Revelation 13:1-4 ESV
1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. 4 And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”
The dragon stands on the sand beside the sea and a beast rises from the waters, sharing the ten horns and seven heads of the dragon. It displays the same image as the dragon. This is because it is the child and creature of the dragon. It has taken what Jesus was offered, but refused. The world is under the dominion of the prince of darkness and this beast assumes the dark mantle of destruction. Satan has given all his dominion instead to this creature that opposes Jesus and God. He that opposes Jesus, opposes God, for Jesus is the salvation of God and is one with God.
The world will "marvel" and follow after him. Astonished and deceived, they will trail after the beast like children following the pied piper in a children's fairy tale, except this is no fairy tale, but the grim reality of a broken world apart from God.
Who indeed is like the beast, but his father the deceiver?
Revelation 12:3
And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.
Nothing can be done unless it is allowed by God in heaven. Even the Son of God was slain for the purpose of God? It is His will that will be done.
Jeremiah 51:55-57
For the Lord is laying Babylon waste
and stilling her mighty voice.
Their waves roar like many waters;
the noise of their voice is raised,
56 for a destroyer has come upon her,
upon Babylon;
her warriors are taken;
their bows are broken in pieces,
for the Lord is a God of recompense;
he will surely repay.
57 I will make drunk her officials and her wise men,
her governors, her commanders, and her warriors;
they shall sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake,
declares the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts.
Daniel 11:36
“And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done.
Daniel 7:3-8
And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles 'wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. 5 And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh. ’ 6 After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
Hosea 13:7-8
So I am to them like a lion;
like a leopard I will lurk beside the way.
8 I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs;
I will tear open their breast,
and there I will devour them like a lion,
as a wild beast would rip them open.
Luke 4:7-12
If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written,
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God,
and him only shall you serve. ’”
9 And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written,
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
to guard you,’
11 and
“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone. ’”
12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test. ’”
Word for Life in Love— Scripture Meditations By Stephen Brown
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Friday, September 7, 2012
The Devil Has Come Down -Revelation 12:7-12
Revelation 12:7-12 ESV
7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world— he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
Now we learn a little more of Satan's fall, a little more detail and implications. We are told of a battle in heaven that caused his expulsion from heaven. There is no place there for disobedience and rebellion.
Christ has overcome death through the shedding of His blood and has been raised in glory to usher forth His kingdom of salvation. A loud voice makes this announcement. Confessing His salvation and living in obedience to His word, we are free of the chains of death and look forward to the consummation of the promise. "We will be like Him".
Heaven rejoices, but the news is not too good for those on earth. The devil hits the ground running, for there's not much time. His "great wrath" from his defeat and fall will fuel the persecution of the saints and the death of many. Satan has been in the center of our woes from the beginning.
Genesis 3:14-15
The Lord God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all livestock
and above all beasts of the field;
on your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat
all the days of your life.
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”
In the book of Job we see God in control and giving Satan leeway to test Job. Job will struggle as we all would and do, but is blessed in the end. Accusations cease with the victory of mercy.
Job 1:9-12
Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Isaiah 49:13
Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the Lord has comforted his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted.
The angel Michael has had charge of God's people in battles with Satan. He executes God's will in deliverance and favor for those whose name is written in the book of life.
Daniel 12:1-2
1 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world— he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
Now we learn a little more of Satan's fall, a little more detail and implications. We are told of a battle in heaven that caused his expulsion from heaven. There is no place there for disobedience and rebellion.
Christ has overcome death through the shedding of His blood and has been raised in glory to usher forth His kingdom of salvation. A loud voice makes this announcement. Confessing His salvation and living in obedience to His word, we are free of the chains of death and look forward to the consummation of the promise. "We will be like Him".
Heaven rejoices, but the news is not too good for those on earth. The devil hits the ground running, for there's not much time. His "great wrath" from his defeat and fall will fuel the persecution of the saints and the death of many. Satan has been in the center of our woes from the beginning.
Genesis 3:14-15
The Lord God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all livestock
and above all beasts of the field;
on your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat
all the days of your life.
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”
In the book of Job we see God in control and giving Satan leeway to test Job. Job will struggle as we all would and do, but is blessed in the end. Accusations cease with the victory of mercy.
Job 1:9-12
Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Isaiah 49:13
Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the Lord has comforted his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted.
The angel Michael has had charge of God's people in battles with Satan. He executes God's will in deliverance and favor for those whose name is written in the book of life.
Daniel 12:1-2
1 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Would Be Finished
[ESVi] Dan. 12:7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished.
The holy people here are Israel. The judgement against their rebellion will come to an end and the punishment complete. The fulfillment of the word of God is at hand.
Who was it that rose in the field to kill Abel, whose father was a murderer from the beginning?
Who is it that plots and schemes to kill every Jew and Christian?
The Son and Father, that is Almighty God, says, "Come follow me".
Those that oppose God say "submit or die".
The truth will be clear and prevail.
The holy people here are Israel. The judgement against their rebellion will come to an end and the punishment complete. The fulfillment of the word of God is at hand.
Who was it that rose in the field to kill Abel, whose father was a murderer from the beginning?
Who is it that plots and schemes to kill every Jew and Christian?
The Son and Father, that is Almighty God, says, "Come follow me".
Those that oppose God say "submit or die".
The truth will be clear and prevail.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
The Woman Fled -Revelation 12:1-6
Revelation 12:1-6 ESV
1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.
These verses turn our attention to heaven and there we behold signs representing Christ and Satan. A woman clothed by the sun, the wife of God, comes into view. The crown of twelve stars confirms this woman is Israel. The moon under her feet brings us to Satan, the other sign in the sky. The serpent was cursed in the Garden to be trampled at the feet of Adam.
The dragon is thrown down, taking many with him. Though he is cast out, he is given power according to the purpose of God. He seeks to thwart that purpose as he waits to kill the son of the woman, just as he continues to seek the death of each soul today. He is described as red in color. In the last days the moon turns to "blood", or red. The moon was given to light the night, a light reflected from the sun, back when light was separated from the dark.
The child does die, but is not devoured. God uses the death of Jesus to open the way of life. The child is raised to the throne of God. Satan is left on earth defeated, but still able to give battle for the souls of men.
The woman disappears into the wilderness at the provision of God. The earth swallows the flood from the mouth of the dragon. The 1,260 days points us to the last days of the tribulation. This vision is not anchored in time as we think of it, but gives us a recap and a big picture view of the players in God's plan.
Isaiah 62:3-5
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
4 You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,
but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
and your land Married;
for the Lord delights in you,
and your land shall be married.
5 For as a young man marries a young woman,
so shall your sons marry you,
and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
so shall your God rejoice over you.
Isaiah 54:5
For your Maker is your husband,
the Lord of hosts is his name;
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
the God of the whole earth he is called.
Isaiah 60:1-2
1 Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
Micah 5:3-4
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth.
Psalms 2:9-12
You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.
These verses turn our attention to heaven and there we behold signs representing Christ and Satan. A woman clothed by the sun, the wife of God, comes into view. The crown of twelve stars confirms this woman is Israel. The moon under her feet brings us to Satan, the other sign in the sky. The serpent was cursed in the Garden to be trampled at the feet of Adam.
The dragon is thrown down, taking many with him. Though he is cast out, he is given power according to the purpose of God. He seeks to thwart that purpose as he waits to kill the son of the woman, just as he continues to seek the death of each soul today. He is described as red in color. In the last days the moon turns to "blood", or red. The moon was given to light the night, a light reflected from the sun, back when light was separated from the dark.
The child does die, but is not devoured. God uses the death of Jesus to open the way of life. The child is raised to the throne of God. Satan is left on earth defeated, but still able to give battle for the souls of men.
The woman disappears into the wilderness at the provision of God. The earth swallows the flood from the mouth of the dragon. The 1,260 days points us to the last days of the tribulation. This vision is not anchored in time as we think of it, but gives us a recap and a big picture view of the players in God's plan.
Isaiah 62:3-5
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
4 You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,
but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
and your land Married;
for the Lord delights in you,
and your land shall be married.
5 For as a young man marries a young woman,
so shall your sons marry you,
and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
so shall your God rejoice over you.
Isaiah 54:5
For your Maker is your husband,
the Lord of hosts is his name;
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
the God of the whole earth he is called.
Isaiah 60:1-2
1 Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
Micah 5:3-4
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth.
Psalms 2:9-12
You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
The Seventh Trumpet -Revelation 11:15-19
Revelation 11:15-19 ESV
15 Then 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.” 16 And the twenty- four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying,
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
who is and who was,
for you have taken your great power
and begun to reign.
18 The 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,l
and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”
19 Then 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.
Revelation 10:7
but 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.
The seventh trumpet sounds. The day of reckoning has come. The pause is over and the forbearance of God has ended. The consequence of judgement is at hand. Christ assumed the throne upon His resurrection. His return awaited the will of God.
Daniel 7:13-14
13 “I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
The Rock of Ages is coming at last.
Daniel 2:44-45
And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”
Daniel 7:27 speaks of the saints sharing the kingship of the King of Kings. We are united and of one body, which is the King Himself.
Daniel 7:27
And the kingdom and the dominion
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;
his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey him. ’
Jesus promises the disciples will rule with Him. They will judge Israel. They are part of the church that will have dominion over the nations.
Matthew 19:28-30
Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Those who have received the crown of life throw their crowns at His feet. They worship in the joy and knowledge of His salvation.
Revelation 4:10-11
the twenty- four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”
He is God Almighty, Who was and is, and is to come.
Revelation 1:8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
The Lamb of God is ready for the Bride of the Lamb. The saints are ready to unite with God, to be at one with our Creator.
Revelation 19:6-9
6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
The presence and wrath of God is felt on earth. The curse of the plague of hailstones falls on those who would curse God. No one is able to stand, and all flee.
Revelation 16:17-21
17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 21 And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.
Hail falls from heaven and is understood as judgement from God.
Isaiah 28:2
Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong;
like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest,
like a storm of mighty, overflowing waters,
he casts down to the earth with his hand.
The ark is seen in heaven. The ark represented Christ and His mediating role in the salvation of God. It resided in the Holy of Holies on earth and does so in heaven, for that is where Christ is. Upon the ark rested the mercy seat and it is because of that mercy seat we are able to find the rest of God, His Sabbath. It is the new and everlasting covenant.
1 Kings 8:1
1 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers 'houses of the people of Israel, before King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion.
15 Then 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.” 16 And the twenty- four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying,
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
who is and who was,
for you have taken your great power
and begun to reign.
18 The 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,l
and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”
19 Then 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.
Revelation 10:7
but 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.
The seventh trumpet sounds. The day of reckoning has come. The pause is over and the forbearance of God has ended. The consequence of judgement is at hand. Christ assumed the throne upon His resurrection. His return awaited the will of God.
Daniel 7:13-14
13 “I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
The Rock of Ages is coming at last.
Daniel 2:44-45
And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”
Daniel 7:27 speaks of the saints sharing the kingship of the King of Kings. We are united and of one body, which is the King Himself.
Daniel 7:27
And the kingdom and the dominion
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;
his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey him. ’
Jesus promises the disciples will rule with Him. They will judge Israel. They are part of the church that will have dominion over the nations.
Matthew 19:28-30
Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Those who have received the crown of life throw their crowns at His feet. They worship in the joy and knowledge of His salvation.
Revelation 4:10-11
the twenty- four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”
He is God Almighty, Who was and is, and is to come.
Revelation 1:8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
The Lamb of God is ready for the Bride of the Lamb. The saints are ready to unite with God, to be at one with our Creator.
Revelation 19:6-9
6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
The presence and wrath of God is felt on earth. The curse of the plague of hailstones falls on those who would curse God. No one is able to stand, and all flee.
Revelation 16:17-21
17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 21 And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.
Hail falls from heaven and is understood as judgement from God.
Isaiah 28:2
Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong;
like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest,
like a storm of mighty, overflowing waters,
he casts down to the earth with his hand.
The ark is seen in heaven. The ark represented Christ and His mediating role in the salvation of God. It resided in the Holy of Holies on earth and does so in heaven, for that is where Christ is. Upon the ark rested the mercy seat and it is because of that mercy seat we are able to find the rest of God, His Sabbath. It is the new and everlasting covenant.
1 Kings 8:1
1 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers 'houses of the people of Israel, before King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
They Have Finished -Revelation 11:7-14
Revelation 11:7-14 ESV
7 And 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, 8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9 For 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, 10 and 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. 11 But 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. 12 Then 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. 13 And 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.
The beast then overcomes the witnesses as foretold by Daniel. We see here again that God is in control. It is only after their testimony is finished that the beast rises to slay them. It will happen as God said.
The witnesses are dead for three and one half days, which might be considered in light of half of week of the seven days of tribulation. Defeat is turned to victory. Death has been defeated by the life of God. The world rejoices until they see life return and they are raised by God. The fourfold description of the inhabitants who rejoice implies the four corners of the earth, or its entirety. Their ascension to heaven gives final witness to the truth and power of God.
It's not clear if those on earth heard the command, but they did see the witnesses ascend in the clouds. "and their enemies watched them". Many realized the truth at that time and gave glory to God. Many perished in rebellion.
Daniel 7:21-22
As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.
Daniel 8:23-25
And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise. 24 His power shall be great— but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. 25 By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand.
Deceit, arrogance, and pride will be hallmarks of the beast. They will be cunningly used we are told, just like the serpent in the Garden.
2 Thessalonians 2:8-12
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
The power of these two witnesses comes from the Lord. He is an all consuming God, who refines and consumes with fire out of heaven, like tongues of fire on the day of Pentecost. The Spirit is given and the word goes forth.
This is the power that mixes with our prayers and finds the ear of our Lord. It raised Jesus from the grave and will do so for us.
The second woe has passed. The third and final woe begins with sounding of the seventh and final trumpet.
7 And 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, 8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9 For 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, 10 and 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. 11 But 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. 12 Then 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. 13 And 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.
The beast then overcomes the witnesses as foretold by Daniel. We see here again that God is in control. It is only after their testimony is finished that the beast rises to slay them. It will happen as God said.
The witnesses are dead for three and one half days, which might be considered in light of half of week of the seven days of tribulation. Defeat is turned to victory. Death has been defeated by the life of God. The world rejoices until they see life return and they are raised by God. The fourfold description of the inhabitants who rejoice implies the four corners of the earth, or its entirety. Their ascension to heaven gives final witness to the truth and power of God.
It's not clear if those on earth heard the command, but they did see the witnesses ascend in the clouds. "and their enemies watched them". Many realized the truth at that time and gave glory to God. Many perished in rebellion.
Daniel 7:21-22
As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.
Daniel 8:23-25
And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise. 24 His power shall be great— but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. 25 By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand.
Deceit, arrogance, and pride will be hallmarks of the beast. They will be cunningly used we are told, just like the serpent in the Garden.
2 Thessalonians 2:8-12
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
The power of these two witnesses comes from the Lord. He is an all consuming God, who refines and consumes with fire out of heaven, like tongues of fire on the day of Pentecost. The Spirit is given and the word goes forth.
This is the power that mixes with our prayers and finds the ear of our Lord. It raised Jesus from the grave and will do so for us.
The second woe has passed. The third and final woe begins with sounding of the seventh and final trumpet.
Monday, September 3, 2012
New Wine
Acts 2:13 ESV
But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
But is was the new wine of the New Covenant: the Holy Spirit.
But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
But is was the new wine of the New Covenant: the Holy Spirit.
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