144,000 Sealed--no more, no less "And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, from the tribe … Continue reading Running the Numbers
Month: March 2018
Holding Back for Those Holding Fast
Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads "After this I saw four angles standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind should blow on the earth … Continue reading Holding Back for Those Holding Fast
4 Horsemen, 6 Seals, and the Levitical Lament
It couldn't be this easy ‘But if you do not obey Me and do not carry out all these commandments, if, instead, you reject My statutes, and if your soul abhors My ordinances so as not to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant, I, in turn, will do this to you: … Continue reading 4 Horsemen, 6 Seals, and the Levitical Lament
Sixth Seal and Separation?
"The sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth" "When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the … Continue reading Sixth Seal and Separation?
Famine, Ferocious Flesh and Unfathomable Fees for Fine Flour
How Much for the Fine Flour? "When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living … Continue reading Famine, Ferocious Flesh and Unfathomable Fees for Fine Flour
Wars of the Rose Colored Horse
Out Came Another Horse, Bright Red "Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, … Continue reading Wars of the Rose Colored Horse
The Fore Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Came out Conquering and to Conquer "Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, … Continue reading The Fore Horsemen of the Apocalypse
And All Creation Cries Out!
Worthy is the Lamb who was Slain! "And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive … Continue reading And All Creation Cries Out!
The Worthy One who Opens the Book
"The Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.” "And I began to weep greatly, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look into it; and one of the elders said to me, … Continue reading The Worthy One who Opens the Book
The Closed Book
No one in Heaven, or on the Earth, or Under the Earth, was Able to Open the Book "And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, … Continue reading The Closed Book
And Then?
Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty "After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” Immediately … Continue reading And Then?
Expository Exegis of Examples of the Open Door
This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. We have seen some incredible imagery, concerning Christ. He is the "faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth"-- the Alpha and the … Continue reading Expository Exegis of Examples of the Open Door
The Open Door
I have put before you an open door which no one can shut “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: ‘I know your … Continue reading The Open Door
Eternally Erased?
"I will not erase his name from the book of life" “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. ‘Wake up, and … Continue reading Eternally Erased?
Greater Than at First, BUT!
There is always a BUT! ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. ‘But I have this against you..." “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame … Continue reading Greater Than at First, BUT!
The Sharp Sword
The One Who has the Sharp Two-edged Sword Says This: “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this: ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith, even in the days … Continue reading The Sharp Sword
Really Rich; or, Ten Days Tribulation
"I know your tribulation and your poverty but you are rich" "Be Faithful unto Death" “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by … Continue reading Really Rich; or, Ten Days Tribulation
Internal Evidence that Demands a Verdict
Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, "Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it." -Revelation 11:1 "I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple." -Revelation 21:22 As a … Continue reading Internal Evidence that Demands a Verdict
Left Behind: Love
"You cannot endure evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false;" "A lie, no matter how beautifully told, is still a lie" -Russell P “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven … Continue reading Left Behind: Love
(An Aside: from The Old Man and the Seen)
Side bar, Your Honor? Many theologians, pastors, deacons and lay Christians--designations of which I believe Revelation condemns (we'll get to that)--would be outraged if they had witnessed one particular conversation I had at a teenaged Bible study I led. One could have walked in on me asking, "Where are you in your devotions and personal … Continue reading (An Aside: from The Old Man and the Seen)
The Old Man and the Seen
"And His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire" Jesus Christ came to Earth over 2000 years ago, as a baby boy, to live the perfect life and accomplish all that Israel could not, fulfilling the requirements of God's law, and … Continue reading The Old Man and the Seen
The A-Z of Revelation
"I am the Alpha and Omega" “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos, because … Continue reading The A-Z of Revelation
Continual Contemplation of Clouds
"In the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn." -Jesus "but gather the wheat into my barn.” -Still Jesus Enough said--convinced yet? To be honest, I am. The parable of the wheat and tares in Matthew 13 was the Scripture that … Continue reading Continual Contemplation of Clouds
Mira, Kijken, Regardez, Aussehen, Look, He is Coming with the Clouds
And Every Eye will see Him, Even Those who Pierced Him Jesus says in Matthew 24: “But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken, and … Continue reading Mira, Kijken, Regardez, Aussehen, Look, He is Coming with the Clouds
Double Trouble, A Kingdom Continued and Coming in the Clouds.
Luke 17:20-21 "Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your … Continue reading Double Trouble, A Kingdom Continued and Coming in the Clouds.
A Kingdom Come, a Kingdom Dissolved, a Kingdom Inclusive; Problem Solved.
"After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne." I'm going to get in a ton trouble for this! Not beheaded like John the Baptist, or chased out of town like Elijah. Nor will … Continue reading A Kingdom Come, a Kingdom Dissolved, a Kingdom Inclusive; Problem Solved.
One is the Loneliest Number, Except that it Isn’t
“Hear, O Israel! "The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!" Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the … Continue reading One is the Loneliest Number, Except that it Isn’t
A Built-in Blessing
What Kind of Book is This? The ESV translates it best: "Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near." What other book on the planet is actually a letter, an apocalypse, a … Continue reading A Built-in Blessing
Context is Figuratively King; Jesus is Literally King
King of Kings Actually, and Lord of Lords! Hallelujah! The seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ; and he will reign forever and ever." But I am leaping and bounding too far into the text, Jesus … Continue reading Context is Figuratively King; Jesus is Literally King
Sooner or Later, The Time is Near…Or Distant
I guess it depends on who the audience is Context, genre, author, audience--it's quite a bit to remember. However I have found that the more I read the Bible, the more it becomes second nature. In fact, when reading the Epistles, even the book of Hebrews whose author is unknown, most of the information … Continue reading Sooner or Later, The Time is Near…Or Distant