah 49:10 was cited. It being where verse 7:16 was derived from. That continues now in verse 17 which finds its parallel in the second half of Isaiah 49:10 – “For He who has mercy on them will lead them, Even by the springs of water He will guide them.” Along with this, comes the fulfillment of another blessing first penned in Isaiah 25:8 – “He will swallow up death forever, And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces.” Understanding the original source of the words, and remembering that the context is speaking of the tribulation saints standing before the throne of God, the elder speaking to John continues his words, saying, “for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne.” The Lamb, as previously noted, is Christ Jesus in His sacrificial role. It is He who died the necessary substitutionary death for humanity. In His sinless perfection, He could replace Adam as their fallen head, if they simply accept what He has done by faith. These tribulation saints have done so, and they have been redeemed by Him. Further, He has not only redeemed them, but the elder says He “will shepherd them.” This is a paradoxical statement. It is lambs that need a shepherd. In fact, they are almost completely dependent on being shepherded. Without a shepherd, they are helpless to defend themselves from the many challenges that other animals can often face and prevail over. And yet, this Lamb has prevailed over all such challenges, including the greatest one of all – death. In His victory over death, He is the Lamb that is qualified to shepherd those of His own flock. So capable is He to do so, that the elder then quotes Isaiah (as noted above), and says, “and lead them to living fountains of waters.” The idea of “living waters” is that of running streams and of springs that come up from the earth, and so on. The water is fresh and cold and invigorating instead of stagnant, salty, or muddied. The symbolism is that of ever-flowing life, and thus everlasting life. This is what Jesus spoke of in John 4 – “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, “Give Me a drink,” you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.’” John 4:10 It is then added to by the Lord in John 7 – “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” John 7:37-39 It is the Spirit that gives life. These people, because of faith in the work of Jesus Christ, have received the Spirit. In them is found the true fountains of living water which is renewed life, eternal fellowship with God, and eternal joy in the presence of the Lamb. In this state, the elder finishes the verse (and the chapter) with, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” In Isaiah 25, this was attributed to the Lord God, Yehovah Elohim. Jesus is the incarnate Yehovah, and He is the Lord God. It is He who will remove all sorrow and wipe away every tear. Of these words, Albert Barnes says – “Of all the negative descriptions of heaven, there is no one perhaps that would be better adapted to produce consolation than this. This is a world of weeping - a vale of tears. Philosophers have sought a brief definition of man, and have sought in vain. Would there be any better description of him, as representing the reality of his condition here, than to say that he is one who weeps? Who is there of the human family that has not shed a tear? Who that has not wept over the grave of a friend; over his own losses and cares; over his disappointments; over the treatment he has received from others; over his sins; over the follies, vices, and woes of his fellow-men?” Man walks through this veil of tears, but God offers us to be delivered to a canopy of joy. It is accessible to any and to all who will simply accept what He has done through the giving of His Son. Life application: The shepherd symbolism was anticipated by David in the 23rd Psalm, and it was claimed by Jesus in John chapter 10 when He said, “I am the good Shepherd.” Likewise, the living waters also are fulfilled in the Person of Jesus as noted above. Because of Jesus, we will go out and find good and safe pasture in a land of plenty. The green grass will be vibrant from the abundant waters they receive. In that day, we will be comforted by the pure and perfect love of God, and He will wipe away every tear from our eyes. These promises come to us, not because we deserve these things, but because God is gracious and merciful to those who accept the finished work of Jesus Christ, trusting not in their own deeds, but in His work alone. Be sure to not fail the test. The answer to our dilemma, and to being accepted into God’s paradise, is to receive what He has done through JESUS! O God, how great You are! Who could ever imagine the wondrous promises of Your word while living in this fallen world? We have fears, we have hunger and thirst, and we have pains and sorrows. But You have promised that this order of things will someday be replaced with complete and perfect joy! Thank You for the surety we have of that coming day. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 22, 2020 2:30:55 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 8:1, 21 December 2020
www.wonderful1.comMonday, 21 December 2020 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Revelation 8:1 With the sealing of the one hundred and forty-four thousand and then the heavenly scene of the great white multitude of Chapter 7 complete, Chapter 8 will go from the heavenly realm back to the earth as the seven trumpet judgments follow from the opening of the seventh seal. But the opening of that seal comes first. And so, John begins with, “When He opened the seventh seal.” This takes the reader back to Chapter 5 where it was noted that the Lamb was found worthy to take the scroll, open its seals, and loose the judgments contained therein. Chapter 6 showed the opening of the first six seals. That was followed with the redirect to the heavenly scene noted above. Now, with the Lamb’s opening of the seventh seal, John says, “there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” The verb translated as “was” signifies “came to pass,” or “began to be.” It is the opening of the seal that brought it about. The sequence of events from the previous opening of a seal shows what is probably the intent. As noted, at the end of Chapter 6 came the opening of the sixth seal. Chapter 7 then diverted to the heavenly scene which began with the angels holding back the winds of destruction. This pause of silence is the result of the opening of the seventh seal and appears to correspond to the holding back of the winds. In other words, the pause is reflective of the sealing of the one hundred and forty-four thousand. The events are not chronological, but categorical. An example of this is that the book of Ruth follows the book of Judges, but its events occur during the time of the Judges. Thus, the main events of Judges are laid out, and then the information of Ruth (that occurred during Judges) is filled in afterwards. Likewise, the event of the sealing is laid out (with its corresponding withholding of the four winds), and then noting the silence in heaven (that corresponds to the withholding of the four winds) is filled in afterwards. The opening of the seventh seal, then, may actually precede the sealing seen in Chapter 7. The word translated as “about a half an hour” is found only this once in the New Testament. It is a specific division representing a short period of time. One may equate it then to the calm before a storm. Something is coming and everything falls silent in anticipation of it. Because the tribulation period is centered on the people and the land of Israel (the church has already been raptured), we can see a prophetic parallel from the book of Zechariah – “And the LORD will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!” Zechariah 2:12, 13 The sealing of those called out from the tribes of Israel separately from the great multitude in Chapter 7 indicates this. However, they are not all that are saved in the tribulation. That is why the great multitude is also mentioned in that heavenly scene. This silence precedes the next major set of events, that of the trumpet judgments. Before they are sounded, however, there will be the offering of incense. As seen already, and as will be seen, incense represents prayers. At the opening of the fifth seal, the martyrs cried out for the avenging of their blood. They are obviously saved believers, and they then correspond to those in the great multitude of Chapter 7. Therefore, the silence now recorded is connected to that. Again, taking these events as purely chronological is not a sound way of viewing what is going on. The Bible is giving a sequence of events, but it is one that spans the tribulation period. Concepts that are explained in short verses and paragraphs are revealing spiritual truths in a categorical manner. Life application: Most of the earth is coming against the nation of Israel and against the purposes of God. The land of Israel, and specifically Jerusalem, is where Jesus is returning to. When He does, He will establish His kingdom and rule from there. Before this occurs, the world is destined to face great trouble – all for having rejected His offer of peace which is found in Jesus Christ. During that time, there will be many who will be saved, but most of them will die for their faith in Christ. Very few will enter the millennium without having been martyred. How much better to get right with God now by calling out to Him through His Son. He is the offer of peace that will keep you from the horrors that are prophesied to come. He is JESUS! Thank You Lord for allowing us to see the great and awesome scene portrayed in the book of Revelation. Surely, it will take place at some point in the future. You have given us the information to know what is coming so that we can choose to make the right decisions now. May many humble their hearts and be receptive to the message before it is too late. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 23, 2020 1:43:40 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 8:2, 22 December 2020
www.wonderful1.comTuesday, 22 December 2020 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. Revelation 8:2 This verse introduces the next heavenly vision. It cannot be assumed, nor is it likely, that the vision of the trumpets is a result of the opening of the seventh seal mentioned in verse 8:1. Rather, what occurred after that was described in verse 7:17. Concerning the sounding of the trumpets which are to be described in the verses ahead, some insights should be considered now. Charles Ellicott notes the following – “The series of visions which is now introduced extend to the close of the eleventh chapter. There are some features which may be noticed here. There is a marked correspondence of arrangement between these and the visions of the seals. As there, so here, there are introduced two subordinate visions towards the end of the series. The sixth seal was followed by the vision of the one hundred and forty-four thousand and the countless multitude: the sixth trumpet is followed by the vision of the little book and the seven thunders and the measurement of the temple of God (Revelation 10 and Revelation 11:1-14).” Further, Bengel notes – “The trumpets of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth angel, are closely connected with one another; and so likewise the trumpets of the fifth, the sixth, and the seventh angel, which alone have woe, woe, woe.” Along with these insights, numerous other commentaries have pulled out various insights and have drawn many conclusions concerning what lies ahead. Some incorrectly view these events as a description of the entire church age. Some insert presuppositions and then twist what is said to fit those presuppositions. The wide variety of views makes a sound interpretation difficult. However, two points must be maintained regardless of any other interpretations – 1) The events are surrounding the revelation, or unveiling, of Jesus Christ. He is the central focus of what is being presented, and 2) These main visions are describing events that occur during the tribulation period, even if some visions are general snapshots of events in redemptive history that are provided for clarity for Israel to understand who Jesus is and what has occurred in His first coming. What is likely, without being overly dogmatic that it is so, is that the trumpets are similar to the seals in that they present what will occur during the tribulation period without regard to a specific chronology. Rather, they reflect categories of destruction that occur as judgment on an unrepentant world progresses through the tribulation. With these thoughts in mind, the verse now before us begins with, “And I saw the seven angels who stand before God.” This immediately introduces a problem because of the use of the definite article before “angels.” It seems to highlight them as if they have already been noted somewhere and the reader is expected to thus be familiar with them. Of this, several possibilities are given – 1) They are the angels referred to in the apocryphal book known as Tobit, where it is recorded, “I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels which present the prayers of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One.” Tobit 12:15 2) They correspond to “the seven Spirits who are before His throne” of Revelation 1:4. 3). The definite article reflects a state of being where “it would be sufficiently understood, from the common use of language, who would be referred to - as we now might speak of ‘the seven members of the cabinet of the United States,’ or ‘the thirty-one governors of the states of the Union,’ though they had not been particularly mentioned” (Albert Barnes). The first option is incorrect. Nothing in the true canon of Scripture further supports that notion. Further, angels don’t “present the prayers of the saints.” That is a mediatorial role belonging to Jesus Christ alone. This demonstrates that Tobit is not an inspired book of Scripture. The second option is quite likely. The Lamb is the one who opened the seven seals, releasing those judgments upon the earth. As the judgments of the trumpets parallel those of the seals, it would make sense that the seven Spirits of God that are possessed by the Lord Jesus (see Revelation 3:1) are His “angels,” meaning “messengers,” of destruction upon the world that has rejected Him. Zechariah confirms that the Lord is the One to blow the trumpet in judgment – “Then the LORD will be seen over them, And His arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord GOD will blow the trumpet, And go with whirlwinds from the south.” Zechariah 9:14 The third option is a possibility if the second option is found to be incorrect. However, as this is the “revelation” or “unveiling” of Jesus Christ, it is assumed here that these are the seven aspects of the Lord previously described in earlier verses. The Lord Jesus (these seven facets of who He is) is who is being portrayed. Of these seven angels (messengers), it says, “and to them were given seven trumpets.” The word translated as “trumpet” is salpigx. It is a war trumpet. In this, it is used to loudly announce the coming vanquishing of His enemies. Elsewhere, such a trumpet was used to call the people of the Lord to war and to inspire them in the battle. The trumpets are probably not ram horns (shofar), but rather are hammered metal trumpets – either of silver or gold. Numbers 10 provides an account concerning the use of hammered metal trumpets – “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 2 ‘Make two silver trumpets for yourself; you shall make them of hammered work; you shall use them for calling the congregation and for directing the movement of the camps.’” Numbers 10:1, 2 & “When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God, and you will be saved from your enemies. 10 Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the LORD your God.” Numbers 10:9, 10 An insight from the Pulpit commentary states, “The use of trumpets on seven days at the destruction of Jericho, the type of all that is worldly, may have suggested the form of the vision here, in the announcement of the judgment and destruction of the world.” The verses ahead will tell of the sounding of these trumpets and of the judgments upon the earth that result from them. Life application: As you can see, these trumpets were for signaling major events surrounding the people of God, including war. When these seven trumpets begin to blow in Revelation, great and awesome events will follow them on the earth. The cataclysms which come with these trumpets are being shown us in advance so that we can make the right choices now that will save us from the pressures and tribulations they will usher in. Now truly is the time to call on Jesus and be spared from the difficulties ahead. Let us consider this then. And then, let us do what is right, calling out for pardon from our offenses and for rescue from the troubles that are prophesied to come upon an unbelieving world. Let us call out to JESUS! Lord Jesus, in Your word You have graciously given us precious insights into the future so that we can make the right choice now. May those who read Your word understand that it is truth, and may they be willing to call on Your name before the terrible times prophesied there arrive! Thank You for Your word and thank You for the sure promises they contain for those who choose You now. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 24, 2020 3:41:58 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 8:3, 23 December 2020 www.wonderful1.comWednesday, 23 December 2020 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. Revelation 8:3 The previous verse spoke of “the seven angels who stand before God.” One of the options (the preferable one to this commentary) is that they are the same as “the seven Spirits who are before His throne” in Revelation 1:4. The Greek word “angels” simply means “messengers.” The coming Christ is called an angel in the Old Testament, demonstrating that the term is acceptable to be applied to Him. As the seven Spirits are seven aspects of the Lord (see Revelation 1:4 commentary), there is nothing doctrinally wrong with this view. Now, in this verse, it says, “Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar.” The Greek reads, “over the altar,” or “upon the altar.” It is the same Greek word, epi, or upon, that is used again in this same verse. The altar speaks of the golden altar of incense first described in Exodus 30:1-10 – every single detail of which pointed to Jesus Christ. The incense altar was originally placed outside of the veil in the Holy Place. As it says in Exodus 30:5, it was to be “before the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony.” This “angel” or “messenger” is also another unveiling of Christ Jesus, as will be noted as the commentary progresses. Other than on the Day of Atonement, where the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place once a year, nothing except the twice-daily wafting of this incense ever entered the Most Holy Place. The veil stood between the two demonstrating that access to God was restricted until the time set by Him. However, the altar in heaven is in the very throne room of God, not outside a veil. The tabernacle was made by Moses to be a type, or picture, of the true throne of God. But until Christ died, access to God was restricted. When Jesus died on the cross, the veil was torn in two at that same moment signifying that full and free access to God had been restored through His torn body. He is now that point of access for the redeemed of the Lord. In heaven there is no separation between where the incense altar is and where the throne is, because there is no need to separate redeemed man from the presence of God. All who are received into heaven have come through the sacrifice of Jesus. That this angel stands “over” or “upon” the altar is important. As noted above, the altar of the tabernacle prefigured Christ in every detail. No created angel would be allowed to stand “over” or “upon” Christ in this capacity. It is true that the angels of God are said to be ascending and descending upon (epi) the Son of Man in John 1:51, but that is a different context with a different purpose. Here, the altar is a representation of Christ. The angel (the Lord) stands upon the altar and, as it next says, “He was given much incense.” The incense at the tabernacle was first described in Exodus 30:34-38. Again, every single detail of that incense prefigured the Person of Jesus Christ. The studies on these things should be reviewed to understand all of these magnificent details. There, standing upon the altar, and with the incense, it says that this Messenger “should offer it with the prayers of all the saints.” Under the Mosaic covenant, it said, “Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it.” This was the duty of the high priest (or his designated representative who performed the function in his stead). It was a mediatorial role on behalf of the people. As has been seen in a previous commentary, and as will be stated explicitly in Revelation 8, the incense reflects the medium in which the prayers of the people are transmitted to God. It says in 1 Timothy 2:5, 6, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” As the altar, the incense, and the one who offers the incense all were typical of Christ under the Old Covenant, and as there is now one Mediator between God and men, this Angel, or Messenger, is the Lord Jesus. It is another revelation, or unveiling, of His many duties before God. Of this particular duty, He offers the incense “upon the golden altar which was before the throne.” The throne of God in the Mosaic Covenant was represented by the Ark of the Covenant. It is the place where the glory of the Lord was fixed. The way the ark was situated for the poles to carry it reflected a throne. And, again, every detail of the construction of this ark, the things placed inside of it, and so on, all of these minutely pictured the Person and work of Jesus Christ. In this verse is seen a marvelous demonstration of the mediatorial and intercessory role of Jesus in His humanity then transmitting the prayers of the saints to the throne of God (where He sits in all rule and authority) in His deity. He is the point between the finite and the infinite. He is the incarnate Word of God. He is the Mediator between God and man. Life application: The prayers in this verse are being offered directly to God with much incense. They are the many prayers of all of God’s people in anticipation of the coming of His judgments which then lead into the coming of His kingdom. God’s wrath at sin, and His judgment upon the world, must come first in order to cleanse the world. After this happens, then there can be the establishment of this kingdom. The prayers of the saints are coming now, and they precipitate the great trumpet and bowl judgments upon the earth. God hears and responds to the prayers of His people. Now that they are being brought before Him in great numbers, it means that the time of wrath is at hand. But those prayers offered to God are only those from the people who have called out to Jesus. God does not, nor indeed can He, hear the prayers of those who are not Redeemed by Jesus. To say otherwise is to say that God does not need Jesus to mediate the prayers of the people. It is no different than saying that there are more paths to God than through Christ Jesus alone. It is heresy. The makeup of the incense in the Old Testament said, “Whoever makes any like it, to smell it, he shall be cut off from his people” (Exodus 30:38). The implication is that only this incense (typical of Jesus as noted above) is acceptable to God. Any other incense (meaning prayer apart from Christ) is abominable to Him. The typology clearly reveals that believers are never to pray to God with people from other religions, or from false cults. To do so is to acknowledge that their prayers are just as acceptable to God as are those of true believers. Such can never be implied. Be sure to never mix the holy with the profane. There is one Mediator, and God only accepts the prayers of those who belong to that Mediator. He alone is the access point between God and man. He alone is our High Priest. He alone is JESUS! Lord God, it is incredible to imagine that the prayers of ages and ages of saints reach even to Your throne. And yet, because of Jesus, our prayers are brought before You. He is our great High Priest who comes to You with them. Yes, our Father in heaven, thank You for Jesus who brings us near to You in prayer. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 25, 2020 1:27:39 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 8:4, 24 December 2020
www.wonderful1.comThursday, 24 December 2020 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. Revelation 8:4 A literal rendering of the Greek is, “And went up the smoke [of] the incense, the prayers of the saints, out of [the] hand [of] the angel, before the God.” The word “with” is inserted but not necessary. Verse 5:8 says that the incense is the prayer of the saints. There is no reason to deviate from that here. The Douay-Rheims captured the correct sense, saying – “And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel.” With this understanding, but still using the NKJV as a reference, taking the previous verse together with this one will provide the context – “Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.” Revelation 8:3, 4 This was immediately after the silence in heaven of verse 1 and the giving out of the seven trumpets to the seven angels who stand before God. In saying “the prayers of the saints,” it is most certainly referring to what was said in Chapter 6 – “And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.” Revelation 6:10, 11 There is a cry for the avenging of the blood of these tribulation saints. The white robe indicates they are saints, purified through their faith in Christ. This verse now begins with, “And the smoke of the incense.” The incense was first described in Exodus 30 as that being used in the tabernacle. As noted, each ingredient pointed to Christ. It was typical of His life as an offering before God. The incense of His perfect life is now completely mingled together as “the prayers of the saints.” In other words, the two are as one. What happens to the saints is as if it happened to the Lord. This is explicitly revealed in Acts 9 – “As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ 5 And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ Then the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’” Acts 9:4, 5 Jesus asked, “Why are you persecuting Me?” And yet, Saul had been persecuting the believers in Him. The persecution of Christ Jesus’ people is a direct attack again Him. Likewise, the prayers of Christ to God includes the prayers of His people. This is why the Bible uses the term “in Christ” again and again. There is no separation between the two. In fact, this unity is so strong that Paul says this of believers – “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” Romans 8:16, 17 Believers in Christ are so united to the Lord Jesus that they actually become joint heirs with Him as children of God. Understanding this, the result of the prayers for avenging their blood can be nothing less than a sure and decisive response. The outcome is assured as the smoke and prayers “ascended before God from the angel’s hand.” As noted in the previous verse, the angel (Greek: messenger) is Christ Jesus. He is the Messenger of the Covenant, He is the High Priest, He is found in the censer and in the incense, He is the Avenger of the blood of His people. He is all of these things and so much more. He is the God/Man; the point between the finite and the infinite. This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ. The fact that this ascends from the hand (the humanity of Christ) to God (His deity) means that action will be taken. The Lord will respond and avenge, and His judgment will be decisive. Life application: Our prayers are made acceptable to God, not because they are prayers of any given human beings, but because they are prayers made by believers in the work of Jesus Christ. It is He who makes our prayers acceptable to God. Ephesians gives us this insight when speaking of His fulfillment of the burnt offering sacrifices of the Old Covenant – “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Ephesians 5:2 Jesus’ life and work became an “offering and a sacrifice to God.” When we call on Him, we receive life and justification because of what He did. Paul then gives an insight into the prayers being offered by the angel in this verse – “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.” 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 We, including our prayers, are “the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” As will be seen in the verses ahead, the prayers to God for His kingdom to come, and the requests for His justice to be served, will be responded to. This is because God in Christ is faithful to His people. He will not turn away from giving them justice. He is our near Kinsman, He is our Avenger of blood, and He is the Lord God Almighty. He is JESUS! It is so wonderfully beautiful to see how Your word fully supports itself in every way. What came from the hand of the prophets and apostles is that which speaks to the work of Jesus Christ. And it is astonishingly fulfilled in every detail in Him. Thank You for Your wonderful, beautifully crafted, and trustworthy word, O God. Thank You and Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 26, 2020 0:36:19 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse,Revelation 8:5, December25, 2020 www.wonderful1.comFriday, 25 December 2020 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. Revelation 8:5 This verse now continues the thought of the previous verses. The angel having the golden censer stood at the altar and presented incense – the prayers of the saints. Those prayers (the smoke of the incense) ascended before God. With that complete, and with the prayers having gone through the Mediator of those prayers (Christ Jesus), judgment of those on earth in response to those prayers, is God’s reply. As it says, “Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth.” Of this, Albert Barnes states the following – “By the former it had been shown that there would be much prayer offered; by this it is designed to show that, notwithstanding the prayer that would be offered, great and fearful calamities would come upon the earth. This is symbolized by casting the censer upon the earth, as if the prayers were not heard any longer, or as if prayer were now in vain.” The analysis says, “notwithstanding the prayer that would be offered,” as if the prayer is ineffective. But that is not the case. The prayers of the previous verses have been heard. They are the prayers of the tribulation saints of Chapter 6 – “And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.” Revelation 6:10:11 It is not that God is ignoring the prayers and that prayer is now in vain. Rather, God has heard the prayers – offered through His Mediator – and there is now a response to those prayers. There is a time where God’s wrath will be poured out on nations for the shedding of blood. It is a precept that goes all the way back to the book of Genesis and which is explicitly stated in Joshua. The sin of bloodshed eventually rises to a level where the Lord will respond. How much more so when it is the blood of His saints, and they are crying out for the avenging of their blood. As it says in Psalm 72 – “Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints.” Psalm 116:15 The imagery is that the world has spilled its fill of blood and it is now to be judged. Taking fire from the altar and casting it upon the earth is a sign of impending judgment. The symbolism goes back to Ezekiel 10 – “Then He spoke to the man clothed with linen, and said, ‘Go in among the wheels, under the cherub, fill your hands with coals of fire from among the cherubim, and scatter them over the city.’ And he went in as I watched.” Ezekiel 10:2 In Ezekiel 11, the reason for this is seen – “Then the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said to me, ‘Speak! 'Thus says the LORD: ‘Thus you have said, O house of Israel; for I know the things that come into your mind. 6 You have multiplied your slain in this city, and you have filled its streets with the slain.”’” Ezekiel 11:5, 6 The blood of the slain of Jerusalem called out for vengeance, and it came – symbolized by the taking of coals from the fire. The same is true now in Revelation. The prayers have been heard, and the divine response is issued: Judgment time has come. No incense is added to the coals now, symbolizing no mediation for those who are on the earth that have their hands bloodied with the blood of the saints. They can cry out to God until their throats are sore, but He will not hear. Without the mediation of Christ, their prayers are in vain. John next says, “And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.” The wording is similar to verse 4:5, but in a different order and with the addition of “earthquake.” The idea is that of commotion and the striking of fear and awe into the hearts of those on the earth. It is reflective of what the Lord says of these times (as He describes in detail in Luke 21) and the state of man when they come – “men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” Luke 21:26 But the accompanying display of noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake are also similar to the great display that occurred when the Law of Moses was received on Mt. Sinai. The judgment on the world is based on this standard, which no one can meet. As Paul says in Romans 3:20 – “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” The law was given to show us our desperately sinful state and that we needed something more…the righteousness of Christ. The world has rejected this and will now be judged based on the standard set forth in the law and not on Christ’s imputed righteousness, of which they lack. Only the saints who trust in Christ alone, and not on some other standard of righteousness, are to be saved. The rest will perish in their unrighteousness. The word translated as “noises” is the same word Paul uses in 1 Corinthians 14:8 to describe the blast of a trumpet. In Zephaniah, the prophet anticipated this coming day of destruction and the blast of the trumpet, warning what would occur at some point in the future – “The great day of the LORD is near; It is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the LORD is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out. 15 That day is a day of wrath, A day of trouble and distress, A day of devastation and desolation, A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 A day of trumpet and alarm Against the fortified cities And against the high towers.” Zephaniah 1:14-16 Life application: The prayers of the saints were for the avenging of their blood and also a petition for the coming of God’s kingdom. Because the Lord hears the prayers of His people, their blood will be avenged, and His kingdom will be ushered in. God has given His word and allowed the world over two thousand years to learn it and apply its truth – that of salvation through Christ alone. When the Day of Judgment comes, the world won’t be able to say they weren’t afforded abundant opportunity to accept the gospel and call on Christ. And so, two truths can be considered to close out this verse. The first is that God has given man a path to being saved, and that path is through Christ Jesus. The second is that God does, in fact, hear that call leading to their salvation. Once saved, the prayers of His people are heard because of the mediation of Christ. We should never feel our prayers are not heard, even if it seems a response is not forthcoming. Being in Christ means that we are intimately joined to Him. Our prayers are heard, and they are holy because of Christ. God will respond to them according to His wisdom. Let us trust that this is so and let us never fail to thank our God for having sent His Son to make this possible. He is our faithful High Priest who mediates for us. He is JESUS. Oh God, when we are given the heavenly insights into Your great throne room, it allows us to understand how You tenderly receive the prayers of Your people and how You do act on them. We know that every prayer of Your saints is precious to You and that in Your wisdom You respond to them at just the right moment in history. Thank You for hearing our prayers. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 26, 2020 23:53:42 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse,Revelation 8:6, December 26, 2020
www.wonderful1.comSaturday, 26 December 2020 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. Revelation 8:6 With the opening of the seventh seal being complete, the focus now turns to the sounding of the trumpet judgments. This is based on verse 8:2 that said, “And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.” This was followed by the angel with the incense being offered before God and the casting of the censer to earth. With that complete, John now states, “So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets.” As noted before, and without claiming this dogmatically, this is speaking of the seven Spirits before the throne of God. Being called angels does not mean they are created beings. Rather, and as noted, the word translated as angels signifies a messenger. It is a title elsewhere applied to the Lord Jesus, and there is no reason to exclude this representing seven of His roles being played out in a heavenly apocalyptic scene. Just as Christ opened the seven seals, so now, He may be the One to sound the seven trumpets. And there is no logical contradiction in saying each is the Lord. Jesus is the One on the throne (5:1), He is also the Lion of the tribe of Judah (5:5), He is also the Lamb as though it had been slain (5:6), He is also the Angel ascending from the east having the seal of the living God (7:2), and He is also the Angel with the censer (meaning the Mediator) before God (8:3). He is each of these at the same time. As such, we are seeing the work of God in Christ being relayed in individual roles as He works out the unfolding narrative. Again, this is one possibility, and these could simply be seven created angels. The text does not provide enough information to be dogmatic either way. With this understood, it says these seven angels (messengers) “prepared themselves to sound.” The Greek means, “prepared themselves to sound the trumpets.” In other words, they have brought the trumpets to their mouths in preparation for sounding. Life application: The events leading up to this verse have brought the world to the point of the trumpet judgments that will follow. Angels have been used in history as God’s ministers of such judgment, including the land of Egypt when they enslaved Israel – “He cast on them the fierceness of His anger, Wrath, indignation, and trouble, By sending angels of destruction among them.” Psalm 78:49 These coming trumpet judgments will be directed at the world at it is actively working against Israel, God’s covenant people. Similar to the opening of the seals, the first four trumpets will come as a group. This will be followed by two distinct trumpets, and then a last trumpet. The symmetry in these different judgments is remarkable and shows a consistency of how judgment is dealt with by God. As He doesn’t change, this is to be expected. Everything is following a plan known to Him and being worked out by Him. And yet, He grants man free will in the process of these things. His foreknowledge does not negate our free will though. We must willingly come to God through Christ in order to be saved. If you have never done this, today is the day. Don’t hesitate. God loves you enough to have sent His own Son to die for your sins. He loves you enough to have sent JESUS. Lord God, we know that You hear the prayers of Your people and that You are always there to defend them. We can look at past events recorded in the Bible, and we can see how faithful You have been to Your people. And so, we know that You will be the same towards us today. What have we to worry about when You are always attentive to our needs and our protection? Thank You for this. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 28, 2020 2:40:30 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 8:7, December 27. 2020 www.wonderful1.comSunday, 27 December 2020 The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. Revelation 8:7 John just noted that the seven angels prepared to sound the seven trumpets. With that stated, he now says, “The first angel sounded.” The judgments of the trumpets have begun. In this, the eighth chapter of Revelation corresponds to the eighth letter of the Hebrew aleph-bet. The eighth letter, heth, pictures a tent wall, and it signifies “wall,” “outside,” “divide,” and “half.” It is a rich letter that bears the understood meaning of terror or dread as well as destroy. The obvious connection to Chapter 8 is that of the initiation of the trumpet judgments and their resulting terror and destruction. With the sounding of the trumpet, John sees what was prophesied hundreds of years before he was born. It is that which was anticipated by Peter when he spoke to Israel at Pentecost. Next, it says, “And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood.” Various Greek manuscripts say more precisely, “mingled in blood.” The result of this first trumpet blast is similar to the seventh plague to come against Egypt before the exodus – “And Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven; and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire darted to the ground. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt. 24 So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, so very heavy that there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.” Exodus 9:23, 24 There are differences though. Along with the hail mingled with fire, John notes that it is “mingled with blood.” As a point of speculation, this could symbolically be representing the blood of the saints who were mentioned in the previous verses. The censer of incense was filled with fire and cast to the earth. As the incense represents the prayers of the saints, it may be an allegorical way of saying that it is their blood that is being avenged. Next, he says, “and they were thrown to the earth.” This matches the symbolism of the angel casting the censer to the earth in judgment. That judgment has now come. With this thought stated, various manuscripts include after this, “and a third of the earth was burned up.” With this stated, the question is whether this is referring to the entire earth, or the land of Israel, or a portion of the earth where the particular judgment is directed. It is a general word, ges, that can signify any of these, and the context is what sets the meaning. And further, it is generally inclusive of the inhabitants of the land. Here, the context is not sure enough to come to a solid conclusion as to which is being described. However, it most likely appears that these trumpet judgments are directed specifically to the land of Israel. This seems especially so from the contents of Chapter 9. Whichever is correct, it next says, “And a third of the trees were burned up.” This is explicit, but what the words “trees” is referring to can be literal or allegorical. In Judges 9:7-15, there is a parable where trees are equated to rule and authority. This is seen in Daniel 4:14 as well. Jesus speaks of the trees in an allegorical manner as well, such as in Luke 21:29. Whether literal trees, or whether they are allegorical, it next says, “and all green grass was burned up.” Again, it is a direct statement that appears to be speaking of literal grass. And yet, a question immediately arises as to why “all green grass was burned up,” but only a third of the trees were. And so, an allegorical meaning may apply here as well. Humans are equated to grass elsewhere, such as in Psalm 37:2 (and etc.), and a set number of people is referred to at times in Old Testament prophecy also – “You shall burn with fire one-third in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are finished; then you shall take one-third and strike around it with the sword, and one-third you shall scatter in the wind: I will draw out a sword after them. 3 You shall also take a small number of them and bind them in the edge of your garment. 4 Then take some of them again and throw them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire. From there a fire will go out into all the house of Israel.” Ezekiel 5:2-4 & “And it shall come to pass in all the land,” Says the LORD, “That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one-third shall be left in it: 9 I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’” Zechariah 13:8, 9 With such Old Testament comparisons, it is hard to be dogmatic concerning the nature of what is being described. What is certain is that judgment on a very large scale is being prophesied. After it is accomplished, it will be understood exactly what John is seeing, be it literal or allegorical. However, what seems certain is that this is the time prophesied by Joel and was then mentioned by Peter – “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.” Joel 2:30 Joel prophesied of a time of judgment to come upon the earth (again, it could be the land of Israel only, or the entire earth – the word can mean either) This was then quoted by Peter. Peter was speaking to the people of Israel at that time. The beginning of the fulfillment of his words came to them at Pentecost. However, Israel eventually rejected Christ Jesus and went into the punishment of exile. Now that they are back in the land, the prophecy of Joel will find its fulfillment. Peter’s words to Israel were – “I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. 21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.” Acts 2:19-21 Taking the context (spoken to Israel while under the law), the events of Revelation make all the sense in the world. Verse 7:14 said (in a literal rendering), “These are the (ones) coming out of the tribulation the great.” It was an indication that the tribulation saints were coming and continued to come out by faith in Christ. The focus is on Israel during their final seven years under the law, and it is also inclusive of any Gentiles who are willing to accept the gospel and believe in what Christ did on their behalf. That is confirmed by Peter here with the words “whoever calls on the name of the Lord.” There is no time that is set. When a person calls on the name of the Lord, he shall be saved. Life application: If the events described here are literal, and on a global scale (actual trees and grass), just imagine the result on the earth. When the plant life is so quickly destroyed, any rains will then cause mudslides and flooding. Food would become exceedingly scarce and expensive. Disease will begin to run rampant. One can see how the plagues of the four horsemen can quickly come to pass with just the sounding of this first trumpet. And yet there are six more trumpets to go. The world will begin a cataclysmic tailspin. Things will get progressively worse, not better, as the judgments unfold. If the events are allegory, the horrors that are coming are no less terrifying. One-third of the leaders and the people they lead will be consumed. But what is seen as a terrifying ordeal is also seen to be a time of grace. Despite the judgment coming upon the earth, for those who call on the name of the Lord, salvation will result. Their physical bodies may die, but their souls shall be saved. This is the purpose of the judgments. In them, God will judge the world for having taken a perverse path, but these judgments are also intended to wake up the world to return to the sound path offered through Jesus. God could just destroy the entire world in a flash. But He mercifully gives those who survive apocalyptic events the chance to turn to Him. It is reflective of the petition of Habakkuk 3:2 – “In wrath remember mercy.” The Lord does remember mercy, even in His wrath. This is sure because He took all of the cup of His wrath and passed it to His Son in order to redeem man. Peace with Him can now be obtained by accepting the work of Christ. Call on the Lord today. Call on JESUS. Oh God, how sobering it is to see what the results of our sin are. Rather than humbling ourselves and being obedient to You, our Creator, we dismiss You, mock You, and only bring calamity on ourselves. Help those of us who have come to You through Christ to be lights to those around us before the great judgments that Your word says are coming actually begin. May we be responsible with the time set before us. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 29, 2020 3:07:03 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 8:8, December 28,2020 www.wonderful1.comMonday, 28 December 2020 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. Revelation 8:8 With the first trumpet sounded and its judgment complete, John next says, “Then the second angel sounded.” There is no lull or delay between the sounding of the trumpets. The effects of the first one were directed at the earth. Now the effects of this second one are directed at the sea. As it says, “And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea.” The wording here needs to be carefully considered. And, like the previous verse, being dogmatic about what is being presented is probably not wise. The first thing to consider is that this is like a great mountain. It is not a mountain. The terminology is apocalyptic, and John is trying to describe something. Using “a great mountain” is his way of doing so. Secondly, it is “burning with fire.” John is seeing something that is huge and filled with the glow of fire. And thirdly, he says it was “thrown into the sea.” This can be a literal sea, or it can be figuratively speaking of multitudes of people. What appears to be referred to is a prophecy from Amos 7 – “Thus the Lord GOD showed me: Behold, the Lord GOD called for conflict by fire, and it consumed the great deep and devoured the territory. 5 Then I said: ‘O Lord GOD, cease, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, For he is small!’ 6 So the LORD relented concerning this. ‘This also shall not be,’ said the Lord GOD.” Amos 7:4-6 If this is where the symbolism is derived from, John is speaking of a sea of people, probably centered in the land of Israel. If this is correct, then the next words become obvious. John says, “and a third of the sea became blood.” It would mean that this burning mountain has made casualties of one-third of the people it was focused at. The idea of the words “became blood” can mean “killed,” or it could possibly mean “killed or wounded.” Again, it is hard to be dogmatic about something that is future. The idea of this being a symbolic sea seems to be disproven by the next verse where it speaks of living creatures in the sea and the destruction of ships. However, that is not necessarily so, as will be seen in that verse. If this figurative option is correct, the question is, “What is John describing?” The answer could be a nuclear detonation. When detonated, it would appear to someone who has never seen such a thing as a great burning mountain – literally glowing with fire. In such a blast, killing one-third of those in the immediate area is not at all unlikely. Obviously, with such a set of words, John could also be speaking of the literal sea – such as the Mediterranean Sea. If so, the symbolism would not be any different. A nuclear blast going off in the sea would produce much killing, and the metaphor of the sea becoming blood would indicate the resulting death. If John is referring to Amos 7, it would then be that the first option is more likely. Amos is referring to the people of Israel in his visions, and so it would follow that John – who is heavily relying on Old Testament symbolism – is also speaking in the same graphic manner. As noted in the commentary on the previous verse, it appears that the trumpet judgments are centered on the land of Israel. But again, being dogmatic is not sound with future events that could be described either by literal or figurative terminology. And further, the “great mountain burning with fire” could be something that is completely different. It is obvious that in the previous trumpet, the censer stood as a metaphor for something else, not a censer itself. The same could be true here. Mountains in Scripture are representative of forms of government, such as Babylon being described as a destroying mountain. And then, there is the “mountain of the Lord,” meaning the government of the Lord. Thus, this could be an enraged government, burning against Israel and coming against them. No matter what, the plague of blood is reminiscent of the first plague of the Exodus when blood struck the Nile – “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, ‘Say to Aaron, “Take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams, over their rivers, over their ponds, and over all their pools of water, that they may become blood. And there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in buckets of wood and pitchers of stone.”’” Exodus 7:19 Life application: Evaluating future events is difficult to do, and generations of people have done their best – at whatever time in history they lived – to describe what is being conveyed by John. As time has gone on, people have inserted their current time and circumstances into what they believe is being portrayed. This is natural because it seems that every generation has thought that they were the generation of Christ’s return. People have written as such for eons. In the world we live in today, it is no different. We look around and see the world in the state it is in, we look around at the technology and what it can do, and we make conclusions about the events of Revelation based on those things. But for two thousand years, people have been incorrect about their belief that they were the generation of the Lord’s return. Maybe we are too. And yet, it does appear that the Bible’s scenario for future events is rightly aligned with our age. This is especially so because Israel (the nation) is back in the land of Israel. Further, modern technology certainly appears to give us possibilities that were not possible in past generations, such as nuclear war. For these reasons, we can apply this current knowledge to our eschatology and come up with reasonable analyses of what is being portrayed in Revelation. But let us remember, these things may be literal, or they may be figurative. And so, let us not be haughty or overly dogmatic. We should do our best in our presentations, but we should still remember these events are future and we could be wrong. In the end, it is our greatest honor to seek out what is conveyed, and to then carefully present our thoughts without bringing discredit upon the exalted name of our Lord in the process. Let us do our best to honor Him in our studies. He is worthy of that. He is JESUS! Lord, Your word says that great calamities are coming upon the world at some point in the future. They will be more terrifying than anything ever seen before. Isaiah tells us that man will become rarer than fine gold. This is because they will fail to glorify You. The world will go into a self-destructive tailspin. But for Your redeemed, there will be relief from this. Help us to continue to get the word out to the world before that terrible day comes. To Your glory. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 30, 2020 2:41:53 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 8:9, 29 December 2020 www.wonderful1.comTuesday, 29 December 2020 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. Revelation 8:9 The words of this verse describe the effects of the “great mountain burning with fire” that was thrown into the sea. As noted in the previous verse, the effects stated in this verse seem to disprove a symbolic meaning of the “sea of people.” Instead, it more likely appears to be the literal sea. As it says, “And a third of the living creatures in the sea died.” If this is a literal interpretation, then it would mean exactly as it states. Those living creatures in the sea are affected. But that brings in a question as to what “sea” is being referred to. As the events are focused on the land of Israel, it would mean either the Sea of Galilee (which is more like a lake) or the Mediterranean Sea. It does not have to mean the entire scope of the world, although this is still a possibility. If the interpretation of the previous verse is speaking in imagery, even these words have a possible symbolic meaning. The living creatures would be those of the tribulation period churches or those who are evangelized by the churches. Jesus used such terminology when comparing the people of Israel to those who are being fished for – “And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” Matthew 4:18-20 Another argument for a symbolic meaning is that John says they are “the creatures that are in the sea” (YLT). He does not say they are “sea creatures,” as James does. In James 3:7, he uses the word enalios, signifying things of the sea. Therefore, with neither possible interpretation excluded thus far, John continues by saying, “and a third of the ships were destroyed.” Again, this seems to argue against a symbolic interpretation. Ships belong on the sea, and it is ships that are destroyed – as would be described in a literal interpretation. However, both concepts can be brought into a symbolic meaning as well. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown says – “The symbolical interpreters take the ships here to be churches. For the Greek here for ships is not the common one, but that used in the Gospels of the apostolic vessel in which Christ taught: and the first churches were in the shape of an inverted ship: and the Greek for destroyed is also used of heretical corruptings (1Ti 6:5).” This is confirmed by the Jesus Walk commentary, a portion of which says – “The ship (bark or barque, barchetta) was an ancient Christian symbol. [It is] the Church tossed on the sea of disbelief, worldliness, and persecution but finally reaching safe harbor with its cargo of human souls. Part of the imagery comes from the ark saving Noah's family during the Flood (1 Peter 3:20-21). Jesus protecting the Peter's boat and the apostles on the stormy Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:35-41). It was also a great symbol during times when Christians needed to disguise the cross, since the ship's mast forms a cross in many of its depictions.” Even today in Israel, there is a church of which the pulpit is in the form of a ship. It is on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, and it was designed this way to uphold this ancient tradition. And so, a symbolic meaning would be that a third of the churches were affected by the events described here, and are thus destroyed (literally or through corruption of doctrine). The things analyzed in the previous verse, and in this verse, are given to provide various interpretations of what is coming in the future. The truth of the interpretation will be known after the events occur. For now, we can only look forward with evaluations that may or may not match what will actually take place. Life application: If the events of this verse are literal, human life will still be lost, even though such is not specifically mentioned here. This is because ships don’t sail themselves. In other words, human life will be lost on those ships and probably many will die from the coastal tsunamis. The tsunamis generated by the Indonesian earthquake killed hundreds of thousands of people all along the Indian Ocean. The disaster of the second trumpet will, then, probably be much, much worse. Another result of this would be the economic chaos that would result from the loss of all the shipping and the loss of the coastal industries. Finally, the loss of marine life for food would continue to strip the world of food resources. If the events are to be taken symbolically, it does not diminish the tragedy that will be faced by the people who are affected by them. In the end, the events of the trumpet judgments will be harmful in the extreme, and when they occur, they will be understood by those who live through them because of what is now presented by John. But the best part for those who have called on Christ now is that we do not need to be worried about them affecting us personally. We are safe in Christ, and these events will be worked out in a world that has rejected Him. Those who come to Him after the rapture, however, will have to face them head on. Get the word of the gospel out now, while there is time for people to respond. It is our duty to tell of what God has done in Christ for the world. It is our duty to tell of the great things accomplished by JESUS! O God, if the people of the world would just bow their hearts to You now, things would be so much better. But they refuse to do so. In this, they will come under Your judgment. But in Your wrath, remember mercy, O God. Nobody deserves your grace and Your favor, and without it nothing would be left. But we know the outcome already from Your word, and we do know that mercy will be coming as well. Thank You for this, O God. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 31, 2020 2:02:59 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 8:10, 30 December 2020
www.wonderful1.comWednesday, 30 December 2020 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. Revelation 8:10 John’s attention is now directed to the trumpet sounding of the third angel. With that, he says, “And a great star fell from heaven.” Here, the word translated as “star” is aster. It is used for meteors and planets as well as other heavenly bodies. It’s also used in a metaphorical sense for people, angels, and even Jesus Himself. Because of this, some commentators have come to the conclusion that this (and the previous object) is actually an angel who has been cast out of heaven and is now in the earthly realm causing havoc. Others have seen it as a great leader (a prince, ruler, one of high rank, and so on). It could even be a foreshadowing of the lawless one mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:8. It is impossible to deny these views at this point because they are future to us (based on a dispensational view of the events). This star, however, could be something literal that John is trying to describe. If so, this could be speaking of some type of missile with a chemical, radiological, or biological warhead. Because the word “star” has been (and will be) used both literally and figuratively in Scripture, both literal and figurative views must be considered. This continues to be true with the thought of it falling from heaven. Both real objects will fall from the heavens, such as meteors and missiles, and also spiritual objects, such as the angels being cast out of their heavenly realm or human leaders that fall away from the truth of God. Any of these may be correct. Whichever John sees, it next says it is “burning like a torch.” If this is to be considered a literal meteor or a missile, this is exactly what such an object would look like to John. If a missile, the effects of such a warhead would be as one might anticipate, and as will be next described. If this is to be taken figuratively, with the Lord simply providing a physical object to describe a spiritual truth, the result would be the same – death and destruction. It would, however, be spiritually applied. John next says, “and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.” If taken literally, the same thing must be considered as before. Is this speaking of the entire world, or only the land of Israel where the main focus of attention is? Again, to be dogmatic may be barking up the wrong tree. If on a global scale, the same truth would be applied as if only in Israel. However, it would simply be on a greater scale. If this is speaking figuratively, Albert Barnes provides one possible explanation, saying, “if it be understood as having a more metaphorical sense, to regard it as affecting those things which resemble rivers and fountains - the sources of influence; the morals, the religion of a people, the institutions of a country, which are often so appropriately compared with running fountains or flowing streams.” If figurative, then speaking more from a spiritual sense, it may be a corruption of religion as in a great turning away from the gospel that is being foretold during the tribulation period. Any of these views are, at this point, equally to be considered. The Bible speaks of both literal and figurative fulfilling of such things. It also is applied to spiritual and non-spiritual entities (such as human leaders in religious matters and humans leaders of governments). What is certain is that once the events are complete, they will be understood as the fulfillment of them. Life application: It is good to consider every aspect of these events, and to not get caught up in too much arguing over points that are both future and that have various possible explanations. In the end, those of the church will be taken out of the world to be with Christ before these events come to pass. Our hope is in Him, not worrying about who the antichrist will be, or whether we will be directly affected by the plagues that are prophesied to occur. Because of this, let us have our hearts and minds focused on Christ, and let us trust that what is coming will be properly revealed and perfectly fulfilled in their due time. Until then, let us fix our eyes on JESUS! O God, we look to the events prophesied about the future, and they often seem incredible and yet distant. But these things really are coming to pass, and real people will be affected by them. Help us to get the word out that there is salvation in Christ Jesus. The more we delay, the more people won’t hear the good news. The time of the fulfillment of those things is coming. And so, may we stir our hearts to action. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 31, 2020 20:11:35 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 8:11, 31 December 2020
www.wonderful1.comThursday, 31 December 2020 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter. Revelation 8:11 The words now being seen are the result of the sounding of the third trumpet. As has been seen, the results of this sounding could be literal, or they could be figurative. This commentary leans heavily in the direction of a figurative interpretation, but still provides a second analysis of what could be an actual set of literal events as well. These could be literal events that are actually symbolic of other things than those described. As an example, the next trumpet says the sun, moon, and stars will be struck. Though that can be taken as a literal darkening of the heavenly bodies, when such occurs, it is the earth’s atmosphere and not actually the sun, moon, or stars that darken. For now, the verse begins with, “The name of the star is Wormwood.” The Greek reads, apsinthos. It is a bitter plant and so it signifies that which is intensely bitter. It is that which produces extremely sad results. Of this, Vincent’s Word Studies notes – “Used metaphorically in the Old Testament of the idolatry of Israel (Deuteronomy 29:18); of calamity and sorrow (Jeremiah 9:15; Jeremiah 23:15; Lamentations 3:15, Lamentations 3:19); of false judgment (Amos 5:7).” What Vincent’s is referring to is the Hebrew word laanah – hemlock, or wormwood. It is from an unused root signifying to curse. Thus, it is that which is poisonous or accursed. As can be seen from the Old Testament references, they are metaphorical. Therefore, there is no reason to assume that the New Testament references here in Revelation must be taken literally. That is an option, but it does not necessarily follow that it must be so. With that understood, John next says, “A third of the waters became wormwood.” If a literal interpretation is correct, it would mean that the great star that fell from heaven onto one-third of the rivers and springs of water has poisoned them. This could happen from a nuclear, chemical, or biological attack. The water becomes contaminated and deadly. If the words are to be taken in a symbolic or figurative sense, this very well could be referring to the false prophet (or the antichrist) who will later be described in Revelation. The analysis of the previous verse again showed that stars can (and often do) speak of human leaders. This then would be a great deceiver who seduces those who have missed the rapture to believe the strong delusion that is coming. As is obvious, many will not believe him because there is a great multitude in white that have already been seen as coming to a saving faith in Christ. However, one-third of those under this apostatized leader will believe the lie. In their following him (or, if taken literally, the results of the poisoning of the waters), it next says, “and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.” The water is either literally to be taken as poisonous, or it is to be the exact opposite of what Christ spoke of in John 7 – “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:37, 38 From Christ come rivers of living water. From such a false and apostatized leader comes poisoned waters of wormwood. In such an interpretation, and one which is highly likely, looking at some of those Old Testament references mentioned above will open the meaning. This wormwood represents contamination by sin. In Proverbs 5, it is equated with following the advice of an immoral woman. The parallel then is clear – the world has followed the advice of the immoral woman of apostasy and false religion led by this vile leader. This is symbolized by the great harlot coming in Chapter 17. The world will listen to the lies of this false religion and will drink the cup of her bitterness. In Jeremiah 9:15, we also read the effects of wormwood – “Behold, I will feed them, this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.” As you see, the wormwood is connected here with gall that is mentioned in Deuteronomy and Lamentations. Gall is what was offered to Jesus at the cross as well, which He rejected. The rich symbolism shows us the painful effects of sin. The wormwood of this cataclysm is much stronger than ordinary wormwood that normally doesn’t cause death. The wormwood here noted infects the waters, and “many men” will die because of its effects. Life application: Regardless as to whether the future events are literal or spiritual, the Old Testament clearly shows that the wormwood there is to be taken metaphorically. As this is so, and if these events of the future are also to be taken figuratively, it is evident that even after having the clear evidence of the rapture presented to the people of the world, they will still rather believe the lie they are told than the truth that can save them. As this is so, and it is clearly true from 2 Thessalonians 2:11, it shows the complete unwillingness of man to accept truth when it is clearly presented to him. This is perfectly evident by following politics. Truth is suppressed in the minds of people because of their dislike of a particular candidate. They will actually believe anything they are told, no matter how ridiculous, rather than believing what is true about the candidate. The same is true with events in the world around us. Despite all the evidence in the world for the earth being a globe, something that even a junior high school student could prove with a single conference call to friends around the world. People will rather believe the lie of a flat earth, because of their political alliances or allegiances. Blind hatred and constant conspiracy theories can corrupt one’s objective thinking. How much more willingly do people believe the lies from the religion their families and churches have been teaching them for all their lives! The plain and obvious truth of Jesus Christ’s deity and humanity are expressly stated in Scripture, and yet cults deny one or more of those tenets as if the words printed in black and white have no meaning. A pretribulation rapture is clearly taught by Paul, and yet those who have been instructed otherwise deny the literal rendering of the words. Some even deny any such doctrine as a rapture at all. Eternal salvation is highlighted as a principal tenet of proper theology. And yet, this fact is denied, argued against, and belittled by countless people who are unschooled in theology and/or biased against that doctrine. In other words, each of us must come to the pages of Scripture acknowledging that we may be wrong in what we believe. Then, we should determine to put the truth of Scripture ahead of our presuppositions and preconceived notions. Unless we are willing to do this, we could be as wrong about a particular doctrine as a person is wrong who thinks that he could fall off of the edge of a flat earth into the abyss of space. Such is the nature of sin (of which bad doctrine is) and of our need to stay away from heresies and false religion, even now. The time is coming when these things will lead to great cataclysms and destruction. Hold fast to the truth of the word. Hold fast to JESUS! Oh God, the effects of our sin, and our willingness to reject the truth and follow after lies and deceit, will lead us away from You and from what is right, moral, and proper. In the end, these things will only lead to troubled lives, and even to bitterness and death. If we will just be willing to take the moral and spiritual truths found in Your word and rightly apply them to our lives, we will be on the right path in ourselves, in our homes, in our politics, and in our relationship with You. Help us to do this, to Your glory alone. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jan 2, 2021 1:24:11 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 8:12, 1 January 2021 www.wonderful1.comFriday, 1 January 2021 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night. Revelation 8:12 The trumpet judgments continue on now with John saying, “Then the fourth angel sounded.” As will be seen in the next verse, this is the first of the three triple-woe judgments. For now, however, John continues with, “And a third of the sun was struck.” The previous judgments were directed against the earth (literally or figuratively) in the trees and grass, in the sea, and in the springs of water. This one, at first, appears different as it is directed toward the sun. However, may not be the case. It might be something that occurs on the earth that causes the sun to become obscured. This also includes “a third of the moon, and a third of the stars.” This is similar to the events of the sixth seal as previously recorded in verse 6:12 – “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.” The first question is whether this is symbolic of something else or is it literal. Either way, obscuring of the heavenly bodies is something that almost universally portends evil. When there are eclipses, the nations tend to see them as bad omens. To have light obscured means darkness. Whether it is literal or figurative, darkness carries the same general thought – that of being oppressed and afflicted. Another question that remains unanswered is, “Is this only over the land of Israel, or is this global in its effects?” The next verse will use the same general word found throughout Revelation that speaks of a particular land, the earth, the ground, the soil, and so on. Therefore, the answer remains open to interpretation. A third of these heavenly bodies being struck would mean that the light of them is diminished by one third. The sun that is normally seen would be darkened by one third. The same is true with the moon and stars. Thus, many dim stars would be completely obscured. Considering this as a literal occurrence, it could still have figurative meaning. The sense of judgment, oppression, confusion, and so on, from the darkening of the heavens could translate directly to the same thing occurring in the people of the world. In other words, when Christ was born, there was the star in the east that indicated His coming. The real event in the heavens directed the people to the fulfillment of what it was calling out to be seen. Likewise, the literal event in the heavens (here in Revelation 8) could be calling out to direct the people to the fulfillment on earth – human confusion, oppression, and so on. Therefore, the scope of the event – it being over Israel or over the whole world – would then have less importance than the event itself. The effects of the star being seen above Bethlehem were realized in the coming of Messiah for the whole world. Although there are differences, this trumpet judgment is not entirely unlike the ninth plague against Egypt. There, the sun was totally obscured for three days. Here, it is only partially obscured. That was shown to be a judgment against Egypt’s sun god, Ra. Here, the event is showing that the world and how it operates under the heavens is at the control of the Lord. This is certain because the event is prophesied in advance. Thus, it demonstrates His sovereignty over time and over the physical universe. Assuming this is a literal obscuring of the heavenly bodies, whether it is global or localized, it is a heavenly sign of God’s disapproval of the actions of man and they are being judged for them. That literal sign of judgment is then to be worked out against man in confusion and chaos. What is certain is that the events of the fifth and sixth trumpets involve real events that will actually happen in and among men dwelling on the earth. This will be seen when we get to those verses. Life application: During the Gulf War, the oil fields of Kuwait were set on fire. In this, a great parallel is seen between here and the coming trumpet judgments. It may even be that those events were precursors to what will come again – probably against the land of Israel in particular. There was so much smoke from those fields that it literally obscured the sun, moon, and stars in a large swath of the earth for an extended period of time. The actual event corresponded to the confusion, war, and mayhem that was occurring on the ground as nations gathered in battle against Saddam Hussein and his forces. We may have been given an advanced demonstration of how these events will be played out during the tribulation. In fact, some of the events to be described in the coming fifth and sixth trumpets amazingly parallel what happened in Iraq. For now, let us consider that the book is written, the events are going to come to pass, and they will be known as the fulfillment of prophesy after they occur. We don’t need to fret about the cataclysmic things that occur around us as if God is out of control. Rather, prophecy is given to show us that He is in complete control. Let us hold fast to this and not be in fear. Instead, let us direct our hearts to the Lord who is our Peace. Let us direct our hearts to JESUS! Lord God, how thankful we are to You that, in a world of seeming chaos and confusion, we know that You are in complete control. Events of the future are prophesied to show us that You are in complete control. Whatever happens in the temporary will be overshadowed by the eternal wonder we will experience in Your presence. Thank You that we can live without fear because of the great hope we possess in Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jan 3, 2021 1:30:54 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 8:13, 2 January 2021 www.wonderful1.comSaturday, 2 January 2021 And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!” Revelation 8:13 John has just reported what he saw in the sounding of the fourth trumpet and the judgments associated with it. Now, his eyes are redirected, and he says, “And I looked, and I heard an angel.” Manuscripts vary here in saying either, “an angel,” or “one eagle.” For those who believe it properly reads “angel,” their support for it comes from Revelation 14:6 – “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people.” The claim for this view is that the words “another angel” mean that what is presented here in verse 8:13 must obviously be speaking of a first angel. It sounds logical at first, but is the term “another” referring to this angel in Revelation 8:13, or another angel in the succession of angels that are presented in the book? The term “another angel” (or a close variation such as “another mighty angel”) is used nine times in Revelation (7:2, 8:3, 10:1, 14:6, 14:8, 14:15, 14:17, 14:18, & 18:1) when speaking of a general succession of angels without regard to any other particular angel. Further, with “another angel” presented between verse 8:3 and verse 14:6, the defense does not hold up. Whether the term “another angel” or “one eagle” is correct is debatable, but the defense of tying verse 8:3 to verse 14:6 is unsound. If this is an angel, it signifies a messenger of any sort. If it is an eagle, it is still a messenger, but the symbolism can be derived from other passages of the Old Testament where the nesher, or “eagle,” is found – “The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand, 50 a nation of fierce countenance, which does not respect the elderly nor show favor to the young. 51 And they shall eat the increase of your livestock and the produce of your land, until you are destroyed; they shall not leave you grain or new wine or oil, or the increase of your cattle or the offspring of your flocks, until they have destroyed you.” Deuteronomy 28:49-51 “Set the trumpet to your mouth! He shall come like an eagle against the house of the LORD, Because they have transgressed My covenant And rebelled against My law.” Hosea 8:1 “Their horses also are swifter than leopards, And more fierce than evening wolves. Their chargers charge ahead; Their cavalry comes from afar; They fly as the eagle that hastens to eat.” Habakkuk 1:8 The Hebrew word nesher comes from an unused root meaning “to lacerate.” Thus, this is an eagle or other large bird of prey. From these and other verses, it is apparent that the eagle represents a quick, decisive creature that strikes at its enemies in vengeance. Such aligns well with what is seen in the coming judgments. The angel or eagle now being presented is very likely another manifestation of Jesus. This is not without precedent as the Lord of the Old Testament is likened to an eagle several times – “As an eagle stirs up its nest, Hovers over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking them up, Carrying them on its wings, 12 So the LORD alone led him, And there was no foreign god with him.” Deuteronomy 32:11, 12 “Behold, He shall come up and fly like the eagle, And spread His wings over Bozrah; The heart of the mighty men of Edom in that day shall be Like the heart of a woman in birth pangs.” Jeremiah 49:22 These and other verses, and the symbolism of the eagle representing the fourth gospel (the book of John), allow for this to then be another part of the unfolding revelation of Jesus Christ, heralding the events that are to follow upon the earth. And so, whether angel or eagle, it next says it is “flying through the midst of heaven.” Here is introduced a word that is seen just three times in Revelation, mesouranéma. It signifies the meridian, or the highest point in the heavens (the zenith) that the sun occupies in the middle of the day. It is not speaking of the space between heaven and earth. This divine messenger (whether angel or eagle) is “saying with a loud voice, ‘Woe, woe, woe.’” The Greek word is an interjection commonly used by Jesus in the synoptic gospels, ouai. It signifies grief, and thus one could also say, “alas.” Repeating this three times is a means of providing strong emphasis, and thus doom is being proclaimed because the denunciation is directed “to the inhabitants of the earth.” As is common, the Greek word used for “earth” could be speaking of the land of Israel, the Mideast, or even the entire earth. The sounding of the sixth trumpet specifically mentions the area of the Euphrates, and so the word here certainly extends to those coming from that direction and area, but it does not mean that those troops are not destroyed in the land of Israel during the battle described in those verses. Because of the sheer number of those mentioned in that trumpet judgment, the “inhabitants of the earth,” here, surely speaks of many peoples from many places, if not the entire planet. With that understood, the call of woe continues with the words, “because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!” That is specifically speaking of the three final trumpet judgments. There is much destruction and there will be innumerable deaths associated with them. Life application: The repetition of a word in the Bible is meant to call stress to that word, such as when we use boldface, italics, or when we put an exclamation point at the end of a sentence or word. Only a very few times in the Bible is a word repeated three times. When these occur, they are not just stressing a point, but they are stressing it to the highest degree. Some other instances of a triple repetition are in Isaiah 6:3, Jeremiah 7:4, Jeremiah 22:29, Ezekiel 21:27, and Revelation 4:8. The above verse is conveying to the world that what has happened so far with the first four trumpet judgments will be nothing compared to what is coming in the next three. The world is headed for immense trouble from these three trumpet judgments, and it will only continue to get worse because another series of judgments will follow the trumpets. What is coming will be targeted and decisive in nature. In understanding this, one purpose of the book of Revelation is that it serves as a warning to the people of the world of what lies ahead. One could dismiss its contents if it was a stand-alone book. But the terminology used in it is derived from all of the rest of the Bible, a book which has carefully and exactingly produced numerous fulfilled prophecies already. As this is so, and with this impeccable track record, the contents of the book are to be taken seriously. They are to be accepted as true and reliable prophecies of what is coming upon the world. And that is to be based on the world’s rejection of God’s offer of His Son. Man is given the choice to accept or reject what God has done. Be wise. Call out today for God’s saving offer of JESUS! O Lord, when Isaiah looked up and saw you in the temple, he cried out Holy, Holy, Holy. Your glory overwhelmed him. However, the world today simply shrugs a shoulder and turns its back on You. How can we be held guiltless when we reject our Creator? Surely You are righteous in bringing judgment upon the world. Give us hearts now to understand our state and turn to You through Your offer of grace and mercy - Jesus. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jan 4, 2021 1:49:53 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 9:1, 3 January 2021 www.wonderful1.comSunday, 3 January 2021 Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. Revelation 9:1 Chapter nine begins with the continued sounding of the trumpets. John now says, “Then the fifth angel sounded.” The previous verse had called out, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!” That process has now begun. With the sounding, John next says, “And I saw a star.” As was noted in Chapter 6, stars point to leaders in high positions, religious or otherwise. This is certainly the case here as well. With this understanding, John next says, “fallen from heaven to the earth.” Some translations incorrectly make the words active – “I saw a star fall from heaven” (KJV). This is not the sense at all. The verb is a perfect participle. The Greek literally reads, “And I saw a star out of the heaven, fallen to the earth.” It had already fallen, and that is how John sees it. The words are reminiscent of Isaiah 14:12 – “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!” Also, in Luke 10:18, where Jesus says, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” Whether this is Satan, a fallen angel, or a person under Satan’s control is debated, but the connection is obvious either way. This is a being that is fallen and whose domain is not connected with heaven. To understand how this could be a human, Daniel 8 must be considered. There, and speaking of humans in relation to stars in this same way, it says – “And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. 11 He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down.” Daniel 8:10, 11 With this in mind, John next says, “To him was given the key to the bottomless pit.” The Greek rightly reads, “And was given to him the key of the pit of the abyss.” Special note concerning right thinking: There is an odd group of people, who are actually and inexplicably increasing in number, that believe the earth is flat. One of their main points is that the idea of stars falling to earth is to be taken literally. They claim the proves the stars cannot be billions of miles away. However, stars don’t fall to earth, get handed keys, and then go open pits. This one, however, is referred to in the masculine, him, and is given a key. Thus, like the other such uses in Scripture, verses like this are obviously to be taken metaphorically. Having noted this, one reason to believe this could be Satan or a demon is that the star is “fallen.” This indicates that it is not an angel who held its position in heaven, but, like Adam, fell in a spiritual sense. Another such interpretation can be found in Jude 1:6 – “And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day…” As this star was given the key, it means that it doesn’t have authority over it except as it is granted to him, meaning at the direction of the Creator. A similar situation where the Lord is shown to have authority even over fallen angels can be found in Job 1 where He directs Satan’s movements. This pit is alluded to throughout the Bible, such as in Psalm 55:23 – “But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction…” This place of destruction is where sinners and fallen angels go to be held in custody until the final judgment. However, because God controls all things, it can be opened at His direction. Such is the case here. Life application: One point of doctrine that is made absolutely certain in Scripture is that the Lord is sovereign over all things. Satan cannot operate without the permission of the Lord, and his minions cannot afflict us without it being allowed. And yet, we open ourselves up to these allowances. The unsaved who do not come to Christ have the devil as their head (see John 8:44 and 1 John 3:8, for example). Saved believers in Christ have moved to the authority of Jesus, but we can still allow ourselves to be afflicted by demons. This is certain based on the words of Paul found in Ephesians 6 – “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:10-13 We remain in a spiritual battle, and we are told to actively participate in both offensive and defensive measures in order to stand against such things. The only way to do this is to take the advice Paul lays out in that chapter, along with applying the many other admonitions of Scripture concerning such things. And the only way to do those things is to read and know your Bible. This precious word is God’s gift to us concerning such things. His intent for man is found there, if we will but listen. And the first thing we must do is to come to Him as He has shown is right. That is through the offering of His Son, our Lord JESUS. Lord God, we can tell from Scripture that there is a great unseen world around us where the forces of wickedness operate. Thank You for giving us insights into this. By seeing that You control even this unseen world, we need not fear these things, but we can know for certain that You are in complete control of them. Thank you for these insights. Help us to apply the tools You have given us to stand in this great battle. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jan 5, 2021 1:16:35 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 9:2, 4 January 2021
www.wonderful1.comMonday, 4 January 2021 And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. Revelation 9:2 This verse is in response to the actions of the previous verse where the “star fallen from heaven to earth” was given the key to the bottomless pit. It now says, “And he opened the bottomless pit.” As noted in the previous verse, stars in the sky don’t get keys and open pits. But this one does, indicating that the words are to be taken in a metaphorical way. The star is speaking of a being that had fallen from heaven and is now given authority to take a specific action – that of opening the pit of the abyss. Here we see that the ninth chapter of Revelation corresponds to the ninth letter of the Hebrew aleph-bet. The ninth letter, teth, pictures a basket, and it signifies “surround,” “contain,” and “mud.” In this chapter is found the bottomless pit that contains the great army of locusts. If the pit of the abyss is where demons are located, then demonic forces can be expected to be released. One must then decide if these are literally coming to do what is stated in the verses ahead. Or are these things to be seen reflective of other things – such as fallen people who are on the side of the devil. In other words, Nazi Germany had a leader who was certainly demonically influenced. His people, then, could be equated with those who are demonically led. Thus, they would be as if they had come out of the bottomless pit. The question is, “How literal are the verses to be taken, or how allegorical are they to be taken?” As the events are future, only best guesses can be made. Regardless of that for now, with the opening of the pit, John next says, “and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace.” The words are reminiscent of Genesis 19:27, 28 – “And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD. 28 Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace.” This signified judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah had taken place. Another note with a similar tone is found in Exodus 19:18 – “Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.” The symbolism there, at the giving of the Law of Moses, is that of the Lord’s holiness, terror of not meeting it, and both wrath and judgment when failure to meet it occurs. The law was given to show the people of the world their desperate need for God’s grace, as is found in Jesus Christ. The world has rejected that, and thus, the analogy here is that of impending doom. The very word used to describe the furnace in the Old Testament verses gives a clue to what is being pictured. In Hebrew, the word is kibshan, a kiln. However, that is derived from the verb kabash, meaning to subdue, or to bring into bondage. One can see that the giving of the law actually brought people into bondage – not freedom (something spoken of by Jesus, Peter, and Paul). The people have rejected Christ’s freedom, they have remained apart from Him, and the terror and wrath of God will be poured out on them because of this. Although this is getting ahead of things, something needs to be stated now because the “furnace” terminology is presented at this time. A concept that has been addressed, and that should be addressed again now, concerns what the scope of what is being presented here is. Are the verses speaking of judgment against Israel only, or against the Mideast, or against the whole world? Daniel 9 clearly indicates that Israel is given seven more years under the Law of Moses. Because only Israel was given the law, it is quite possible that these judgments are coming solely against Israel. Thus, the vast multitudes mentioned in the coming verses are coming against them as God’s instruments of judgment (such as was the case with the Assyrians and Babylonians as is specifically mentioned in the Old Testament). For now, the words of John continue with, “So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit.” This can either be symbolic, literal, or both. If symbolic, it is reflective of the judgment on Israel for their wickedness literally permeating the heavens. Or it could be literal as war ensues in the land and the air is filled with the smoke of battle. Or the spiritual could be worked out in the physical – meaning both are the case. There is already a precedent for the events now recorded, and that will be recorded in the verses ahead. In fact, it is an astonishingly similar pattern – that of the Gulf War. During that war, the oil fields of Kuwait were set on fire, and the entire area was literally shrouded in darkness as the battles ensued. A spiritual darkness also covered the area as the forces engaged in battle. More parallels to this war, which perhaps was given as a precursor to what will happen again in Israel, will be seen in the verses to come. Life application: As noted, during the first Gulf War, these verses well-resembled what occurred when Saddam Hussein set fire to the oil fields of Kuwait. His actions, although physical in nature and caused by humans, were certainly influenced by evil spiritual forces. Possibly in the future there will be a similar occurrence when armed conflict causes massive and widespread burning that brings about a darkening of the sun and the air. The tribulation period is given to cleanse the earth of its unrighteousness, but it is more specifically given to accomplish this in Israel. Six points of correction were noted to Daniel concerning Israel’s remaining time under the law, culminating in a final seven-year period – “Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.” Daniel 9:24 None of these were accomplished in the first four-hundred and eighty-three years. This means those six things are to be accomplished during their final seven-year period. The point of explaining this in the life application section is that Israel, though returned to their land by the Lord, is still not right with the Lord. They promote self-righteousness, they promote homosexuality, they promote every type of perverse conduct that the rest of the world promotes. And they do it while living under the dispensation of Law. They bear God’s name, Israel, and yet they are far from Him. The purpose of God’s judgments upon them are corrective in nature. And they will be corrected. Someday they will call out to God through Jesus Christ, and they will be saved as a nation. But two-thirds of them will die in the process. There are two aspects of dealing with Israel that must be considered then. The first is that we are not to jump on the “support Israel at all costs” bandwagon. As a nation, they are immoral and perverse, and their conduct should be called out. And yet, they are God’s chosen people to complete His redemptive purposes for the world through them. Therefore, we are to also support them and pray for them. They need their Messiah. Let us pray for Israel to find their true Messiah. Let us pray for them to find JESUS! Heavenly Father, You would have Your creatures love You and to love one another, but instead, we revile Your glorious name and we also resolve our conflicts with anger, war, and destruction. We, as believers in Jesus Christ, look forward to the Day when He returns. Someday, these things will no longer occur. We look forward to the Day when righteousness reigns on the earth. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jan 6, 2021 23:16:02 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 9:3, 5 January 2021
www.wonderful1.comTuesday, 5 January 2021 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. Revelation 9:3 The events resulting from the sounding of the fifth trumpet continue with these words. The bottomless pit was opened, smoke arose out of it like a furnace, and now John says, “And out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth.” It must be noted that, like the stars representing earthly leaders, locusts in the Bible also represent real people. Due to their number and the way they organize and move in ranks, they symbolize massive armies that work in essentially the same way. First from the proverbs – “The locusts have no king, Yet they all advance in ranks.” Proverbs 30:27 Armies, then, are likened to locusts because of the advance in ranks. However, locusts also fly and devour. That will be seen in the coming verses. For now, not only do locusts represent ranks, but various aspects of warring ranks. From the book of Jeremiah – “Set up a banner in the land, Blow the trumpet among the nations! Prepare the nations against her, Call the kingdoms together against her: Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a general against her; Cause the horses to come up like the bristling locusts.” Jeremiah 51:27 Locusts are used in simile concerning the riders and the horses of these nations. And again, from the book of Joel – “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you.” Joel 2:25 Here, the armies that brought destruction on Israel are equated to the destructive locusts of the land. And, yet again, from the book of Nahum – “Draw your water for the siege! Fortify your strongholds! Go into the clay and tread the mortar! Make strong the brick kiln! 15 There the fire will devour you, The sword will cut you off; It will eat you up like a locust. Make yourself many—like the locust! Make yourself many—like the swarming locusts! 16 You have multiplied your merchants more than the stars of heaven. The locust plunders and flies away. 17 Your commanders are like swarming locusts, And your generals like great grasshoppers, Which camp in the hedges on a cold day; When the sun rises they flee away, And the place where they are is not known.” Nahum 3:14-17 The imagery is clear. The warring armies of real humans are equated to locusts. There is no need to depart from the symbolism here in Revelation. These are not some supernatural beasts that suddenly appear in the world, nor are they angels coming to fight in battle. Rather, what we have presented here are real people employing modern means of combat. What John will describe is from the eyes of a person who had never seen or known of such things, and so he is using apocalyptic terminology to describe it as best as he can. With that in mind, he next says, “And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.” Scorpions are arachnids that have an exoskeleton (an external covering of the body that provides support and protection) and they have terrible stings in their tails. What John will describe in the coming verses is exactly like this. There is no need to devolve into the fantastic and devise mutant creatures, Nephilim warriors, or space aliens. Rather, what is written about here will be clearly understood with simple examples of modern warfare. Life application: The plague of locusts is a common theme in the Bible. The 8th plague on Egypt involved locusts, and the book of Joel deals with differing locust plagues in detail – “What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; What the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten; And what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.” Joel 1:4 Using Old Testament symbology, John will give the best possible description he can. It will be based on the times he lived in and from the view of the world as he saw it, but not until modern times could we clearly identify what these locusts are. Even until recently, scholars have symbolically termed them demons or other spiritual beings because what is described are obviously not real locusts. These locusts are said to have been “given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.” Thus, John is speaking in simile. Scorpions are small and can go anywhere because of their size. They are found on every continent but Antarctica. They can go places that other things can’t go and they have the ability to hurt those that they attack. Their exoskeletons protect their insides. These attributes describe what we will see in the verses ahead. Lord God, it is always so interesting to see what You have placed in Your word. It is often a challenge to our minds to try to understand what is being conveyed to us and how it points to future events. But in carefully studying Your word in its entirety, we can form a much better picture of how things fit into the overall story. And so, help us to be diligent in our studies, cherishing Your word always. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jan 6, 2021 23:20:32 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 9:4, 6 January 2021
www.wonderful1.comWednesday, 6 January 2021 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. Revelation 9:4 This now refers to the locusts mentioned in the previous verse that were given the power “as the scorpions of the earth have power.” Of these “locusts,” John says, “They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth.” The “green grass” was mentioned in verse 8:7. There, it said that “all the green grass was burned up.” Though the two thoughts seem contradictory, they do not have to be. As previously noted, the word “earth” can signify many things, from a certain land – such as Israel – to a portion of the earth, or the entire earth, and so on. Therefore, the destruction of the first trumpet could be localized to an area, and in that area, all the grass is burned up. As noted then, the grass being referred to could also be literal or figurative. Another point is that the term “locusts” is certainly being used in a figurative sense. This is because of what was cited from the proverbs in the previous verse – “The locusts have no king, Yet they all advance in ranks.” Proverbs 30:27 The locusts here in Revelation are “commanded,” implying having a leader. These “locusts” are given orders, and they are on a particular mission. Next, it says, “or any green thing, or any tree.” Again, the trees were mentioned in verse 8:7. Mentioning them again, along with the grass and any other green thing, appears to demand a symbolic interpretation of what these things are. Green implies life, health, and vigor. Jesus used this idea as He was being led to His crucifixion in Luke 23 – “For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!’ 30 Then they will begin ‘to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ 31 For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?” Luke 23:29-31 As noted in verse 8:7, the green trees would then speak of people in rule and authority. The green grass would be representative of the people in general, and the other green things may extend to animals of the people from the pet dog to livestock. Such is speculation, and it is hard to be dogmatic about the events. Whatever is alive and healthy appears to be what is referred to in these metaphors. The reason for this is what is then said in the contrasting words that complete the verse, saying “but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” Locusts are naturally creatures that eat the green things of the earth. For them not to do so would be contrary to their very nature. With this understanding, these “locusts” are commanded to do what is contrary to the normal function of an actual locust. This needs to be remembered in order to understand what is being presented. The “seal of God” was referred to in Chapter 7 in relation to the sealing of the one hundred and forty-four thousand of Israel. The sealing was on their foreheads, and so these are those who are being referred to again. Thus, as noted in Chapter 8, it appears that the trumpet judgments are localized to the land of Israel. There are those of Israel who are redeemed by Christ, and then there are those who are not. It is those who are not sealed that are targeted by these locusts. Life application: Probably, because the sealed are Jewish believers in Christ, these “locusts” are kept from coming against all of Israel – believer or unbeliever – because they would certainly be intermingled and living together in the land. If this is correct, in this time of trial, grace can be found on those who don’t yet believe, because they are protected along with those who do. This is a similar concept to 1 Corinthians 7:14, where children with one believing parent and one unbelieving parent are sanctified by the believing parent. In the end of the tribulation, the nation of Israel as a whole will call on Jesus as Lord, and it is when they do that He will return. Until then, they will go through many trials and troubles as their hard hearts fail to see what is so obvious and clear – that Jesus Christ is their Lord, King, Savior, and Messiah. Until then, they are as lost as they can be. Like the unsaved that we pray for around the world, remember to pray for the nation of Israel as well – the people and the nation. They are surrounded by many hating nations, and things will only get much worse before they get better. But that better day is coming. When Jesus returns, He will set up His glorious kingdom in their midst. Heavenly Father, thank You for how You have faithfully kept every promise to Your people Israel and how You, even now, look over them and protect them. Your faithfulness to them is to be a sure reminder that You are also faithful to us, even when we fail You. The covenant in Christ’s blood has been made, and You have made sure promises to those who receive it by faith. Thank You for Your faithfulness! You have promised to keep and protect us, and Your word is true. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jan 8, 2021 3:03:38 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 9:5, 7 January 2021 www.wonderful1.comThursday, 7 January 2021 And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. Revelation 9:5 These locusts that came out of the smoke of the abyss were given power like scorpions and were commanded to not harm the grass or any green thing. They are only given permission to harm the people who don’t have the seal of God on their forehead. As John says, “And they were not given authority to kill them.” What is being described here is not unlike a modern battle using aerial weapons. This will become more evident in the verses ahead. Locusts are flying creatures. Scorpions are creatures that have a hard exoskeleton. And more, scorpions have stingers to harm their enemies. Unlike real locusts, these have an authority over them. That authority has determined to torment, but not to kill. This is exactingly what happened during the Vietnam war at times, also in the Gulf War, and in many battles since. It is also what happens in Israel constantly. The air forces of these nations are given authority to attack the enemy from the air, but they are actually not given permission to kill anyone. Hence, for example, they will give a warning that a building is going to be destroyed. Once the occupants clear out, down it goes. An example of this is recorded on Wikipedia, saying – “As early as 2006 the IDF had the practice of warning the inhabitants of a building that was about to be attacked. Roof knocking was used during the 2008–2009 Gaza War, Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012, and Operation Protective Edge in 2014. In the six months prior to its use, Israel collected data on Hamas members, which they used to issue warnings. Typically, Israeli intelligence officers and Shin Bet security servicemen contacted residents of a building in which they suspected storage of military assets and told them that they had 10–15 minutes to flee the attack, although in some cases the delay has been as little as five minutes.’ This was common practice in the Gulf War as well. Coalition forces would give demonstrations of their capabilities to the enemy battle lines. This would be followed with a warning to surrender or be destroyed in the same manner. Again, from Wikipedia – “Eleven BLU-82Bs were palletized and dropped in five night missions during the 1991 Gulf War, all from Special Operations MC-130 Combat Talons. ... Later, bombs were dropped as much for their psychological effect as for their anti-personnel effects. Due to the size of the conventional blast, a British SAS unit that witnessed the explosion mistakenly assumed the U.S. had used a nuclear weapon and radioed back to their headquarters exclaiming, ‘Sir, the blokes have just nuked Kuwait!’” In one such drop, intended for psychological effect, an entire battle line surrendered rather than face such a terrifying weapon. This type of warfare is then a perfect example of John’s next words. The locusts were given authority not to kill, “but to torment them for five months.” The Gulf War lasted forty-two days. During much of that time, surgical strikes were made that were intended to harm but not to kill. Operations in the Gaza war lasted various time lengths, and the intent by Israel was to wage war with as little loss of enemy life as possible. What John is seeing in Revelation is certainly such a battle. This is then evidenced by the next words. He notes that “Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man.” John is describing what he calls locusts. These have power as the scorpions of the earth have (certainly offensive, but not excluding defensive – meaning its exoskeleton), and they are given authority to torment, but not to kill. The offensive torment of a scorpion is a sharp and painful sting. A person two thousand years ago who is watching a modern battle would see jet fighters shooting their missiles at the enemy (who has already been given warning to evacuate a building) and think he was watching some sort of creature shooting its sting. John, not understanding what he was seeing in a modern sense, is accurately describing exactly such a modern scenario with imagery that was known to him. This will continue to be exactingly described by him in the verses ahead. Life application: What is happening here is similar to the account in Ezekiel Chapter 9 where judgment came on the Israelites for rejecting God and turning after idolatry. In that passage, those without the seal of God are killed. However, these unbelievers during the Tribulation are only tormented for five months but are not killed. There is a mixture of grace and punishment in this. The mercy is that their lives are spared, but the punishment is that they have to endure the torment as if being struck by a scorpion when it strikes a man. In other words, there is great affliction, pain, and suffering involved in a scorpion sting and these people will endure through that. Lamentations 4:9 tells us that sometimes death is preferable to life in such dire situations – “Those slain by the sword are better off Than those who die of hunger; For these pine away, Stricken for lack of the fruits of the field.” In the end, such trials and troubles are brought upon us. We can’t point our finger at God and blame Him when He has revealed Himself to us in the Person of Jesus, as testified through His word. Even more so, we have to accept the fact that the world has been told, in advance, of what is coming and how to avoid it. Surely God is just. But in His love for His people, He sent an offer of peace in the giving of His Son. Through Him is pardon from sin and reconciliation to God through adoption. All God asks man to do is to believe. Accept the gospel today. Call on JESUS. Lord, our eyes look to You for all good things, and surely all the necessities of life are graciously given to us. But when we receive them, we look at them as the work of our own hands, forgetting that they came from You. Eventually, we push You out of our lives completely and reap the harvest of such unrighteousness. Surely You are justified when You judge us in our faithlessness. But Lord, soften our hearts and remind us that You are the Source of all goodness and blessing. May we always return gratitude to You for such things. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jan 9, 2021 2:36:10 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 9:6, 8 January 2021
www.wonderful1.comFriday, 8 January 2021 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them. Revelation 9:6 The translation here is lacking several definite articles – “In those days, the men will seek the death and will not find it. They will desire to die. And the death flees from them.” In this, it graphically personifies death, and it shows the miserable state of existence of these particular men. They are looking for Death, anticipating him. And yet, this same Death will be escaping out of their reach, fleeing from them though they long to embrace him. With those changes noted, the words can be more precisely analyzed. John begins with, “In those days.” This is referring to the time of the locusts tormenting the men they target like the torment of a scorpion. It is a period of five months. From there, John says, “[the] men will seek [the] death.” The death brought on by the locusts is what is anticipated. So constant, so maddening, and so terrifying is their sting that with each new attack, these targeted men will hope that the barrage will find them and destroy them. For five months, there will be no time of expected safety or calm. Like a person enduring Chinese water torture, the attacks will come at any time without warning. Morning, noon, or throughout the night. Sleep will be impossible, mealtime will be a time of fear, and so on. The state of death will be preferred over continued existence. And yet, John says of their seeking death, that they “will not find it.” Like soldiers stuck in a foxhole enduring a constant barrage of artillery, and who finally come to the point where they desire the next shell to end their existence, so will these people hope that the next air assault will be their end. The strain on the human physique, and the torture to the mind, will come to such an exhausted state that death will be preferable to life. Of this, John next says that “they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.” The repetition here is a poetic tool known as parallelism. It is found throughout the Bible. A thought is stated and then it is restated in a similar manner. It is a means of intensifying the text to accentuate the emotion. It emphasizes what is being said and it draws the reader’s attention to the situation – * men will seek death and will not find it * they will desire to die, and death will flee from them The obvious question is, “If they are seeking death and yet not finding it, then why don’t they kill themselves.” This is the paradox of human existence. Though we may long for something, we will often not actively pursue it. Even when a person is faced with the hope of death, there is still such a strong will to survive that the thought of suicide is entirely excluded. Were it not so, the battlefields of history would be riddled with self-inflicted wounds. And yet, they are an almost insignificant number in comparison to the overall total. And of those deaths that are self-inflicted during war, the majority of those are for reasons beyond the simple desire to end one’s existence. Soldiers will sacrifice themselves for the sake of others. Or they may fall on their own sword to avoid worse treatment while still alive (see 1 Samuel 31:4). In this, one can see the absolutely horrifying nature of the attack by the locusts. Men will be driven to a point of desiring death and yet inwardly yearning to not die. This is where the parallelism of the passages finds its highest accentuation. Death, the feared entity of humanity, will be sought after as if a lover. And yet, he will flee from these men as if he were their greatest mocker. Life application: There are many literary tools found in the Bible such as parallelism. They are given to help the reader understand the context, empathize with those referred to, find horror, suspense, or delight in what is being conveyed, and so on. Parallelism can be found in positive thoughts and in negative thoughts. A set of positive ones from the Psalms says – “You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. 3 You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways.” Psalm 139:2, 3 Taking the words of John, and comparing them to known history, can then help us to understand what is being conveyed. In the Gulf War, the Iraqi soldiers who had been captured from the front lines made statements similar to what we read in this verse. They had been under precision-guided attacks by the American forces and sat in their tanks waiting and wondering when their time would be up. They had prayed for death and it didn’t come. The agony of the uncertain state they were in was so horrifying that all they wanted was for it to be over. They desired death, but it fled from them. This is the same sentiment that will come again during this time of targeted attacks by the locusts of Revelation and the parallels are striking. One thing the people won’t do, just as they didn’t do in Iraq, was to commit suicide. The force and desire to live is strongest at one’s own hand, but the desire to die is stronger when another may take it. It is a terrible state to be in. As we read the Bible, let us consider the various types of literary tools that are employed, and then let us compare what is being said to things we know from our own experience. In this, we will have a better grounding in both the context and how it is worked out in human existence. This is a link to one site of biblical literary devices. Make yourself aware of them – www.kentlee7.com/biblia/docs/blitdevice.htmIn knowing what is conveyed, we will be more responsible in our theology because we will be rightly analyzing what is stated. In this, we will then be rightly pursuing what the intent of the passage is. These things are given to properly unfold Scripture, and Scripture is given to properly reveal to us the One who came to lead us back to God. It is given to properly reveal JESUS! Lord God, help us to get the message of Jesus out to the people of the world. It is a message of love, hope, and reconciliation with You. May we never tire in telling others of the wonder and majesty of the simple gospel of our salvation – Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day. Belief in this simple plan is what brings us back to You. Praise You, O God, for the simplicity of the gospel. Amen.
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