This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
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Revelation 6:7
DailyBibleStudy.Org
7 And [kai] when [hote] he had opened [anoigo] the fourth [tetartos] seal, [sphragis] I heard [akouo] the voice [phone] of the fourth [tetartos] beast [zoon] say, [lego] Come [erchomai] and [kai] see. [blepo] KJV-Interlinear
7 And when He broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come." NASB
The fourth beast speaks. The fourth beast is the one who had a head of an eagle, the farsighted one.
Farsightedness means understanding, being able to look and see and understand what is happening, being able to comprehend the nature of what is happening and the consequences. And people who are resistant toward listening and learning objectively, will never see or understand the consequences of their thoughts and actions.
Now we will look for the first time at the words ‘come,’ and ‘see.’
Come, means to leave from where you are, and go to another place, the place of where the pertinent activity is taking place. And in John’s case, he is already in heaven, and he can already see the earth. But this means to move in your mind as well, in order to understand, to open up your mind in order to understand, to be teachable.
Too often, folks simply will not listen, so they do not understand. Their minds are already made up, and anything you say or do will never get them to see the truth, or change their mind. That is the state of the world, for the most part, at this future time in history. It is certainly the state of the world even in our current day.
But people do not instantly get into this type of attitude. It takes time for folks to develop beliefs, opinions, and habits by which they establish their lifestyle. And it takes generations, for whole generations to get this way.
When folks are exposed to truth, and accept it, then they will have a tendency to be more open minded, and they will tend to be more objective in their analysis of the things that are going on around them at home, and in the world in general.
However, when truth is excluded from the thinking process of people’s minds, then the opinions of the world (all of which are not good), enter easily into their ideas and beliefs and they are easily fooled and deceived.
Most folks think of unbelievers or of radical religious types, when they think of anti-God activities, or anti-Christian activities or ideas. However, the worst of the negative types of people, are actually believers in Christ, not unbelievers.
The Bible commands us to study and learn and grow up. Most do not follow this mandate. They instead concentrate on the emotional aspects of faith. They quote verses, thinking that somehow their quote wields them with some form of supernatural power or emphasis. Some folks love to sing the hymns. That too, exercises the emotions, giving one a rosy glow or feeling about their love for Jesus and life and so forth.
These things are not spiritual growth, but should be applications of growth or expressions of growth, and not a replacement for the daily study commanded.
However, again, people get entrenched in their beliefs and habits, and getting them to change is difficult if not impossible. They will not ‘come and see.’ Their mind is closed.
And now we are at the fourth seal. These seals are opened in sequence for a reason. When people are so negative toward truth, whether they are believers or unbelievers, then these sequences in history will occur. The worst sequence will not occur until the Tribulation. But the Tribulation is not the first time that these things have happened - of abusive rulers, of tyranny, of a negative attitude in the masses. And one of the things that folks should have learned from history is that attitude toward Christ determines the level of blessings or lack of it, in history.
And when blessings are diminished, then sorrows increase dramatically.
In our dispensation, God is making Christ’s enemies a footstool for his feet. What does that mean? God is shaping, forming, arranging all of the pieces of the historical puzzle such that they will all be in place for the final events of history – Rapture and then the Tribulation.
All of these pieces of the puzzle include the dramatic rise in population, the precise formation of the continental drift pressure points, the precise status of the various volcanoes, the national powers that will exist in the four spheres on the planet, and so forth. But it also includes the number of believers that will be included in the Royal Family, the attitudes of the population around the world, the forms of governments, the nature of the regulations and monetary systems, the nature of society’s norms and standards, and on and on and on, and so forth.
All of these things (a massive list to be sure; no one could possibly list all of the details of history) are coming to a head, and will all culminate together at precisely the exact same time and moment in history. Most people cannot balance their own checkbooks. Certainly most governments cannot balance their national budgets. Only God can coordinate such a massive and complicated puzzle over these many, many centuries, and make them all come together at the same time.
And it is people who are helping make all of these things possible, primarily through their own negative attitude toward truth, which will culminate at the end of our own dispensation, in the greatest apostate society ever in history.
Noah’s generation was apostate to be sure, but they did not and would not follow a lunatic anti-christ leader. The Tribulation generation will not only follow the most evil person in history, but they will worship him. And that should wake up your eyes as to the horrible attitudes and policies, that we see, even in our current day.
John was in tears. Why?
Because the most horrible period of atrocities, pain, and suffering are coming, and people won’t do anything to stop it. They are in fact, bringing it all onto themselves, by means of their own indifference and negative attitude toward God, Christ, and doctrine. Unbelievers are apathetic, and negative believers are simply lazy or think they know it all, already.
Very few will knuckle down to study and learn and grow up spiritually. Where do you fit, in this picture?
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Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Revelation 6:6
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
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Revelation 6:6
DailyBibleStudy.Org
6 And [kai] I heard [akouo] a voice [phone] in [en] the midst [mesos] of the four [tessares] beasts [zoon] say, [lego] A measure [choinix] of wheat [sitos] for a penny, [denarion] and [kai] three [treis] measures [choinix] of barley [krithe] for a penny; [denarion] and [kai] see thou hurt [adikeo] not [me] the oil [elaion] and [kai] the wine. [oinos] KJV-Interlinear
6 And I heard as it were a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine." NASB
Shortages of every type of goods and services are on the horizon. When a given geographical area experiences repetitive catastrophes, then shortages are inevitable. Now we see in the breaking of the third seal, that just to be able to feed ones self for one day only, it will take a days wages. Can't get ahead when you work all day to feed only yourself. Nothing mentioned concerning the care of ones family or even the cost of maintaining a home, transportation, etc. Times will be extremely tough.
The third creature is that with a face of a man. The four living beasts correlate with each of these seals.
Man in all his glory and grand legislation and schemes, seem to mess things up economically. We'll set tariffs here and there, we'll raise taxes, we'll lower interest rates or raise them. We'll offer tax incentives, tax credits, and manipulate the deductible items a little here and there. Man has a multitude of rules and regulations aimed at controlling the economy, generating government revenue, financing public programs and such.
But as these layers of bureaucracy increase so does the complexity of economics. And so does the burden on peoples ability to even make a living, increase to beyond tolerable.
One set of regulations may 'seem' to solve or control an economic problem, but other problems arise and yet more regulations are added to the books of government, and the spiral of disaster continues. The Tribulation will be no different, and even more so, it will see the added burden of regulation of the economics of everything that a person can do, with the recording of all persons identifications and the requiring of ID cards of some type, thus preventing some people from doing business unless they have the proper ID, to the regulation of what one can own, buy and sell. More on this commerce regulation in chapter 13.
This attempt to regulate commerce, but with the intent of controlling peoples religious beliefs, will fail horribly. When laws become unfair and burdensome on the population, then underground markets open up, and generally thrive, especially when there is little if any monitoring of the whole process. We have already seen that the problems in the world will compound upon themselves. Because of the massive disruptions by violence, crime, and government regulation (not to mention storms and natural disasters – which we have not yet studied), communications are down, transportation is down, law enforcement is down, so the mandated commerce controls will be difficult to maintain, but they will at the same time become a huge burden on the population, as government regulation, or attempts to regulate will almost always end up in disaster for an economy.
We see even today, the monster of government control trying to gain a foothold on the nations. Our Trojan Horse seems to be in the form of health care and global warming. Something that can appeal to people in concept, but when you look inside, evil runs rampant.
All of the faces of the creatures of God, have been taken and distorted. Authority has been perverted. Power has been abused. Now free enterprise or the free thinking of man has been undermined. This destroys innovation and true competition in the market place.
The result, 'A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.'
Shortages occur and inflation takes over.
A denarius is the reference for a days wages. Often translated as a penny or a shilling, the denarius was the typical days wage of the Roman soldier, or perhaps a common laborer.
The dry measures of the wheat and barley, and the extra care for the oil and beverage indicate that nothing is to be wasted. The quart of wheat, when ground up into flour will not yield a quart of flour, but perhaps a couple of cups, and only a very small loaf of bread is available from that. If a person eats three meals a day, with the family, there won't be any leftovers for the fridge. There won’t even be enough to go around.
While in todays world a person can buy a loaf of bread for less than an hours wage (typical labor), this increase in prices is dramatic. I know that there are a lot of bread loaves and sizes and so forth, but a typical loaf may cost one or two dollars. If a person is earning ten or twenty dollars an hour, than one could buy lots of loaves for only one hours work.
However, when the cost of common bread (not fancy bread) soars to require a whole days wages, what does that tell you about wages? They do not keep pace with rising costs. Likewise, when bread costs go up, that means shortages and rising costs exist everywhere else. Needless to say, times will be extremely tough. Emphasize the extreme.
And one more principle is revealed here. The voice, this time, does not come from one of the four living beasts, who represent the very foundation of life. But the voice comes from an unidentified source within their midst.
This indicates that all of the fundamental rules of life have been violated, and that live and its foundations have no part in this very bad situation in which the world will find itself. On their own, people by their continued indifference to truth, will bring this disaster upon themselves. They have no excuse, they have no one to blame, but themselves.
This principle applies to everyone, even you.
Now that we have seen inside three seals, and have four more to go, we should probably begin looking at another Biblical principle - God controls history.
Note that the sequence of the events begins with the revelation of the event in heaven prior to its occurrence on earth.
Nothing in history, nothing in life, happens without Gods prior knowledge. He is ahead of us all when it comes to knowing what will happen and when. Whether it is impending disaster on a world wide scale, or whether it is what you will have for breakfast tomorrow, nothing happens that God does not know about.
God knows every thought, every decision, every event in history.
Who breaks the seals? Jesus Christ. Who imputes human life into each and every infant born in this world? Jesus Christ. He controls every aspect of ones life. He has made provision for every circumstance that might occur in each persons life.
Down here on earth, we may be caught by surprise as events unfold, but in heaven, there are no surprises. God in eternity past, made a decision as to the events of history, and recorded them down in what theology calls the Divine Decrees. Nothing ever happens unless it is first revealed in heaven.
'Seal up the scroll, for its time is not yet.'
'Break the seal and reveal its contents.'
'Only the one who is worthy (the lamb), is able to break the seal'.
Jesus Christ controls history. For every person who resides inside His sphere of power and protection (fellowship), there is no danger, only blessing.
For those who reside in the jungle, that is, outside His sphere of protection (out of fellowship for believers, and for all unbelievers) there is misery and disaster.
Though the world during the time of the Tribulation is falling apart, it is in no danger of self-destruction.
Though your life may seem like it is in the self destruct mode, you too are in His hands and you do have some degree of protection. Though, if you are negative or disinterested in Bible study, that protection may be only to pile on more misery and discipline in order to wake you up.
So you still have some control over your miserable future. You can maintain that misery by ignoring your daily Bible study, or you can turn that little light on in your head and get with a program of daily Bible study.
We learn that not only will there be terrible trouble in the Tribulation, but this also helps us to see that our individual lives are under some protection, as well as design.
History is not spontaneous, nor haphazard. Nothing happens by surprise. Now your life may be somewhat haphazard, but that is entirely up to your decision making process. God is not the author of confusion. Even in the worst of times, there is always a means of escape for the believer in fellowship, for the believer advancing to spiritual maturity.
If you haven't already done so, you may want to review, or re-review the special study on fellowship. Find it in the Special Study Library online. That is presuming that you even have the inclination to pursue your spiritual learning process, without someone getting it for you.
Earlier, John cried tears of sorrow. One of the many reasons for those tears, is because people are their own worst enemies. People do not go after truth, but disregard it, and end up in a life of great distress.
It would be nice if God hit you in the head every time you did something wrong, but that will not happen in this dispensation. Your resource for self discipline and self control is your own volition.
If you have been with this study for very long, you know a little of your history.
When peoples in Mesopotamia came under oppression, they moved into Europe, Africa, and Asia. They had a frontier to escape to. When the Old World became over populated and oppressive, the Americas were discovered and masses or people made the exodus to the New World.
God gave man frontiers as an escape from oppression.
But by the time of the Tribulation, the One World concept will give people nowhere to run, except one place – the spiritual life of Christianity. That frontier is vast and endless and secure because it is protected by God. Evil cannot enter into it.
But unfortunately, people will make their own misery, because they will ignore God, Christ, and their spiritual life. They pretend and pursue the rah rah rah’s of Christianity, but not the substance of doctrinal instruction.
When you are attending a school event, you can sing your songs and shout your chants of loyalty and support, but those are not an education. That comes not at the celebration but in the class room, where homework and study are required.
It is no different with the spiritual life. Sing your favorite songs and recite your favorite verses, of course, but those only help shore up your emotional feelings. You must pursue a daily study, so that you can learn and gain an orientation to life and the world around you.
Without a foundation of doctrine inside of your soul, you will have no protection from the worlds influences and thus will fall flat on your face when the times get really tough.
We are now only two verses way from the first of three of the worst disasters the world has ever seen. And in that future day, it will not be pleasant.
Thus John’s tears. Mans decisions (your decisions) make or break your entire life and future. Unfortunately for most, they just do not think that this is really going to happen, nor do they believe that any of these principles apply to them.
And so, indifference, disinterest, and the refusal to knuckle down to learning and growing and obeying Gods principles, will lead to massive sorrow. And that is something that you can count on, regardless of what you think.
Feel Free to make a comment about this study: Comment Page
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Revelation 6:6
DailyBibleStudy.Org
6 And [kai] I heard [akouo] a voice [phone] in [en] the midst [mesos] of the four [tessares] beasts [zoon] say, [lego] A measure [choinix] of wheat [sitos] for a penny, [denarion] and [kai] three [treis] measures [choinix] of barley [krithe] for a penny; [denarion] and [kai] see thou hurt [adikeo] not [me] the oil [elaion] and [kai] the wine. [oinos] KJV-Interlinear
6 And I heard as it were a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine." NASB
Shortages of every type of goods and services are on the horizon. When a given geographical area experiences repetitive catastrophes, then shortages are inevitable. Now we see in the breaking of the third seal, that just to be able to feed ones self for one day only, it will take a days wages. Can't get ahead when you work all day to feed only yourself. Nothing mentioned concerning the care of ones family or even the cost of maintaining a home, transportation, etc. Times will be extremely tough.
The third creature is that with a face of a man. The four living beasts correlate with each of these seals.
Man in all his glory and grand legislation and schemes, seem to mess things up economically. We'll set tariffs here and there, we'll raise taxes, we'll lower interest rates or raise them. We'll offer tax incentives, tax credits, and manipulate the deductible items a little here and there. Man has a multitude of rules and regulations aimed at controlling the economy, generating government revenue, financing public programs and such.
But as these layers of bureaucracy increase so does the complexity of economics. And so does the burden on peoples ability to even make a living, increase to beyond tolerable.
One set of regulations may 'seem' to solve or control an economic problem, but other problems arise and yet more regulations are added to the books of government, and the spiral of disaster continues. The Tribulation will be no different, and even more so, it will see the added burden of regulation of the economics of everything that a person can do, with the recording of all persons identifications and the requiring of ID cards of some type, thus preventing some people from doing business unless they have the proper ID, to the regulation of what one can own, buy and sell. More on this commerce regulation in chapter 13.
This attempt to regulate commerce, but with the intent of controlling peoples religious beliefs, will fail horribly. When laws become unfair and burdensome on the population, then underground markets open up, and generally thrive, especially when there is little if any monitoring of the whole process. We have already seen that the problems in the world will compound upon themselves. Because of the massive disruptions by violence, crime, and government regulation (not to mention storms and natural disasters – which we have not yet studied), communications are down, transportation is down, law enforcement is down, so the mandated commerce controls will be difficult to maintain, but they will at the same time become a huge burden on the population, as government regulation, or attempts to regulate will almost always end up in disaster for an economy.
We see even today, the monster of government control trying to gain a foothold on the nations. Our Trojan Horse seems to be in the form of health care and global warming. Something that can appeal to people in concept, but when you look inside, evil runs rampant.
All of the faces of the creatures of God, have been taken and distorted. Authority has been perverted. Power has been abused. Now free enterprise or the free thinking of man has been undermined. This destroys innovation and true competition in the market place.
The result, 'A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.'
Shortages occur and inflation takes over.
A denarius is the reference for a days wages. Often translated as a penny or a shilling, the denarius was the typical days wage of the Roman soldier, or perhaps a common laborer.
The dry measures of the wheat and barley, and the extra care for the oil and beverage indicate that nothing is to be wasted. The quart of wheat, when ground up into flour will not yield a quart of flour, but perhaps a couple of cups, and only a very small loaf of bread is available from that. If a person eats three meals a day, with the family, there won't be any leftovers for the fridge. There won’t even be enough to go around.
While in todays world a person can buy a loaf of bread for less than an hours wage (typical labor), this increase in prices is dramatic. I know that there are a lot of bread loaves and sizes and so forth, but a typical loaf may cost one or two dollars. If a person is earning ten or twenty dollars an hour, than one could buy lots of loaves for only one hours work.
However, when the cost of common bread (not fancy bread) soars to require a whole days wages, what does that tell you about wages? They do not keep pace with rising costs. Likewise, when bread costs go up, that means shortages and rising costs exist everywhere else. Needless to say, times will be extremely tough. Emphasize the extreme.
And one more principle is revealed here. The voice, this time, does not come from one of the four living beasts, who represent the very foundation of life. But the voice comes from an unidentified source within their midst.
This indicates that all of the fundamental rules of life have been violated, and that live and its foundations have no part in this very bad situation in which the world will find itself. On their own, people by their continued indifference to truth, will bring this disaster upon themselves. They have no excuse, they have no one to blame, but themselves.
This principle applies to everyone, even you.
Now that we have seen inside three seals, and have four more to go, we should probably begin looking at another Biblical principle - God controls history.
Note that the sequence of the events begins with the revelation of the event in heaven prior to its occurrence on earth.
Nothing in history, nothing in life, happens without Gods prior knowledge. He is ahead of us all when it comes to knowing what will happen and when. Whether it is impending disaster on a world wide scale, or whether it is what you will have for breakfast tomorrow, nothing happens that God does not know about.
God knows every thought, every decision, every event in history.
Who breaks the seals? Jesus Christ. Who imputes human life into each and every infant born in this world? Jesus Christ. He controls every aspect of ones life. He has made provision for every circumstance that might occur in each persons life.
Down here on earth, we may be caught by surprise as events unfold, but in heaven, there are no surprises. God in eternity past, made a decision as to the events of history, and recorded them down in what theology calls the Divine Decrees. Nothing ever happens unless it is first revealed in heaven.
'Seal up the scroll, for its time is not yet.'
'Break the seal and reveal its contents.'
'Only the one who is worthy (the lamb), is able to break the seal'.
Jesus Christ controls history. For every person who resides inside His sphere of power and protection (fellowship), there is no danger, only blessing.
For those who reside in the jungle, that is, outside His sphere of protection (out of fellowship for believers, and for all unbelievers) there is misery and disaster.
Though the world during the time of the Tribulation is falling apart, it is in no danger of self-destruction.
Though your life may seem like it is in the self destruct mode, you too are in His hands and you do have some degree of protection. Though, if you are negative or disinterested in Bible study, that protection may be only to pile on more misery and discipline in order to wake you up.
So you still have some control over your miserable future. You can maintain that misery by ignoring your daily Bible study, or you can turn that little light on in your head and get with a program of daily Bible study.
We learn that not only will there be terrible trouble in the Tribulation, but this also helps us to see that our individual lives are under some protection, as well as design.
History is not spontaneous, nor haphazard. Nothing happens by surprise. Now your life may be somewhat haphazard, but that is entirely up to your decision making process. God is not the author of confusion. Even in the worst of times, there is always a means of escape for the believer in fellowship, for the believer advancing to spiritual maturity.
If you haven't already done so, you may want to review, or re-review the special study on fellowship. Find it in the Special Study Library online. That is presuming that you even have the inclination to pursue your spiritual learning process, without someone getting it for you.
Earlier, John cried tears of sorrow. One of the many reasons for those tears, is because people are their own worst enemies. People do not go after truth, but disregard it, and end up in a life of great distress.
It would be nice if God hit you in the head every time you did something wrong, but that will not happen in this dispensation. Your resource for self discipline and self control is your own volition.
If you have been with this study for very long, you know a little of your history.
When peoples in Mesopotamia came under oppression, they moved into Europe, Africa, and Asia. They had a frontier to escape to. When the Old World became over populated and oppressive, the Americas were discovered and masses or people made the exodus to the New World.
God gave man frontiers as an escape from oppression.
But by the time of the Tribulation, the One World concept will give people nowhere to run, except one place – the spiritual life of Christianity. That frontier is vast and endless and secure because it is protected by God. Evil cannot enter into it.
But unfortunately, people will make their own misery, because they will ignore God, Christ, and their spiritual life. They pretend and pursue the rah rah rah’s of Christianity, but not the substance of doctrinal instruction.
When you are attending a school event, you can sing your songs and shout your chants of loyalty and support, but those are not an education. That comes not at the celebration but in the class room, where homework and study are required.
It is no different with the spiritual life. Sing your favorite songs and recite your favorite verses, of course, but those only help shore up your emotional feelings. You must pursue a daily study, so that you can learn and gain an orientation to life and the world around you.
Without a foundation of doctrine inside of your soul, you will have no protection from the worlds influences and thus will fall flat on your face when the times get really tough.
We are now only two verses way from the first of three of the worst disasters the world has ever seen. And in that future day, it will not be pleasant.
Thus John’s tears. Mans decisions (your decisions) make or break your entire life and future. Unfortunately for most, they just do not think that this is really going to happen, nor do they believe that any of these principles apply to them.
And so, indifference, disinterest, and the refusal to knuckle down to learning and growing and obeying Gods principles, will lead to massive sorrow. And that is something that you can count on, regardless of what you think.
Feel Free to make a comment about this study: Comment Page
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Revelation 6:5
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Revelation 6:5
DailyBibleStudy.Org
5 And [kai] when [hote] he had opened [anoigo] the third [tritos] seal, [sphragis] I heard [akouo] the third [tritos] beast [zoon] say, [lego] Come [erchomai] and [kai] see. [blepo] And [kai] I beheld, [eido] and [kai] lo [idou] a black [melas] horse; [hippos] and [kai] he that sat [kathemai] on [epi] him [autos] had [echo] a pair of balances [zugos] in [en] his [autos] hand. [cheir] KJV-Interlinear
5 And when He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, "Come." And I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. NASB
With the first seal, appears the white horse, the hero.
With the second seal, appears the red horse, unleashed violence.
And now we have the third seal being opened, and the black horse appears, with the rider (still the anti-christ) carrying a set of scales for weights and measures.
The economics of the world is the target now. The black horse is used to refer to famine or terrible economic times, Lam. 5:10.
In each instance, Gods divine plan and design has been distorted. First, the lion, where authority is abused.
Second, the ox, where service is abused and used to turn society into oppressed peoples.
And now, third, the image of the man, which is used to represent the third living beast, one who expresses rational thought, and rational thought has been so distorted with abuses that the economies of the world are destroyed.
It is the anti-christ who appears on each of these horses. It is the anti-christ who is responsible for all of the deceit and abuses, and tyranny which is to follow.
He carries the scales, and it is he (the anti-christ) who is responsible for upsetting the balance of economic activity in the world.
When government runs or regulates anything, it ends in disaster. That is a principle that has been true throughout history, it is true today and will be far more than true, in the future when the Tribulation occurs and throughout the entire seven year period of the Tribulation.
One of the fundamental principles of truth is self-determination. This is supported in the free enterprise economic system. And this is why the free enterprise system is under constant attack. All principles of truth are assaulted by evil, in order to promote evils own false and failing systems, designed to destroy humanity.
The anti-christ holds the economics of the world in his hands. His hands represent the governing system that will be in place at that time.
And a quick note here at this point of our study.
Recall that the scroll had writing on both sides of the paper. The writing indicated a very detailed account of historical events.
Thus far, we have been getting only the titles, as it were, behind each of the seals as they are removed. And though the concepts contained within the scroll as they have been revealed, typically follow a logical and chronological sequence, these events and circumstances will exist throughout the Tribulation.
The anti-christ will not invent his position (the concept of the ruler is already there), nor the source of his power (police and militaries are already there), nor the mechanics of the economics at hand (government regulations and laws are already there). These things (bureaucracies, regulations, laws, etc.) will not come instantly into existence after the Rapture. These things will already have their attributes in place, however the anti-christ will take these things to the extreme, and intensify and abuse them, during the Tribulation.
Feel Free to make a comment about this study: Comment Page
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Revelation 6:5
DailyBibleStudy.Org
5 And [kai] when [hote] he had opened [anoigo] the third [tritos] seal, [sphragis] I heard [akouo] the third [tritos] beast [zoon] say, [lego] Come [erchomai] and [kai] see. [blepo] And [kai] I beheld, [eido] and [kai] lo [idou] a black [melas] horse; [hippos] and [kai] he that sat [kathemai] on [epi] him [autos] had [echo] a pair of balances [zugos] in [en] his [autos] hand. [cheir] KJV-Interlinear
5 And when He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, "Come." And I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. NASB
With the first seal, appears the white horse, the hero.
With the second seal, appears the red horse, unleashed violence.
And now we have the third seal being opened, and the black horse appears, with the rider (still the anti-christ) carrying a set of scales for weights and measures.
The economics of the world is the target now. The black horse is used to refer to famine or terrible economic times, Lam. 5:10.
In each instance, Gods divine plan and design has been distorted. First, the lion, where authority is abused.
Second, the ox, where service is abused and used to turn society into oppressed peoples.
And now, third, the image of the man, which is used to represent the third living beast, one who expresses rational thought, and rational thought has been so distorted with abuses that the economies of the world are destroyed.
It is the anti-christ who appears on each of these horses. It is the anti-christ who is responsible for all of the deceit and abuses, and tyranny which is to follow.
He carries the scales, and it is he (the anti-christ) who is responsible for upsetting the balance of economic activity in the world.
When government runs or regulates anything, it ends in disaster. That is a principle that has been true throughout history, it is true today and will be far more than true, in the future when the Tribulation occurs and throughout the entire seven year period of the Tribulation.
One of the fundamental principles of truth is self-determination. This is supported in the free enterprise economic system. And this is why the free enterprise system is under constant attack. All principles of truth are assaulted by evil, in order to promote evils own false and failing systems, designed to destroy humanity.
The anti-christ holds the economics of the world in his hands. His hands represent the governing system that will be in place at that time.
And a quick note here at this point of our study.
Recall that the scroll had writing on both sides of the paper. The writing indicated a very detailed account of historical events.
Thus far, we have been getting only the titles, as it were, behind each of the seals as they are removed. And though the concepts contained within the scroll as they have been revealed, typically follow a logical and chronological sequence, these events and circumstances will exist throughout the Tribulation.
The anti-christ will not invent his position (the concept of the ruler is already there), nor the source of his power (police and militaries are already there), nor the mechanics of the economics at hand (government regulations and laws are already there). These things (bureaucracies, regulations, laws, etc.) will not come instantly into existence after the Rapture. These things will already have their attributes in place, however the anti-christ will take these things to the extreme, and intensify and abuse them, during the Tribulation.
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Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Revelation 6:4
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Revelation 6:4
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4 And [kai] there went out [exerchomai] another [allos] horse [hippos] that was red: [purrhos] and [kai] power was given [didomi] to him [autos] that sat [kathemai] thereon [epi] [autos] to take [lambano] peace [eirene] from [apo] the earth, [ge] and [kai] that [hina] they should kill [sphazo] one another: [allelon] and [kai] there was given [didomi] unto him [autos] a great [megas] sword. [machaira] KJV-Interlinear
4 And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men should slay one another; and a great sword was given to him. NASB
With the opening of the first seal, thunder sounded. A signal and warning that something ominous is coming.
The first living beast, first mentioned in chapter four, calls John (us) to come and see.
What is coming is a hero, as far as the world is concerned.
However, the anti-christ carries a bow. A seemingly weak or only symbolic weapon, as his agenda first appears to be more diplomatic and promising. That changes quickly however.
The anti-christ is a weak person, but the one thing that stands out in his life is, that all of the people who allow him to come into power, are even weaker than he.
He conquers, and what does that tell you about his opponents? They are very weak. And since the world is anti-truth, then defeating a weak world comes easy.
The second seal is opened. The second living beast says, ‘Come and see.’
The opening act of the Tribulation has begun and it is time to us to see what is really there.
The first angel, the lion, revealed the first seal. The lion is a representation of the real and correct authority of God, but this authority in the hands of the anti-christ is distorted as he pushed his own agenda for the conquest of the world. A lions voice can be heard from far off, and the images that one congers up in ones own mind are those of the lions power and possible destruction if met face to face. So the intimidation factor is definitely there.
Moving on to the second seal, as announced by the ox. The power and service of the ox is expressed in this seal. However, the red horse symbolizes war. Just as the first horse was symbolic and not a real horse, so this horse is symbolic. In contrast, the horse that Christ will ride in chapter 19, is definitely a real horse, a white war horse, and so too, are the horses that we will ride as we follow Him toward earth, in military formations. We are an army of armies.
Now we see reference to armies, but not specific armies. This war is general in nature. This is the attempted coup of the world by the anti-christ.
If he were indeed a hero, then why the need for violent force in order to gain his following. As hero he would be there to serve, but as a tyrant, his service becomes violent enforcement.
None of the first four seals designates a specific name, nor a specific place, nor a specific order, nor a specific time or duration, nor a specific event. They are all general. This is the nature of the seven year period that people will face. From common sense and from our own history, we can generally picture the scene as follows.
The world has a huge population. Whether it is the seven billion of today or 20 plus billion or more, of the future, really isn't the issue. There will still be a lot of people worldwide. The fact that people listen to an anti-christ person in the first place indicates really big problems and the general unhappiness of the vast majority, but not only from one nation but from many nations, perhaps all nations worldwide.
As we will see, the problems run from war conflicts, probably in regional areas such as we now see in Africa, or in the middle-east, but there are many such conflicts worldwide. Even in Europe there will be a great deal of discord and disagreement which will lead to war within that European body, just as we saw in the previous world wars.
The ox represents the burdens placed on man as a result of the vast and numerous wars that will be taking place. War disrupts commerce, disrupts justice, disrupts any type of hope, for that life of peace - that 8 to 5 job and Monday night football will all but disappear. People will be enduring stress, constant stress. There will be no peace. There will be no certainty of what might happen in the night or tomorrow. One could go to sleep, if that is even possible, and suddenly be awaken by an attack. Not only from a formal military group, but this is confusion, tyranny, crime running loose. Gangs will be on the streets. Violence and terror will be the order of the day. Rape, murder, theft, all these and more will become common place.
As the anti-christ attempts to secure his power, he will soon learn, as the world will soon learn, that this initial peace promised will never come, and the price will be huge.
The word for take peace, ‘lambano,’ means the removal or absence of peace. The word for kill, ‘sphazo,’ means slaughter, and is a reference to the general nature of society. This is not just a military attempt to secure power, but a dramatic breakdown in social order. This is a slaughter, as you would find in an animal slaughter house.
With the restraints of sin, off. Society will sink dramatically and quickly into a realm of degenerate and evil pattern, that no one will be able to end. And all the while, the anti-christ will be attempting to secure his power, by doing the same thing. Likewise, he ignores the violence of criminals, but uses that to his own advantage.
When evil rules, then all rules evaporate into raw jungle law. There will be no containment of the trouble, no confinement to specific geographical areas. Trouble will be worldwide.
Such will be the nature of the Tribulation
The continued conflicts will serve to destabilize life across the world, and will continue in random order and will finally culminate in the last great battle of Armageddon. And as we will see, these seals will present the disorder of the earth.
Usually chaos provides little protection for people, but in this case, chaos will provide protection for believers worldwide. With transportation disrupted, communication disrupted, with power disrupted, and virtually everything else that you can think of being disrupted, there will be tremendous chaos in every aspect of life. And in this chaos, those who seek you out simply cannot find you. Odd as it may seem, in this chaos, believers (new believers) will have some semblance of security, while everyone's disorganized attention is directed elsewhere.
When peace is disrupted, and crime runs rampant, when the government actually becomes the criminal, then that overflows into every aspect of society, and suffering and death skyrocket.
But then we need to remove a couple more of the seals to begin to get clearer picture of life in this new utopia of Satan’s.
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Revelation 6:4
DailyBibleStudy.Org
4 And [kai] there went out [exerchomai] another [allos] horse [hippos] that was red: [purrhos] and [kai] power was given [didomi] to him [autos] that sat [kathemai] thereon [epi] [autos] to take [lambano] peace [eirene] from [apo] the earth, [ge] and [kai] that [hina] they should kill [sphazo] one another: [allelon] and [kai] there was given [didomi] unto him [autos] a great [megas] sword. [machaira] KJV-Interlinear
4 And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men should slay one another; and a great sword was given to him. NASB
With the opening of the first seal, thunder sounded. A signal and warning that something ominous is coming.
The first living beast, first mentioned in chapter four, calls John (us) to come and see.
What is coming is a hero, as far as the world is concerned.
However, the anti-christ carries a bow. A seemingly weak or only symbolic weapon, as his agenda first appears to be more diplomatic and promising. That changes quickly however.
The anti-christ is a weak person, but the one thing that stands out in his life is, that all of the people who allow him to come into power, are even weaker than he.
He conquers, and what does that tell you about his opponents? They are very weak. And since the world is anti-truth, then defeating a weak world comes easy.
The second seal is opened. The second living beast says, ‘Come and see.’
The opening act of the Tribulation has begun and it is time to us to see what is really there.
The first angel, the lion, revealed the first seal. The lion is a representation of the real and correct authority of God, but this authority in the hands of the anti-christ is distorted as he pushed his own agenda for the conquest of the world. A lions voice can be heard from far off, and the images that one congers up in ones own mind are those of the lions power and possible destruction if met face to face. So the intimidation factor is definitely there.
Moving on to the second seal, as announced by the ox. The power and service of the ox is expressed in this seal. However, the red horse symbolizes war. Just as the first horse was symbolic and not a real horse, so this horse is symbolic. In contrast, the horse that Christ will ride in chapter 19, is definitely a real horse, a white war horse, and so too, are the horses that we will ride as we follow Him toward earth, in military formations. We are an army of armies.
Now we see reference to armies, but not specific armies. This war is general in nature. This is the attempted coup of the world by the anti-christ.
If he were indeed a hero, then why the need for violent force in order to gain his following. As hero he would be there to serve, but as a tyrant, his service becomes violent enforcement.
None of the first four seals designates a specific name, nor a specific place, nor a specific order, nor a specific time or duration, nor a specific event. They are all general. This is the nature of the seven year period that people will face. From common sense and from our own history, we can generally picture the scene as follows.
The world has a huge population. Whether it is the seven billion of today or 20 plus billion or more, of the future, really isn't the issue. There will still be a lot of people worldwide. The fact that people listen to an anti-christ person in the first place indicates really big problems and the general unhappiness of the vast majority, but not only from one nation but from many nations, perhaps all nations worldwide.
As we will see, the problems run from war conflicts, probably in regional areas such as we now see in Africa, or in the middle-east, but there are many such conflicts worldwide. Even in Europe there will be a great deal of discord and disagreement which will lead to war within that European body, just as we saw in the previous world wars.
The ox represents the burdens placed on man as a result of the vast and numerous wars that will be taking place. War disrupts commerce, disrupts justice, disrupts any type of hope, for that life of peace - that 8 to 5 job and Monday night football will all but disappear. People will be enduring stress, constant stress. There will be no peace. There will be no certainty of what might happen in the night or tomorrow. One could go to sleep, if that is even possible, and suddenly be awaken by an attack. Not only from a formal military group, but this is confusion, tyranny, crime running loose. Gangs will be on the streets. Violence and terror will be the order of the day. Rape, murder, theft, all these and more will become common place.
As the anti-christ attempts to secure his power, he will soon learn, as the world will soon learn, that this initial peace promised will never come, and the price will be huge.
The word for take peace, ‘lambano,’ means the removal or absence of peace. The word for kill, ‘sphazo,’ means slaughter, and is a reference to the general nature of society. This is not just a military attempt to secure power, but a dramatic breakdown in social order. This is a slaughter, as you would find in an animal slaughter house.
With the restraints of sin, off. Society will sink dramatically and quickly into a realm of degenerate and evil pattern, that no one will be able to end. And all the while, the anti-christ will be attempting to secure his power, by doing the same thing. Likewise, he ignores the violence of criminals, but uses that to his own advantage.
When evil rules, then all rules evaporate into raw jungle law. There will be no containment of the trouble, no confinement to specific geographical areas. Trouble will be worldwide.
Such will be the nature of the Tribulation
The continued conflicts will serve to destabilize life across the world, and will continue in random order and will finally culminate in the last great battle of Armageddon. And as we will see, these seals will present the disorder of the earth.
Usually chaos provides little protection for people, but in this case, chaos will provide protection for believers worldwide. With transportation disrupted, communication disrupted, with power disrupted, and virtually everything else that you can think of being disrupted, there will be tremendous chaos in every aspect of life. And in this chaos, those who seek you out simply cannot find you. Odd as it may seem, in this chaos, believers (new believers) will have some semblance of security, while everyone's disorganized attention is directed elsewhere.
When peace is disrupted, and crime runs rampant, when the government actually becomes the criminal, then that overflows into every aspect of society, and suffering and death skyrocket.
But then we need to remove a couple more of the seals to begin to get clearer picture of life in this new utopia of Satan’s.
Feel Free to make a comment about this study: Comment Page
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Monday, April 26, 2010
Revelation 6:3
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Revelation 6:3
DailyBibleStudy.Org
3 And [kai] when [hote] he had opened [anoigo] the second [deuteros] seal, [sphragis] I heard [akouo] the second [deuteros] beast [zoon] say, [lego] Come [erchomai] and [kai] see. [blepo] KJV-Interlinear
3 And when He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come." NASB
With the opening of the first seal, thunder sounded. A signal and warning that something ominous is coming.
The first living beast, first mentioned in chapter four, calls John (and us) to come and see. What is coming is a hero, as far as the world is concerned. But not just any hero, because the world has rejected Christ, and so the world looks to its own. Someone seemingly super powerful.
However, the anti-christ carries a bow. A weapon of course, but it is for fighting at a distance, and has limited power. If you miss, you can run. Christ carries a two-edged sword. Something that you can get up close and very personal with, when in a fight. You cannot run when in a hand to hand fight. The runner always loses.
The anti-christ has a crown, but it is not a real crown. He takes it and presumes authority and retains authority by deceit. Christ has a crown, wherein He earned by saving humanity, by fulfilling the plan of God, by receiving it from the Father.
The anti-christ is a weak person, lacks wisdom, lacks truth, and the one thing that stands out in his life is, that all of the people who allow him to come into power, are even weaker than he. He is blind in life and he is a leader of the blind. He will boast of being the winner of a one runner race, but when you are the only runner, then winning is not something to boast about.
He is nothing and he has nothing of substance.
He conquers, and what does that tell you about his opponents? They are very weak. And since the world is anti-truth, then defeating a weak world comes easy.
The second seal is opened. The second living beast says, ‘Come and see.’
The opening act of the Tribulation has begun and it is time to us to see what is really there.
The world is absent of believers. They were whisked away, as the Holy Spirit and the restraining power of the Holy Spirit (through believers) was whisked away at the rapture.
And since the world has power and restraint only as a result of God and Gods influence, so now, with believers gone, the world is without power (except what it presumes for itself).
Man is dust and therefore what power is there in a speck of dust, when compared with the universe let alone God?
And note one more thing. Nothing historically occurs on this earth, until it is first revealed in heaven. The seals are broken and then activities are allowed to occur on earth. Who controls what in life?
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Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
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Revelation 6:3
DailyBibleStudy.Org
3 And [kai] when [hote] he had opened [anoigo] the second [deuteros] seal, [sphragis] I heard [akouo] the second [deuteros] beast [zoon] say, [lego] Come [erchomai] and [kai] see. [blepo] KJV-Interlinear
3 And when He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come." NASB
With the opening of the first seal, thunder sounded. A signal and warning that something ominous is coming.
The first living beast, first mentioned in chapter four, calls John (and us) to come and see. What is coming is a hero, as far as the world is concerned. But not just any hero, because the world has rejected Christ, and so the world looks to its own. Someone seemingly super powerful.
However, the anti-christ carries a bow. A weapon of course, but it is for fighting at a distance, and has limited power. If you miss, you can run. Christ carries a two-edged sword. Something that you can get up close and very personal with, when in a fight. You cannot run when in a hand to hand fight. The runner always loses.
The anti-christ has a crown, but it is not a real crown. He takes it and presumes authority and retains authority by deceit. Christ has a crown, wherein He earned by saving humanity, by fulfilling the plan of God, by receiving it from the Father.
The anti-christ is a weak person, lacks wisdom, lacks truth, and the one thing that stands out in his life is, that all of the people who allow him to come into power, are even weaker than he. He is blind in life and he is a leader of the blind. He will boast of being the winner of a one runner race, but when you are the only runner, then winning is not something to boast about.
He is nothing and he has nothing of substance.
He conquers, and what does that tell you about his opponents? They are very weak. And since the world is anti-truth, then defeating a weak world comes easy.
The second seal is opened. The second living beast says, ‘Come and see.’
The opening act of the Tribulation has begun and it is time to us to see what is really there.
The world is absent of believers. They were whisked away, as the Holy Spirit and the restraining power of the Holy Spirit (through believers) was whisked away at the rapture.
And since the world has power and restraint only as a result of God and Gods influence, so now, with believers gone, the world is without power (except what it presumes for itself).
Man is dust and therefore what power is there in a speck of dust, when compared with the universe let alone God?
And note one more thing. Nothing historically occurs on this earth, until it is first revealed in heaven. The seals are broken and then activities are allowed to occur on earth. Who controls what in life?
Feel Free to make a comment about this study: Comment Page
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Sunday, April 25, 2010
Revelation 6:2
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
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Revelation 6:2
DailyBibleStudy.Org
2 And [kai] I saw, [eido] and [kai] behold [idou] a white [leukos] horse: [hippos] and [kai] he that sat [kathemai] on [epi] him [autos] had [echo] a bow; [toxon] and [kai] a crown [stephanos] was given [didomi] unto him: [autos] and [kai] he went forth [exerchomai] conquering, [nikao] and [kai] to [hina] conquer. [nikao] KJV-Interlinear
2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him; and he went out conquering, and to conquer. NASB
We have been viewing the scene in heaven, where there is continuity and peace as never experienced by anyone in human history. As the first seal is removed, the scene shifts to earth, and the events that are going to take place there. The scene reveals one who is sitting on a white horse.
Christ is in heaven opening the scroll, so He cannot be the one who is on the earth and on this particular white horse. Christ’s return will be at the second advent, which will occur at the end of the Tribulation, and in that time, there will be a massive judgment of evil, not the utopia implied here.
Three white horses are depicted in Revelation. This single white horse here in Rev. 6:2, and the one in Rev. 19:11, and an army riding white horses as well in Rev. 19. That army is you and me and all believers from the Church Age. We are royalty and royalty rides into battle, it never walks.
And by the way, since we are in heaven, where we have to be in order to return with Christ, then we cannot be on the earth. It would not make any sense to whisk us away at the end of the Tribulation just to bring us immediately back. That would leave no room for our resurrection, our Judgment Seat of Christ, our glorification, the wedding feast, and so forth. Plus, martyred Tribulation believers would have to be sorted out from the Royal Family, and that would all have to happen in an instant. And of course it does not happen that way.
As for the white horse here listed, there is a definite contrast to that of Christ in chapter 19. Here we have the false-christ, or as many call him, the anti-christ. Remember that we are here looking at the overall and general history of the Tribulation, a worldwide view if you will. In chapter 12, a more specific view, will be the approach in the revelation of the Tribulational years.
Beginning in chapter 12, we see the overall view of the angelic conflict. The dragon, Satan, taking with him 1/3 rd of the angelic realm. His attack on Christ, even as an infant and His continued attack on Gods family - believers in general and Jews in particular. And Satan will still be continuing his attack on the Jews of the Tribulation as well as believers in general all over the world.
The objective? To destroy Jerusalem and all believing Jews therein. Christ has promised to return to rescue them, and if Satan can prevent God from fulfilling even one promise, then he has proven God to be with error and therefore win the angelic conflict.
Of course this is not going to happen. God is perfect and error free.
There will be three major players on earth during the Tribulation. The dragon is of course the devil, Satan, and formerly known as Lucifer. He will be cast out of heaven, by the angel Michael, at the mid point of the tribulation and cast down onto earth, where he will become very angry and enraged at his failing position.
The second person is the anti-christ, the leader of the revived Roman empire as it is often times called. This is the leader of the ten nation group that will be conquered by this anti-christ. In one nation he will rise up and overpowering with force, three nations as the remaining seven nations submit to his authority. He will be referred to in Revelation as the beast.
The third person is the second beast, the leader of the religion of the Tribulation, a leader rising out of Israel. He will support the anti-christ and will build an idol of his image and demand that all bow down to it (the image). These two people are extremely evil people. Think of Hitler, and now think of Hitler as being an extremely brilliant thinker with a very high IQ, and you will have a picture of these two people. Brilliant, yet deceptive and corrupt to the core. They will have no morals, no conscience.
Now we have the first horse, a white horse. Often we will think of the white horse, the white hat, as the good guy, the knight in shining armor. And onto the scene comes this knight. Just as after World War 1, the problems in Germany gave way to the deceptions of the Nazi's in the nineteen-thirty’s, so too this will be an example of a leader promising everything, and promising everything to a world that is in the middle of trouble.
Remember that at the end or in the last generation of our dispensation, the Church Age, there will rise a great apostasy across the world. That will lead to trouble and turmoil, and people will be desperate for a hero. The Rapture will occur, and onto the scene comes this evil person known in the Bible as the anti-christ.
When does this occur? After the rapture has already taken place. What will the world be like when that occurs? That is a tough question to answer because we do not know when the rapture will occur. But we can use some hypothetical logic. If the rapture occurs near the end of this coming century, then we know that the world will have a huge population. If there are 20 or 30 or 50 billion people then the stresses that, that size of population will have on the planet, should be obvious.
Look at the world today. Trouble in the Balkans, trouble in Africa, economic problems always hampering trade between nations, even trade within a given nation. Unemployment here and there, inflation or recession here and there, traffic congestion, public services shortages, domestic problems, crime problems, the list goes on. So if our trouble can be magnified 4 or 5 fold, then we will have a pretty good picture of what things might be like in the future.
Now the rapture. All believers in the world are instantly removed. What will that impact be? Possibly none. The Church Age is over and God has determined that the Royal Family's number is complete. Sodom was not destroyed until Lot had left the city, but he was only one person along with his family of a wife and two daughters. It could very well be that there will be such a small population of believers in the world, that the impact on such a huge population will be next to nothing. Of course this is only speculation on my part.
Of course if there are a lot of believers, then this event will be definitely noticed, however, I think that the appeal of this anti-christ will be greater because of the problems of the world and that the rapture will generally go unnoticed, except in certain cases. Needless to say, believers who have left the scene, will probably be blamed for the trouble, whatever it is.
The crown is a false crown, the bow is a false bow. This anti-christ is given power to deceive and to take power by virtue of his words and perceived position and power, not from his real power which is false. The weak leaders of the ten nations are placed there, in their positions of power for only one reason, and that is to give their power over to the anti-christ. Take note of this in Rev. 17:13, where we have the explanation of these kings and their downfall.
As our dispensation continues, and as apostasy rises, then leadership and those selecting it, will be weak, incompetent, and unqualified to lead or to elect.
God often raises up a single person in history, to perform a single act. Sometimes this act could lead to the invention of some type of innovative tool or technology, or sometimes this act could be the catalyst to lead an otherwise cowardly people to victory. Whatever the call of a person in life, there is always a purpose for each person's being here, and at the specific time in history that any of us happen to live.
So even you have a purpose for your life, despite the fact that you might see yourself as sort of worthless at any given moment in life. But then God raises up and uses prepared believers. There is really nothing for you to do other than the, getting prepared, portion of your life - a daily Bible study. God will do all the rest.
You may live your entire life before you realize why you were brought into this world. But you do have a purpose just as this anti-christ has a purpose. The world is negative toward God and ripe for deception. Many are negative prior to the rapture, but will turn positive and believe in Christ, after the rapture.
Whatever the case, there will be a great deception. Christ returns on a white war horse with sword (real power) in hand and with the judgment of righteousness (real authority). Christ will come with many titles and names.
This anti-christ has no name. He will have pleasing words for the public, but in the background of politics and military he will carry threats of destruction. The cowards will fall to his authority. Some will resist, but they will lose during the initial phase of the Tribulation. His bow (false power), will defeat a very weak people.
One more quick thought. Look briefly at the first verse of chapter seven. Angels will be holding back the winds of destruction against the earth. With the believing population gone at the rapture, the salt of the earth, those who preserve it will be gone, and thus the deterioration of the planet will begin to develop rapidly.
If you leave meat on the counter, it goes bad, slowly at first then rapidly. So it will be with the earth. No preservative, therefore rapid decay. But God orders the holding of this decay so that this seven year period will come to its proper conclusion. There will be many who will believe in Christ during this time, and God will give them all that opportunity before that final chapter of history closes everything. Just as the torments of the period will be intense, so too will be the intensity of evangelism.
The winds of heaven are the real drivers of history (Christ). The winds of earth, are the impotent attempts of humanity to drive history.
This rider of the white horse, will have a bow that he takes for himself. He has a crown, which he takes for himself. He neither earns them nor deserves them. He has no qualifications for leadership, but has all of the personality to deceive the masses.
Anytime an unqualified person rises to power, that becomes a recipe for disaster. And disaster brings turmoil and suffering for masses of people.
His conquering will not be by superior strategy or tactics, but because of a weak and cowardly people who will give up easily.
His (the anti-christs’) first impression is a false one. He comes as a hero, but is really a villain.
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Revelation 6:2
DailyBibleStudy.Org
2 And [kai] I saw, [eido] and [kai] behold [idou] a white [leukos] horse: [hippos] and [kai] he that sat [kathemai] on [epi] him [autos] had [echo] a bow; [toxon] and [kai] a crown [stephanos] was given [didomi] unto him: [autos] and [kai] he went forth [exerchomai] conquering, [nikao] and [kai] to [hina] conquer. [nikao] KJV-Interlinear
2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him; and he went out conquering, and to conquer. NASB
We have been viewing the scene in heaven, where there is continuity and peace as never experienced by anyone in human history. As the first seal is removed, the scene shifts to earth, and the events that are going to take place there. The scene reveals one who is sitting on a white horse.
Christ is in heaven opening the scroll, so He cannot be the one who is on the earth and on this particular white horse. Christ’s return will be at the second advent, which will occur at the end of the Tribulation, and in that time, there will be a massive judgment of evil, not the utopia implied here.
Three white horses are depicted in Revelation. This single white horse here in Rev. 6:2, and the one in Rev. 19:11, and an army riding white horses as well in Rev. 19. That army is you and me and all believers from the Church Age. We are royalty and royalty rides into battle, it never walks.
And by the way, since we are in heaven, where we have to be in order to return with Christ, then we cannot be on the earth. It would not make any sense to whisk us away at the end of the Tribulation just to bring us immediately back. That would leave no room for our resurrection, our Judgment Seat of Christ, our glorification, the wedding feast, and so forth. Plus, martyred Tribulation believers would have to be sorted out from the Royal Family, and that would all have to happen in an instant. And of course it does not happen that way.
As for the white horse here listed, there is a definite contrast to that of Christ in chapter 19. Here we have the false-christ, or as many call him, the anti-christ. Remember that we are here looking at the overall and general history of the Tribulation, a worldwide view if you will. In chapter 12, a more specific view, will be the approach in the revelation of the Tribulational years.
Beginning in chapter 12, we see the overall view of the angelic conflict. The dragon, Satan, taking with him 1/3 rd of the angelic realm. His attack on Christ, even as an infant and His continued attack on Gods family - believers in general and Jews in particular. And Satan will still be continuing his attack on the Jews of the Tribulation as well as believers in general all over the world.
The objective? To destroy Jerusalem and all believing Jews therein. Christ has promised to return to rescue them, and if Satan can prevent God from fulfilling even one promise, then he has proven God to be with error and therefore win the angelic conflict.
Of course this is not going to happen. God is perfect and error free.
There will be three major players on earth during the Tribulation. The dragon is of course the devil, Satan, and formerly known as Lucifer. He will be cast out of heaven, by the angel Michael, at the mid point of the tribulation and cast down onto earth, where he will become very angry and enraged at his failing position.
The second person is the anti-christ, the leader of the revived Roman empire as it is often times called. This is the leader of the ten nation group that will be conquered by this anti-christ. In one nation he will rise up and overpowering with force, three nations as the remaining seven nations submit to his authority. He will be referred to in Revelation as the beast.
The third person is the second beast, the leader of the religion of the Tribulation, a leader rising out of Israel. He will support the anti-christ and will build an idol of his image and demand that all bow down to it (the image). These two people are extremely evil people. Think of Hitler, and now think of Hitler as being an extremely brilliant thinker with a very high IQ, and you will have a picture of these two people. Brilliant, yet deceptive and corrupt to the core. They will have no morals, no conscience.
Now we have the first horse, a white horse. Often we will think of the white horse, the white hat, as the good guy, the knight in shining armor. And onto the scene comes this knight. Just as after World War 1, the problems in Germany gave way to the deceptions of the Nazi's in the nineteen-thirty’s, so too this will be an example of a leader promising everything, and promising everything to a world that is in the middle of trouble.
Remember that at the end or in the last generation of our dispensation, the Church Age, there will rise a great apostasy across the world. That will lead to trouble and turmoil, and people will be desperate for a hero. The Rapture will occur, and onto the scene comes this evil person known in the Bible as the anti-christ.
When does this occur? After the rapture has already taken place. What will the world be like when that occurs? That is a tough question to answer because we do not know when the rapture will occur. But we can use some hypothetical logic. If the rapture occurs near the end of this coming century, then we know that the world will have a huge population. If there are 20 or 30 or 50 billion people then the stresses that, that size of population will have on the planet, should be obvious.
Look at the world today. Trouble in the Balkans, trouble in Africa, economic problems always hampering trade between nations, even trade within a given nation. Unemployment here and there, inflation or recession here and there, traffic congestion, public services shortages, domestic problems, crime problems, the list goes on. So if our trouble can be magnified 4 or 5 fold, then we will have a pretty good picture of what things might be like in the future.
Now the rapture. All believers in the world are instantly removed. What will that impact be? Possibly none. The Church Age is over and God has determined that the Royal Family's number is complete. Sodom was not destroyed until Lot had left the city, but he was only one person along with his family of a wife and two daughters. It could very well be that there will be such a small population of believers in the world, that the impact on such a huge population will be next to nothing. Of course this is only speculation on my part.
Of course if there are a lot of believers, then this event will be definitely noticed, however, I think that the appeal of this anti-christ will be greater because of the problems of the world and that the rapture will generally go unnoticed, except in certain cases. Needless to say, believers who have left the scene, will probably be blamed for the trouble, whatever it is.
The crown is a false crown, the bow is a false bow. This anti-christ is given power to deceive and to take power by virtue of his words and perceived position and power, not from his real power which is false. The weak leaders of the ten nations are placed there, in their positions of power for only one reason, and that is to give their power over to the anti-christ. Take note of this in Rev. 17:13, where we have the explanation of these kings and their downfall.
As our dispensation continues, and as apostasy rises, then leadership and those selecting it, will be weak, incompetent, and unqualified to lead or to elect.
God often raises up a single person in history, to perform a single act. Sometimes this act could lead to the invention of some type of innovative tool or technology, or sometimes this act could be the catalyst to lead an otherwise cowardly people to victory. Whatever the call of a person in life, there is always a purpose for each person's being here, and at the specific time in history that any of us happen to live.
So even you have a purpose for your life, despite the fact that you might see yourself as sort of worthless at any given moment in life. But then God raises up and uses prepared believers. There is really nothing for you to do other than the, getting prepared, portion of your life - a daily Bible study. God will do all the rest.
You may live your entire life before you realize why you were brought into this world. But you do have a purpose just as this anti-christ has a purpose. The world is negative toward God and ripe for deception. Many are negative prior to the rapture, but will turn positive and believe in Christ, after the rapture.
Whatever the case, there will be a great deception. Christ returns on a white war horse with sword (real power) in hand and with the judgment of righteousness (real authority). Christ will come with many titles and names.
This anti-christ has no name. He will have pleasing words for the public, but in the background of politics and military he will carry threats of destruction. The cowards will fall to his authority. Some will resist, but they will lose during the initial phase of the Tribulation. His bow (false power), will defeat a very weak people.
One more quick thought. Look briefly at the first verse of chapter seven. Angels will be holding back the winds of destruction against the earth. With the believing population gone at the rapture, the salt of the earth, those who preserve it will be gone, and thus the deterioration of the planet will begin to develop rapidly.
If you leave meat on the counter, it goes bad, slowly at first then rapidly. So it will be with the earth. No preservative, therefore rapid decay. But God orders the holding of this decay so that this seven year period will come to its proper conclusion. There will be many who will believe in Christ during this time, and God will give them all that opportunity before that final chapter of history closes everything. Just as the torments of the period will be intense, so too will be the intensity of evangelism.
The winds of heaven are the real drivers of history (Christ). The winds of earth, are the impotent attempts of humanity to drive history.
This rider of the white horse, will have a bow that he takes for himself. He has a crown, which he takes for himself. He neither earns them nor deserves them. He has no qualifications for leadership, but has all of the personality to deceive the masses.
Anytime an unqualified person rises to power, that becomes a recipe for disaster. And disaster brings turmoil and suffering for masses of people.
His conquering will not be by superior strategy or tactics, but because of a weak and cowardly people who will give up easily.
His (the anti-christs’) first impression is a false one. He comes as a hero, but is really a villain.
Feel Free to make a comment about this study: Comment Page
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Saturday, April 24, 2010
Revelation 6:1c
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
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Revelation 6:1c
DailyBibleStudy.Org
1 And [kai] I saw [eido] when [hote] the Lamb [arnion] opened [anoigo] one [mia] of [ek] the seals, [sphragis] and [kai] I heard, [akouo] as it were [hos] the noise [phone] of thunder, [bronte] one [heis] of [ek] the four [tessares] beasts [zoon] saying, [lego] Come [erchomai] and [kai] see. [blepo] KJV-Interlinear
1 And I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come." NASB
The seals on the scroll, represent the security of the details of future events. On the scroll is recorded the details of those events. The scroll was written in eternity past and was not to be revealed to anyone until the end times.
Our Church Age is the period of the end times (a lengthy period of time – 1980 years thus far, and counting), while the Tribulation is the period of the last days (a shorter time frame – seven years).
The mention of the four living beasts and what they represent in contrast with human effort, is the point in this chapter.
Recall that the faces on the four beasts were the lion, ox, man, and eagle. Each representing several things, but primarily strength or majesty for the lion, and then service and endurance for the ox, and then vision or far sightedness for the eagle, and finally reason for the man.
And though each of these beasts are not identified, the broken seal of which they speak serve to contrast the contents of the seal, with each of the beasts.
The beasts, or more correctly named, the essence of life, are from God. The contents revealed from behind the seals, are from humanity. While man tries to imitate or surpass God (Satan wanted to be ‘like the most high’), the revelation of the final days of history will demonstrate that mans efforts will only lead to massive suffering and doom.
The first of the seals is removed, and the first living beast speaks and sounds like thunder.
Thunder is representative of several things. First it represents Gods presence. Second it represents overwhelming power. Third it is an indicator of a storm coming or already here. And fourth, it represents a force that is beyond your control.
The first living beast speaks, and says, ‘Come.’ And this simply means, the end has begun. Come and see it.
When you go to a play, and are standing out in the lobby, you will usually hear a sound, perhaps music, or perhaps an announcement that the play is about to begin or resume.
We have already seen the preparation in heaven in chapters 4-5. Now, planet earth is ready, and now, with the first broken seal, the final act of human rule begins.
Feel Free to make a comment about this study: Comment Page
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Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
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Revelation 6:1c
DailyBibleStudy.Org
1 And [kai] I saw [eido] when [hote] the Lamb [arnion] opened [anoigo] one [mia] of [ek] the seals, [sphragis] and [kai] I heard, [akouo] as it were [hos] the noise [phone] of thunder, [bronte] one [heis] of [ek] the four [tessares] beasts [zoon] saying, [lego] Come [erchomai] and [kai] see. [blepo] KJV-Interlinear
1 And I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come." NASB
The seals on the scroll, represent the security of the details of future events. On the scroll is recorded the details of those events. The scroll was written in eternity past and was not to be revealed to anyone until the end times.
Our Church Age is the period of the end times (a lengthy period of time – 1980 years thus far, and counting), while the Tribulation is the period of the last days (a shorter time frame – seven years).
The mention of the four living beasts and what they represent in contrast with human effort, is the point in this chapter.
Recall that the faces on the four beasts were the lion, ox, man, and eagle. Each representing several things, but primarily strength or majesty for the lion, and then service and endurance for the ox, and then vision or far sightedness for the eagle, and finally reason for the man.
And though each of these beasts are not identified, the broken seal of which they speak serve to contrast the contents of the seal, with each of the beasts.
The beasts, or more correctly named, the essence of life, are from God. The contents revealed from behind the seals, are from humanity. While man tries to imitate or surpass God (Satan wanted to be ‘like the most high’), the revelation of the final days of history will demonstrate that mans efforts will only lead to massive suffering and doom.
The first of the seals is removed, and the first living beast speaks and sounds like thunder.
Thunder is representative of several things. First it represents Gods presence. Second it represents overwhelming power. Third it is an indicator of a storm coming or already here. And fourth, it represents a force that is beyond your control.
The first living beast speaks, and says, ‘Come.’ And this simply means, the end has begun. Come and see it.
When you go to a play, and are standing out in the lobby, you will usually hear a sound, perhaps music, or perhaps an announcement that the play is about to begin or resume.
We have already seen the preparation in heaven in chapters 4-5. Now, planet earth is ready, and now, with the first broken seal, the final act of human rule begins.
Feel Free to make a comment about this study: Comment Page
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Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
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Friday, April 23, 2010
Revelation 6:1b
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Revelation 6:1b
DailyBibleStudy.Org
1 And [kai] I saw [eido] when [hote] the Lamb [arnion] opened [anoigo] one [mia] of [ek] the seals, [sphragis] and [kai] I heard, [akouo] as it were [hos] the noise [phone] of thunder, [bronte] one [heis] of [ek] the four [tessares] beasts [zoon] saying, [lego] Come [erchomai] and [kai] see. [blepo] KJV-Interlinear
1 And I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come." NASB
Today, our men and women of the 41st Infantry Brigade, returned from their tour of duty in Iraq. Our boy was among them and we celebrate with tremendous happiness and pride at his service, but especially his return. Of the two tours that the 41st served, the first being in 2004 and the second ending their 2009-2010 tour, we have had to give to the Lord a total of eleven of our finest. Nine the first time, and two this most recent tour of duty.
The Bible speaks of five crowns for those who exemplify themselves in unusual circumstances. And to those who leave this world prematurely, the Crown of Life applies to them.
Crowns are very special awards, given to very special people, and they are promised from God to those who give freely of themselves for the benefit of others. All too often people are taken from this world at a very young age. And especially in times of war and conflict, whether it applies to a soldier in battle, a police officer in the community, or an infant child that simply cannot thrive in this world in the battle for life, there comes a time when the ultimate sacrifice is called for.
Through no fault of their own, life sets in motion many sets of circumstances that are far beyond their control. And the maximum payment of ones life is called due.
While we will mourn the loss of our loved ones, God acknowledges them in heaven with one of the highest honors that can be bestowed on anyone. Our loss becomes their tremendous victory which will last for all of eternity.
Today we celebrated the return of 2900 men and women who served with honor, and heard their heroic tale of the pursuit of a runaway tire, that decided to roll away, down a very, very, very, very long downhill road, while being pursued by six or seven of our finest, who completed their mission by its capture (actually it stopped rolling and fell over). They resisted the temptation of calling in an air strike against the elusive wheel, but did address the tire with some very colorful and appropriate words of reprimand.
And, with a more serious note, we remember the two who served with the highest honor, and are now with the Lord.
Sometimes it takes the humor mixed with the heartbreak, to remind us of the very real seriousness and extremes of life that we all must face in this world.
As we observe the world around us, we can see a phenomenal indifference toward God and reality, with attitudes of truth being replaced with attitudes of great disregard for anything beyond what we can see, feel, hear, smell, or taste. And the spiritual has fallen off the scope of life, leaving a very blind society, totally unprepared for what is really coming.
Tomorrow, we begin our study of that which God has revealed to us, concerning events just over the horizon, and certain to come.
Feel Free to make a comment about this study: Comment Page
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
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Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
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DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Revelation 6:1b
DailyBibleStudy.Org
1 And [kai] I saw [eido] when [hote] the Lamb [arnion] opened [anoigo] one [mia] of [ek] the seals, [sphragis] and [kai] I heard, [akouo] as it were [hos] the noise [phone] of thunder, [bronte] one [heis] of [ek] the four [tessares] beasts [zoon] saying, [lego] Come [erchomai] and [kai] see. [blepo] KJV-Interlinear
1 And I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come." NASB
Today, our men and women of the 41st Infantry Brigade, returned from their tour of duty in Iraq. Our boy was among them and we celebrate with tremendous happiness and pride at his service, but especially his return. Of the two tours that the 41st served, the first being in 2004 and the second ending their 2009-2010 tour, we have had to give to the Lord a total of eleven of our finest. Nine the first time, and two this most recent tour of duty.
The Bible speaks of five crowns for those who exemplify themselves in unusual circumstances. And to those who leave this world prematurely, the Crown of Life applies to them.
Crowns are very special awards, given to very special people, and they are promised from God to those who give freely of themselves for the benefit of others. All too often people are taken from this world at a very young age. And especially in times of war and conflict, whether it applies to a soldier in battle, a police officer in the community, or an infant child that simply cannot thrive in this world in the battle for life, there comes a time when the ultimate sacrifice is called for.
Through no fault of their own, life sets in motion many sets of circumstances that are far beyond their control. And the maximum payment of ones life is called due.
While we will mourn the loss of our loved ones, God acknowledges them in heaven with one of the highest honors that can be bestowed on anyone. Our loss becomes their tremendous victory which will last for all of eternity.
Today we celebrated the return of 2900 men and women who served with honor, and heard their heroic tale of the pursuit of a runaway tire, that decided to roll away, down a very, very, very, very long downhill road, while being pursued by six or seven of our finest, who completed their mission by its capture (actually it stopped rolling and fell over). They resisted the temptation of calling in an air strike against the elusive wheel, but did address the tire with some very colorful and appropriate words of reprimand.
And, with a more serious note, we remember the two who served with the highest honor, and are now with the Lord.
Sometimes it takes the humor mixed with the heartbreak, to remind us of the very real seriousness and extremes of life that we all must face in this world.
As we observe the world around us, we can see a phenomenal indifference toward God and reality, with attitudes of truth being replaced with attitudes of great disregard for anything beyond what we can see, feel, hear, smell, or taste. And the spiritual has fallen off the scope of life, leaving a very blind society, totally unprepared for what is really coming.
Tomorrow, we begin our study of that which God has revealed to us, concerning events just over the horizon, and certain to come.
Feel Free to make a comment about this study: Comment Page
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Revelation 6:1a
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Revelation 6:1a
DailyBibleStudy.Org
1 And [kai] I saw [eido] when [hote] the Lamb [arnion] opened [anoigo] one [mia] of [ek] the seals, [sphragis] and [kai] I heard, [akouo] as it were [hos] the noise [phone] of thunder, [bronte] one [heis] of [ek] the four [tessares] beasts [zoon] saying, [lego] Come [erchomai] and [kai] see. [blepo] KJV-Interlinear
1 And I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come." NASB
We have just completed our study of what things will be like in heaven, immediately prior to the beginning of the judgments of the Tribulation (the unsealing of the scroll).
We need to make a very quick review of how life will be back on earth, at the time immediately prior to and at the time of the Rapture.
And briefly, Jesus has already told us that it will be just like the time in Noah’s day, immediately prior to the flood, and even right up until the time when Noah and his family boarded the Ark.
People were basically indifferent and did not care nor even consider the signs of their times.
Then disaster struck with the flood and everyone died.
That is the power of arrogance. It makes you ignore truth. It makes you ignore facts. It blinds you to the events that are going on around you. It makes you think that life is going to continue on and on without any significant changes as far as you are concerned.
For over a hundred years, Noah was building the ark, and preaching the end is near. Everyone knew what was going on as far as the ark was concerned. Everyone knew that the rains were coming and that a flood was going to wipe out life. But then no one had ever seen rain prior to the rain for the flood, as the earth was watered with mists and springs. So they scoffed at the idea of volumes of water sitting high up in the sky on nothing but air.
What a silly idea.
Life went on as before. Noah constructed the ark, people got married, partied, went to work and did whatever they did on a daily basis as though nothing significant was going on in the world.
And so it will be during the final generation of the Church Age. Life will go on as though nothing significant will be on the horizon as far as history is concerned. Marriages will occur, babies will be born, people will party and work and plan their retirement, etc., etc., etc. Just as they are doing in our present day.
However, Jesus, and others, gave us a significant list of things that were going to occur as history approached the time of the Rapture. And though we do not know its exact date, we can look at history and see that it is indeed approaching.
The list includes things like the rise of incompetent leaders, a population explosion, a technology explosion, conflict, a rise of apostasy, and many more things. I will not list them all here, you can go to the Bible study library and get the list from the List Library.
The rise of unqualified leaders and the rise of a great apostasy will be the two primary ingredients that will pave the way for the anti-christ coming into power, once believers are removed from the world via the Rapture.
With unqualified leaders comes economic hard times and other hardships in the world. With an apostate population, the lack of and indifference toward truth, will serve to lead them to want and even pursue anyone who promises ‘change’ or ‘reform’ or a ‘solution’ to their problems.
And remember that apostasy is the rejection of truth and all of the principles that accompany truth, so every principle of truth will be resented, rejected, and attacked with a fervor by leaders, by the media, and by the general population.
Some of the fundamental principles of truth besides Christ and the Gospel, are volition, freedom, marriage, family, free enterprise, nationalism and so forth. These will be systematically dismantled by concepts of government regulation and decision making processes for you, loss of freedoms, alternate lifestyles, socialism, internationalism (one world government, one monetary system), and so forth.
Even today we see a phenomenal push for health care and global warming, both of which are to be decided by the governments of the world. Both of which put the decision making in the hands of an elite few, and leaving the general population at their mercy. And if you do not comply, then you are punished, penalized, bankrupted, losing all you have.
God established the divine laws of establishment to prevent just such atrocities. All of humanity has to have boundaries within which they can function, so that humanity can continue with some semblance of normalcy in this devils world. But when you remove the boundaries, when you remove conscience, legitimate laws that protect rights, constitutions, freedoms and liberties and private ownership, then you open up the door for tyranny and atrocities.
The world will believe that it is headed for prosperity and better times, even in the face of statistics proving that it is not.
The Bible teaches that the world is headed toward its own horrible self extinction.
And so, while the band plays on and people dance their way into the delusion of the world, in heaven the scene is opening up with another view of history and destiny. And that destiny is the truth which will stop evil and save humanity.
It was written in eternity past. People are aware of it. And humanity will walk right into their own demise, with their eyes wide open (with indifference).
You should want to be on the side the winner, and not on the side of the loser, and your daily Bible study (or lack of it) will determine where you will end up.
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Revelation 6:1a
DailyBibleStudy.Org
1 And [kai] I saw [eido] when [hote] the Lamb [arnion] opened [anoigo] one [mia] of [ek] the seals, [sphragis] and [kai] I heard, [akouo] as it were [hos] the noise [phone] of thunder, [bronte] one [heis] of [ek] the four [tessares] beasts [zoon] saying, [lego] Come [erchomai] and [kai] see. [blepo] KJV-Interlinear
1 And I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come." NASB
We have just completed our study of what things will be like in heaven, immediately prior to the beginning of the judgments of the Tribulation (the unsealing of the scroll).
We need to make a very quick review of how life will be back on earth, at the time immediately prior to and at the time of the Rapture.
And briefly, Jesus has already told us that it will be just like the time in Noah’s day, immediately prior to the flood, and even right up until the time when Noah and his family boarded the Ark.
People were basically indifferent and did not care nor even consider the signs of their times.
Then disaster struck with the flood and everyone died.
That is the power of arrogance. It makes you ignore truth. It makes you ignore facts. It blinds you to the events that are going on around you. It makes you think that life is going to continue on and on without any significant changes as far as you are concerned.
For over a hundred years, Noah was building the ark, and preaching the end is near. Everyone knew what was going on as far as the ark was concerned. Everyone knew that the rains were coming and that a flood was going to wipe out life. But then no one had ever seen rain prior to the rain for the flood, as the earth was watered with mists and springs. So they scoffed at the idea of volumes of water sitting high up in the sky on nothing but air.
What a silly idea.
Life went on as before. Noah constructed the ark, people got married, partied, went to work and did whatever they did on a daily basis as though nothing significant was going on in the world.
And so it will be during the final generation of the Church Age. Life will go on as though nothing significant will be on the horizon as far as history is concerned. Marriages will occur, babies will be born, people will party and work and plan their retirement, etc., etc., etc. Just as they are doing in our present day.
However, Jesus, and others, gave us a significant list of things that were going to occur as history approached the time of the Rapture. And though we do not know its exact date, we can look at history and see that it is indeed approaching.
The list includes things like the rise of incompetent leaders, a population explosion, a technology explosion, conflict, a rise of apostasy, and many more things. I will not list them all here, you can go to the Bible study library and get the list from the List Library.
The rise of unqualified leaders and the rise of a great apostasy will be the two primary ingredients that will pave the way for the anti-christ coming into power, once believers are removed from the world via the Rapture.
With unqualified leaders comes economic hard times and other hardships in the world. With an apostate population, the lack of and indifference toward truth, will serve to lead them to want and even pursue anyone who promises ‘change’ or ‘reform’ or a ‘solution’ to their problems.
And remember that apostasy is the rejection of truth and all of the principles that accompany truth, so every principle of truth will be resented, rejected, and attacked with a fervor by leaders, by the media, and by the general population.
Some of the fundamental principles of truth besides Christ and the Gospel, are volition, freedom, marriage, family, free enterprise, nationalism and so forth. These will be systematically dismantled by concepts of government regulation and decision making processes for you, loss of freedoms, alternate lifestyles, socialism, internationalism (one world government, one monetary system), and so forth.
Even today we see a phenomenal push for health care and global warming, both of which are to be decided by the governments of the world. Both of which put the decision making in the hands of an elite few, and leaving the general population at their mercy. And if you do not comply, then you are punished, penalized, bankrupted, losing all you have.
God established the divine laws of establishment to prevent just such atrocities. All of humanity has to have boundaries within which they can function, so that humanity can continue with some semblance of normalcy in this devils world. But when you remove the boundaries, when you remove conscience, legitimate laws that protect rights, constitutions, freedoms and liberties and private ownership, then you open up the door for tyranny and atrocities.
The world will believe that it is headed for prosperity and better times, even in the face of statistics proving that it is not.
The Bible teaches that the world is headed toward its own horrible self extinction.
And so, while the band plays on and people dance their way into the delusion of the world, in heaven the scene is opening up with another view of history and destiny. And that destiny is the truth which will stop evil and save humanity.
It was written in eternity past. People are aware of it. And humanity will walk right into their own demise, with their eyes wide open (with indifference).
You should want to be on the side the winner, and not on the side of the loser, and your daily Bible study (or lack of it) will determine where you will end up.
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Wednesday, April 21, 2010
1 Timothy 6:21
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
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1 Timothy 6:21
DailyBibleStudy.Org
21 Which [hos] some [tis] professing [epaggello] have erred [astocheo] concerning [peri] the faith. [pistis] Grace [charis] be with [meta] thee. [sou] Amen. [amen] KJV-Interlinear
21 which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you. NASB
The single most important reason for guarding the Word of God, within your own soul, is to prevent you from going astray from the truth, and getting caught up in the lies of the world.
Remember that there are but two viewpoints in existence – Gods, which is truth, and everything else, which are not truth (lies).
Gods view does not include anything false, however, all other views may include bits of truth, but because they include anything that is false, makes them totally false by trying to imply their worth by deception, by including some form of truth.
Remember, Satan is the father of lies. His sole purpose is to confuse truth, and to get everyone away from truth, by use of confusion, challenge, ambiguity and so forth.
If a person is not knowledgeable in truth, then getting deceived is easy. Only if you know the facts, can you avoid being fooled.
And unfortunately far too many people do not study their scriptures, and therefore do not have any orientation to truth or life. So, they adopt all of the wrong and false and bizarre ideas that are out there in the world, and they see nothing wrong with any of them. And, that is how people get themselves into trouble and how the world gets itself into trouble.
The subject of 1 Timothy, is ‘maintaining.’ Bible doctrine is the foundation of knowledge that sets truth apart from everything else. Bible doctrine helps people to focus and discern, and understand how and why things are the way that they are. Bible doctrine helps people get through, what is otherwise a terrible life for most, because this is the devils world, and has been since the fall of Adam.
This world is imperfect. God did not make it that way. Satan did.
This world is full of bias, unfair situations, hypocrisy, handicaps in many forms, not the least of which are sin and death.
This world has had one ruler for over six-thousand years – Satan. And the results of his rule have been one empire after another (six so far with one more yet to go), and one disaster after another. Satan has given us all a life of hardship, suffering, and uncertainty. And while he remains in power, things in this world are not going to change for the better, not ever.
Change will not occur until the Second Advent, when Christ takes the throne away from Satan and Satan is incarcerated in prison for a thousand years. Then, everything in this world will change dramatically, and for the better.
But in the mean time, you and I have to deal with life as it is now. We can ignore Gods Word and struggle through life, finding someone or something to blame (usually God), or we can learn Bible doctrine and gain a real understanding of the how’s and why’s of this world, and at the same time prepare ourselves for our next life, and the massive blessings that await those who take the time to learn Gods Word.
We can maintain our life, our sanity, our orientation to reality, our spiritual growth:
First, by believing the Word of God, John 5:24.
Second, by honoring the Word, Job 23:12.
Third, by loving the Word, Psa 119:97.
Fourth, by obeying the Word, John 8:31.
Fifth, by proclaiming the Word, 2 Tim 4:2.
Sixth, by defending the Word, Jude 3.
Seventh, and the most important, by studying the Word, 2 Tim 2:15. For without an objective daily study, you cannot comply with any of the first six.
The world is relentless at throwing all kinds of hardships and enticements at you, in order to get you to stray from doctrine, and fail in life. There is no success of any kind, without Bible doctrine driving it.
But, if you are armed with Bible doctrine in your soul, then whatever the world throws at you, you can defeat it, and remain loyal to God, through your faith, because you know that it is evil who is attacking you, and that it will one day lose its battle to Christ.
Feel Free to make a comment about this study: Comment Page
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Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
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1 Timothy 6:21
DailyBibleStudy.Org
21 Which [hos] some [tis] professing [epaggello] have erred [astocheo] concerning [peri] the faith. [pistis] Grace [charis] be with [meta] thee. [sou] Amen. [amen] KJV-Interlinear
21 which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you. NASB
The single most important reason for guarding the Word of God, within your own soul, is to prevent you from going astray from the truth, and getting caught up in the lies of the world.
Remember that there are but two viewpoints in existence – Gods, which is truth, and everything else, which are not truth (lies).
Gods view does not include anything false, however, all other views may include bits of truth, but because they include anything that is false, makes them totally false by trying to imply their worth by deception, by including some form of truth.
Remember, Satan is the father of lies. His sole purpose is to confuse truth, and to get everyone away from truth, by use of confusion, challenge, ambiguity and so forth.
If a person is not knowledgeable in truth, then getting deceived is easy. Only if you know the facts, can you avoid being fooled.
And unfortunately far too many people do not study their scriptures, and therefore do not have any orientation to truth or life. So, they adopt all of the wrong and false and bizarre ideas that are out there in the world, and they see nothing wrong with any of them. And, that is how people get themselves into trouble and how the world gets itself into trouble.
The subject of 1 Timothy, is ‘maintaining.’ Bible doctrine is the foundation of knowledge that sets truth apart from everything else. Bible doctrine helps people to focus and discern, and understand how and why things are the way that they are. Bible doctrine helps people get through, what is otherwise a terrible life for most, because this is the devils world, and has been since the fall of Adam.
This world is imperfect. God did not make it that way. Satan did.
This world is full of bias, unfair situations, hypocrisy, handicaps in many forms, not the least of which are sin and death.
This world has had one ruler for over six-thousand years – Satan. And the results of his rule have been one empire after another (six so far with one more yet to go), and one disaster after another. Satan has given us all a life of hardship, suffering, and uncertainty. And while he remains in power, things in this world are not going to change for the better, not ever.
Change will not occur until the Second Advent, when Christ takes the throne away from Satan and Satan is incarcerated in prison for a thousand years. Then, everything in this world will change dramatically, and for the better.
But in the mean time, you and I have to deal with life as it is now. We can ignore Gods Word and struggle through life, finding someone or something to blame (usually God), or we can learn Bible doctrine and gain a real understanding of the how’s and why’s of this world, and at the same time prepare ourselves for our next life, and the massive blessings that await those who take the time to learn Gods Word.
We can maintain our life, our sanity, our orientation to reality, our spiritual growth:
First, by believing the Word of God, John 5:24.
Second, by honoring the Word, Job 23:12.
Third, by loving the Word, Psa 119:97.
Fourth, by obeying the Word, John 8:31.
Fifth, by proclaiming the Word, 2 Tim 4:2.
Sixth, by defending the Word, Jude 3.
Seventh, and the most important, by studying the Word, 2 Tim 2:15. For without an objective daily study, you cannot comply with any of the first six.
The world is relentless at throwing all kinds of hardships and enticements at you, in order to get you to stray from doctrine, and fail in life. There is no success of any kind, without Bible doctrine driving it.
But, if you are armed with Bible doctrine in your soul, then whatever the world throws at you, you can defeat it, and remain loyal to God, through your faith, because you know that it is evil who is attacking you, and that it will one day lose its battle to Christ.
Feel Free to make a comment about this study: Comment Page
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Revelation 5:14
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Revelation 5:14
DailyBibleStudy.Org
14 And [kai] the four [tessares] beasts [zoon] said, [lego] Amen. [amen] And [kai] the four [tessares] and twenty [eikosi] elders [presbuteros] fell down [pipto] and [kai] worshipped [proskuneo] him that liveth [zao] for [eis] ever [aion] and ever. [aion] KJV-Interlinear
14 And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen." And the elders fell down and worshiped. NASB
The four beasts, as we have already studied, represent the essence, the very foundation of life. Supporting and integrated throughout the throne of God, which exists across and throughout all that exists, life (and truth) stands in awe and awaits the final outcome of history, recognizing that Christ alone in His role as the Son of God and Savior of the world, and executer of all of history, is well qualified, and certainly the only qualified person to bring history to its proper and best conclusion.
The four, sing ‘Amen’ over and over again, and do so forever. Amen means believe it, it is so, let it be, it will happen. For God (Christ) controls history and He will control history even as it unfolds throughout all of eternity.
The twenty-four elders, humans already crowned and glorified as of this point in time, prior to the unsealing of the scroll, and therefore representing the resurrected church of our dispensation (the Old Testament believers will receive their resurrection at the Second Advent, which is at the end of the Tribulation).
The elders fall down before Christ, prostrating themselves, in total submission and recognition of His glory and qualifications, authority, sovereignty, and power, and will continue to recognize Christ forever, by maintaining this attitude and belief, forever.
There will never ever again be a time when arrogance or evil will raise its head in opposition to truth.
We, of the dispensation of the Church Age, are royal family. We, of the dispensation of the Church Age, are ambassadors. We, of the dispensation of the Church Age, are high priests. We, of the dispensation of the Church Age, hold the position of adult first-born sons, and possess all of the rights and privileges that belong to that distinction, as heirs jointly with Christ, of all that He possesses (which is everything).
For a detailed list of all of the blessings that are unique to us for this dispensation, visit the ‘Blessings List’ from the special study library on the web site.
At the conclusion of our dispensation, Christ will ‘rapture’ us (all Church Age believers, since the time of the Cross) up out of this world, and will gather us up in the air, where we will all be instantly be transformed into our resurrection bodies
Our first act in resurrection will be what in theology is called, the ‘great genuflex,’ where we will all bend our knees and bow our heads to Christ’s authority. And from there we will parade off to heaven, while back on the earth, all those who refused to believe in Christ (unbelievers) will remain behind for the unfolding of the seven year Tribulation.
We have already studied Christ’s promise to us, that we will not endure the events of the Tribulation, therefore the Rapture. However, there is one more reason for our Rapture, and that is because when a final declaration of war is about to be issued, all ambassadors are typically recalled home, from the enemy country, and that is exactly what occurs with us. We are recalled, or removed from the country (from the world), immediately prior to the Tribulation.
In heaven we will receive our glorification at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and we will be witness to the unsealing of the final events and judgments of history.
Once we are in heaven, we being the royal family, then all of heaven, all of creation, will recognize the inevitability of Christ’s victory, and that is what we see in the final verses of chapter five.
The foundation of life will sing. The elders (us) will join in, in our praise, all the angels will join in, and all of creation will join in, as the obvious outcome is about to be revealed and accomplished.
If you have ever been to some sporting event, in which your side is winning and as the end of the event draws near, and as it is obvious that your side will be the winner, what happens? The cheers, the singing, the shouting, all begin and the roar grows and grows as the end approaches.
This is what will occur when we arrive in heaven, and the outcome of history will now be clear and obvious to all.
Today, the nations are struggling to create a one world government, with benefits for all. One elite (small) group to rule (not govern), and the rest of us to serve.
And as you strive to make a living for yourself from day to day, with a mixed bag of successes and failures, hopes and frustrations, maybe paying attention to the politics or media of the day, or maybe not, there is a greater plan unfolding in heaven, which will one day send this world into a tailspin, that will boggle the minds of everyone.
Especially those who do not expect it, or refuse to believe all of this stuff.
Our dispensation is one of historical trends, examples of things to come. Our one and only prophecy is that of the Rapture. Everything else that occurs during our time, is merely the setting or arranging of the stage, for the last and final seven years of human rule.
Humanity wants to set up a one world utopia, but humanity cannot even control earthquakes or volcanoes which have proven recently, that they can thoroughly disrupt and ruin lives on a massive scale. And yet not many pay attention.
And so life will continue day to day, with folks indifferent toward the greater truth of reality and history. And then one day, which we studied in chapter one, Christ, whose arm holds tightly the lever of history, will throw that lever, and then things will begin to happen so fast, that a spinning head will not be able to keep up.
Feel Free to make a comment about this study: Comment Page
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Revelation 5:14
DailyBibleStudy.Org
14 And [kai] the four [tessares] beasts [zoon] said, [lego] Amen. [amen] And [kai] the four [tessares] and twenty [eikosi] elders [presbuteros] fell down [pipto] and [kai] worshipped [proskuneo] him that liveth [zao] for [eis] ever [aion] and ever. [aion] KJV-Interlinear
14 And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen." And the elders fell down and worshiped. NASB
The four beasts, as we have already studied, represent the essence, the very foundation of life. Supporting and integrated throughout the throne of God, which exists across and throughout all that exists, life (and truth) stands in awe and awaits the final outcome of history, recognizing that Christ alone in His role as the Son of God and Savior of the world, and executer of all of history, is well qualified, and certainly the only qualified person to bring history to its proper and best conclusion.
The four, sing ‘Amen’ over and over again, and do so forever. Amen means believe it, it is so, let it be, it will happen. For God (Christ) controls history and He will control history even as it unfolds throughout all of eternity.
The twenty-four elders, humans already crowned and glorified as of this point in time, prior to the unsealing of the scroll, and therefore representing the resurrected church of our dispensation (the Old Testament believers will receive their resurrection at the Second Advent, which is at the end of the Tribulation).
The elders fall down before Christ, prostrating themselves, in total submission and recognition of His glory and qualifications, authority, sovereignty, and power, and will continue to recognize Christ forever, by maintaining this attitude and belief, forever.
There will never ever again be a time when arrogance or evil will raise its head in opposition to truth.
We, of the dispensation of the Church Age, are royal family. We, of the dispensation of the Church Age, are ambassadors. We, of the dispensation of the Church Age, are high priests. We, of the dispensation of the Church Age, hold the position of adult first-born sons, and possess all of the rights and privileges that belong to that distinction, as heirs jointly with Christ, of all that He possesses (which is everything).
For a detailed list of all of the blessings that are unique to us for this dispensation, visit the ‘Blessings List’ from the special study library on the web site.
At the conclusion of our dispensation, Christ will ‘rapture’ us (all Church Age believers, since the time of the Cross) up out of this world, and will gather us up in the air, where we will all be instantly be transformed into our resurrection bodies
Our first act in resurrection will be what in theology is called, the ‘great genuflex,’ where we will all bend our knees and bow our heads to Christ’s authority. And from there we will parade off to heaven, while back on the earth, all those who refused to believe in Christ (unbelievers) will remain behind for the unfolding of the seven year Tribulation.
We have already studied Christ’s promise to us, that we will not endure the events of the Tribulation, therefore the Rapture. However, there is one more reason for our Rapture, and that is because when a final declaration of war is about to be issued, all ambassadors are typically recalled home, from the enemy country, and that is exactly what occurs with us. We are recalled, or removed from the country (from the world), immediately prior to the Tribulation.
In heaven we will receive our glorification at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and we will be witness to the unsealing of the final events and judgments of history.
Once we are in heaven, we being the royal family, then all of heaven, all of creation, will recognize the inevitability of Christ’s victory, and that is what we see in the final verses of chapter five.
The foundation of life will sing. The elders (us) will join in, in our praise, all the angels will join in, and all of creation will join in, as the obvious outcome is about to be revealed and accomplished.
If you have ever been to some sporting event, in which your side is winning and as the end of the event draws near, and as it is obvious that your side will be the winner, what happens? The cheers, the singing, the shouting, all begin and the roar grows and grows as the end approaches.
This is what will occur when we arrive in heaven, and the outcome of history will now be clear and obvious to all.
Today, the nations are struggling to create a one world government, with benefits for all. One elite (small) group to rule (not govern), and the rest of us to serve.
And as you strive to make a living for yourself from day to day, with a mixed bag of successes and failures, hopes and frustrations, maybe paying attention to the politics or media of the day, or maybe not, there is a greater plan unfolding in heaven, which will one day send this world into a tailspin, that will boggle the minds of everyone.
Especially those who do not expect it, or refuse to believe all of this stuff.
Our dispensation is one of historical trends, examples of things to come. Our one and only prophecy is that of the Rapture. Everything else that occurs during our time, is merely the setting or arranging of the stage, for the last and final seven years of human rule.
Humanity wants to set up a one world utopia, but humanity cannot even control earthquakes or volcanoes which have proven recently, that they can thoroughly disrupt and ruin lives on a massive scale. And yet not many pay attention.
And so life will continue day to day, with folks indifferent toward the greater truth of reality and history. And then one day, which we studied in chapter one, Christ, whose arm holds tightly the lever of history, will throw that lever, and then things will begin to happen so fast, that a spinning head will not be able to keep up.
Feel Free to make a comment about this study: Comment Page
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
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Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
Monday, April 19, 2010
1 Timothy 6:20
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Timothy 6:20
DailyBibleStudy.Org
20 O [o] Timothy, [Timotheos] keep [phulasso] that which is committed to thy trust, [parakatatheke] avoiding [ektrepo] profane [bebelos] and vain babblings, [kenophonia] and [kai] oppositions [antithesis] of science [gnosis] falsely so called: [pseudonumos] KJV-Interlinear
20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge" — NASB
Paul reminds Timothy to keep, ‘phulasso,’ to guard, to preserve, or protect as one would something cherished such as a child or treasure.
And what is he to protect? That which has been placed in his trust, ‘parakatatheke,’ a deposit, something committed to your care or possession, a sacred holding, something placed before you.
And that something is Bible doctrine, or truth, as opposed to false things. Only true things have value. All false things have zero value. Why would you protect or hold to something that has no value?
Only truth continues forever and exists in reality. False things exist only in the mind of those who are under their delusion, and have no reality in them.
Worldly and empty chatter, refers to empty opinions, empty observations, incorrect interpretations, all things that stand in opposition to Bible doctrine.
And all false things or opinions present themselves as knowledge, but are not even close.
Truth promotes freedom, liberty, justice, self-determination, prosperity, privacy, wealth, security, fulfillment, contentment, happiness.
False philosophies and ideas claim these things, but are merely manipulations of greed against the naïve, in order to advance lust and various categories of sin and evil. All false concepts lead to disaster.
Even scientific conclusions that cater to false interpretations, claim science as their proof, but the science is twisted and distorted in order to support a desired outcome, rather than to discover an outcome objectively.
And so, from Paul through Timothy, this message is given to you, personally. You are given doctrine. You are given the opportunity to learn doctrine. But do you?
How can you protect that which you do not know? How can you obey God, if you do not learn, what it is that He wants you to know? How can you learn, if you do not commit yourself to a daily study? How can you understand anything that you do not use on a daily basis? How can you make smart decisions, when your wisdom is lacking?
Out of a world of seven-billion people, perhaps only two-billion claim Christianity as their faith. Out of those two-billion, I would guess that less than ten-percent crack open their bibles during the year at some time. And out of that group, I would guess that less than ten-percent study their bibles daily. And out of those far fewer (a very small group) are committed to advancing in their spiritual lives.
Where are you within these respective groups? Do you care? Do you pretend? Or are you committed to making your life the very best that it can possibly be? Will you protect that which God has made available to you?
Feel Free to make a comment about this study: Comment Page
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Timothy 6:20
DailyBibleStudy.Org
20 O [o] Timothy, [Timotheos] keep [phulasso] that which is committed to thy trust, [parakatatheke] avoiding [ektrepo] profane [bebelos] and vain babblings, [kenophonia] and [kai] oppositions [antithesis] of science [gnosis] falsely so called: [pseudonumos] KJV-Interlinear
20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge" — NASB
Paul reminds Timothy to keep, ‘phulasso,’ to guard, to preserve, or protect as one would something cherished such as a child or treasure.
And what is he to protect? That which has been placed in his trust, ‘parakatatheke,’ a deposit, something committed to your care or possession, a sacred holding, something placed before you.
And that something is Bible doctrine, or truth, as opposed to false things. Only true things have value. All false things have zero value. Why would you protect or hold to something that has no value?
Only truth continues forever and exists in reality. False things exist only in the mind of those who are under their delusion, and have no reality in them.
Worldly and empty chatter, refers to empty opinions, empty observations, incorrect interpretations, all things that stand in opposition to Bible doctrine.
And all false things or opinions present themselves as knowledge, but are not even close.
Truth promotes freedom, liberty, justice, self-determination, prosperity, privacy, wealth, security, fulfillment, contentment, happiness.
False philosophies and ideas claim these things, but are merely manipulations of greed against the naïve, in order to advance lust and various categories of sin and evil. All false concepts lead to disaster.
Even scientific conclusions that cater to false interpretations, claim science as their proof, but the science is twisted and distorted in order to support a desired outcome, rather than to discover an outcome objectively.
And so, from Paul through Timothy, this message is given to you, personally. You are given doctrine. You are given the opportunity to learn doctrine. But do you?
How can you protect that which you do not know? How can you obey God, if you do not learn, what it is that He wants you to know? How can you learn, if you do not commit yourself to a daily study? How can you understand anything that you do not use on a daily basis? How can you make smart decisions, when your wisdom is lacking?
Out of a world of seven-billion people, perhaps only two-billion claim Christianity as their faith. Out of those two-billion, I would guess that less than ten-percent crack open their bibles during the year at some time. And out of that group, I would guess that less than ten-percent study their bibles daily. And out of those far fewer (a very small group) are committed to advancing in their spiritual lives.
Where are you within these respective groups? Do you care? Do you pretend? Or are you committed to making your life the very best that it can possibly be? Will you protect that which God has made available to you?
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Sunday, April 18, 2010
Revelation 5:13
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
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Revelation 5:13
DailyBibleStudy.Org
13 And [kai] every [pas] creature [ktisma] which [hos] is [esti] in [en] heaven, [ouranos] and [kai] on [en] the earth, [ge] and [kai] under [hupokato] the earth, [ge] and [kai] such as [hos] are [esti] in [epi] the sea, [thalassa] and [kai] all [pas] that are in [en] them, [autos] heard I [akouo] saying, [lego] Blessing, [eulogia] and [kai] honour, [time] and [kai] glory, [doxa] and [kai] power, [kratos] be unto him that sitteth [kathemai] upon [epi] the throne, [thronos] and [kai] unto the Lamb [arnion] for [eis] ever [aion] and ever. [aion] KJV-Interlinear
13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." NASB
We are nearing the end of the opening vision of John’s peek into heaven, where the stage is now set for the conclusion of history and the final judgment and removal of evil for all time.
And while all of this may seem to be nothing more than a writing of adventure in fiction, and the reality of its truth seems far fetched, it is exactly what awaits human history in the probably very near future.
Today, we are busy coming and going in our lives. We go to work and come home. We plan our social life and entertainment and all that we do from day to day, and week to week. And we plan around that which surrounds us in our daily life. We get by. We pray. And we wait and wonder if it is all real, or just wishful thinking. And we wait some more.
Many folks look to various fantasies or escapes, or invented beliefs, to help them cope with life. Many folks become disconnected from life and can’t deal with it at all.
Most just become indifferent and go about their daily life not thinking much about tomorrow let alone eternity.
It is all so … future.
And besides it is easy to pretend for appearance sake, just so folks won’t think ill of you. But deep inside, you don’t really believe all of this. And how do we know? Because you do not commit yourself to a daily study. You don’t have the deep desire or passion to learn and delve into the deeper wisdom which God provides for you, but you just don’t see it.
Today we should be able to look at the world and maybe wonder why there have been so many disasters in just the last couple of months alone. Earthquakes have killed tens of thousands, and a single volcano and disrupted an entire continent. Nor have we paid attention to the efforts to limit individual freedoms by various nations around the world. And these are little things as far as nature and politics go. At least for now.
But our day goes on and the next day goes on and nothing changes in our attitude toward God. After all He doesn’t answer any or all of those prayers you have been submitting throughout your life. But then, you have not knuckled down to a daily study of His Word as He mandates. Hummm, where is the problem here?
But there will come a time when all of creation, every living, breathing thing, will bow down to Christ, after recognizing that there is a vast reality beyond that which surrounds us, and of which will disappear, and make way for something that even you cannot and do not even begin to perceive.
He who sits on the throne is Jesus Christ. The lamb represents His work in salvation in our behalf. And we in the Church Age, are the recipients and evidence of His completed and successful work and plan.
Will you wake up and begin to smell the truth of life, now? Or, will that happen only after you leave this world?
Ps 69:34
34 Let heaven and earth praise Him, The seas and everything that moves in them. NASB
Ps 150:6
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! NASB
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Revelation 5:13
DailyBibleStudy.Org
13 And [kai] every [pas] creature [ktisma] which [hos] is [esti] in [en] heaven, [ouranos] and [kai] on [en] the earth, [ge] and [kai] under [hupokato] the earth, [ge] and [kai] such as [hos] are [esti] in [epi] the sea, [thalassa] and [kai] all [pas] that are in [en] them, [autos] heard I [akouo] saying, [lego] Blessing, [eulogia] and [kai] honour, [time] and [kai] glory, [doxa] and [kai] power, [kratos] be unto him that sitteth [kathemai] upon [epi] the throne, [thronos] and [kai] unto the Lamb [arnion] for [eis] ever [aion] and ever. [aion] KJV-Interlinear
13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." NASB
We are nearing the end of the opening vision of John’s peek into heaven, where the stage is now set for the conclusion of history and the final judgment and removal of evil for all time.
And while all of this may seem to be nothing more than a writing of adventure in fiction, and the reality of its truth seems far fetched, it is exactly what awaits human history in the probably very near future.
Today, we are busy coming and going in our lives. We go to work and come home. We plan our social life and entertainment and all that we do from day to day, and week to week. And we plan around that which surrounds us in our daily life. We get by. We pray. And we wait and wonder if it is all real, or just wishful thinking. And we wait some more.
Many folks look to various fantasies or escapes, or invented beliefs, to help them cope with life. Many folks become disconnected from life and can’t deal with it at all.
Most just become indifferent and go about their daily life not thinking much about tomorrow let alone eternity.
It is all so … future.
And besides it is easy to pretend for appearance sake, just so folks won’t think ill of you. But deep inside, you don’t really believe all of this. And how do we know? Because you do not commit yourself to a daily study. You don’t have the deep desire or passion to learn and delve into the deeper wisdom which God provides for you, but you just don’t see it.
Today we should be able to look at the world and maybe wonder why there have been so many disasters in just the last couple of months alone. Earthquakes have killed tens of thousands, and a single volcano and disrupted an entire continent. Nor have we paid attention to the efforts to limit individual freedoms by various nations around the world. And these are little things as far as nature and politics go. At least for now.
But our day goes on and the next day goes on and nothing changes in our attitude toward God. After all He doesn’t answer any or all of those prayers you have been submitting throughout your life. But then, you have not knuckled down to a daily study of His Word as He mandates. Hummm, where is the problem here?
But there will come a time when all of creation, every living, breathing thing, will bow down to Christ, after recognizing that there is a vast reality beyond that which surrounds us, and of which will disappear, and make way for something that even you cannot and do not even begin to perceive.
He who sits on the throne is Jesus Christ. The lamb represents His work in salvation in our behalf. And we in the Church Age, are the recipients and evidence of His completed and successful work and plan.
Will you wake up and begin to smell the truth of life, now? Or, will that happen only after you leave this world?
Ps 69:34
34 Let heaven and earth praise Him, The seas and everything that moves in them. NASB
Ps 150:6
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! NASB
Feel Free to make a comment about this study: Comment Page
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Saturday, April 17, 2010
1 Timothy 6:19
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Timothy 6:19
DailyBibleStudy.Org
19 Laying up in store [apothesaurizo] for themselves [heautou] a good [kalos] foundation [themelios] against [eis] the time to come, [mello] that [hina] they may lay hold on [epilambanomai] eternal [aionios] life. [zoe] KJV-Interlinear
19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. NASB
All of us have two lives before us. One for this world, the carnal or temporal life which we all live here on planet earth, and the second life, is the one which follows this one, our eternity.
You have no other choice in that matter. There is no reincarnation over and over, again and again, until you get life right. That implies that humanity can accomplish good or perfection on the level of God, by means of his own effort. And, the whole view behind Christianity is that man cannot do this. It takes God (Christ) to accomplish a path for our perfection for us.
And likewise man has two treasure options. The first is the treasure of this world, which amounts to anything you deem valuable for your own possession. Whether is be friends, your social life, titles or accomplishments, or tangible assets, or anything else from this world.
And the second treasure is spiritual treasure.
Worldly treasure is acquired through work or physical effort of some sort, through investment and perhaps some luck, or by inheritance. All worldly treasure is of this world and remains in this world. It is temporary at best and will not last forever. All worldly treasure in which you might accumulate, will be lost for your use, when you leave this world. Whatever you had, if it remains behind intact, will go to someone else for their use, and when they die, they will leave it to someone else and so forth. There are very few wealth dynasties that last very long in this world, because sooner or later they all get squandered, lost or taken away. And when each person dies, they lose everything. Nothing goes out from this world, into the next.
Spiritual treasure is acquired through the use of wisdom. While worldly treasure is limited based on your abilities or circumstances, spiritual treasure is available to everyone regardless of abilities or circumstances.
Wisdom comes from the study of the Word of God. Study leads to knowledge. Knowledge leads to understanding. Understanding leads to application of that knowledge to ones life. Application leads to wisdom. And in the end, your life, or the production from your life, originates from what you know.
The difference between the production or deeds of the unbeliever and the believer, is in the origin of their wisdom. Unbelievers have only worldly wisdom. Believers in fellowship and advancing in their spiritual lives, possess spiritual wisdom. Believers operating out of fellowship imitate unbelievers and have only worldly wisdom.
The things of this world are left behind when one leaves this world. Only the spiritual things acquired in life move on into eternity with the individual when he/she leaves this world.
Now, our subject is rich people and their management of their wealth. Their worldly wealth.
A person can make a great deal of money in this life, but it can become a trap which could result in his losing everything for the next life. This trap of course can apply to anyone, rich or poor.
The trap is indifference to Bible doctrine, and focus on your worldly life, whatever it might be.
Poor people have only their attitude to deal with. They do not have wealth with which to help others. No one ever worked for a poor person, and no poor person ever started a great industry or charity, etc.
Wealth drives prosperous economies, and prosperous economies drive greater wealth, and the synergy of both, exceeds their combined production. Everyone wins.
But there is the trap which is the distraction away from ones spiritual life. And that is what Paul is addressing here.
If you are rich, then do not set aside your spiritual life, nor presume that you have already arrived spiritually, and have no further need of God, doctrine, or anything of a spiritual nature. God can make unbelievers rich in this world. Wealth is not a spiritual blessing per se.
So, Paul warns you and anyone who has any wealth, to not focus your life entirely on what you have, but instead of laying up a foundation of worldly wealth, also, lay up a foundation of spiritual wealth.
The spiritual wealth is far more valuable, infinitely more valuable.
Laying up in store, ‘apothesaurizo,’ means to make a deposit, to store, to place in a secure holding area, amass.
For themselves, ‘heautoe,’ means you, yourself, not for someone else, but for you alone, a permanent possession.
Good, ‘kalos,’ means something far better, worthy.
Foundation, ‘themelios,’ refers to a substructure placed under where a building is going to be constructed, support, place, put, set, fix. Your foundation is your spiritual support for your eternal wealth.
Against time to come ‘eis mello,’ refers to preparation in anticipation of some future event (your next life).
Lay hold of, ‘epilambanomai,’ means to seize with force, take, catch and keep for the use of it.
And eternal life is a reference to that future time, or the next life following this life, when this life ends.
Therefore, conduct yourself now (spiritual life), in such a manner that you will be making deposits (spiritual production) into yours and only your, future eternal spiritual treasury, great wealth, greater than whatever it is that you possess in this world, and so that you will possess it (your future spiritual wealth) forever and ever.
Do not succumb to worldly greed or arrogance or disinterest, or elitism attitudes, presuming yourself better than others simply because of your good circumstances. Lest you lose everything.
For certainly when you die, your worldly wealth leaves you, and if you do not make spiritual investments now, then you will lose your eternal wealth, and that is a loss that would stagger your imagination, if you knew of its details and content.
Feel Free to make a comment about this study: Comment Page
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
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Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
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1 Timothy 6:19
DailyBibleStudy.Org
19 Laying up in store [apothesaurizo] for themselves [heautou] a good [kalos] foundation [themelios] against [eis] the time to come, [mello] that [hina] they may lay hold on [epilambanomai] eternal [aionios] life. [zoe] KJV-Interlinear
19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. NASB
All of us have two lives before us. One for this world, the carnal or temporal life which we all live here on planet earth, and the second life, is the one which follows this one, our eternity.
You have no other choice in that matter. There is no reincarnation over and over, again and again, until you get life right. That implies that humanity can accomplish good or perfection on the level of God, by means of his own effort. And, the whole view behind Christianity is that man cannot do this. It takes God (Christ) to accomplish a path for our perfection for us.
And likewise man has two treasure options. The first is the treasure of this world, which amounts to anything you deem valuable for your own possession. Whether is be friends, your social life, titles or accomplishments, or tangible assets, or anything else from this world.
And the second treasure is spiritual treasure.
Worldly treasure is acquired through work or physical effort of some sort, through investment and perhaps some luck, or by inheritance. All worldly treasure is of this world and remains in this world. It is temporary at best and will not last forever. All worldly treasure in which you might accumulate, will be lost for your use, when you leave this world. Whatever you had, if it remains behind intact, will go to someone else for their use, and when they die, they will leave it to someone else and so forth. There are very few wealth dynasties that last very long in this world, because sooner or later they all get squandered, lost or taken away. And when each person dies, they lose everything. Nothing goes out from this world, into the next.
Spiritual treasure is acquired through the use of wisdom. While worldly treasure is limited based on your abilities or circumstances, spiritual treasure is available to everyone regardless of abilities or circumstances.
Wisdom comes from the study of the Word of God. Study leads to knowledge. Knowledge leads to understanding. Understanding leads to application of that knowledge to ones life. Application leads to wisdom. And in the end, your life, or the production from your life, originates from what you know.
The difference between the production or deeds of the unbeliever and the believer, is in the origin of their wisdom. Unbelievers have only worldly wisdom. Believers in fellowship and advancing in their spiritual lives, possess spiritual wisdom. Believers operating out of fellowship imitate unbelievers and have only worldly wisdom.
The things of this world are left behind when one leaves this world. Only the spiritual things acquired in life move on into eternity with the individual when he/she leaves this world.
Now, our subject is rich people and their management of their wealth. Their worldly wealth.
A person can make a great deal of money in this life, but it can become a trap which could result in his losing everything for the next life. This trap of course can apply to anyone, rich or poor.
The trap is indifference to Bible doctrine, and focus on your worldly life, whatever it might be.
Poor people have only their attitude to deal with. They do not have wealth with which to help others. No one ever worked for a poor person, and no poor person ever started a great industry or charity, etc.
Wealth drives prosperous economies, and prosperous economies drive greater wealth, and the synergy of both, exceeds their combined production. Everyone wins.
But there is the trap which is the distraction away from ones spiritual life. And that is what Paul is addressing here.
If you are rich, then do not set aside your spiritual life, nor presume that you have already arrived spiritually, and have no further need of God, doctrine, or anything of a spiritual nature. God can make unbelievers rich in this world. Wealth is not a spiritual blessing per se.
So, Paul warns you and anyone who has any wealth, to not focus your life entirely on what you have, but instead of laying up a foundation of worldly wealth, also, lay up a foundation of spiritual wealth.
The spiritual wealth is far more valuable, infinitely more valuable.
Laying up in store, ‘apothesaurizo,’ means to make a deposit, to store, to place in a secure holding area, amass.
For themselves, ‘heautoe,’ means you, yourself, not for someone else, but for you alone, a permanent possession.
Good, ‘kalos,’ means something far better, worthy.
Foundation, ‘themelios,’ refers to a substructure placed under where a building is going to be constructed, support, place, put, set, fix. Your foundation is your spiritual support for your eternal wealth.
Against time to come ‘eis mello,’ refers to preparation in anticipation of some future event (your next life).
Lay hold of, ‘epilambanomai,’ means to seize with force, take, catch and keep for the use of it.
And eternal life is a reference to that future time, or the next life following this life, when this life ends.
Therefore, conduct yourself now (spiritual life), in such a manner that you will be making deposits (spiritual production) into yours and only your, future eternal spiritual treasury, great wealth, greater than whatever it is that you possess in this world, and so that you will possess it (your future spiritual wealth) forever and ever.
Do not succumb to worldly greed or arrogance or disinterest, or elitism attitudes, presuming yourself better than others simply because of your good circumstances. Lest you lose everything.
For certainly when you die, your worldly wealth leaves you, and if you do not make spiritual investments now, then you will lose your eternal wealth, and that is a loss that would stagger your imagination, if you knew of its details and content.
Feel Free to make a comment about this study: Comment Page
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Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Revelation 5:12
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Revelation 5:12
DailyBibleStudy.Org
12 Saying [lego] with a loud [megas] voice, [phone] Worthy [axios] is [esti] the Lamb [arnion] that was slain [sphazo] to receive [lambano] power, [dunamis] and [kai] riches, [ploutos] and [kai] wisdom, [sophia] and [kai] strength, [ischus] and [kai] honour, [time] and [kai] glory, [doxa] and [kai] blessing. [eulogia] KJV-Interlinear
12 saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." NASB
The ‘lamb’ is the emphasis in all of heaven and in all of creation. John will add all of creation to this recognition, in the next verse.
While humanity is moving in the direction of social philosophies under the name of socialism, progressivism, and liberalism, all of which are based on false principles, so Jesus Christ is advancing life and social stabilities based on truth.
Man seeks advancement based on his own efforts. God advances life and man, based on Gods work.
The foundation for mans agenda, is arrogance. The foundation for Gods policies, is truth.
Humanity has no basis with which to carry out their high ideas. Man has no power, no wisdom, no foresight, no control over his own environment, let alone is own life. Man has a tendency to praise himself over accomplishments because of his intellect, or ability, or color, or some other attribute in which he categorizes himself. All of which have a tendency to rank oneself against others, either to recognize some superiority or inferiority, forcing people into classes or groups.
God, on the other hand, invented life, gives life, sustains life, prepared a very detailed historical outline, designed a way to save those who were destined to destruction, and accomplished that plan. God is omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent and veracity. God is eternal life and perfect in every way.
In God there is no flaw. God is able to not sin, and not able to sin.
And while man may feel superior or important when a few, or even millions cheer for him, Christ sits in heaven on His throne, controlling truth and history and is cheered by trillions and trillions and trillions and more.
Man cannot compare, cannot even begin to compare, with God.
On earth, life is confused with arrogance resulting in delusion and lies, and negative attitudes, and getting two people to agree on anything would be a miracle.
In heaven, truth makes everything clear and perspicuous, and when everyone sees truth and accepts it (when arrogance in absent and does not get in the way), then getting everyone on the same page is easy.
Feel Free to make a comment about this study: Comment Page
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
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Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Revelation 5:12
DailyBibleStudy.Org
12 Saying [lego] with a loud [megas] voice, [phone] Worthy [axios] is [esti] the Lamb [arnion] that was slain [sphazo] to receive [lambano] power, [dunamis] and [kai] riches, [ploutos] and [kai] wisdom, [sophia] and [kai] strength, [ischus] and [kai] honour, [time] and [kai] glory, [doxa] and [kai] blessing. [eulogia] KJV-Interlinear
12 saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." NASB
The ‘lamb’ is the emphasis in all of heaven and in all of creation. John will add all of creation to this recognition, in the next verse.
While humanity is moving in the direction of social philosophies under the name of socialism, progressivism, and liberalism, all of which are based on false principles, so Jesus Christ is advancing life and social stabilities based on truth.
Man seeks advancement based on his own efforts. God advances life and man, based on Gods work.
The foundation for mans agenda, is arrogance. The foundation for Gods policies, is truth.
Humanity has no basis with which to carry out their high ideas. Man has no power, no wisdom, no foresight, no control over his own environment, let alone is own life. Man has a tendency to praise himself over accomplishments because of his intellect, or ability, or color, or some other attribute in which he categorizes himself. All of which have a tendency to rank oneself against others, either to recognize some superiority or inferiority, forcing people into classes or groups.
God, on the other hand, invented life, gives life, sustains life, prepared a very detailed historical outline, designed a way to save those who were destined to destruction, and accomplished that plan. God is omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent and veracity. God is eternal life and perfect in every way.
In God there is no flaw. God is able to not sin, and not able to sin.
And while man may feel superior or important when a few, or even millions cheer for him, Christ sits in heaven on His throne, controlling truth and history and is cheered by trillions and trillions and trillions and more.
Man cannot compare, cannot even begin to compare, with God.
On earth, life is confused with arrogance resulting in delusion and lies, and negative attitudes, and getting two people to agree on anything would be a miracle.
In heaven, truth makes everything clear and perspicuous, and when everyone sees truth and accepts it (when arrogance in absent and does not get in the way), then getting everyone on the same page is easy.
Feel Free to make a comment about this study: Comment Page
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
1 Timothy 6:18
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Timothy 6:18
DailyBibleStudy.Org
18 That they do good, [agathoergeo] that they be rich [plouteo] in [en] good [kalos] works, [ergon] ready to distribute [einai], [eumetadotos] willing to communicate; [koinonikos] KJV-Interlinear
18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, NASB
To whom God gives much, much is expected.
God has given each one of us a vast treasure of in salvation. It prevents you from spending your entire eternity in the Lake of Fire. That is a gift with vast repercussions for your life.
God has given each one of us a vast treasure of doctrine. It prepares us for spiritual growth, advances us to spiritual maturity, and completes us for eternity. With it comes a vast wealth in blessings.
And to these vast gifts, God expects your obedience in committing yourself to a daily study. Which, when you think about it, is not really asking too much of us. Yet most folks refuse to even crack open their Bibles, or even read a daily study, preferring worldly viewpoints to those of God.
And now Paul gives us a general principle with respect to worldly riches. To some, God gives wealth, while to others God gives not so much wealth.
As far as doctrine goes, both (rich and poor) are expected to pursue their spiritual lives, but while we are living in this world, certain responsibilities attach to our individual lives. And those responsibilities follow our circumstances, which by the way, were also given to us by God.
The rich are in view for this study. And to them, God gives four commands regarding their situation and use of wealth.
First, to do good. Second, to be rich in good works. Third, to be ready to distribute. Fourth, to be willing to communicate.
At first glance you might think that this refers to a lot of do-gooder activities. But such is not the case.
‘To do good,’ ‘agathoergeo,’ occurs here only, and nowhere else it the Bible. It means to ‘work’ good, to pursue for the benefit of good, to pursue intrinsic good, to toil, to work, to focus or concentrate. And because of their wealth, their pursuits in life need to be focused on those things that are recognized by the Bible as good, and not on the things or philosophies or politics of the world, which taints ‘good’ due to selfish or evil agendas.
‘To be rich in good works,’ is a play on words. Just as God has given abundantly, so too their lives need to respond similarly in spiritual works. What are spiritual works? Faith in Christ, daily study of doctrine, confession regularly in order to maintain a fellowship status, application of doctrinal principles to ones daily life, obedience to Gods mandates, fundamental good – honesty, integrity, unselfishness, charity, responsibility, etc.
‘To be ready to distribute,’ and this looks to the generous and unselfish heart. Ready to give help and aid instantly and without strings attached, without questioning, without second guessing the intent of the recipient. This does not mean welfare, or foolish giving. Remember that the rich are to be good stewards of their wealth, and not throw it away indiscriminately. If someone is trying to scam them, then they ignore the plot accordingly, but if someone is in true need, then they are to recognize it and not embarrass the recipient or make them plead or beg. To be ready means to be proactive in their efforts of charity. To go looking for needs and doing what they can with what excesses they have to work with. They are not to sit back in some corner, hoping that no one will ask them for help, or waiting for requests to come to them.
And last, to be ‘willing to communicate.’ What in the world does that mean?
The word for communicate, ‘koinonikos,’ means liberal or generously. This means to not do the minimums, but to go beyond the minimums when doing all of the above.
Some folks will only do the least they can, in order to get by at work or play. They will do only that, which is necessary to get attention or recognition or credit, and no more. But God gives us all this command to pursue with a vigor those things which are of intrinsic good.
Namely to pursue your spiritual life with passion. To pursue your spiritual growth with a passion. To pursue your temporal responsibilities with a passion. To regard your daily responsibilities with a passion. To not be lazy in your life, in your responsibilities, in things expected of you. To be generous and to seek out ways and means of generosity. To help people in the things they need, in spiritual things and in temporal things.
Thus to communicate means to interact proactively, generously, and to take the initiative, while remaining responsible to that and to those who you are responsible for, whether through employment, contractual, or charity.
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1 Timothy 6:18
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18 That they do good, [agathoergeo] that they be rich [plouteo] in [en] good [kalos] works, [ergon] ready to distribute [einai], [eumetadotos] willing to communicate; [koinonikos] KJV-Interlinear
18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, NASB
To whom God gives much, much is expected.
God has given each one of us a vast treasure of in salvation. It prevents you from spending your entire eternity in the Lake of Fire. That is a gift with vast repercussions for your life.
God has given each one of us a vast treasure of doctrine. It prepares us for spiritual growth, advances us to spiritual maturity, and completes us for eternity. With it comes a vast wealth in blessings.
And to these vast gifts, God expects your obedience in committing yourself to a daily study. Which, when you think about it, is not really asking too much of us. Yet most folks refuse to even crack open their Bibles, or even read a daily study, preferring worldly viewpoints to those of God.
And now Paul gives us a general principle with respect to worldly riches. To some, God gives wealth, while to others God gives not so much wealth.
As far as doctrine goes, both (rich and poor) are expected to pursue their spiritual lives, but while we are living in this world, certain responsibilities attach to our individual lives. And those responsibilities follow our circumstances, which by the way, were also given to us by God.
The rich are in view for this study. And to them, God gives four commands regarding their situation and use of wealth.
First, to do good. Second, to be rich in good works. Third, to be ready to distribute. Fourth, to be willing to communicate.
At first glance you might think that this refers to a lot of do-gooder activities. But such is not the case.
‘To do good,’ ‘agathoergeo,’ occurs here only, and nowhere else it the Bible. It means to ‘work’ good, to pursue for the benefit of good, to pursue intrinsic good, to toil, to work, to focus or concentrate. And because of their wealth, their pursuits in life need to be focused on those things that are recognized by the Bible as good, and not on the things or philosophies or politics of the world, which taints ‘good’ due to selfish or evil agendas.
‘To be rich in good works,’ is a play on words. Just as God has given abundantly, so too their lives need to respond similarly in spiritual works. What are spiritual works? Faith in Christ, daily study of doctrine, confession regularly in order to maintain a fellowship status, application of doctrinal principles to ones daily life, obedience to Gods mandates, fundamental good – honesty, integrity, unselfishness, charity, responsibility, etc.
‘To be ready to distribute,’ and this looks to the generous and unselfish heart. Ready to give help and aid instantly and without strings attached, without questioning, without second guessing the intent of the recipient. This does not mean welfare, or foolish giving. Remember that the rich are to be good stewards of their wealth, and not throw it away indiscriminately. If someone is trying to scam them, then they ignore the plot accordingly, but if someone is in true need, then they are to recognize it and not embarrass the recipient or make them plead or beg. To be ready means to be proactive in their efforts of charity. To go looking for needs and doing what they can with what excesses they have to work with. They are not to sit back in some corner, hoping that no one will ask them for help, or waiting for requests to come to them.
And last, to be ‘willing to communicate.’ What in the world does that mean?
The word for communicate, ‘koinonikos,’ means liberal or generously. This means to not do the minimums, but to go beyond the minimums when doing all of the above.
Some folks will only do the least they can, in order to get by at work or play. They will do only that, which is necessary to get attention or recognition or credit, and no more. But God gives us all this command to pursue with a vigor those things which are of intrinsic good.
Namely to pursue your spiritual life with passion. To pursue your spiritual growth with a passion. To pursue your temporal responsibilities with a passion. To regard your daily responsibilities with a passion. To not be lazy in your life, in your responsibilities, in things expected of you. To be generous and to seek out ways and means of generosity. To help people in the things they need, in spiritual things and in temporal things.
Thus to communicate means to interact proactively, generously, and to take the initiative, while remaining responsible to that and to those who you are responsible for, whether through employment, contractual, or charity.
Feel Free to make a comment about this study: Comment Page
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
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