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Sunday, February 26, 2023

Revelation 11 Verses and References

 Revelation 11 Verses and References

Verses 1 through 13 are still a parenthesis speaking about things taking place prior to the 7th trumpet.

Verse 1 - Ezekiel’s magnificent temple in chapters 40-48 has many angelic measurements and these speak to the security of what God is measuring. Zech. 2:1

Verse 2 - Isaiah 52:1; Daniel 7:25; 8:13; 12:7; Zech. 12:3; Hab. 2:3; Psalm 80:6; Luke 21:24; The law required 2 witnesses for judging and offense against the law. Numbers 35:30; Deut. 17:6; 19:15

Verse 3 - Brings to mind Elijah whose drought lasted 3 ½ years Luke 4:25, James 5:17.

Verse 4 - Zechariah 4:2-14; Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the King.

Verse 5 - 2 Kings 1:10-12; Jer. 5:14; 2 Sam. 22:9; Psalm 18:8; 97:3;  The punishment fits the crime. Deut. 19:19; Numbers 35:30; 

Verse 6 - Exodus 7:17-25; 1 Kings 17:1; 18:1;  The judicial role of Moses and Elijah is brought into view with miracles of judgment that are like what the Lord did through them. The nature of the plagues and torments resemble the first two woes (5th and 6th trumpets).

Verse 7 - Daniel 7:21; The idea of completing their witness or finishing their testimony is the same idea as Rev. 6:11 “until the number should be completed”.

It made me think of David who “fulfilled the purpose of God in his generation”. Acts 13:36, and of the many references to the “set time” of God.  It maybe also should make us put a solid meaning behind, Elijah comes at the end to restore everything (Mark 9:11-13) which would include the true message of the coming Kingdom. 

Verses 8 and 9  - Non-burial is an indignity. 1 Sam. 17:44, 46; 2 Kings 9:10; Psalm 79:1-5; Isaiah 14:19;20; Jer. 8:1-2; 9:22; 16:4-6; 22:19; Jerusalem being compared to Sodom is not new but the comparison to Egypt is because the saints are being persecuted here. 

Verse 10 - “Those who dwell on the earth” is how this book describes unbelievers. Stop and think about that.  Isaiah 24:6; 26:21; Hosea 4:1; Joel 1:2,14; 2:1; Jer. 6:12; Part of the hatred directed toward the believer is the proclamation of the destruction of the kingdoms of this earth. 

Verse 11 - Genesis 2:7; Ezekiel 37:5,9,10; I wonder if the gloating celebration that goes on for 3 ½ days gives opportunity for any people the two witnesses may have been protecting to go into hiding? 

Verse 12 - 2 Kings 2:11; Divine approval is given to them which causes fear in the enemies of God.

Verse 13 - Ezekiel 38:19; Did the witnesses prophesy specifically of an earthquake that then happens as they are taken away and this specific undeniable fulfillment has some converting to give glory to God? Daniel 4:34; Isaiah 29:6; 42:12; Jer. 13:16;

Verse 14 takes us out of our parenthesis and into the 3rd woe, the 7th trumpet.

Verse 15 - Isaiah 37:16; Daniel 2:44, 7:14,27; It blesses me to see “our Lord” and “His Anointed One” referred to simply as “He”!  

Verse 16 and 17 - “Who is to come” gets replaced with “because You have taken Your great power and begun to reign”. 

Verse 18 - Daniel 7:10; 12:2; Psalm 2; The order seems to display what happens at the end of the 1,000 year reign.  Jeremiah 51:25

Verse 19 - Exodus 9:23; 15:13-18; 19;16; 

Monday, February 13, 2023

Revelation 10 Verses With References

 

Revelation 10 Verses and References

Revelation 10 and up to chapter 11:13 is a parenthesis between the 6th and 7th trumpets. No new events are being shown.  The prophet is being recommissioned for his prophetic task. This is a deeper look into this time when the full number of the martyrs is being reached and the “delay” is wrapping up.

Verse 1 –  There is an angel referred to as the Angel of the Lord, who is an appearance of God in a form that does not lead to the immediate death of the humans who see/interact with Him.  (Genesis 16:10; 22:11-18; 24:7; 31:11-13; Exodus 3:2-12; 14:19; Judges 2:1; 6:22; 13:20-22 Zechariah 3:1-3)  We have already looked at the comparison of the cloud rider in Daniel 7:13 with Rev. 1:7,13.  The rainbow imagery also appears in Ezekiel 1:26-28 and that vision will also lead, like this one does, to a heavenly being holding a book which is taken and eaten by a prophet.  Legs like a columns of fire or a pillar of fire take us back to Exodus where God was manifested in a pillar of fire with the Hebrew people in the wilderness.  The same divine presence is here. The same fire that protected the Hebrew people was a judgment on the Egyptians who were pursuing them. In Revelation fire is metaphorical for judgment on unbelievers. Malachi 3:1,2

Verse 2 – The little scroll has a close connection to the scroll of chapter 5 that Yeshua was the only one worthy to take.  Chapter 5 revealed that persevering through suffering was the means by which Yeshua overcame, this same pattern will be taken up by His followers who will persevere and overcome through suffering in the “trumpet time” particularly.  The “mighty angel” having his feet on both the sea and the land indicates sovereignty over all things, the entire cosmos. (Job 11:9; Psalm 146:6; Proverbs 8:29; Psalm 72:8; Zechariah 9:10)  (Joshua 10:24-26)

Verse 3 – The lion-like roar of the angel again associates Him with Yeshua.

Verse 4 – The seven thunders speak but what they say is not to be written down.  This is the only thing still sealed in this book, everything else is opened and revealed. The only thing we know for sure is a voice with the authority of God told John not to write it down.  Daniel 12:4-9 is the reference and what was sealed there was sealed because it was not time yet.  Thunder is associated with judgment (Exodus 9:23-34; 1 Samuel 7:10; 12:17; Psalm 29:3; 77:17-18; 81:7; Isaiah 29:6). As you might imagine speculations and people who say they have been told what the seven thunders said are all over the place but no further insight is given to us in the scriptures and with all the other details that are given we should probably just trust the wisdom of God to know that this is not a piece that we need to know. Psalm 81:7; Deut. 29:29

Verse 5 – In Deuteronomy 32:40 God swears that He will judge the ungodly. In Daniel 12:7 “the man clothed in linen” gives a specific time 3 and ½ years and a specific goal the “breaking of the power of the holy people” which is also spoken of in that section of Deut. 32:36. Now hopefully the terrible beauty of the little scroll is becoming more clear, just like the Lamb was slain, those who follow the Lamb withersoever he goes will be walking through a time of suffering trusting in the One who is sovereign over all and will redeem all.  Yeshua got THE scroll and we get the “little scroll”. Deuteronomy 32 is invaluable in our study of scripture, it is a summary of God’s dealing with man in general and His covenant people specifically, it is well worth our time. Isaiah 42:5-25

Verse 6 – God swearing an oath (Gen. 22:16; Exodus 32:13; Isaiah 45:43; Jeremiah 49:13; Ezek. 20:5; Amos 6:8) Being the Creator of all is the source of His authority. (Nehemiah 9:6; Exodus 20:11; Psalm 146:6)  The “no more delay” indicates this is referring to a late period in the 6th trumpet just before the 7th. It is not that “time will be no more”.

 Verse 7 – This emphasizes the 7th trumpet being the “quick” unfolding of God’s ending of this evil age just as he proclaimed to his servants the prophets. Israel is brought to a place of “no strength” and God will bring vengeance upon His enemies. (Romans 16:25-26; Amos 3:7)  The “good news” being announced as a verb only occurs here in Revelation. (What is the good news?) The mystery is usually associated with God becoming man, God indwelling man, the Kingdom of God coming to earth.

Verse 8 – The scroll is being held by One who is sovereign over all, so the scroll will apply to all.

Verse 9 and 10 – (Ezekiel 2:8-3:3)  The prophet’s eating of the scroll signifies his identification with its message. The sweetness represents the life-sustaining attribute of God’s word, which empowers the prophet to carry out his task with joy. (Psalm 19:7-11; 119:97-104; Proverbs 16:21-24; 24:13-14) The bitterness is in the judgment. (Jeremiah 6:10b-11a; 15:16-17)  There is no pleasure taken in the pain of punishment apart from the broader framework of justice.

Verse 11 – The contents of the scroll must now be prophesied. Apparently in comparing with Ezekiel the language to prophesy “about” is more like prophesy “against”.  After this point in the book, “peoples, nations, languages and kings” is used to describe those who will be judged. (16:12,14; 17:1-2, 10-12, 15-16, 18; 18:3, 9; 19:18-19)

Monday, February 6, 2023

Responses to, What is Church?

 Andrea What is the church? Believers united in Christ.   On mission for Christ.  Kingdom builders with servant hearts.  Sacrificially loving one another, taking care of one another selflessly. Boldly proclaiming the gospel, living  life together, walking hand in hand through showing the world who Jesus is by shining His light and showing His love. Making disciples. Being God’s hands and feet.  Picking up the pieces of a broken world with God’s love grace and forgiveness. Carrying each other’s burdens all in Jesus’ Name.

Paul Church is not a building, not a Sunday gathering. It is the global body of Christ best expressed at the community level; as outposts of the kingdom. Ideally these outposts contain smaller fellowhips in which life and missions are shared more deeply.

It is a living organism, guided by the Spirit for kingdom puposes.

Stacey For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, But a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (In the volume of the book it is written of me,) To do thy will, O God. Hebrews 10:4-7 KJV  This passage shows the purpose of the body of Messiah, he was given an actual flesh and blood body, to be a pleasing sacrifice. And so for us, as the body of Christ we are to lay down our lives a living sacrifice(Romans 12:1)to make the Jew jealous" Romans 11:11

Chuck A community of people gathered around and focused on manifesting the life of the Messiah of Israel through their corporate life.

That’s my short version.

This is my long version.

 

What is church?  First of all the Spirit being poured out on all flesh is a breakthrough prophesied by Joel and others and made possible by the death of the Messiah.  That is a very special, very notable, very powerful breakthrough in the body of the Messiah, the community of the Messiah.  The community of the Messiah is the down payment of what is to come.  We are still stuck in this evil age, so it is not the Kingdom.  But its existence is proof that the Kingdom is coming.  

What is church - It is a continuation of the awesome power-through-weakness demonstration of God’s ways and God’s life being lived in a hostile environment and showing the power of resurrection life.  This started with the promise to Adam and Eve and was refined by the promise to Abraham after the tower of Babel.  All the other gods are having their shot at ruling over humans and the Lord God of Israel is calling out a people to make His Name a wonder in all the earth through willing surrender of their will and life to His power.  It is the highest call a human can answer.  We need each other to encourage and fortify our determination to keep on the narrow path of Life.  That gathering, that community centered around and transformed by the Messiah is “church”.  

Julie The “church”  is made up of both jew and gentile that have believed the good news about the coming Kingdom of God, and they have put thier trust in the shed blood of the Messiah of Israel, who came once as a sacrifice for sins and will come again at the day of the Lord bringing salvation to all who put thier trust in Him…They have been called out of the rest of humanity for His great Name’s sake, to be given the amazing high calling to be sons of God, in which they will inherit eternal life, glory, and the kingdom in the age to come at His appearing. This hope motivates them to forsake thier lives in this evil age and to display the wisdom of the cross to the powers and principalities of this evil age, empowered by thier union with Messiah and the indwelling Holy spirit. Their eye is single on the age to come and live for the glory, honor and praise of the Father, the God of Isreal, the creator of heaven and earth. The churches sole purpose is for the Glory of God….. They are a sojoreigning people giving witness to the coming day of the Lord and the mercy of God displayed at the cross of Jesus in veiw of that day. They are joined in one body (both jew and gentile together) by one Spirit, have one Hope, and one faith (the hope and faith of Israel) under one Lord, and one God, the Father of all. They are known for thier sacrificial love and how they love one another. Thier association with the God of Isreal and His rightgousness make them targets for oppostion in this evil age… this evil age is the time and space appointed by the Father for the preparation of Messaih’s bride (the church) who will be made ready through the regenration of the spirit, the word,fellowship, an the trials of this age……That He might present it to Himself ( at his appearing) as the glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it might be holy and without blame.

added 2/7/23 We can hopefully see how just putting together roots of words can lead to trouble.  

Butterfly   butter  and fly

Pineapple  apple and pine

Ekkesia   called out ones 

Ekklesia – One often hears that since this word is built from the preposition ek (from) and the verb kaleo (to call) it means “the called out ones” or something similar. The following fallacy has far too often be preached from the pulpit: “The word which we have for Church in the Greek is ekklesia. It is comprised of two words which together compose the meaning ‘one who is called out’ or ‘the called out ones’. When this word is used in the NT, about 114 times in the Greek New Testament, it is referring to the Church, either universal or local, as the ones who have been ‘called out of the world and into the Body of Christ and now congregate in His churches.’”

As true as it may be that Christians have been called out of the world and into the Body of Christ or Family of God, there is absolutely no indication that this was its emphasis or meaning in NT times. It simply means congregation or assembly and refers to a gathering of people, really any people, yet in the NT that group of people happens to be Christians. This faulty translation could in part be due to the reader misunderstanding the nature of the Greek language used in the New Testament. It is was the common language of the day used by the common man, and not a divine spiritual language with special spiritual meanings particular to the New Testament.

Why does it matter?  This "assembly" is not new, (Acts 7:38) what is new about it is we now know who the Messiah is and as a result of what the cross did in real time, the out-pouring of the Spirit prophesied by Joel has now begun.  So our assembly is not the rioting mob in Ephesus, because of WHO are assembly is gathered around so I will continue to maintain that Messiah's Community is a much better translation of ekklesia than "church".

For more on this see the book   Exegetical Fallacies DA Carson   https://www.christianbook.com/exegetical-fallacies-second-edition-d-a-carson/9780801020865/pd/20867?event=ESRCG

Jodi --   What is Church? Admittedly I have been wrestling with this question since you posed it and truthfully the whole of my life. I am honestly not any closer today than I was when you asked, although I think it’s quite worthy to grapple with.

I struggle with the etymology of it because words hold a high value for me. I struggle with how singularly and corporately assemblies have maligned it (that includes me). I struggle with it locally, ever searching for others to run with. Ultimately I truly believe it’s finest hour will be proved out in the darkest days and I fully trust that our King will carry that assembly through exactly as He has promised. I truly believe the true ‘church’ will be the successors of all of the blessed ones who have gone before us in being those who loved their lives not unto death. It seems to me to be quite a fluid word, in Spirit and deed. Thanks for the opportunity to really chew on this. It matters.

JOHN --- The church is the people who God is calling out from the eternally deadly illusion of self-rule, into the eternally life-giving relationship of His rule, through His Son, Jesus the Messiah of Israel. These people then are used by Him to help others experience the same transformation. Forsaking all other aspirations, we eagerly await the appearance of Jesus, our King, preparing the way by announcing the Good News of His coming.