John 10:27-28, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.:
So who are those that God chooses? The answer is those who are going to hear (and accept) His calling, voice, and follow Him.
Pay attention to that "follow Him", it doesn't say just to hear but to follow Him as well. Following Him produces a fruit in their lives. In John 15:2 in the parable of the vineyard it says, "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.". So one must stay in the vineyard, in Christ? This means to stay in His Word and do what He commands. Also to stay in His grace because otherwise one does not have the power to obey Him.
Going all the way to end is essential. An atlhete may run well during most of the race, but if he doesn't finish all that in vain.
1 Timothy 6:12, "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.". LAY HOLD.
Colossians 2:22-23, " And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciledIn the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;"
Jesus will present us holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: (and this is very important) IF we continue in the faith grounded and settled, and not be moved away from the hope of the gospel. That IF...
Finishing our race in victory will give us the eternal life which we were promished.
In the previous chapter the vision gave us the word (The book with seven seals) of which we have the prophet prophesy," So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." God was signified by the throne and how it prospered is evident in the manner the entire kingdom bursts into paean of praise. "Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever."(5:13) This leads to a new earth,"For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."(Hab.2:14) Now the ch.6 describes the word going forth to conquer and conquering. Consequently the Spirit with each breaking of seal gives salvation and judgement alike which is a continual action leading to the wrath of the Lamb. " For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"(6:17) One notable feature in all these visions the Spirit does not see the nations as Israel or as Gentiles. Instead the sealing of 144,000 in Ch.7 is to instruct either having the Spirit of Christ or as heathen. The same 'baptism for the dead' where Seth emulated the quality of the Son in stepping into the breach is allowed as adequate and it validates "And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. saving some from hellfire ."(Jude v.23). In Ch.7 vv.3-8 refers to the left-out church and those who would conform to the Christ-like quality receive the seal, and it has nothing to do with the 12 tribes( nor with the sign of circumcision) but in order to show the God of all mercies. 144,000 are sealed on their foreheads and it is as "servants of our God."
Nicely phrased, and it explains, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."( John 15:16). Have a great weekend,
"But I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence."
Here we have judgment specifically on Israel and He is determined that his word of God shall execute judgment over those who rejected the Gospel. For Israel when God came down on the mount Sinai it was the trumpet for alarm. The Lamb who was prevailed upon to open the book with seals does not differentiate the Gentiles from the nation of Israel. We see this in this passage Re.6:3-8:
"And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see./And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword./And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand./And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine./And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see./And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth." The command number Four is a tag for the Word. So one fourth part of the earth is assigned for the disobedient.
God tells Jeremiah thus: "Thus saith the Lord; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity." (15:2)
The prophet in his lament uses three, sword, famine and pestilences as judgment over the nation and they proved that they were reprobate silver and worthless.
An attempt and delineating between the events of today and the same ones during the Seal Judgments.
Introduction: Most discussions in regard to the book of Revelation focus on the Antichrist and the mark of the Beast and the supernatural demonic infestation that is focused on the trumpet and bowl judgments with less focus on the seal judgments.
The frittering about in regard to what is the "wrath of God" after "man and Satan's wrath" is often the focus here. The truth is the seals are PERSONALLY opened by Christ; and the later judgments are released by angels (some argue as to one or more are actually Christ Himself but I will leave that to another forum discussion).
I will start on what is inexplicably the least covered part; the first seal as to the rise of the Beast. I will leave the correct interpretation as being Antichrist not Christ being described as some suggest from certain theological camps; that often are associated with those who claim the seals are in the past or ongoing as opposed to imminent future occurrences.
Historically; up until the mid 20th century we saw kings; emporers; and dictators invade surrounding countries to take over large chunks of the globe; the latest example in world war 2 among Germany and Japan; and initially Italy simultaneously in the famous "Tripartite" agreement if I have that right with the 3 "Axis" powers at that time. Since that time we have only seen countries invade one other nation at most; with few exceptions. The a-bomb certainly could have changed the mindset with an avoidance of "mutually assured destruction"; but we also haven't seen charismatic dictators that have been able to draw in ethnic commonalities among the surrounding nations in particular. This "power vacuum" has been a conspicuous thing for the better part of a century; but when the Daniel 9:27 covenant and associated prophecies about the final world kingdom comes to pass the whole apostate world will embrace the false man of peace.
My thought today is that we take a moment to celebrate our Anniversary.
!!!Another Day as a Believer!!!
The times, years, days may be different but through it all, " Our faith failed not." Amen!
Gal. 3:26
"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." (KJV)
Even though we were hampered, sometimes hindered, heartbroken and halted, we persevered and it is evident today that we still love the Lord Jesus Christ.
The enemy may have knocked us down but_ he didn't knock us out.
Psalms 106:10
"And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy." (KJV)
Congratulation!
May God fill your cup and let it overflow with love.
In the name of Jesus I pray, God bless us all. Amen!
"Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the Lord your God."(Nu.10:10) This is Gospel of peace spoken by Jesus Christ. So the voices the Israelites heard was that Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.
Trumpets serve as condemnation on the nation of Israel. They were so unnerved by the voice, "And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die."(Ex.20:19) How effective was it. They were as farther off than then when the voice from heaven spoke at the time Jesus was among them, "Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again./The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him./Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes./Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out." ( John 12:28-31). In the Book of the Revelation the trumpets stand for judgment according to the gospel.
"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,/Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps."
God having made an everlasting covenant presents the nation of Israel with ten commandments which the Man component in the covenant sums up into two. So trumpets are two as the co-signatories are two. It is thus we have these trumpets represent the Gospel of God and of Christ respectively. God warned Moses "And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death."(Ex.19:12) This serves the purpose of on trumpet,"When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward."(Nu.10:5) Considering the Israelites were embarking on their wanderings as God descended on the mount Sinai we hear the sound. "And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled."(19:16). The same trumpets we hear from seven angels in the vision of John to which we shall come anon.
Sound of trumpet is not what v.16 is referring to here,"and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled." St Paul makes this distinction clear, "And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?"(1 Co.14:7). Gospel of God frightened people out of their wits that they trembled. It was a sound of alarm, indeed. Thunderings lightenings in the vision of John also include voices."And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices."(Re.4:5)
Man has a bad conscience. It is for this reason David pleads for a clean heart. Hence this blood of the Lamb making the covenant a legal testament. Death of Jesus was a testament, so the Word, or the Law of the Spirit that knows no time element as we understand it, "blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." Job asks, "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?"( Job 14:4) Not one.
This book of creation is also a book of remembrance so tears of man from a contrite heart is very much in the sight of God." Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."(Ps.116:15) While we discussed the four and twenty elders we read thus,"and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints."(Re.5:8) This golden vials also explains where do our tears go to. The Spirit instructs us that not a sparrow falls without God noticing it. Our very hairs are counted as our tears are precious in His sight. For this reason we have seven angels as with seven days in the covenant, and they avenge us. "And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth."(Re.16:1)
Firstly in Hebrew the word "wisdom" is of feminine gender, that is why it is described as "she". Similarly in greek too.
Some christians claim that the wisdom mentioned in Proverbs is the person Jesus. Which, God's wisdom(literally), took the human nature and became the man Jesus. They use scriptures like 1 Corinthians 1:30, "
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:". also other similar verses, too. Others believe that the above verse is irrelevant and it just means that through Jesus God has revealed His wisdom to people. GBU
"Thou tellest my wanderings: Put thou my tears into thy bottle: Are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: This I know; for God is for me. In God will I praise his word: In the LORD will I praise his word."
Tears are not what the everlasting covenant between God and Man have set out as a blessings. Without God what is the portion of man? "My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?"(Ps.42:3)
David understood where his wretchedness came from. Over his adultery he realises that his iniquity had soiled the entire landscape so he prays, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." (Ps.51:10) The only cleanser is the blood of Jesus, "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."( 1 John 1:7) It can blot out 'all' sin.
The element of sin did not come from man's own but from the law of sin that referred to the the angels that did not keep their first estate, ("And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation,-Jude v.6). In the covenant God blessed man and woman, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth." After their fall we have God warning the woman as to the perils of conception and pangs of labour. "Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." (Ge.3:16;1:28) This taint of disobedience places their heart not entirely level with the the intent of the covenant. Man who shall enter into the Fellowship of God with Man has a bad consciousness. It is for this reason David pleads for a clean heart.
Hello!Today the plan of salvation is so complicated.This denomination believes one thing,in this one believes another.How were you taught the simple plan of salvation? Do you believe in the baptism of water in that name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.Also,do you believe you must be baptized in the Holy Ghost to get to the Kingdom of Heaven?
we still will be judged because we are still capable of sinning and of not asking for forgiveness for our sins . we now know the difference between right and wrong ,good and evil as set out by God . we are now responsible Christians and we have no excuse . i acknowledge my sinfullness every day ,in prayer to God and i ask Him to forgive my sinfullness every day through Christ . someone in the book of Acts , who has been baptized into Christ , wants to be able to pass on the gifts of the Holy Spirit for money . a married couple , who are supposed to be baptised Christians , lie to Peter about some money . read the book of Acts and see what happens to them . these are not non believers , they are supposedly Christians . the lessons are there for us to learn from .
"I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me./He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up."
Prayer is confirmation that everlasting covenant is working and also works well. While trouble dby vague fears prayer helps and while beset by disasters. "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: But the LORD delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones: Not one of them is broken. (Ps.34;18-22). Here we have a Messianic prophesy and it was fulfilled according the Word as was spoken. ( John 19:33)
Psalmist is certain that God performs all things for me/ What is he referencing? The covenant stipulates blessing on man who trusts in him. God has already called, predestined and justified whosoever places his trust in Jesus Christ. "Blessed are all they that put their trust in him."(Ps,2:12b)
Heaven is just a cry away as this Psalm tells us, "In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears./Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth./There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it....He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters."(Ps.18:12-18) What we require is trust and how he does it is not for us to know. God gave us the indwelling Spirit and we only need place our trust in our Saviour Lord. For every child of God there is a safe place He has created. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." God made angels, spirits 'and his ministers a flaming fire'. "I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being."(Ps.104:33)
1 Peter 4:17 reads "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:..
( In this chapter Peter is exhorting the church "the house of God" which was facing persecution, to persevere.
They were also struggling to separate from the former worldly sins that had once enslaved them (verses 1-4).
Peter reminds them that the wicked will face God's judgment (verse 5) but that believers in Christ must hold themselves to a higher standard than they once did.
In 1 Corinthians 3:9-11 we see Paul mentions a foundation being layed. "Jesus is the precious cornerstone of this foundation
This is the first and most important part of a house or any building being built. "The walls, floors and roof, all depends on the perfect placed cornerstone!
That's important!
Also see Isaiah 28:16.
1 Peter 2:6-9 speaks much on this as well.
Paul mentions this in Ephesians 2:19-22. "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God THROUGH THE SPIRIT.
Matthew 16:18 Jesus states, upon this rock I will build MY CHURCH;
Everything we do as members of the house of God must be done by the Spirit of God!
That's all important!! Are we living our life and ministering in the spirit.
That what is being Judged in 1 Corinthians 3:6-15. NOT OUR PLACE IN CHRIST BUT OUR WORK "BY CHRIST"
So, Look at verses (14-15)
"If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
If any man's work shall be burned, HE SHALL SUFFER LOSS: BUT HE HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVED; yet so as by fire.
I will keep this request in my prayers. It is hard to face these troubling aspects on our own strength, But we have a powerful Savior who has all power and authority over sin, death, hell, and the devil. He has overcome the world. So we can bring our requests to the Lord and know that it is true that greater is He that is in us (the Holy Spirit, Jesus, too, and the Father, also) than any being in the world or world system. We are His workmanship created in Jesus Christ for the works that God wills for us to do. So, you are a work in progress. But you will have victory over this trouble spot, hopefully soon, and in this life, but definitely in the life to come.
I think Zion and Sion refer to the same location, but two different spellings, such as Isaiah(OT) and Esaias (NT) are both the same person but two different spellings. The differing spellings may be due to one being in the form of Hebrew and the other in the form of Greek. Or Hebrew and Aramaic, which was spoken in Palestine at the time of the NT along with Greek.
The elders have badges of their office: golden harps. "having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints, And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;/And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."(vv.8-10)
They validate the grace poured over the believers from the throne and they are called to be saints, "Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage."(119:54) Coupled with this they receive the prayers of saints. These are golden vials, full of odours. What do they tell us? They represent the entire body of the church, as a kind of pledge. These elders confess for them,"And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."
In short they represent 'first fruits of the word so the earth shall have a form which is conformed to the image of the Son, This representational aspect validates a golden rule, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." (Ro.5:12) By the same token it bring into shaper relief the role of Atonement. Jesus Christ is the saviour of the whole world." Limited atonement is what imposter church could think of from their fleshy minds. It is a lie.
"And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold."
We find in the key verse several instances to indicate the Word established their position and eminence so the title 'elder' showcases that they are the first-fruits,"Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience."(1 Ti.3:9) This explains, their crowns of gold.
We shall examine closer the significance of the first fruits. Having the indwelling Spirit refers it as 'first fruits of the Spirit' and goes on to say,"even we ourselves groan within ourselves."(Ro.8:23). The elders are instead the first fruits of the Word so they worship him that sits on the throne."The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him in concert with the four beasts. The elders are memorial even as the seven lamps around are the Spirit of God. Thir primary role is to establish how the two worlds were framed and it is by the Word. (He.11:3) Gospel of God consequently shall claim the heaven, the earth and the lower parts under the sovereignty of the Word. The Word refers to thy bread, "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days./Give a portion to seven, and also to eight." This is the commentary to the verse quoted in the epistle to the Hebrews. The command number Three establishes the Son as the Word made flesh ,his death and resurrection. So 8x3 make up their number.
"Clothed in white" reference the word "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."(Re.19:10)
Next aspect is their seat which confirms the promise of Jesus to his apostles in Matt.19:28. The elders have badges of their office: golden harps. "having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
What connects these two in an especial sense are the eyes, "When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went./As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four." The four beasts "of eyes before and behind" and it indicated they were fully conscious of their inner lives as well as where they were placed. "O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth."(Ps.96:9)
The Spirit has added details in order to instruct us in righteousness. misguided souls taught by the imposter churches would instead make them aliens out of pop culture as they do with the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. For them lies titillate their prurient fantasy and walking circumspectly among the ungodly is working against the grain. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;/Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them." (Ro.1:18-22)
"And they turned not when they went" because they were led by the Spirit. This is how we are called to walk. For this purpose we were justified. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ once saved is always saved is merely prattle. "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."(Ro.8:9)
There is only single measurement man and angel are two pinions connected to the body. These four beasts therefore are kept as memorial. We see in another vision two wings being pressed into service in Re.12:14. Here the woman is the nation of Israel and she finds her own level on the earth while the manchild is taken to the throne of God
"And round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind."
Firstly in terms of life we shall distinguish them apart and they have much to do with man. We shall begin this quote from the Gospel. for man. "In him (the Word) was life; and the life was the light of men." Whereas the vision of Ezekiel refers to the living creatures, "And they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel." and "Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels."(Ez.1:16,.20) The living creatures were led by the Spirit. The body kept as a memorial is set for us how our walk in the world of the flesh differs from them. In Jesus Christ, the word become flesh was life and this life ought to be the light under which we are called to walk.
The difference between the living creatures and the four beast also have a qualitative difference. The living creatures had four wings while the four beasts had six wings. God made angels, spirits and" his ministers a flaming fire." So the wheel in the middle of a wheel make up the difference. These creatures are presented to Ezekiel, "a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire."(1:4)
The wheel within wheel signifies spirit of the creature and the soul respectively. These are signified in the four beasts for example," and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle." They are not flying anywhere but as to how our spirit and soul should be, and the Psalmist puts it eloquently,"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, So panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: When shall I come and appear before God?"(Ps.42:1-3)
Here we have a pictorial representation of John 1:1"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
The Word is represented by v.5 " And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: Three entities so the word is a sign (lightening) sound(thundering) and the Word become flesh is the Gospel articulated, implying Jesus Christ as the true Light. Throne of glory or grace is explained in terms of colours which we are not considering as the blood red of the carnelian stone or the pure green light thrown by emerald. Instead the two stones mentioned in v.3 "And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald," we shall infer the Power and Wisdom principle of God casts His glory as a rainbow. Here again the glory as we read in He.1:3 is about the Son.
Coming back to v.5 we have the seven spirits of God in relation to the throne while what we see in Ch.5 are the seven spirits in terms of the Lamb in whom is the fulness of God. Instead of lamps we have the seven eyes to signify the unity of the Spirit. Whereas here the lamps are more in keeping with the word and the Gospel of God
We have Trinity represented in heaven God, a Spirit, the body(Four and twenty elders and four beasts and the rainbow signifies the soul, indicating the direction the will of God is leading to. The unseen aspects of God made to appear is by the word of God, and the glory of the light of the Lamb sums up the earthly ministry of the true Light, the colours of precious stones that make up the twelve foundations on which the holy city of God stands.
"Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter."
John was in heaven by invitation. "After this I looked, and, behold," refers to the voice like a trumpet, " I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,"(1:10) We have the purpose of the trumpet in Nu.10, "For the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps." There were two trumpets one for calling and the other for alarm.(v.2). The voice as of a trumpet heard in Ch.1:10 calls the apostle to show the things 'which must be hereafter',
This entire chapter sets the tone for the proceedings that follows in the following chapters. The apostle was in the Spirit, so what setting in heaven is a visual transcription of the world of the Spirit. Our circumstances tie us to time and place whereas our life in the Spirit is altogether different. What is occurring therein, 'praising without ceasing' we shall consider first, "and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come./And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,/The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever." (4:8-10). In physical body we resort to formulate words when we want to pray, which is what our rational mind requires while our inner man knows how to reach the throne of grace because the indwelling Spirit helps our spirit. It is what St Paul writes in this verse,And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.(Ro.8:27)
In v.10 we are given an insight as to why God made the world to appear,"for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."(He.11:3)
"The seventh seal opening for me is showing the end of life."
"When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." If you life in your body and depending on social media and conveniences of the highTech, you are correct. Read Col.3:1-4
" Some people say that is not about the Gentiles because we will already be in heaven, but it is about the Jewish nation who does not except Christ as the Messiah." Let us not worry about what some or majority of people might view the matter. If you know the truth it shall make you free.
If I may add the following:
John 10:27-28, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.:
So who are those that God chooses? The answer is those who are going to hear (and accept) His calling, voice, and follow Him.
Pay attention to that "follow Him", it doesn't say just to hear but to follow Him as well. Following Him produces a fruit in their lives. In John 15:2 in the parable of the vineyard it says, "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.". So one must stay in the vineyard, in Christ? This means to stay in His Word and do what He commands. Also to stay in His grace because otherwise one does not have the power to obey Him.
Going all the way to end is essential. An atlhete may run well during most of the race, but if he doesn't finish all that in vain.
1 Timothy 6:12, "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.". LAY HOLD.
Colossians 2:22-23, " And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciledIn the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;"
Jesus will present us holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: (and this is very important) IF we continue in the faith grounded and settled, and not be moved away from the hope of the gospel. That IF...
Finishing our race in victory will give us the eternal life which we were promished.
The word as a sign or a seal is the key.
In the previous chapter the vision gave us the word (The book with seven seals) of which we have the prophet prophesy," So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." God was signified by the throne and how it prospered is evident in the manner the entire kingdom bursts into paean of praise. "Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever."(5:13) This leads to a new earth,"For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."(Hab.2:14) Now the ch.6 describes the word going forth to conquer and conquering. Consequently the Spirit with each breaking of seal gives salvation and judgement alike which is a continual action leading to the wrath of the Lamb. " For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"(6:17) One notable feature in all these visions the Spirit does not see the nations as Israel or as Gentiles. Instead the sealing of 144,000 in Ch.7 is to instruct either having the Spirit of Christ or as heathen. The same 'baptism for the dead' where Seth emulated the quality of the Son in stepping into the breach is allowed as adequate and it validates "And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. saving some from hellfire ."(Jude v.23). In Ch.7 vv.3-8 refers to the left-out church and those who would conform to the Christ-like quality receive the seal, and it has nothing to do with the 12 tribes( nor with the sign of circumcision) but in order to show the God of all mercies. 144,000 are sealed on their foreheads and it is as "servants of our God."
Nicely phrased, and it explains, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."( John 15:16). Have a great weekend,
"But I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence."
Here we have judgment specifically on Israel and He is determined that his word of God shall execute judgment over those who rejected the Gospel. For Israel when God came down on the mount Sinai it was the trumpet for alarm. The Lamb who was prevailed upon to open the book with seals does not differentiate the Gentiles from the nation of Israel. We see this in this passage Re.6:3-8:
"And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see./And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword./And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand./And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine./And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see./And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth." The command number Four is a tag for the Word. So one fourth part of the earth is assigned for the disobedient.
God tells Jeremiah thus: "Thus saith the Lord; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity." (15:2)
The prophet in his lament uses three, sword, famine and pestilences as judgment over the nation and they proved that they were reprobate silver and worthless.
I love this portion of scripture! " John 10"
You don't follow Christ to become his sheep!
You follow him because you are his sheep!
God bless.
Introduction: Most discussions in regard to the book of Revelation focus on the Antichrist and the mark of the Beast and the supernatural demonic infestation that is focused on the trumpet and bowl judgments with less focus on the seal judgments.
The frittering about in regard to what is the "wrath of God" after "man and Satan's wrath" is often the focus here. The truth is the seals are PERSONALLY opened by Christ; and the later judgments are released by angels (some argue as to one or more are actually Christ Himself but I will leave that to another forum discussion).
I will start on what is inexplicably the least covered part; the first seal as to the rise of the Beast. I will leave the correct interpretation as being Antichrist not Christ being described as some suggest from certain theological camps; that often are associated with those who claim the seals are in the past or ongoing as opposed to imminent future occurrences.
Historically; up until the mid 20th century we saw kings; emporers; and dictators invade surrounding countries to take over large chunks of the globe; the latest example in world war 2 among Germany and Japan; and initially Italy simultaneously in the famous "Tripartite" agreement if I have that right with the 3 "Axis" powers at that time. Since that time we have only seen countries invade one other nation at most; with few exceptions. The a-bomb certainly could have changed the mindset with an avoidance of "mutually assured destruction"; but we also haven't seen charismatic dictators that have been able to draw in ethnic commonalities among the surrounding nations in particular. This "power vacuum" has been a conspicuous thing for the better part of a century; but when the Daniel 9:27 covenant and associated prophecies about the final world kingdom comes to pass the whole apostate world will embrace the false man of peace.
This site and your wisdom is a blessing to me.
Thank you!
My thought today is that we take a moment to celebrate our Anniversary.
!!!Another Day as a Believer!!!
The times, years, days may be different but through it all, " Our faith failed not." Amen!
Gal. 3:26
"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." (KJV)
Even though we were hampered, sometimes hindered, heartbroken and halted, we persevered and it is evident today that we still love the Lord Jesus Christ.
The enemy may have knocked us down but_ he didn't knock us out.
Psalms 106:10
"And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy." (KJV)
Congratulation!
May God fill your cup and let it overflow with love.
In the name of Jesus I pray, God bless us all. Amen!
"Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the Lord your God."(Nu.10:10) This is Gospel of peace spoken by Jesus Christ. So the voices the Israelites heard was that Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.
Trumpets serve as condemnation on the nation of Israel. They were so unnerved by the voice, "And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die."(Ex.20:19) How effective was it. They were as farther off than then when the voice from heaven spoke at the time Jesus was among them, "Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again./The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him./Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes./Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out." ( John 12:28-31). In the Book of the Revelation the trumpets stand for judgment according to the gospel.
"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,/Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps."
God having made an everlasting covenant presents the nation of Israel with ten commandments which the Man component in the covenant sums up into two. So trumpets are two as the co-signatories are two. It is thus we have these trumpets represent the Gospel of God and of Christ respectively. God warned Moses "And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death."(Ex.19:12) This serves the purpose of on trumpet,"When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward."(Nu.10:5) Considering the Israelites were embarking on their wanderings as God descended on the mount Sinai we hear the sound. "And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled."(19:16). The same trumpets we hear from seven angels in the vision of John to which we shall come anon.
Sound of trumpet is not what v.16 is referring to here,"and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled." St Paul makes this distinction clear, "And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?"(1 Co.14:7). Gospel of God frightened people out of their wits that they trembled. It was a sound of alarm, indeed. Thunderings lightenings in the vision of John also include voices."And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices."(Re.4:5)
Man has a bad conscience. It is for this reason David pleads for a clean heart. Hence this blood of the Lamb making the covenant a legal testament. Death of Jesus was a testament, so the Word, or the Law of the Spirit that knows no time element as we understand it, "blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." Job asks, "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?"( Job 14:4) Not one.
This book of creation is also a book of remembrance so tears of man from a contrite heart is very much in the sight of God." Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."(Ps.116:15) While we discussed the four and twenty elders we read thus,"and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints."(Re.5:8) This golden vials also explains where do our tears go to. The Spirit instructs us that not a sparrow falls without God noticing it. Our very hairs are counted as our tears are precious in His sight. For this reason we have seven angels as with seven days in the covenant, and they avenge us. "And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth."(Re.16:1)
Firstly in Hebrew the word "wisdom" is of feminine gender, that is why it is described as "she". Similarly in greek too.
Some christians claim that the wisdom mentioned in Proverbs is the person Jesus. Which, God's wisdom(literally), took the human nature and became the man Jesus. They use scriptures like 1 Corinthians 1:30, "
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:". also other similar verses, too. Others believe that the above verse is irrelevant and it just means that through Jesus God has revealed His wisdom to people. GBU
"Thou tellest my wanderings: Put thou my tears into thy bottle: Are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: This I know; for God is for me. In God will I praise his word: In the LORD will I praise his word."
Tears are not what the everlasting covenant between God and Man have set out as a blessings. Without God what is the portion of man? "My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?"(Ps.42:3)
David understood where his wretchedness came from. Over his adultery he realises that his iniquity had soiled the entire landscape so he prays, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." (Ps.51:10) The only cleanser is the blood of Jesus, "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."( 1 John 1:7) It can blot out 'all' sin.
The element of sin did not come from man's own but from the law of sin that referred to the the angels that did not keep their first estate, ("And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation,-Jude v.6). In the covenant God blessed man and woman, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth." After their fall we have God warning the woman as to the perils of conception and pangs of labour. "Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." (Ge.3:16;1:28) This taint of disobedience places their heart not entirely level with the the intent of the covenant. Man who shall enter into the Fellowship of God with Man has a bad consciousness. It is for this reason David pleads for a clean heart.
"I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me./He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up."
Prayer is confirmation that everlasting covenant is working and also works well. While trouble dby vague fears prayer helps and while beset by disasters. "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: But the LORD delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones: Not one of them is broken. (Ps.34;18-22). Here we have a Messianic prophesy and it was fulfilled according the Word as was spoken. ( John 19:33)
Psalmist is certain that God performs all things for me/ What is he referencing? The covenant stipulates blessing on man who trusts in him. God has already called, predestined and justified whosoever places his trust in Jesus Christ. "Blessed are all they that put their trust in him."(Ps,2:12b)
Heaven is just a cry away as this Psalm tells us, "In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears./Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth./There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it....He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters."(Ps.18:12-18) What we require is trust and how he does it is not for us to know. God gave us the indwelling Spirit and we only need place our trust in our Saviour Lord. For every child of God there is a safe place He has created. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." God made angels, spirits 'and his ministers a flaming fire'. "I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being."(Ps.104:33)
A response to you previously.
If you look at 1 Peter 4:1-19.
1 Peter 4:17 reads "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:..
( In this chapter Peter is exhorting the church "the house of God" which was facing persecution, to persevere.
They were also struggling to separate from the former worldly sins that had once enslaved them (verses 1-4).
Peter reminds them that the wicked will face God's judgment (verse 5) but that believers in Christ must hold themselves to a higher standard than they once did.
In 1 Corinthians 3:9-11 we see Paul mentions a foundation being layed. "Jesus is the precious cornerstone of this foundation
This is the first and most important part of a house or any building being built. "The walls, floors and roof, all depends on the perfect placed cornerstone!
That's important!
Also see Isaiah 28:16.
1 Peter 2:6-9 speaks much on this as well.
Paul mentions this in Ephesians 2:19-22. "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God THROUGH THE SPIRIT.
Matthew 16:18 Jesus states, upon this rock I will build MY CHURCH;
Everything we do as members of the house of God must be done by the Spirit of God!
That's all important!! Are we living our life and ministering in the spirit.
That what is being Judged in 1 Corinthians 3:6-15. NOT OUR PLACE IN CHRIST BUT OUR WORK "BY CHRIST"
So, Look at verses (14-15)
"If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
If any man's work shall be burned, HE SHALL SUFFER LOSS: BUT HE HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVED; yet so as by fire.
Perhaps someone would like to expand on this.
God bless.
I will keep this request in my prayers. It is hard to face these troubling aspects on our own strength, But we have a powerful Savior who has all power and authority over sin, death, hell, and the devil. He has overcome the world. So we can bring our requests to the Lord and know that it is true that greater is He that is in us (the Holy Spirit, Jesus, too, and the Father, also) than any being in the world or world system. We are His workmanship created in Jesus Christ for the works that God wills for us to do. So, you are a work in progress. But you will have victory over this trouble spot, hopefully soon, and in this life, but definitely in the life to come.
I think Zion and Sion refer to the same location, but two different spellings, such as Isaiah(OT) and Esaias (NT) are both the same person but two different spellings. The differing spellings may be due to one being in the form of Hebrew and the other in the form of Greek. Or Hebrew and Aramaic, which was spoken in Palestine at the time of the NT along with Greek.
I will be praying for your requests this afternoon. I hope your prayer meeting goes exceptionally well!
Which is correct?
my question if we are forgiven why would you have to go before a judgement seat?
The elders have badges of their office: golden harps. "having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints, And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;/And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."(vv.8-10)
They validate the grace poured over the believers from the throne and they are called to be saints, "Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage."(119:54) Coupled with this they receive the prayers of saints. These are golden vials, full of odours. What do they tell us? They represent the entire body of the church, as a kind of pledge. These elders confess for them,"And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."
In short they represent 'first fruits of the word so the earth shall have a form which is conformed to the image of the Son, This representational aspect validates a golden rule, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." (Ro.5:12) By the same token it bring into shaper relief the role of Atonement. Jesus Christ is the saviour of the whole world." Limited atonement is what imposter church could think of from their fleshy minds. It is a lie.
"And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold."
We find in the key verse several instances to indicate the Word established their position and eminence so the title 'elder' showcases that they are the first-fruits,"Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience."(1 Ti.3:9) This explains, their crowns of gold.
We shall examine closer the significance of the first fruits. Having the indwelling Spirit refers it as 'first fruits of the Spirit' and goes on to say,"even we ourselves groan within ourselves."(Ro.8:23). The elders are instead the first fruits of the Word so they worship him that sits on the throne."The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him in concert with the four beasts. The elders are memorial even as the seven lamps around are the Spirit of God. Thir primary role is to establish how the two worlds were framed and it is by the Word. (He.11:3) Gospel of God consequently shall claim the heaven, the earth and the lower parts under the sovereignty of the Word. The Word refers to thy bread, "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days./Give a portion to seven, and also to eight." This is the commentary to the verse quoted in the epistle to the Hebrews. The command number Three establishes the Son as the Word made flesh ,his death and resurrection. So 8x3 make up their number.
"Clothed in white" reference the word "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."(Re.19:10)
Next aspect is their seat which confirms the promise of Jesus to his apostles in Matt.19:28. The elders have badges of their office: golden harps. "having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
What connects these two in an especial sense are the eyes, "When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went./As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four." The four beasts "of eyes before and behind" and it indicated they were fully conscious of their inner lives as well as where they were placed. "O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth."(Ps.96:9)
The Spirit has added details in order to instruct us in righteousness. misguided souls taught by the imposter churches would instead make them aliens out of pop culture as they do with the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. For them lies titillate their prurient fantasy and walking circumspectly among the ungodly is working against the grain. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;/Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them." (Ro.1:18-22)
"And they turned not when they went" because they were led by the Spirit. This is how we are called to walk. For this purpose we were justified. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ once saved is always saved is merely prattle. "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."(Ro.8:9)
There is only single measurement man and angel are two pinions connected to the body. These four beasts therefore are kept as memorial. We see in another vision two wings being pressed into service in Re.12:14. Here the woman is the nation of Israel and she finds her own level on the earth while the manchild is taken to the throne of God
"And round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind."
Firstly in terms of life we shall distinguish them apart and they have much to do with man. We shall begin this quote from the Gospel. for man. "In him (the Word) was life; and the life was the light of men." Whereas the vision of Ezekiel refers to the living creatures, "And they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel." and "Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels."(Ez.1:16,.20) The living creatures were led by the Spirit. The body kept as a memorial is set for us how our walk in the world of the flesh differs from them. In Jesus Christ, the word become flesh was life and this life ought to be the light under which we are called to walk.
The difference between the living creatures and the four beast also have a qualitative difference. The living creatures had four wings while the four beasts had six wings. God made angels, spirits and" his ministers a flaming fire." So the wheel in the middle of a wheel make up the difference. These creatures are presented to Ezekiel, "a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire."(1:4)
The wheel within wheel signifies spirit of the creature and the soul respectively. These are signified in the four beasts for example," and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle." They are not flying anywhere but as to how our spirit and soul should be, and the Psalmist puts it eloquently,"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, So panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: When shall I come and appear before God?"(Ps.42:1-3)
Here we have a pictorial representation of John 1:1"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
The Word is represented by v.5 " And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: Three entities so the word is a sign (lightening) sound(thundering) and the Word become flesh is the Gospel articulated, implying Jesus Christ as the true Light. Throne of glory or grace is explained in terms of colours which we are not considering as the blood red of the carnelian stone or the pure green light thrown by emerald. Instead the two stones mentioned in v.3 "And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald," we shall infer the Power and Wisdom principle of God casts His glory as a rainbow. Here again the glory as we read in He.1:3 is about the Son.
Coming back to v.5 we have the seven spirits of God in relation to the throne while what we see in Ch.5 are the seven spirits in terms of the Lamb in whom is the fulness of God. Instead of lamps we have the seven eyes to signify the unity of the Spirit. Whereas here the lamps are more in keeping with the word and the Gospel of God
We have Trinity represented in heaven God, a Spirit, the body(Four and twenty elders and four beasts and the rainbow signifies the soul, indicating the direction the will of God is leading to. The unseen aspects of God made to appear is by the word of God, and the glory of the light of the Lamb sums up the earthly ministry of the true Light, the colours of precious stones that make up the twelve foundations on which the holy city of God stands.
"Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter."
John was in heaven by invitation. "After this I looked, and, behold," refers to the voice like a trumpet, " I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,"(1:10) We have the purpose of the trumpet in Nu.10, "For the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps." There were two trumpets one for calling and the other for alarm.(v.2). The voice as of a trumpet heard in Ch.1:10 calls the apostle to show the things 'which must be hereafter',
This entire chapter sets the tone for the proceedings that follows in the following chapters. The apostle was in the Spirit, so what setting in heaven is a visual transcription of the world of the Spirit. Our circumstances tie us to time and place whereas our life in the Spirit is altogether different. What is occurring therein, 'praising without ceasing' we shall consider first, "and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come./And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,/The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever." (4:8-10). In physical body we resort to formulate words when we want to pray, which is what our rational mind requires while our inner man knows how to reach the throne of grace because the indwelling Spirit helps our spirit. It is what St Paul writes in this verse,And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.(Ro.8:27)
In v.10 we are given an insight as to why God made the world to appear,"for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."(He.11:3)
"When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." If you life in your body and depending on social media and conveniences of the highTech, you are correct. Read Col.3:1-4
" Some people say that is not about the Gentiles because we will already be in heaven, but it is about the Jewish nation who does not except Christ as the Messiah." Let us not worry about what some or majority of people might view the matter. If you know the truth it shall make you free.