Devoted To Destruction

[ESVi] Josh. 11:20 For it was the LORD’s doing to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle, in order that they should be devoted to destruction and should receive no mercy but be destroyed, just as the LORD commanded Moses.

For their wickedness the inhabitants of the promised land were destroyed. This will play out again when Jesus returns. All His enemies will be subdued and bow.
From His mouth will come a sword which will slay His enemies and give life to His friends. The word judges. The first time He came for all the world. Next time He comes for all those who said yes to mercy and grace.
His word endures forever.

Walks Among - Revelation 2:1

Rev 2:1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.

Ephesus means desirable- Hitchcock's Bible Names

Jesus opens this letter identifying Himself as the head and authority of the Church.  He is indeed the first of the kingdom, and is ruler and judge.  The churches are part of The Church, and is lifted up in His hand.  Just as He was among us in the flesh long ago, He is present with these churches and with us today through His Spirit.  Jesus is on the throne with God in heaven awaiting His second coming.

We can take comfort in knowing He is near, even within us.

Genesis 28:15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Exodus 33:14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Psalm 145:18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Matthew 28:20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The Mystery Of The Lampstands - Revelation 1:20

Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

What was hidden is explained.  Mystery is revealed.  The light of the world is channeled through the Church.  His hand guides, comforts, and protects us.  His hand  is favor of the mighty and strong arm of God.  It is the light which shines in the darkness and lights the way to God. 

Matthew 5:14-15   “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden

15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

Exodus 25:31 “Make a lampstand of pure gold. Hammer out its base and shaft, and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them

Exodus 25:37 “Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it

Zechariah 4:2 He asked me, “What do you see?”

I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps

Called By The Name

Deuteronomy 28:9-11 NIV
The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him. 10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you. 11 The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you.

Obedience confirms of truly taking the Lord's name for one's own. It is when we disobey we take His name in vain. It is something visible and evident. This is the sign and wonder of walking with the Lord.
All the people of earth shall witness the children of heaven, the people of heaven.

Death Reigned

Romans 5:13-14 NIV
To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.
With the law, sin abounded or increased, but the sting of death reigned before it was given. Even if one was able to live perfectly, we would not be acceptable to God because of Adam's disobedience.  In the same way, we can become acceptable to God through the obedience of one man - Jesus.  He is the one to come and who will come again.  There is nothing we can do but believe.  Allow Him to have His way and He will take care of the rest.

You Will Be A People

Deuteronomy 26:17-19 NIV
You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws—that you will listen to him. 18 And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands. 19 He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised.

We do not take His name in vain. We love the Lord and therefore each other. We not do this perfectly, but have taken His name and place our trust in Him. We are holy for He is holy. Our honor is His glory. It is to His glory we lift our praise of thanksgiving.

The Big Picture - Revelation 1:19

Rev 1:19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later

Before John is a view of things that are now and coming.  His vision speaks to the present reality and the reality of things to come.  The words are for the Church.  It might be understood that we are in the “later” or latter days, that span of time between the first and second coming, the time of the Gentiles, of you and me.

The Spirit of God speaks with spirit on man.  Therein lies understanding and salvation.  It is the Spirit that lifts us from the grave and enables us to live as we draw the breath of God.

Revelation 1:11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

Habakkuk 2:2 -3  2Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation

and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it

3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end

and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it;

it will certainly come and will not delay.

Joel 2:28 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams,

your young men will see visions

Acts 2:19-21  19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below,

blood and fire and billows of smoke 20 The sun will be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord

21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. ’

2 Peter 1:21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 1:1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways,

Job 32:8 But it is the spirit in a person,

the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.

So I Made The Ark

Deuteronomy 10:1-5 NIV
1 At that time the Lord said to me, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones and come up to me on the mountain. Also make a wooden ark. 2 I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. Then you are to put them in the ark.”
3 So I made the ark out of acacia wood and chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I went up on the mountain with the two tablets in my hands. 4 The Lord wrote on these tablets what he had written before, the Ten Commandments he had proclaimed to you on the mountain, out of the fire, on the day of the assembly. And the Lord gave them to me. 5 Then I came back down the mountain and put the tablets in the ark I had made, as the Lord commanded me, and they are there now.

The word from God is rewritten and placed on the ark. The mercy seat sits on top of the ark.
This points to Jesus Who embodies the law, fulfills it, and extends the mercy of God as the only way to be acceptable to God.
Climb into the ark of Jesus. It will come to rest in a new world. There is still time.
Best voyage you'll ever make.

I Have The Keys - Revelation 1:18

Rev 1:18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

He Who is the life and light of God has risen, never to die again.  He overcame sin and death, unlocking the door and freeing the captives.  He has invaded fallen creation which had become the strong man’s house.  He alone has done this thing and holds the keys, opening the door to eternal life.  He has the power to open and shut.  Rule and judgement are His. His kingdom has begun.  Be not deceived.

It is our service to give witness to the gateway of life and point others to the way.

Romans 6:9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.

Luke 24:5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead

Matthew 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Luke 11:52 “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”

Isaiah 22:22 I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “ I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,

2 Timothy 1:10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

1 John 5:12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

Romans 5:21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Revelation 9:1 The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss.

Revelation 20:1-3 1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time

Might Make You Know

[ESVi] Deut. 8:3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

We all walk in the wilderness in this life that we might find and know God.

Do Not Be Afraid - Revelation 1:17

Rev 1:17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “ Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,

John fell upon sight of the Lord.  What an experience and revelation it must be to encounter the risen Lord face to face.  Even the mob that came to seize Jesus fell out when He answered them, “I am he”.  At the last day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord, because He is Lord.

What did John feel when he felt the hand of the Lord on his shoulder, the same hand that stretched out the heavens and hung the stars?  I suspect he felt the power and majesty of the Creator of the universe in that touch, but mixed in full measure was the love of Jesus the man that he had known long ago.  Fear must have begun to melt at that moment of affection and reassurance.  “Do not be afraid”.

John had seen and been with Jesus when He walked on earth and must have thought he knew Him well, but before him was something beyond his imagination.  Jesus frames the whole of creation from beginning to end as contained within Himself.  The word of creation has begun and enabled a new creation.  The first word brought creation into existence and the last word will restore its original state, establishing the kingdom of God forever. 

Isaiah 41:4 Who has done this and carried it through,

calling forth the generations from the beginning?

I, the Lord —with the first of them and with the last —I am he.”

Isaiah 44:6 “This is what the Lord says—

Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty:

I am the first and I am the last;

apart from me there is no God.

Isaiah 48:12-13  12 “Listen to me, Jacob, Israel, whom I have called:

I am he; I am the first and I am the last. 

13 My own hand laid the foundations of the earth,

and my right hand spread out the heavens;

when I summon them, they all stand up together.

John 17:5 Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

John 17:24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

John 8:19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”

“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”

John 14:7 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

John 16:15 All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you

John 17:10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them

To Them

[ESVi] Deut. 1:39 And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.

We must become as little children to enter the kingdom of God, who forgo the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil and reach for the tree of life.

Out Of His Mouth - Revelation 1:16

Rev 1:16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double- edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance

The right hand or side of the king is the favored position.  The seated Christ is at God’s right side, the strong arm of the Lord.  It is fitting to find the stars in his hand, for He is the Creator and light of this world.  Not one can be snatched from His hand.  It is the right hand that is extended in fellowship and in that fellowship we are joined by the Spirit.

Out of His mouth comes the word, the sword of truth which will judge the quick and the dead, between those made alive by the gospel and those who remain captive to death.  It is with justice and righteousness He will render judgement.

Isaiah 62:3 You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord ’s hand,

a royal diadem in the hand of your God

Numbers 24:17 “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near.

A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.

He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth.

Isaiah 11:4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,

with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.

He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;

with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double- edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Revelation 19:15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty

Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord rises upon you

Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

Numbers 24:17 “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near.

A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.

He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth.

Changed

The spear is thrust into the side of Christ. 

The veil is torn. 

The flesh is ravaged

Earth is invaded

Heaven is near

Through His blood and death

Life is gained

The kingdom doors are opened

You can't come close to Jesus without being changed. 

You can't invite Him in your heart without being changed. 

To experience Jesus means change.

Change is ongoing until the day mortality puts on immortality

On that day we will all be changed

His Voice - Revelation 1:15

Rev 1:15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.

His feet have been refined in the furnace of His suffering on earth.  There He learned obedience, was tempted and tested, and was found worthy.  Moses lifted up a  bronze snake in the desert to stop the plague of serpents afflicting the Israelites.  God lifted His Son to end the plague of death brought on by the enticement and urging of the snake in the Garden.

Numbers 21:8-9  8 Then the Lord said to Moses, “ Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live. 9 And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.

His voice resounded with the fullness of His Majesty and Glory, and with the chorus of those in Christ, the body which is the church.  It is the rushing water that began as a trickle flowing from the temple that grew and increased into a mighty river that has no end. 

Daniel 10:6 His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude

His Eyes - Revelation 1:14

Rev 1:14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.

White signifies His purity and here it is emphasized with two analogies.  He is the unblemished Lamb of God, without stain or imperfection. The wool was to be a part of the first fruits of the harvest.

His eyes see everything, there is no shadow or darkness that is able to withstand  His light.  The flame of His judgement will burn away any impurity.

Genesis 4:4 You are to give them the firstfruits of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the first wool from the shearing of your sheep,

Daniel 7:9 “As I looked, “thrones were set in place,

and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow;

the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire,

and its wheels were all ablaze

Daniel 10:6 His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude

1 Corinthians 3:13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

Jeremiah 17:10 “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind,

Even to give to each man according to his ways,

According to the results of his deeds.

1 Peter 1:7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire —may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 

Romans 8:27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Proverbs 5:21 For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord,

And He watches all his paths.

1. the Lord had respect unto Abel, not unto Cain, &c.-- The words, “had respect to,” signify in Hebrew, --”to look at any thing with a keen earnest glance,” which has been translated, “kindle into a fire,” so that the divine approval of Abel’s offering was shown in its being consumed by fire ( see Ge 15:17; Jud 13:20).  -JFBC

His eye is upon us all.  His love and mercy have no end.

The Things Revealed

Deuteronomy 29:29 NIV
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

The Lord is sovereign in all things. He has revealed Himself that we may live. We can wonder at the things we do not know, but live by the things we do know.
There is no secret concerning the way of God and the way to God. It has been revealed.

Middle Of The Lampstands - Revelation 1:13

Rev 1:13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.

The figure is in the middle of the lampstands just as Jesus is at the center of the Church.  He is at the center of all things and all things hold together in Him.

  He came into our fallen world, taking on the form of man in its corrupted state to enable us to return to that uncorrupted state necessary to bear the presence of God.  The seed of Abraham, the Son of the promise fulfilled as prophesied long ago.

Around Him a golden sash befitting His office of priest and king.  

Ezekiel 1:26 Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man.27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. 

Isaiah 22:21 I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the people of Judah

Isaiah 11:5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

Numbers 24:17 “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near;

A star shall come forth from Jacob,  A scepter shall rise from Israel,

And shall crush through the forehead of Moab,

And tear down all the sons of Sheth.

2 Peter 1:19 So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.

Daniel 10:5 I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist

He is clothed in a robe.  He will cover us with His righteousness, with pure, white robes without the stain of sin.  We will be completely covered.

I Turned - Revelation 1:12

Rev 1:12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,

We might be reminded here that it takes turning toward Him to see Him and the things He is doing.  It is when He has our attention that we might see Him and hear His words.  He speaks to each heart, giving comfort, strength, assurance, and peace, even  in the midst of a journey of struggle.  

The Greek word for see (βλεπω) implies the idea of attention given and the comprehension or the perceiving of something.  It is  similar to the idea of hearing the word, of being received.

The seven golden lampstands point us back to the Tabernacle during the wilderness journey.  In a few verses we are told the lampstands represent the seven churches.  We know the light of the Lord inhabits His Church and through His Church His light will shine and His word will be proclaimed.  There is the parallel idea of the seven spirits before the throne of God.

Exodus 25:37 “Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it

Exodus 27:20 “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning

(Remember the parable of the  virgins who ran out of oil and therefore missed the coming of the groom.)

Leviticus 24:4 The lamps on the pure gold lampstand before the Lord must be tended continually

Zechariah 4:10-11 “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?” 11 Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand

Seven is the number given to describe the “eyes” of the Lord.  We see a connection and relationship of the Spirit and the Church, both giving witness to the Father and the light of the world.

He Was Proved Holy

Numbers 20:12-13 NIV
But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”
13 These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them.

Moses failed to honor the Holy Lord before the people of Israel and for this reason was rebuked.
God provided water from the rock despite the disobedience, just as He provided living water through Jesus Christ, Who is our rock and capstone of the new temple which is His body.

The Difficulty

One of the difficulties of the early Church was being considered irreligious for recognizing one God.  The world view at that time recognized many gods.  It was quirky and small minded to maintain there is one true God.

One of the difficulties of the Church today is the idea there is one God and one way to God in a world that values tolerance and self above everything else.  It is considered quirky and small minded that we believe what God says in Scripture.

Until All Is Accomplished

Matthew 5:18 NIV  For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.


Isaiah 55:11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it

In the first verse Jesus says that the Law will remain until heaven and earth pass away.  Though a new covenant has been established with His sacrifice, it would seem that not all has been accomplished, for heaven and earth have not passed away.  If this is true, then something remains yet undone.  The fullness of time has not been filled.

We often pray "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done"

The kingdom has come and is coming.  God's purpose will continue to unfold before our very eyes. Jesus was resurrected bringing us with Him to be with the Father.  When He comes again He will bring the kingdom to fruition and return to the Father a new heaven and earth, His will accomplished.

Write What You See - Revelation 1:11

Rev 1:11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

John is to record what he sees and send it to these seven churches.  It will include a letter to each church, but be sent to all the churches to be read.  The individual messages address particular issues in each church but the issues, admonishments, and promises apply to the church as a whole.

Isaiah 30:8 Go now, write it on a tablet for them,

inscribe it on a scroll,

that for the days to come

it may be an everlasting witness.

Habakkuk 2:2-3  Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation

and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it

3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end

and will not prove false.Though it linger, wait for it;it will certainly come

and will not delay.

2 Peter 1:21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Special Possession

1 Peter 2:9 NIV
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Believers are a priesthood given wholly to the Lord to serve Him with the sacrifice of praise. A special possession as foreshadowed by the Levites, who were not counted with the twelve tribes of Israel and took the place of first born of Israel.

The priests served as mediators of sacrifice and the Levites guarded the temple and handled the requirements of day to day administration.

Our priest is the Lord Himself. We give witness and serve the light in our daily walk with Him.

A Loud Voice - Revelation 1:10

Rev 1:10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,

Even in the most desolate and unlikely of places one can be in the Spirit.  In fact, is there a more desolate and unlikely place than the human heart for the Spirit to visit, much less reside?  But for some reason He has chosen to fellowship with us.  Any day given to the Lord might be deemed the Lord’s Day.  It is His light which shows the way. This is the day the Lord has made.  Let us be glad and rejoice.

Not a trumpet, but like the sound of a trumpet. The trumpet signifies the majesty of the Lord and the onset of the word that comes.  Not only is the voice regal and mighty, but it leaves little doubt as to the one speaking.  This is not a small voice within, but a voice from heaven.

Exodus 20:18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance

John 3:29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.

John 10:16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

Bitter As Gall

Proverbs 5:3-5 NIV
For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil;
4 but in the end she is bitter as gall,
sharp as a double- edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death;
her steps lead straight to the grave.

The wicked woman in Revelation, Babylon by name, signifies the disobedience and rebellion that leads to destruction. It is a bitter cup, like that which was given our Lord on the cross.

Revelation 8:11 NIV
the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.

The waters of the earth turn bitter from that fallen star Wormwood. Death results, except for the one who accepts the life of Christ.
Enter the ark before the waters rise and time is gone.

Servants

Leviticus 25:55 LXX
οτι εμοι οι υιοι ισραηλ οικεται παιδεσ μου ουτοι εισιν ουσ εξηγαγον εκ γησ αιγυπτου εγω κυριοσ ο θεοσ υμων

Leviticus 25:55 NIV
for the Israelites belong to me as servants. They are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

The Greek for servants implies a child within the household with a distinct purpose. God brought His people out of Egypt, sometimes referred to as His son. The law was given and became the schoolmaster to make the people ready, to train them in the way of the Lord.

At the right moment, Jesus came showing the purpose of the law. He fulfilled the law, provided the way for us to do the same, and ransomed His own to the freedom of sons and daughters.

Who did this and why?

"I am the Lord your God."

Because They Spurned

[ESVi] Lev. 26:43 But the land shall be abandoned by them and enjoy its Sabbaths while it lies desolate without them, and they shall make amends for their iniquity, because they spurned my rules and their soul abhorred my statutes.

Pharaoh walked contrary to God despite the plagues visited on him.
Israel walked contrary to God despite the plagues brought about by the curse of disobedience.
There are plagues today in the world and those that will come tomorrow until the creation is renewed and restored.

Because Of -Revelation 1:9

Rev 1:9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

It is the word of God that is given to Jesus to be given to us.  The testimony of Jesus is the word of God.  They are of the same essence, just as the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost speak of the One God.

John is chosen to witness these visions, just as he was chosen as a disciple and witness of the man Jesus.  John describes himself, not as a special and privileged person of rank, but as a brother and companion to all those following after the Master.  He speaks not of riches, honor, and glory, but of the suffering and patient endurance that are common to the experience of the Christian.  

God used this time and place to deliver this message to John.  There is no time or circumstance which God is unable to redeem or use.  The same applies to any and all of us.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double- edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Romans 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs —heirs of God and co- heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Matthew 16:28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom

Revelation 1:6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father —to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

Acts 14:22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said

Psalms 37:7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;

do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.