Search The Scriptures-Revelations

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Finally I'm getting some time to work on this thread again. We covered the church ages and now we see John looking up to the heavens and many refer to this as the church leaving in the rapture and the focus now on it in the heavenlies.


Introductory notes to Chapters 4-11


We are now entering upon the main revelation of the book. We have seen the conditions of the churches. Persecution had begun and times of greater trial loomed ahead. (see 2:10, 13; 3:10)


The question "what of the future?' must have troubled every thoughtful Christian, and is now about to be answered. But first in Chap 4-5 God shows John a vision of the heavenly realities which abide unshaken behind and above the changes and uncertainties of earth.



Study #8 Revelations 4

1) When John looked into heaven what was the the chief and outstanding thing that met his eyes? What may we also learn from this vision about the origin, the control, and the purpose of the created universe? What kind of responce ought this awareness to call forth in us?

2) What is here indicated or symbolized concerning the nature and character of God, and concerning the way in which He ought to be worshipped?

NOTES

1) Verse 3. "Like Jasper" i.e. radient; cf. 21:11 "like...carnelian" i.e. red like fire or blood. The "rainbow" suggests God's faithfulness. cf. Gen. 9:12-17

tbc

 

[JPPT1974]

We do look upon things that
Are unseen rather than seen
And that is for the better!

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Thanks for the bump my friend. Will continue soon

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Hi! I wanted to bring this thread up again since it covers Revelations up to the end of the church ages and contains insight into the lost teachings of the church.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

from post #8

Jesus The Christ is:

The Faithful Witness



Ephesians 6:17
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.


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


John 8:14
Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.
The Firstborn of the Dead



Colossians 1:15
The Supremacy of Christ
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation


1 Corinthians 15:20
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.


Colossians 1:18
And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.


Ephesians 1:20
which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

The Ruler over the Kings of the Earth



1 Timothy 6:15
which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,


Daniel 2:47
The king said to Daniel, "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery."


John 18:37
"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.
Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."


Revelation 19:11-16
The Rider on the White Horse
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.


Revelation 17:14
They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."

The church is:

The faithful witness



John 3:11
I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.


Revelation 6:9
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.

The nextborn of the dead



Revelation 12:11
They overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.

The Kings of the Earth



Revelation 5:10
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth."




probably the key to interpretation of the churches. The main thing that was of concern to Jesus was that he was the first love, the way He said to do that was to sort doctrine from tradition.

 

[pilgrimage]

bump

 

[JPPT1974]

Indeed Jesus is the first and the last
The Alpha and the Omega!

 

[lighthouse_hope]

Monasticism

How to get right with God? How to get saved? And have eternal life? "Believe in the Lord Jesus" the bible says. But that's such a simple answer that most people dare not to accept it. They feel they have to do something. Then God will like them, save them and take them to heaven. Sixteen or seventeen hundred years ago and thousands were trying to get salvation that way. Living in caves, vaults, etc. they were called hermits. And where they gathered to practise these traits were called monastaries. Each person had a cell and spent all free time there praying and in holy meditation. He owned nothing, all was given up when he entered. Every connection was severed. The outside world was left behind and he lived only to save his soul. such was the life of a monk.
Thousands of monastaries were built in various Christian countries, each under a "rule" or "order" dedicated to certain saints.ie: Benedictine, Franciscan, Dominican, Augustinian, etc. Each monastary had a Abbot (Father) and he had absolute authority. Every other monk had no rank or distinction or authority, whether he came in a prince or a pauper. When they weren't meditating and praying they were working to promote culture and civilization to a higher level of life. Nunneries were run the same way for women.

The idea underlying the monastaries was not the one of salvation by faith, rather it was salvation thru good works. But God brought much good from it, till came the time that gluttony and immorality took hold. The carefulness of there lives was gone.
We're justified by faith but faith must find a proper expression in a holy life, in the world but not of the world.

Next Islam

Excuse me, have you ever seen the inside of a monastery? Because I've spent days in one, had co-students who were Benedict monks etc... and it has absolutely nothing to do with salvation by works. Real monks do not believe that they have a better chance at getting saved than anyone else. Real monks believe that they are responding to God's plan for their lives.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Excuse me, have you ever seen the inside of a monastery? Because I've spent days in one, had co-students who were Benedict monks etc... and it has absolutely nothing to do with salvation by works. Real monks do not believe that they have a better chance at getting saved than anyone else. Real monks believe that they are responding to God's plan for their lives.

No I've never been in a monastary or a convent. I suppose that neither of them feel that they are gaining a foothold on God that way. They have both rejected the world as a means of gain. Sorry that my reply offended you.
I have read much on the hermits, the sayings that have been recorded, etc. It seems that altho they had left the world, the world held them to a much higher standard.