WTW 2021
14 August
Revelation 1-10 Review
I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:14
So let us wash in the blood and cloth ourselves with Christ
All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Galatians 3:27
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. James 5:1-2
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ ” Revelation 7:13-17
“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll. He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. Revelation 22:12-21
It was also such a special opportunity those couple days with RJ & co meditating on the WORD together.
There is always so much more of value we can’t fathom or recall it all.
I am just reminded of our extensive discussions regarding the eternal abodes.
We also continue to read about the Abysson
These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the [Gr. Abysson] shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. Revelation 11:6-7
And so we recall those other 2 lone eternal abode references in all the gospels being found in Lucas as well as those 2 lone Abysson references.
And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the [Gr. Abysson] Luke 8:31
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in [Gr. Paradeiso] Luke 23:43
[cf. only 2C12:4; Rv2:7]
Or, Who shall descend into the [Gr. Abysson]? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) Romans 10:7
And of course we also recall that unsuccessful R10:7 LXX search for Gr NT 12 “the deep” as D30:14 “beyond the sea”/”over the sea”
(that is, to bring up Christ again from [Gr. nekron].) Romans 10:7b
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We have also not yet finished going through all the chapters of Revelation
Or even through everything there is in chapters 8-10
(Or through all the cities of Israel)
Chapter 8
Don’t lose sight of that two sided scroll
Keep your eyes on it
It disappeared in chapter 8 right when it got quiet
Chapter 9
What?!!!
That EAGLE was not lying
As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!”
Revelation 8:13
Also
I never realized there are four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates (Rv9:14)
Then there are
Locusts that looked like battle horses, wearing gold crowns, with human faces, women’s hair, lions’ teeth, iron breastplates, thundering wings like hordes of battle horses and chariots & scorpion tails with 5 month poison.
And still like BT noted
The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts. Revelation 9:20-21
Chapter 10 – Trumpet Interlude
See Ez 3, 8 & 40
Is 14 & 18 again
First
Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.” Revelation 10:1 – 4
*
Is the message of the Seven Thunders still sealed up?
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So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but ‘in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’ [Ez3:3] ” I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.” Revelation 10:9-11
Stay tuned for the Seventh Trumpet
And
The Voice of Seven Thunders
[Editors note: “The seven thunders are the only words in Revelation that are sealed.” -GQ]
Chapter 11
…
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Sevens
7 stars
7 lampstands
7 angels
7 ekklesia
7 letters
7 spirits
7 horses
7 seals
7 horns
7 eyes
7 trumpets
7 thunders
7 heads
7 crowns
7 plagues
7 bowls
7 hills
7 kings
And more 7s
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Chapter 12
I always thought of Isaiah 14 & Ezekiel 28 regarding Luke 10 fall but had never connected Rev 12
And also Rev 12 speaks of the free woman
Now these things are written figuratively
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise. These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written: “Be glad, barren woman, you who never bore a child; shout for joy and cry aloud, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.” Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Galatians 4:22-31
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.
Revelation 12:1-2, 5-6
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[Aside]
TRADEMARKS
John Mark
A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
Mark 14:51 – 52
When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.
Acts 12:12
My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)
Colossians 4:10
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John
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1 , 7 , 14
This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
John 21:24
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
1 John 1:1 – 3 , 7
The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 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.
Revelation 1:1 – 2 , 5 , 9
(By the way, do you know Peter’s dad’s name?)
[End aside]
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19 August 2021
Week 3 Review & Reflection
Talking with the boys last night about this study through Revelation and the significant impact on me continuing beyond that of previous times, one of the points was the significance of Revelation in the NT as the lone prophetic book.
This interesting point came up
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
Hebrews 1:1-2
Following the thought from that discussion further now…
Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Revelation 19:10
The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”
Revelation 22:6
The word testimony is significant
Probing that a bit though there is more to understand…
The NT word base is martyr
This thought about testimony is reminiscent of
Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples. To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.
Isaiah 8:16, 20
Torah & Teudah
Teaching & Testimony
This was the OT phrase before the writing of the OT prophets
After the OT prophets the three fold form of the scriptures began to develop which we now know as
Torah – Teaching/Law
Neviim – Writings
Ketuvim – Prophets
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
Luke 24:27,44
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22 August
Reflections
• None of the other first century apostles saw or heard or read Revelation
• JESUS revealed the Apocalypse only to his beloved John
• No one was able to read Revelation until about the turn of the second century
• Next to the saints in Asia, Polycarp would have been in the first generation of saints to know and read Revelation
Polycarp
Born: 69 AD, Smyrna, Turkey
Died: February 23, 155 AD, Smyrna, Turkey
Irenaeus, disciple of Polycarp
Born: circa AD 130, Smyrna, Turkey
Died: circa AD 200, Lugdunum
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This passage must have been particularly sobering to such as Polycarp & Irenaeus who were from Smyrna and were John’s direct successors.
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“To the angel of the ekklēsias in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the ekklēsiais. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.
Revelation 2:8-11
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I never thought before about any additional information we may have regarding those saints who actually received these 7 letters and this entire open letter to them.
Here are 2 from Smyrna. Likely there are others just like this from the other 6 cities during the second century.
Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea
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