Sorry about missing two days this week...sometimes things just get in the way! Lets finish chapter 11 today!
Revelation 11:15-19
The Seventh Trumpet
15Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." 16And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17saying,
"We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
who is and who was,
for you have taken your great power
and begun to reign.
18The nations raged,
but your wrath came,
and the time for the dead to be judged,
and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,
and those who fear your name,
both small and great,
and for destroying the destroyers of the earth."
19Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
Verse 15 tells us the seventh angel blew his trumpet and loud voices were heard in heaven saying "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." This is reminding us who is in charge! Jesus! It is also a picture of the millennial reign of Christ coming! In verse 16 we see once again twenty-four elders who sit on thrones before God fall on their face and worship God! In worship they also praise God for the coming reign and judgement of Christ. We also see in verse 18 at the second coming of Christ the dead will be judged (Great white throne judgement). Also the saints will be rewarded for their for service to God both great and small (Bema Seat of Christ judgement)!
Finally in verse 19 we get a glimpse into heaven. The temple in heaven is opened and we see the ark of the covenant. Wow I guess that pretty well tells us we might as well not look for it any longer here as many have....it is in heaven! This is a look into the holiest of hollies, thus we have lightning, rumbles and peals of thunder, an earth quake, and heavy hail. What an awesome thing to think about!
Tom
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Revelation #35
Today we will look at the two witnesses in more detail.
Revelation 11:4-14
4These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. 7And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, 8and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. 11But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here!" And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.
In verse 4 we are told these two witnesses are" the two olive trees" and " the two lampstands". We have to look at Zechariah 4 to get the meaning of this:
Zechariah 4:11
11Then I said to him, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?"
Zechariah 4:14
14Then he said, "These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth."
The two olive trees tell us these two witness es are anointed of God! The lampstand if you remember from earlier studies is the church, so these two witnesses are also the church of God at this time. Verse 5 goes on to tell us they are protected by God and if anyone tries to harm them they will be consumed by fire from their mouth. Now we are not sure if the fire from mouth is symbolic as God rained fire from heaven in 2 Kings 1:10-12.
2 Kings 1:10-12
10But Elijah answered the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty." Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
11Again the king sent to him another captain of fifty men with his fifty. And he answered and said to him, "O man of God, this is the king’s order, 'Come down quickly!'" 12But Elijah answered them, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty." Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
Or if the witnesses literally consume people with fire from their mouth. I tend to believe it is the symbolic picture. In verse 6 we are told they also have the power to "shut the sky up from rain while they prophesy". We also have seen this power before from Elijah:
1 Kings 17:1
1Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word."
They also have the power to turn water into blood like Moses:
Exodus 7:14-24
14Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh’s heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water. Stand on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that turned into a serpent. 16And you shall say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, "Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness. But so far, you have not obeyed." 17Thus says the LORD, "By this you shall know that I am the LORD: behold, with the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water that is in the Nile, and it shall turn into blood. 18The fish in the Nile shall die, and the Nile will stink, and the Egyptians will grow weary of drinking water from the Nile."'" 19And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, their canals, and their ponds, and all their pools of water, so that they may become blood, and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, even in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.'"
20Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood. 21And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 22But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts. So Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said. 23Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not take even this to heart. 24And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink the water of the Nile.
And they could strike the earth with any kind of plague as often as they wanted....wow these are some powerful, anointed servants of God! Verse 7 tells us when they have finished their testimony (in other words in God's timing) the beast will be allowed out of the bottomless pit and will kill the two witnesses and let they lay in the street for 3 and 1/2 days in Jerusalem which the cities Sodom and Egypt represent here when described as where the Lord was crucified. Verse 9 tells us the world will gaze at them and will not allow them to be buried. Verse 10 says they will rejoice over their death by exchanging presents! Wow! We are told they are celebrating because the two prophets had been a torment to them. They we a torment because those on earth refused to believe the truth! Verse 11 tells us after the 3 and 1/2 days God breaths into them and they stand to their feet! Can you imagine what the effect of this will be??? They are resurrected! All who see them around the world on TV and at the actual site will have great fear! Verse 12 says they will hear God's voice from heaven calling them up. The will rise to heaven as their enemies watch. Verse 13 tells us at that very hour a great earthquake will take place and a tenth of the city will collapse and 7,000 people will die from the earthquake! Wow! We are told the rest are afraid and give glory to God, I am not sure if this is true worship or just a scared short lived tribute! In verse 14 we are told the second woe is now passed but another is coming soon!
Their is much to grasp today, very powerful!
Tom
Revelation 11:4-14
4These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. 7And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, 8and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. 11But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here!" And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.
In verse 4 we are told these two witnesses are" the two olive trees" and " the two lampstands". We have to look at Zechariah 4 to get the meaning of this:
Zechariah 4:11
11Then I said to him, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?"
Zechariah 4:14
14Then he said, "These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth."
The two olive trees tell us these two witness es are anointed of God! The lampstand if you remember from earlier studies is the church, so these two witnesses are also the church of God at this time. Verse 5 goes on to tell us they are protected by God and if anyone tries to harm them they will be consumed by fire from their mouth. Now we are not sure if the fire from mouth is symbolic as God rained fire from heaven in 2 Kings 1:10-12.
2 Kings 1:10-12
10But Elijah answered the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty." Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
11Again the king sent to him another captain of fifty men with his fifty. And he answered and said to him, "O man of God, this is the king’s order, 'Come down quickly!'" 12But Elijah answered them, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty." Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
Or if the witnesses literally consume people with fire from their mouth. I tend to believe it is the symbolic picture. In verse 6 we are told they also have the power to "shut the sky up from rain while they prophesy". We also have seen this power before from Elijah:
1 Kings 17:1
1Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word."
They also have the power to turn water into blood like Moses:
Exodus 7:14-24
14Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh’s heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water. Stand on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that turned into a serpent. 16And you shall say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, "Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness. But so far, you have not obeyed." 17Thus says the LORD, "By this you shall know that I am the LORD: behold, with the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water that is in the Nile, and it shall turn into blood. 18The fish in the Nile shall die, and the Nile will stink, and the Egyptians will grow weary of drinking water from the Nile."'" 19And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, their canals, and their ponds, and all their pools of water, so that they may become blood, and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, even in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.'"
20Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood. 21And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 22But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts. So Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said. 23Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not take even this to heart. 24And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink the water of the Nile.
And they could strike the earth with any kind of plague as often as they wanted....wow these are some powerful, anointed servants of God! Verse 7 tells us when they have finished their testimony (in other words in God's timing) the beast will be allowed out of the bottomless pit and will kill the two witnesses and let they lay in the street for 3 and 1/2 days in Jerusalem which the cities Sodom and Egypt represent here when described as where the Lord was crucified. Verse 9 tells us the world will gaze at them and will not allow them to be buried. Verse 10 says they will rejoice over their death by exchanging presents! Wow! We are told they are celebrating because the two prophets had been a torment to them. They we a torment because those on earth refused to believe the truth! Verse 11 tells us after the 3 and 1/2 days God breaths into them and they stand to their feet! Can you imagine what the effect of this will be??? They are resurrected! All who see them around the world on TV and at the actual site will have great fear! Verse 12 says they will hear God's voice from heaven calling them up. The will rise to heaven as their enemies watch. Verse 13 tells us at that very hour a great earthquake will take place and a tenth of the city will collapse and 7,000 people will die from the earthquake! Wow! We are told the rest are afraid and give glory to God, I am not sure if this is true worship or just a scared short lived tribute! In verse 14 we are told the second woe is now passed but another is coming soon!
Their is much to grasp today, very powerful!
Tom
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Revelation #33
Lets finish chapter 10 this morning!
Revelation 10:8-11
8Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, "Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land." 9So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, "Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey." 10And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. 11And I was told, "You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings."
These verses are good for us to study this morning. This is very similar to what happened in Ezekiel 3:1-3, 10.
Ezekiel 3:1-3
1And he said to me, "Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." 2So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. 3And he said to me, "Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it." Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.
Ezekiel 3:10
10Moreover, he said to me, "Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears.
Very cool huh? In the revelation verses we have for today we see John hear the voice from heaven speak and tell him to get the scroll from the angel who we seen yesterday was Jesus. In verse 9 we see when John got the scroll he is told to eat it but it will make his stomach bitter. In verse 10 we see John does as he is told and eats the scroll and it is sweet to taste but bitter to his stomach. Why was it bitter? First the scroll was full of judgement....that is not sweet but bitter! Second when our stomach is bitter many times it makes us vomit. This is picture we can get from here too....Get God's Word out! Judgement is coming to the world and we must get this message out along with the good news of Jesus Christ!
Are we obeying like John and telling folks about the Word of God?
Tom
Revelation 10:8-11
8Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, "Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land." 9So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, "Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey." 10And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. 11And I was told, "You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings."
These verses are good for us to study this morning. This is very similar to what happened in Ezekiel 3:1-3, 10.
Ezekiel 3:1-3
1And he said to me, "Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." 2So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. 3And he said to me, "Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it." Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.
Ezekiel 3:10
10Moreover, he said to me, "Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears.
Very cool huh? In the revelation verses we have for today we see John hear the voice from heaven speak and tell him to get the scroll from the angel who we seen yesterday was Jesus. In verse 9 we see when John got the scroll he is told to eat it but it will make his stomach bitter. In verse 10 we see John does as he is told and eats the scroll and it is sweet to taste but bitter to his stomach. Why was it bitter? First the scroll was full of judgement....that is not sweet but bitter! Second when our stomach is bitter many times it makes us vomit. This is picture we can get from here too....Get God's Word out! Judgement is coming to the world and we must get this message out along with the good news of Jesus Christ!
Are we obeying like John and telling folks about the Word of God?
Tom
Monday, October 10, 2011
Revelation #32
Alright lets resume our study of Revelation this morning!
Revelation 10:1-7
The Angel and the little scroll
1Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. 2 He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, 3and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. 4And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down." 5And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven 6and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, 7but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.
Inverse 1 John tells us he sees another mighty angel in a cloud coming down from heaven, this is a clue as to who this is. If we refer back to Revelation 1:7:
Revelation 1:7
7Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
Many times in scripture Jesus is on or in a cloud! Verse 1 continues on to tell us a rainbow was over his head...this represents his divinity as we seen the emblem of divinity encircling the throne of God in Revelation 4:3:
Revelation 4:3
3And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.
Verse 1 goes on to tell us that his face was like the sun which takes us takes us back to the transfiguration in Matthew 17:2
Matthew 17:2
2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
Then verse 1 tells us his legs were like pillars of fire which takes us to Exodus 13:21-22:
Exodus 13:21-22
21And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. 22The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.
So we see this is Jesus and verse 2 says He had a little scroll open in his hand....this is the scroll he had just opened the four seals from! Then we are told He set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land telling us his destination was the earth and Jesus is overwhelming! Verse 3 tells us He called out and it sounded like a roaring lion and seven thunders came forth. In verse 4 we are told John was about to write when these seven thunders came forth but he was told not to write what the message of the seven thunders were...so this is a mystery to us! In verses 5 we are told Jesus makes an oath to God that there would be no more delay....basically saying judgement is now and the mystery of God will be fulfilled as we are told in verse 7. What is this mystery of God?
Actually there are 11 mysteries which I will briefly detail here:
1. Mystery of the church- Ephesians 3:8-9-Love for Christ and each other.
2. Mystery of the Kingdom of heaven-Matthew 13- result of gospel introduced into the world.
3. Mystery of Israels blindness-Romans 11:25
4. Mystery of Rapture-1 Corinthians 15:51-53
5. Mystery of The Bride of Christ-Ephesians 5:28-32
6. Mystery of the indwelling of Christ- Colossians 1:26-27
7. Mystery of Incarnate Christ-Colossians 2:2,9 God infused himself into man.
8. Mystery of Man's restoration to godliness-1 Timothy 3:16
9. Mystery of iniquity (sin)-1 Thessalonians 2:7-8
10. Mystery of the seven stars-Revelation 1:20
11. Mystery of Babylon-Revelation 17:5-7 immoral religious system at end times.
These mysteries are complete at the will of God!
See you tomorrow!
Tom
Revelation 10:1-7
The Angel and the little scroll
1Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. 2 He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, 3and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. 4And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down." 5And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven 6and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, 7but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.
Inverse 1 John tells us he sees another mighty angel in a cloud coming down from heaven, this is a clue as to who this is. If we refer back to Revelation 1:7:
Revelation 1:7
7Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
Many times in scripture Jesus is on or in a cloud! Verse 1 continues on to tell us a rainbow was over his head...this represents his divinity as we seen the emblem of divinity encircling the throne of God in Revelation 4:3:
Revelation 4:3
3And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.
Verse 1 goes on to tell us that his face was like the sun which takes us takes us back to the transfiguration in Matthew 17:2
Matthew 17:2
2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
Then verse 1 tells us his legs were like pillars of fire which takes us to Exodus 13:21-22:
Exodus 13:21-22
21And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. 22The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.
So we see this is Jesus and verse 2 says He had a little scroll open in his hand....this is the scroll he had just opened the four seals from! Then we are told He set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land telling us his destination was the earth and Jesus is overwhelming! Verse 3 tells us He called out and it sounded like a roaring lion and seven thunders came forth. In verse 4 we are told John was about to write when these seven thunders came forth but he was told not to write what the message of the seven thunders were...so this is a mystery to us! In verses 5 we are told Jesus makes an oath to God that there would be no more delay....basically saying judgement is now and the mystery of God will be fulfilled as we are told in verse 7. What is this mystery of God?
Actually there are 11 mysteries which I will briefly detail here:
1. Mystery of the church- Ephesians 3:8-9-Love for Christ and each other.
2. Mystery of the Kingdom of heaven-Matthew 13- result of gospel introduced into the world.
3. Mystery of Israels blindness-Romans 11:25
4. Mystery of Rapture-1 Corinthians 15:51-53
5. Mystery of The Bride of Christ-Ephesians 5:28-32
6. Mystery of the indwelling of Christ- Colossians 1:26-27
7. Mystery of Incarnate Christ-Colossians 2:2,9 God infused himself into man.
8. Mystery of Man's restoration to godliness-1 Timothy 3:16
9. Mystery of iniquity (sin)-1 Thessalonians 2:7-8
10. Mystery of the seven stars-Revelation 1:20
11. Mystery of Babylon-Revelation 17:5-7 immoral religious system at end times.
These mysteries are complete at the will of God!
See you tomorrow!
Tom
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Revelation #31
Ok here we go with the rest of Chapter 9. More trumpets to be blown....hold on!
Revelation 9:13-21
13Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, 14saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." 15So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number. 17And this is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them: they wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire[a] and of sulfur, and the heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths. 18By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths. 19For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of them they wound.
20The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, 21nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
In verse 13 we see the sixth angel blow his trumpet and John hears a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God. This is a picture of God answering the prayers of the saints offered as incense in Chapter 8:4.
Revelation 8:4
4and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.
Remember the golden altar is representative of Jesus and horns represent strength. So we see in verse 14 Jesus commands the angel to release the 4 angels bound at the Euphrates river. These 4 angels are fallen angels. The amgels have been prepared to do one thing as told in verse 15 to kill a third of mankind! Wow. Verse 16 tells us a huge army will assist these angels. For many years the number was a big problem. Twice ten thousand times ten thousand is 200 million. But now we know China can fill this number!!!! Verse 17 can be looked at two ways. First with the economic troubles that will be taken place the horses could be litteral horses used in this massacre. Many scholars however think with the descrition of the riders using words like fire, sulfur, smoke it very well could be symbollicallyreferring to nuclear war!!! No matter which way the outcome as e are told in verse 18 will be a third of mankind will be killed.
In verse 20 we are told those who are not killed did NOT repent but continued to worship demons, and idols! Can you believe after all this they are still blinded and won't repent???? Then verse 21 tells us they also did not repent of their sin of murder, sorceries, sexual immorality, and theft. If they are worshipping false gods this does not surprise me!
A terrible, terrible time for mankind but it can be avoided by a relationship with Jesus!
I am taking a little break for a week so please come back to continue our study! God bless!
Tom
Revelation 9:13-21
13Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, 14saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." 15So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number. 17And this is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them: they wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire[a] and of sulfur, and the heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths. 18By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths. 19For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of them they wound.
20The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, 21nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
In verse 13 we see the sixth angel blow his trumpet and John hears a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God. This is a picture of God answering the prayers of the saints offered as incense in Chapter 8:4.
Revelation 8:4
4and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.
Remember the golden altar is representative of Jesus and horns represent strength. So we see in verse 14 Jesus commands the angel to release the 4 angels bound at the Euphrates river. These 4 angels are fallen angels. The amgels have been prepared to do one thing as told in verse 15 to kill a third of mankind! Wow. Verse 16 tells us a huge army will assist these angels. For many years the number was a big problem. Twice ten thousand times ten thousand is 200 million. But now we know China can fill this number!!!! Verse 17 can be looked at two ways. First with the economic troubles that will be taken place the horses could be litteral horses used in this massacre. Many scholars however think with the descrition of the riders using words like fire, sulfur, smoke it very well could be symbollicallyreferring to nuclear war!!! No matter which way the outcome as e are told in verse 18 will be a third of mankind will be killed.
In verse 20 we are told those who are not killed did NOT repent but continued to worship demons, and idols! Can you believe after all this they are still blinded and won't repent???? Then verse 21 tells us they also did not repent of their sin of murder, sorceries, sexual immorality, and theft. If they are worshipping false gods this does not surprise me!
A terrible, terrible time for mankind but it can be avoided by a relationship with Jesus!
I am taking a little break for a week so please come back to continue our study! God bless!
Tom
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Revelation #30
We continue this morning to look at these locusts who sting like scorpions released from hell.
Revelation 9:7-12
7 In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, 8their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions’ teeth; 9they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. 10They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails. 11They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.
12 The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come.
In verse 7 we see that these locusts are not a natural locust to put it mildly. They are like horses prepared for battle which represents nothing can stop them. They have crowns of gold on their head which represents authority from God. They have faces like a man which represent superior intelligence. They had hair like a woman which represents beauty and this may be how they get close enough to folks to sting them by their deceptive beauty! Their teeth are like lions teeth which represents their destructive power. The locusts have on breastplates of iron which tells us they will be unstoppable. Their wings make so much noise they sound like many chariots coming...this noise may drive folks crazy. In verse 10 we are reminded about the power of their stinging scorpion like tails that will hurt people. For five months they will terrorize folks! Verse 11 tells us who their king is the angel of the bottomless pit....Satan. Verse 11 gives us his Hebrew name which is Abaddon and his Greek name which is Apollyon which means destruction....and from what we know about Satan it is an accurate description!
Verse 12 tells us that is just the first woe which remember means judgement and that two more are to come!!! In my human mind I can not comprehend fully how terrible of time this will be. This should show us the urgency of telling people about Jesus!
Tom
Revelation 9:7-12
7 In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, 8their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions’ teeth; 9they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. 10They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails. 11They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.
12 The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come.
In verse 7 we see that these locusts are not a natural locust to put it mildly. They are like horses prepared for battle which represents nothing can stop them. They have crowns of gold on their head which represents authority from God. They have faces like a man which represent superior intelligence. They had hair like a woman which represents beauty and this may be how they get close enough to folks to sting them by their deceptive beauty! Their teeth are like lions teeth which represents their destructive power. The locusts have on breastplates of iron which tells us they will be unstoppable. Their wings make so much noise they sound like many chariots coming...this noise may drive folks crazy. In verse 10 we are reminded about the power of their stinging scorpion like tails that will hurt people. For five months they will terrorize folks! Verse 11 tells us who their king is the angel of the bottomless pit....Satan. Verse 11 gives us his Hebrew name which is Abaddon and his Greek name which is Apollyon which means destruction....and from what we know about Satan it is an accurate description!
Verse 12 tells us that is just the first woe which remember means judgement and that two more are to come!!! In my human mind I can not comprehend fully how terrible of time this will be. This should show us the urgency of telling people about Jesus!
Tom
Monday, September 26, 2011
Revelation #29
Wee as you can see I didn't do a very good job of paying attention on my last devotion or I wouldn't have ended with only one verse to go in chapter 8! But it is ok as it does flow into chapter 9!
Revelation 8:13
13Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!"
Revelation 9:1-6
1And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit.[a] 2He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. 3Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. 4They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. 6And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.
In the last verse of chapter 8 John looked and seen an eagle flying and crying out in a loud voice. It was telling that more wrath and judgement is coming to the earth as that is what a "woe' represents. The angles are about to blow more trumpets and that leads us into chapter 9. With all that we have studied so far it is hard to believe it can get worse but oh it is going to get much worse!
We see in verse 1 of chapter 9 the fifth angel blows his trumpet and John sees a star fall from the heaven to earth. This star represents Satan. Look at Luke 10:18:
Luke 10:18
18And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Verse 1 goes on to tell us that Satan was given the key to hell. This shows us that God is in control not Satan! God allowed him to have the key! In verse 2 we are told Satan opens up hell and smoke rose out of the shaft. Then from this smoke came locusts. This is very similar to the 8th plague in exodus:
Exodus 10:14-15
14 The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled on the whole country of Egypt, such a dense swarm of locusts as had never been before, nor ever will be again. 15They covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkened, and they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Not a green thing remained, neither tree nor plant of the field, through all the land of Egypt.
But these locusts are much more powerful as we find out in the latter part of verse 3. These locusts have the same power as a scorpion....a venomous sting! In verse 4 we are told these locusts are not to do what they normally do which is to destroy the grass or plants, or trees, but they are to harm those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads! This not having the seal refers to those who are not saved! In verse 5 we are told these locusts are allowed to torment for 5 months! Oh my can you imagine the agony??? They could not kill anyone but just sting them like a scorpion! Look at verse 6...this torment along with everything else going on we have already suffered will be so horrible folks will want to die but they will not be able too. Suicide will not be an option...what a terrible time of suffering.
Think on these things today....it blows my mind!
Tom
Revelation 8:13
13Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!"
Revelation 9:1-6
1And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit.[a] 2He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. 3Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. 4They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. 6And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.
In the last verse of chapter 8 John looked and seen an eagle flying and crying out in a loud voice. It was telling that more wrath and judgement is coming to the earth as that is what a "woe' represents. The angles are about to blow more trumpets and that leads us into chapter 9. With all that we have studied so far it is hard to believe it can get worse but oh it is going to get much worse!
We see in verse 1 of chapter 9 the fifth angel blows his trumpet and John sees a star fall from the heaven to earth. This star represents Satan. Look at Luke 10:18:
Luke 10:18
18And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Verse 1 goes on to tell us that Satan was given the key to hell. This shows us that God is in control not Satan! God allowed him to have the key! In verse 2 we are told Satan opens up hell and smoke rose out of the shaft. Then from this smoke came locusts. This is very similar to the 8th plague in exodus:
Exodus 10:14-15
14 The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled on the whole country of Egypt, such a dense swarm of locusts as had never been before, nor ever will be again. 15They covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkened, and they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Not a green thing remained, neither tree nor plant of the field, through all the land of Egypt.
But these locusts are much more powerful as we find out in the latter part of verse 3. These locusts have the same power as a scorpion....a venomous sting! In verse 4 we are told these locusts are not to do what they normally do which is to destroy the grass or plants, or trees, but they are to harm those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads! This not having the seal refers to those who are not saved! In verse 5 we are told these locusts are allowed to torment for 5 months! Oh my can you imagine the agony??? They could not kill anyone but just sting them like a scorpion! Look at verse 6...this torment along with everything else going on we have already suffered will be so horrible folks will want to die but they will not be able too. Suicide will not be an option...what a terrible time of suffering.
Think on these things today....it blows my mind!
Tom
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