Revelation 21:1-4 NASB
The New Heaven and Earth
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
The first things have passed away. The old has given way to the new. The transformation of the old man to the new man is accomplished. The clay of humanity is mixed with the Spirit of God, heaven and earth are joined together to create a new creature as God purposed. Gone are the agonies and trials that have forged a people.
The tossing sea where the twisting serpent swam and the beast arose from the murky depths of a fallen creation has now dried into the harvest of the fruitful. Just as the flood waters receded before Noah to reveal a clean earth, the sea dries and no longer serves to confine mankind. We are free indeed.
The new Jerusalem descends from heaven and the dwelling place God always intended is revealed. The Father has prepared a people through the fire of creation who are adorned in righteousness, who have arrived at the destination promised at the end of their walk with The Lord. The promised land.
There is a four-fold proclamation of God's eternal presence with man confirming the house of God, the new Eden. We might hear echoes of the four living creatures that served as His throne. They may have depicted a picture of this blessed state. Jesus walked on the earth as a man. Now The Lord will walk among men again, but this time as He really is and we will be like Him.
Isaiah 57:20-21
But the wicked are like the tossing sea;
for it cannot be quiet,
and its waters toss up mire and dirt.
There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
Isaiah 27:1
The Redemption of Israel
In that day the Lord with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea.
Isaiah 54:6-8
For the Lord has called you
like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit,
like a wife of youth when she is cast off,
says your God.
For a brief moment I deserted you,
but with great compassion I will gather you.
In overflowing anger for a moment
I hid my face from you,
but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”
says the Lord, your Redeemer.
John 3:29-31
The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”
He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.
Ephesians 5:31-33
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Psalms 48:1-2
Zion, the City of Our God
A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
in the city of our God!
His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation,
is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
the city of the great King.
Isaiah 12:6
Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”
Isaiah 25:8
He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.
2 Corinthians 6:17-18
Therefore go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”
1 John 2:17
And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Word for Life in Love— Scripture Meditations By Stephen Brown
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Great White Throne - Revelation 20:11-15
Revelation 20:11-15 NASB
Judgment at the Throne of God
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
John next sees a white throne, which speaks of purity and authority of God. The old heaven and earth are found no more, unable to exist in God's presence. The dead are left standing before the throne, exposed to the judgement to be pronounced.
The books are opened. It doesn't say how many books it will take to give a record of all the deeds which require accounting. It will only take one book to list those who have chosen life. Only one entry is needed - their name.
The dead are gathered from the land and sea, the spiritually dead. The grave gave up those who had fallen asleep, those who were never awakened to the life of God. They stand before God to answer for their deeds. For those who have chosen Jesus, He is their and the answer.
Death and Hades are removed and thrown into the lake of fire. They no longer will be a part of creation. The first death ceases to be.
After accounting for their deeds, the dead join death in the lake of fire. This is the second and final death. The all consuming fire of God burns through the chaff and unproductive branches of mankind. Those left will participate in the life of God and partake in the tree of life.
Psalms 97:1-5
PSALM 97
The L ord’s Power and Dominion.
The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
Let the many islands be glad.
Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
Fire goes before Him
And burns up His adversaries round about.
His lightnings lit up the world;
The earth saw and trembled.
The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
Matthew 25:31-33
The Judgment
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
Acts 17:30-31
Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
Romans 2:5-11
But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.
Judgment at the Throne of God
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
John next sees a white throne, which speaks of purity and authority of God. The old heaven and earth are found no more, unable to exist in God's presence. The dead are left standing before the throne, exposed to the judgement to be pronounced.
The books are opened. It doesn't say how many books it will take to give a record of all the deeds which require accounting. It will only take one book to list those who have chosen life. Only one entry is needed - their name.
The dead are gathered from the land and sea, the spiritually dead. The grave gave up those who had fallen asleep, those who were never awakened to the life of God. They stand before God to answer for their deeds. For those who have chosen Jesus, He is their and the answer.
Death and Hades are removed and thrown into the lake of fire. They no longer will be a part of creation. The first death ceases to be.
After accounting for their deeds, the dead join death in the lake of fire. This is the second and final death. The all consuming fire of God burns through the chaff and unproductive branches of mankind. Those left will participate in the life of God and partake in the tree of life.
Psalms 97:1-5
PSALM 97
The L ord’s Power and Dominion.
The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
Let the many islands be glad.
Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
Fire goes before Him
And burns up His adversaries round about.
His lightnings lit up the world;
The earth saw and trembled.
The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
Matthew 25:31-33
The Judgment
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
Acts 17:30-31
Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
Romans 2:5-11
But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
A Thousand Years Completed - Revelation 20:7-10
Revelation 20:7-10 NASB
Satan Freed, Doomed
When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
The time represented by the thousand years comes to its end. The church is gathered. Satan is released, no longer bound by the presence of the Spirit on the earth. He gathers together his army from many nations and they come against God's people of Israel.
It is there Satan's army is defeated. They surround Jerusalem with a mighty host set to invade the Holy City and crush Israel once and for all. The Lord has different plans and fire descends from heaven and consumes the belligerent horde.
The devil is thrown into his final fate, joining the two beasts. No more will his deceptions be a snare for the nations. At last the delusions of the the deceived shall give way to the knowledge of the truth. They will know that He is Lord.
Ezekiel 39:1-8
CHAPTER 39
Prophecy against Gog—Invaders Destroyed
“And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal; and I will turn you around, drive you on, take you up from the remotest parts of the north and bring you against the mountains of Israel. I will strike your bow from your left hand and dash down your arrows from your right hand. You will fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you as food to every kind of predatory bird and beast of the field. You will fall on the open field; for it is I who have spoken,” declares the Lord God. “And I will send fire upon Magog and those who inhabit the coastlands in safety; and they will know that I am the Lord.
“My holy name I will make known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not let My holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. Behold, it is coming and it shall be done,” declares the Lord God. “That is the day of which I have spoken.
Isaiah 8:5-10
The Lord spoke to me again: “Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks, and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.”
Be broken, you peoples, and be shattered;
give ear, all you far countries;
strap on your armor and be shattered;
strap on your armor and be shattered.
Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing;
speak a word, but it will not stand,
for God is with us.
Psalms 125:1-2
Psalm 125
The Lord Surrounds His People
A Song of Ascents.
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore.
Psalms 97:3-5
Fire goes before him
and burns up his adversaries all around.
His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.
Ezekiel 38:22-23
With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur. So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.
Satan Freed, Doomed
When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
The time represented by the thousand years comes to its end. The church is gathered. Satan is released, no longer bound by the presence of the Spirit on the earth. He gathers together his army from many nations and they come against God's people of Israel.
It is there Satan's army is defeated. They surround Jerusalem with a mighty host set to invade the Holy City and crush Israel once and for all. The Lord has different plans and fire descends from heaven and consumes the belligerent horde.
The devil is thrown into his final fate, joining the two beasts. No more will his deceptions be a snare for the nations. At last the delusions of the the deceived shall give way to the knowledge of the truth. They will know that He is Lord.
Ezekiel 39:1-8
CHAPTER 39
Prophecy against Gog—Invaders Destroyed
“And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal; and I will turn you around, drive you on, take you up from the remotest parts of the north and bring you against the mountains of Israel. I will strike your bow from your left hand and dash down your arrows from your right hand. You will fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you as food to every kind of predatory bird and beast of the field. You will fall on the open field; for it is I who have spoken,” declares the Lord God. “And I will send fire upon Magog and those who inhabit the coastlands in safety; and they will know that I am the Lord.
“My holy name I will make known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not let My holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. Behold, it is coming and it shall be done,” declares the Lord God. “That is the day of which I have spoken.
Isaiah 8:5-10
The Lord spoke to me again: “Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks, and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.”
Be broken, you peoples, and be shattered;
give ear, all you far countries;
strap on your armor and be shattered;
strap on your armor and be shattered.
Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing;
speak a word, but it will not stand,
for God is with us.
Psalms 125:1-2
Psalm 125
The Lord Surrounds His People
A Song of Ascents.
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore.
Psalms 97:3-5
Fire goes before him
and burns up his adversaries all around.
His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.
Ezekiel 38:22-23
With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur. So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.
Friday, April 26, 2013
First And Second Resurrection - Revelation 20:4-6
Revelation 20:4-6 NASB
Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
The first resurrection could be when a believer is quickened from the dead. We become a new creature in Christ at that time. Once we are awakened into the life of God we are never separated from Him, never apart from the love of the Father and Son. We will reign with Him, we who are in the body of Christ. We do not take the mark of the beast for we have the seal of the Holy Spirit Who raises us into life. We become priests of God and of Christ.
The second resurrection will be of the dead who are brought to life before the throne of God to give account of their sins and to face judgement. They are the ones whose name are not found in the book of life.
1 Corinthians 6:2-3
Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!
Daniel 7:18
But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever. ’
Luke 14:15
When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”
Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
The first resurrection could be when a believer is quickened from the dead. We become a new creature in Christ at that time. Once we are awakened into the life of God we are never separated from Him, never apart from the love of the Father and Son. We will reign with Him, we who are in the body of Christ. We do not take the mark of the beast for we have the seal of the Holy Spirit Who raises us into life. We become priests of God and of Christ.
The second resurrection will be of the dead who are brought to life before the throne of God to give account of their sins and to face judgement. They are the ones whose name are not found in the book of life.
1 Corinthians 6:2-3
Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!
Daniel 7:18
But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever. ’
Luke 14:15
When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Satan Bound - Revelation 20:1-3
Revelation 20:1-3 NASB
Satan Bound
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.
When Jesus was born, a great light began to shine on earth. That light enabled those following after that light to see past the darkness that imprisoned the nations. It is by that lamp we walk. We are no longer deceived if we have received His light. Jesus bound the strong man and set captives free from sin at that time.
We are sealed by the Spirit of truth. Satan is bound by that same seal.
The seal will be taken away for a little while at the end, then The Lord will return.
A thousand years could represent a long, but finite time. Once Christ finally throws Satan into the lake of fire, His kingdom of peace will have no end.
John 12:31-32
Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
Revelation 17:8
The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.
Matthew 24:24-28
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
2 Peter 3:8-9
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Satan Bound
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.
When Jesus was born, a great light began to shine on earth. That light enabled those following after that light to see past the darkness that imprisoned the nations. It is by that lamp we walk. We are no longer deceived if we have received His light. Jesus bound the strong man and set captives free from sin at that time.
We are sealed by the Spirit of truth. Satan is bound by that same seal.
The seal will be taken away for a little while at the end, then The Lord will return.
A thousand years could represent a long, but finite time. Once Christ finally throws Satan into the lake of fire, His kingdom of peace will have no end.
John 12:31-32
Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
Revelation 17:8
The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.
Matthew 24:24-28
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
2 Peter 3:8-9
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Faithful And True - Revelation 19:11-16
Revelation 19:11-16 NASB
The Rider on a White Horse
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Heaven opens again to reveal the King of kings and Lord of lords. The fire in the eyes speaks to the power and purity of His judgement. He wears a crown above all others. No one knows His name, meaning His name is above all names, and was not given to Him by anyone. He is the eternal God. He is coming forth to claim His own.
Many commenters see the blood on His robe as the blood of His enemies spilled in the winepress of God's wrath. He poured out His own blood the first time He came, and that to give life. The blood that now flows from those that do not choose life.
The armies of heaven follow on horses that are as white as the clean robes of the riders. The heavenly host issues forth behind the Lion of Judah, the Commander of God's army as He descends on His enemies.
His enduring word brought creation into existence. This same word is spoken against the enemies of the Creator that brings about the new creation. It divides the impure from the pure, and the wheat from the chaff. It is the sword of truth, the utterance of God.
He treads the winepress. This translation uses the word "will" in front of tread. The Greek shows an active and present tense. The curse of the serpent back in Genesis comes to completion. Though the serpent bruised the heel of Son, in the end the snake is trampled and God's purpose is accomplished.
Words that many take as suggestions as to how one lives and obeys God will no longer be optional. Everyone will acknowledge The Lord and bend the knee before Him.
The name on the robe may symbolize His victorious life and resurrection, for it is the name by which all can find salvation. That name appears on His thigh. The thigh was a part of a sign of covenant or vow. Abraham made his servant confirm a vow by having the man place his hand under Abraham's thigh. The Lord has made a covenant with us and He comes to fulfill His word, and that word is His name.
Psalms 45:3-7
Gird Your sword on Your thigh, O Mighty One,
In Your splendor and Your majesty!
And in Your majesty ride on victoriously,
For the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;
Let Your right hand teach You awesome things.
Your arrows are sharp;
The peoples fall under You;
Your arrows are in the heart of the King’s enemies.
Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of joy above Your fellows.
Genesis 32:29
Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there.
Matthew 11:27
All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
John 1:1
The Deity of Jesus Christ
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
Matthew 28:3-4
And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.
Isaiah 63:2-6
Why is Your apparel red,
And Your garments like the one who treads in the wine press?
“ I have trodden the wine trough alone,
And from the peoples there was no man with Me.
I also trod them in My anger
And trampled them in My wrath;
And their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments,
And I stained all My raiment.
“For the day of vengeance was in My heart,
And My year of redemption has come.
“I looked, and there was no one to help,
And I was astonished and there was no one to uphold;
So My own arm brought salvation to Me,
And My wrath upheld Me.
“I trod down the peoples in My anger
And made them drunk in My wrath,
And I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.”
The Rider on a White Horse
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Heaven opens again to reveal the King of kings and Lord of lords. The fire in the eyes speaks to the power and purity of His judgement. He wears a crown above all others. No one knows His name, meaning His name is above all names, and was not given to Him by anyone. He is the eternal God. He is coming forth to claim His own.
Many commenters see the blood on His robe as the blood of His enemies spilled in the winepress of God's wrath. He poured out His own blood the first time He came, and that to give life. The blood that now flows from those that do not choose life.
The armies of heaven follow on horses that are as white as the clean robes of the riders. The heavenly host issues forth behind the Lion of Judah, the Commander of God's army as He descends on His enemies.
His enduring word brought creation into existence. This same word is spoken against the enemies of the Creator that brings about the new creation. It divides the impure from the pure, and the wheat from the chaff. It is the sword of truth, the utterance of God.
He treads the winepress. This translation uses the word "will" in front of tread. The Greek shows an active and present tense. The curse of the serpent back in Genesis comes to completion. Though the serpent bruised the heel of Son, in the end the snake is trampled and God's purpose is accomplished.
Words that many take as suggestions as to how one lives and obeys God will no longer be optional. Everyone will acknowledge The Lord and bend the knee before Him.
The name on the robe may symbolize His victorious life and resurrection, for it is the name by which all can find salvation. That name appears on His thigh. The thigh was a part of a sign of covenant or vow. Abraham made his servant confirm a vow by having the man place his hand under Abraham's thigh. The Lord has made a covenant with us and He comes to fulfill His word, and that word is His name.
Psalms 45:3-7
Gird Your sword on Your thigh, O Mighty One,
In Your splendor and Your majesty!
And in Your majesty ride on victoriously,
For the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;
Let Your right hand teach You awesome things.
Your arrows are sharp;
The peoples fall under You;
Your arrows are in the heart of the King’s enemies.
Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of joy above Your fellows.
Genesis 32:29
Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there.
Matthew 11:27
All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
John 1:1
The Deity of Jesus Christ
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
Matthew 28:3-4
And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.
Isaiah 63:2-6
Why is Your apparel red,
And Your garments like the one who treads in the wine press?
“ I have trodden the wine trough alone,
And from the peoples there was no man with Me.
I also trod them in My anger
And trampled them in My wrath;
And their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments,
And I stained all My raiment.
“For the day of vengeance was in My heart,
And My year of redemption has come.
“I looked, and there was no one to help,
And I was astonished and there was no one to uphold;
So My own arm brought salvation to Me,
And My wrath upheld Me.
“I trod down the peoples in My anger
And made them drunk in My wrath,
And I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.”
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