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Revelation 14:20
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20 And [kai] the winepress [lenos] was trodden [pateo] without [exo] the city, [polis] and [kai] blood [haima] came [exerchomai] out of [ek] the winepress, [lenos] even unto [achri] the horse [hippos] bridles, [chalinos] by the space of [apo] a thousand [chilioi] and six hundred [hexakosioi] furlongs. [stadion] KJV-InterlinearAs we mentioned yesterday, the final battle alone will be a horrendous sight. With tens of millions of people fighting outside of Jerusalem, about sixty miles to the north, in the Plain of Esdraelon near Mt. Megiddo, the battle field will spread out for two-hundred miles, and the carnage will cause the blood of men and animals, to flow as high as about five feet deep (slightly over 1.5 meters) for the full length of the two-hundred mile battle (just under 322 kilometers) .
20 And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses' bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles. NASB
Without the city, is a reference to Jerusalem and identifies this final battle as it rages on perhaps for days or weeks. And with the dead mounting up rapidly, the battle will get bogged down such that no one can maneuver easily.
Sixteen hundred furlongs, ‘stadiom,’ is a measure of a typical race track in those ancient days. One stadia being about 606 feet or one-eighth of a mile (approximate), or the length of a typical horse racing track, back then.
Today a furlong is 220 yards or 201 meters. Then 1600 furlongs is approximately, (1600 x 220 yds ) / 1760 yds per mile = 200 miles.
That is the length of the battle field, and the width would be the width of the valley which varies to about sixty miles in some places. It is a huge battle field by any measuring standard in history, and literally tens of millions and even hundreds of millions of people can occupy that space easily.
The violence and the carnage in that future time, will be beyond description. With blood flowing as in a wine press, the violence in death will likewise be beyond description.
And even though this staggers the imagination, most people will be indifferent and relatively unimpressed by the carnage. Perhaps the movies and violence of our day will serve to desensitize people and their attitude toward such realities, making them not so real, and therefore not so important to them.
An unimpressed society is one in which huge disasters are required before it can turn itself around.
In our day, a world war, a famine, a holocaust, a tsunami, a depression are usually needed in order to get people to wake up. But when the Rapture occurs, the bar for making an impression will be lifted to include the worst possible devastations ever, and people will still reject Christ.
If you are one who needs to be impressed, who needs to be convinced, who needs proof, when all around is evidence of God, then you might need to set back and review your own invented barriers and get rid of them.
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Showing posts with label Revelation 14. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Revelation 14. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Revelation 14:19
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Revelation 14:19
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19 And [kai] the angel [aggelos] thrust in [ballo] his [autos] sickle [drepanon] into [eis] the earth, [ge] and [kai] gathered [trugao] the vine [ampelos] of the earth, [ge] and [kai] cast [ballo] it into [eis] the great [megas] winepress [lenos] of the wrath [thumos] of God. [theos] KJV-Interlinear
19 And the angel swung his sickle to the earth, and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. NASB
The wine press is a stone basin with a trough running through it. Grapes are tossed into the basin, and stomped on with feet or rolled over with a stone press. The grapes are crushed and the juice is splattered everywhere, and pushed in huge volumes down into the trough where it runs out of the basin and captured in large vats or barrels.
This process continues until all of the grapes have been fully smashed, and until all the juice is pressed out of them. This is a picture of Gods wrath from which no one can escape, Isa 63:3; Lam 1:15; Joel 3:13. It will commence with the tribulation and intensify in the latter half of the Tribulation and culminate with the Battle of Armageddon and end with the Second Advent of Christ.
The final battle alone will be a horrendous sight. With tens of millions of people fighting outside of Jerusalem, about sixty miles to the north, in the Plain of Esdraelon near Mt. Megiddo, the battle field will spread out for two-hundred miles, and the carnage will cause the blood of men and animals, to flow as high as about five feet deep (slightly over 1.5 meters) for the full length of the two-hundred mile battle (just under 322 kilometers) .
This battle is of men fighting men in an insane fight in which everyone will lose, and no one will have a clue as to what they are fighting for. Only hate and the sin natures of people will be driving the violence. From the beginning of the Tribulation, seven years earlier, until its end, the entire human race will be very nearly exterminated, at their own hands.
No matter what you think you are able to reason for yourself. No matter who you think you are. No matter what your talents or abilities or titles or status in this world, if you do not have doctrine in your soul, then all logic and reason will fade from you and everything (evil) will seem reasonable to you.
Lies will become your truth, and you will not be able to distinguish them apart. At some point after continued rejection or indifference of truth, you will cross the line of recovery and the world will carry you away into its own form of oblivion.
The only path to clarity of thought and sanity, is through learning truth, which comes from the Bible, which comes from God. The only path to true success and happiness and fulfillment and meaning and purpose of your life, comes from pursuing your spiritual life to spiritual maturity, which comes from a daily study of the Word of God, which is what you are doing right now.
But, you have to pursue your study everyday, for the entirety of your life, lest the world presses the life right out of you, and you lose.
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Revelation 14:19
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19 And [kai] the angel [aggelos] thrust in [ballo] his [autos] sickle [drepanon] into [eis] the earth, [ge] and [kai] gathered [trugao] the vine [ampelos] of the earth, [ge] and [kai] cast [ballo] it into [eis] the great [megas] winepress [lenos] of the wrath [thumos] of God. [theos] KJV-Interlinear
19 And the angel swung his sickle to the earth, and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. NASB
The wine press is a stone basin with a trough running through it. Grapes are tossed into the basin, and stomped on with feet or rolled over with a stone press. The grapes are crushed and the juice is splattered everywhere, and pushed in huge volumes down into the trough where it runs out of the basin and captured in large vats or barrels.
This process continues until all of the grapes have been fully smashed, and until all the juice is pressed out of them. This is a picture of Gods wrath from which no one can escape, Isa 63:3; Lam 1:15; Joel 3:13. It will commence with the tribulation and intensify in the latter half of the Tribulation and culminate with the Battle of Armageddon and end with the Second Advent of Christ.
The final battle alone will be a horrendous sight. With tens of millions of people fighting outside of Jerusalem, about sixty miles to the north, in the Plain of Esdraelon near Mt. Megiddo, the battle field will spread out for two-hundred miles, and the carnage will cause the blood of men and animals, to flow as high as about five feet deep (slightly over 1.5 meters) for the full length of the two-hundred mile battle (just under 322 kilometers) .
This battle is of men fighting men in an insane fight in which everyone will lose, and no one will have a clue as to what they are fighting for. Only hate and the sin natures of people will be driving the violence. From the beginning of the Tribulation, seven years earlier, until its end, the entire human race will be very nearly exterminated, at their own hands.
No matter what you think you are able to reason for yourself. No matter who you think you are. No matter what your talents or abilities or titles or status in this world, if you do not have doctrine in your soul, then all logic and reason will fade from you and everything (evil) will seem reasonable to you.
Lies will become your truth, and you will not be able to distinguish them apart. At some point after continued rejection or indifference of truth, you will cross the line of recovery and the world will carry you away into its own form of oblivion.
The only path to clarity of thought and sanity, is through learning truth, which comes from the Bible, which comes from God. The only path to true success and happiness and fulfillment and meaning and purpose of your life, comes from pursuing your spiritual life to spiritual maturity, which comes from a daily study of the Word of God, which is what you are doing right now.
But, you have to pursue your study everyday, for the entirety of your life, lest the world presses the life right out of you, and you lose.
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Friday, October 29, 2010
Revelation 14:18
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Revelation 14:18
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18 And [kai] another [allos] angel [aggelos] came [exerchomai] out [ek] from the altar, [thusiasterion] which had [echo] power [exousia] over [epi] fire; [pur] and [kai] cried [phoneo] with a loud [megas] cry [krauge] to him that had [echo] the sharp [oxus] sickle, [drepanon] saying, [lego] Thrust in [pempo] thy [sou] sharp [oxus] sickle, [drepanon] and [kai] gather [trugao] the clusters [botrus] of the vine [ampelos] of the earth; [ge] for [hoti] her [autos] grapes [staphule] are fully ripe. [akmazo] KJV-Interlinear
18 And another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Put in your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe." NASB
The sixth angel in this vision thus far, came out of the alter. This alter is in heaven, and means sacrifice, kill, slaughter.
He had power over fire, and the fire is in reference to the intense fires of a burning alter, like a blast furnace. The fire of the alter.
Power here means privilege or authority. This angel was given authority to slaughter, or command the slaughter, in this case.
Note, only unbelievers and evil types are set for slaughter. This terminology never applies to believers, as a policy from God. God protects believers, God slaughters unbelievers and the unrighteous.
The word for ripe is a different word as was used in verse 15. This ripe, ‘akmazo,’ refers to fully ripe, or full to the point of bursting. However, this fullness is not of the good juices of the vine, but the iniquity of evil, bursting out to overflowing.
This describes the world as full of evil, to the bursting point, to a point beyond the maximum possible, if that were possible.
Humanity will be, in this last generation prior to the Millennium, the most corrupt, the most degenerate, the most criminal, the most applied to atrocities, the absolute worst generation of unbelieving people, in all of human history, including the pre-flood generation.
And so the slaughter will commence and as was the process of sacrificial offerings ongoing day after day, year after year in the old Testament times, so too, those last three-and-a-half years will be filled with a continuous and ongoing slaughter of unbelievers, culminating with the final slaughter in the Armageddon battle and the Second Advent.
As the world deteriorates, huge numbers of people will not see it, and they will accelerate and escalate in their evil, rather than repenting for Christ. So, simultaneously, unbelievers will commit atrocities against believers, and as we studied earlier, those who pursue will be pursued, those who kill will be killed, and the slaughter against unbelievers will likewise escalate as the atrocities against believers escalates.
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Revelation 14:18
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18 And [kai] another [allos] angel [aggelos] came [exerchomai] out [ek] from the altar, [thusiasterion] which had [echo] power [exousia] over [epi] fire; [pur] and [kai] cried [phoneo] with a loud [megas] cry [krauge] to him that had [echo] the sharp [oxus] sickle, [drepanon] saying, [lego] Thrust in [pempo] thy [sou] sharp [oxus] sickle, [drepanon] and [kai] gather [trugao] the clusters [botrus] of the vine [ampelos] of the earth; [ge] for [hoti] her [autos] grapes [staphule] are fully ripe. [akmazo] KJV-Interlinear
18 And another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Put in your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe." NASB
The sixth angel in this vision thus far, came out of the alter. This alter is in heaven, and means sacrifice, kill, slaughter.
He had power over fire, and the fire is in reference to the intense fires of a burning alter, like a blast furnace. The fire of the alter.
Power here means privilege or authority. This angel was given authority to slaughter, or command the slaughter, in this case.
Note, only unbelievers and evil types are set for slaughter. This terminology never applies to believers, as a policy from God. God protects believers, God slaughters unbelievers and the unrighteous.
The word for ripe is a different word as was used in verse 15. This ripe, ‘akmazo,’ refers to fully ripe, or full to the point of bursting. However, this fullness is not of the good juices of the vine, but the iniquity of evil, bursting out to overflowing.
This describes the world as full of evil, to the bursting point, to a point beyond the maximum possible, if that were possible.
Humanity will be, in this last generation prior to the Millennium, the most corrupt, the most degenerate, the most criminal, the most applied to atrocities, the absolute worst generation of unbelieving people, in all of human history, including the pre-flood generation.
And so the slaughter will commence and as was the process of sacrificial offerings ongoing day after day, year after year in the old Testament times, so too, those last three-and-a-half years will be filled with a continuous and ongoing slaughter of unbelievers, culminating with the final slaughter in the Armageddon battle and the Second Advent.
As the world deteriorates, huge numbers of people will not see it, and they will accelerate and escalate in their evil, rather than repenting for Christ. So, simultaneously, unbelievers will commit atrocities against believers, and as we studied earlier, those who pursue will be pursued, those who kill will be killed, and the slaughter against unbelievers will likewise escalate as the atrocities against believers escalates.
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Thursday, October 28, 2010
Revelation 14:17
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Revelation 14:17
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17 And [kai] another [allos] angel [aggelos] came [exerchomai] out of [ek] the temple [naos] which [ho] is in [en] heaven, [ouranos] he [autos] also [kai] having [echo] a sharp [oxus] sickle. [drepanon]KJV-Interlinear
17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. NASB
And another of the same kind, ‘allos,’ an angel, came out of heaven, and this time the angel is carrying the sickle.
Throughout the scriptures angels are used as instruments of Gods will, whether bearers of good news or bad, good activities or bad, angels pursue their instructions with instrumental perfection.
Throughout this book of Revelation, angels held and played the trumpets, they will be instrumental in evicting Satan and his demons out of heaven, they will carry and pour out the bowl judgments, and they will incarcerate Satan for 1000 years, just to name a few of the activities they will perform.
Jesus Christ swung His sickle first in this sequence to indicate that Believers come first and always.
Now, it is the angels turn to apply a cleansing action upon the earth.
Note closely, that no matter what man does on the earth, no matter what Satan does on the earth or anywhere for that matter, no matter what you do or do not do in your life, Gods plan advances with clock like precision.
There are no hesitations, no pauses, no stalls, no barriers, no obstructions or obstacles of any kind.
Jesus Christ controls history, and history in Gods plan, advances on time and on schedule without interruption.
For those who align themselves with God through Christ and doctrine, there is no failure, ever.
For those who align themselves against God, the disasters and devastation and loss are unbelievable.
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Revelation 14:17
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17 And [kai] another [allos] angel [aggelos] came [exerchomai] out of [ek] the temple [naos] which [ho] is in [en] heaven, [ouranos] he [autos] also [kai] having [echo] a sharp [oxus] sickle. [drepanon]KJV-Interlinear
17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. NASB
And another of the same kind, ‘allos,’ an angel, came out of heaven, and this time the angel is carrying the sickle.
Throughout the scriptures angels are used as instruments of Gods will, whether bearers of good news or bad, good activities or bad, angels pursue their instructions with instrumental perfection.
Throughout this book of Revelation, angels held and played the trumpets, they will be instrumental in evicting Satan and his demons out of heaven, they will carry and pour out the bowl judgments, and they will incarcerate Satan for 1000 years, just to name a few of the activities they will perform.
Jesus Christ swung His sickle first in this sequence to indicate that Believers come first and always.
Now, it is the angels turn to apply a cleansing action upon the earth.
Note closely, that no matter what man does on the earth, no matter what Satan does on the earth or anywhere for that matter, no matter what you do or do not do in your life, Gods plan advances with clock like precision.
There are no hesitations, no pauses, no stalls, no barriers, no obstructions or obstacles of any kind.
Jesus Christ controls history, and history in Gods plan, advances on time and on schedule without interruption.
For those who align themselves with God through Christ and doctrine, there is no failure, ever.
For those who align themselves against God, the disasters and devastation and loss are unbelievable.
Enter Your Comments about this study:
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/biblestudy/contents_comments_online_studies.html
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Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Revelation 14:16
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Revelation 14:16
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16 And [kai] he that sat [kathemai] on [epi] the cloud [nephele] thrust in [ballo] his [autos] sickle [drepanon] on [epi] the earth; [ge] and [kai] the earth [ge] was reaped. [therizo] KJV-Interlinear
16 And He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth; and the earth was reaped. NASB
The person sitting on the cloud was identified in verse 14. This is Jesus Christ, symbolically represented in all of His glory and majesty and authority and power.
Thrust, ‘ballo,’ means to throw, to arise, to cast, to strike, with deliberate and lightning quick intensity.
Reaped, ‘therizo,’ means to harvest in the heat, in the summer time, when the crops are in their proper season.
Jesus Christ controls history. He does his work not a moment too soon, and not a moment to late. His timing is perfect. In life, nothing is by accident. Everything has a purpose, or a cause, or an effect.
From Gods point of view, there are no accidents, no surprises. He recorded the divine decrees in eternity past, and in those decrees are recorded every thought, every intent, every spoken word, every action, everything that will ever occur in all of human history.
And as the Tribulation advances toward its climatic finish, Christ will be there to collect, without a moments delay, every believing soul. None will be lost. None will be forgotten. None will be overlooked.
On this earth, people are forgotten all the time. Entire generations are forgotten. Look back over the last 6000 years of human history and write down how many names you remember or knew, of the trillions of people who have been born, lived and died.
But in heaven, God has a record of every last person. None are forgotten. None are ever misplaced.
You are a very important person, in Gods eyes. God has put together a phenomenal universe, and history, just so you could have a life, and a life in eternity, with Him.
Though we are all nothing more than specks of dust, God has made each one of us heirs of the next universe and heaven, and more. That is far, far more than you could obtain in a hundred lifetimes on this earth.
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Revelation 14:16
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16 And [kai] he that sat [kathemai] on [epi] the cloud [nephele] thrust in [ballo] his [autos] sickle [drepanon] on [epi] the earth; [ge] and [kai] the earth [ge] was reaped. [therizo] KJV-Interlinear
16 And He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth; and the earth was reaped. NASB
The person sitting on the cloud was identified in verse 14. This is Jesus Christ, symbolically represented in all of His glory and majesty and authority and power.
Thrust, ‘ballo,’ means to throw, to arise, to cast, to strike, with deliberate and lightning quick intensity.
Reaped, ‘therizo,’ means to harvest in the heat, in the summer time, when the crops are in their proper season.
Jesus Christ controls history. He does his work not a moment too soon, and not a moment to late. His timing is perfect. In life, nothing is by accident. Everything has a purpose, or a cause, or an effect.
From Gods point of view, there are no accidents, no surprises. He recorded the divine decrees in eternity past, and in those decrees are recorded every thought, every intent, every spoken word, every action, everything that will ever occur in all of human history.
And as the Tribulation advances toward its climatic finish, Christ will be there to collect, without a moments delay, every believing soul. None will be lost. None will be forgotten. None will be overlooked.
On this earth, people are forgotten all the time. Entire generations are forgotten. Look back over the last 6000 years of human history and write down how many names you remember or knew, of the trillions of people who have been born, lived and died.
But in heaven, God has a record of every last person. None are forgotten. None are ever misplaced.
You are a very important person, in Gods eyes. God has put together a phenomenal universe, and history, just so you could have a life, and a life in eternity, with Him.
Though we are all nothing more than specks of dust, God has made each one of us heirs of the next universe and heaven, and more. That is far, far more than you could obtain in a hundred lifetimes on this earth.
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Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Revelation 14:15
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Revelation 14:15
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15 And [kai] another [allos] angel [aggelos] came [exerchomai] out of [ek] the temple, [naos] crying [krazo] with [en] a loud [megas] voice [phone] to him that sat [kathemai] on [epi] the cloud, [nephele] Thrust in [pempo] thy [sou] sickle, [drepanon] and [kai] reap: [therizo] for [hoti] the time [hora] is come [erchomai] for thee [soi] to reap; [therizo] for [hoti] the harvest [therismos] of the earth [ge] is ripe. [xeraino] KJV-Interlinear
15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Put in your sickle and reap, because the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe." NASB
The key word here is ripe, ‘xeraino,’ which means to desecrate, to shrivel, to mature, to dry up, to pine away, to wither, to lose if not acquired now.
Believers were now ready, in undefined numbers, just as grain is ready for harvest. If the harvest is not done at the right time, then seed is lost, or it deteriorates and is lost.
Believers were ready for harvest. To do nothing, would only serve to throw away a good harvest. Likewise, the world was doing all it could to destroy them anyway.
God does not arbitrarily sweep people out of the world. People die from natural causes, from age, from accidents, from violence, and so forth.
In this case, believers were going to die as a result of unbelievable violence and hardships (starving, etc.) placed on them. And Christ will be there to collect them all, losing not a single individual, bring all safely to heaven.
The orders to harvest came from an angel, who came from heaven. In the logical hierarchy of heaven, the Father is the highest post, followed by the Son, followed by the Spirit. This chain of command is only for our benefit in order to understand the principles of authority and so forth. In reality all three members of the Godhead, are co-eternal, co-infinite, and co-equal.
However, the Father authored the divine plan, and the Son executes that plan.
Therefore, the Father issued the orders, via the divine plan, the angel (a messenger not identified) brought the orders to the Son, who executed the orders – harvest the souls, or better stated, collect the souls whose lives are being destroyed on earth by Satan, et al.
Remember too, that Christianity calls for access to the Father, through the Son. A very important principle which separates Christianity from all other religions and beliefs, who seek to bypass Christ, in arrogance, and go straight to the Father, or to some other deity concept (one with nature sort of stuff).
So, this reinforces the principle of the Father, Son relationship.
Therefore, Jesus Christ, in those last forty-two months of the Tribulation, will be busy harvesting a continuous flow of souls.
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Revelation 14:15
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15 And [kai] another [allos] angel [aggelos] came [exerchomai] out of [ek] the temple, [naos] crying [krazo] with [en] a loud [megas] voice [phone] to him that sat [kathemai] on [epi] the cloud, [nephele] Thrust in [pempo] thy [sou] sickle, [drepanon] and [kai] reap: [therizo] for [hoti] the time [hora] is come [erchomai] for thee [soi] to reap; [therizo] for [hoti] the harvest [therismos] of the earth [ge] is ripe. [xeraino] KJV-Interlinear
15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Put in your sickle and reap, because the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe." NASB
The key word here is ripe, ‘xeraino,’ which means to desecrate, to shrivel, to mature, to dry up, to pine away, to wither, to lose if not acquired now.
Believers were now ready, in undefined numbers, just as grain is ready for harvest. If the harvest is not done at the right time, then seed is lost, or it deteriorates and is lost.
Believers were ready for harvest. To do nothing, would only serve to throw away a good harvest. Likewise, the world was doing all it could to destroy them anyway.
God does not arbitrarily sweep people out of the world. People die from natural causes, from age, from accidents, from violence, and so forth.
In this case, believers were going to die as a result of unbelievable violence and hardships (starving, etc.) placed on them. And Christ will be there to collect them all, losing not a single individual, bring all safely to heaven.
The orders to harvest came from an angel, who came from heaven. In the logical hierarchy of heaven, the Father is the highest post, followed by the Son, followed by the Spirit. This chain of command is only for our benefit in order to understand the principles of authority and so forth. In reality all three members of the Godhead, are co-eternal, co-infinite, and co-equal.
However, the Father authored the divine plan, and the Son executes that plan.
Therefore, the Father issued the orders, via the divine plan, the angel (a messenger not identified) brought the orders to the Son, who executed the orders – harvest the souls, or better stated, collect the souls whose lives are being destroyed on earth by Satan, et al.
Remember too, that Christianity calls for access to the Father, through the Son. A very important principle which separates Christianity from all other religions and beliefs, who seek to bypass Christ, in arrogance, and go straight to the Father, or to some other deity concept (one with nature sort of stuff).
So, this reinforces the principle of the Father, Son relationship.
Therefore, Jesus Christ, in those last forty-two months of the Tribulation, will be busy harvesting a continuous flow of souls.
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Monday, October 25, 2010
Revelation 14:14
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Revelation 14:14
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14 And [kai] I looked, [eido] and [kai] behold [idou] a white [leukos] cloud, [nephele] and [kai] upon [epi] the cloud [nephele] one sat [kathemai] like [homoios] unto the Son [huios] of man, [anthropos] having [echo] on [epi] his [autos] head [kephale] a golden [chruseos] crown, [stephanos] and [kai] in [en] his [autos] hand [cheir] a sharp [oxus] sickle. [drepanon] KJV-Interlinear
14 And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head, and a sharp sickle in His hand. NASB
The remainder of this chapter, describes two distinct and different harvests. One for believers, and one for unbelievers.
In the first harvest, the Lord will do the harvesting. In the second harvest, in the verses to come, an angel will do the harvesting.
The final harvest will occur at the Second Advent, and it will be the Lord again who will do the final harvesting in the final judgment of the Tribulation.
But first the great harvest, the greatest harvest in all of human history, which essentially will accompany the greatest violence in all of human history.
The Tribulation is known for all of its surreal and extraordinary events. Events that would boggle the minds of anyone who had lived in history prior to the Tribulation.
With the worlds largest population, with the worlds most advanced technological state, with everything seemingly going for the world, the human race will, in just seven years, come very close to annihilating its self to extinction.
God will evangelize the entire world. Satan will rally most of the population of the world, aligning them first against the Jews, next against the Christians, and finally nation against nation, and humanity against itself in the final Armageddon battle.
The white cloud symbolizes glory and majesty, Rev. 1:7; Matt 17:5; 24:30; 26:64; Acts 1:9. The one who sits is Jesus Christ, the only person deserving of glory and majesty. The one who controls history. The one who gives life and takes it away.
The Son of Man, Dan 7:13, speaks of the Son of God in his incarnate state, as human and God in one person, the only unique person in the universe, Matt 8:20; 9:6; 24:27,30; Mark 2:10,28; 8:31; 9:9; Luke 6:22; 7:34; 9:22; 12:8; John 5:27; 6:27,62; 8:28, Phil 2:7-8.
On His head is a golden crown, but not the crown, ‘diadema,’ of royalty or a king, but the crown, ‘stephanos,’ of a victor in a competition, the victor in a battle. And in the battle against Satan and Satan’s forces, Jesus Christ will prove to be the victor in all respects.
It is Satan’s objective to destroy all that belongs to God. Satan will fail, although he will lead history’s most ruthless genocide ever.
In his hand is a sickle, ‘drepanon.’
A sickle is a long handled tool with an ‘L’ shape and a long blade on the far end, used to swing widely using two hands, to cut grain stalks when they are ready for harvest.
Now two harvests are being mentioned in these last several verses. The grain harvest is mentioned first and then the grape harvest is mentioned.
In the grain harvest, the sickle is used properly (believers) and is the right tool for the job. But later when we get to the grape harvest. The sickle is not the correct tool for harvesting grapes off a vine. In the latter case, the harvest is used for cleaning out of the grape vines (unbelievers) altogether, to make room for new and better vines.
With the first half of the tribulation essentially over, the power of Satan will turn to the destruction of all Jews and Christians. And thus with his government policies, with his mandate for all to worship the anti-christ, that will be a green light for anyone and everyone to take advantage of all believers to the point of extreme violence.
Evil will kill believers, but God will use His sickle, symbolically, to collect all the good grain, all believers as they die, and bring them into heaven.
The numbers will be staggering. That means that worldwide violence will be beyond imagination.
Despite the horrors and extreme temptation to turn to the anti-christ, huge numbers of people will actually believe in Christ, and then go to their death at the hands of evil people.
Oddly enough, at the beginning of the Tribulation everyone was an unbeliever and could care less about God, or Christ or anything religious. But in less than three to seven years, millions and perhaps billions of people will turn to Christ in the midst of the greatest period of violence in all of human history.
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Revelation 14:14
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14 And [kai] I looked, [eido] and [kai] behold [idou] a white [leukos] cloud, [nephele] and [kai] upon [epi] the cloud [nephele] one sat [kathemai] like [homoios] unto the Son [huios] of man, [anthropos] having [echo] on [epi] his [autos] head [kephale] a golden [chruseos] crown, [stephanos] and [kai] in [en] his [autos] hand [cheir] a sharp [oxus] sickle. [drepanon] KJV-Interlinear
14 And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head, and a sharp sickle in His hand. NASB
The remainder of this chapter, describes two distinct and different harvests. One for believers, and one for unbelievers.
In the first harvest, the Lord will do the harvesting. In the second harvest, in the verses to come, an angel will do the harvesting.
The final harvest will occur at the Second Advent, and it will be the Lord again who will do the final harvesting in the final judgment of the Tribulation.
But first the great harvest, the greatest harvest in all of human history, which essentially will accompany the greatest violence in all of human history.
The Tribulation is known for all of its surreal and extraordinary events. Events that would boggle the minds of anyone who had lived in history prior to the Tribulation.
With the worlds largest population, with the worlds most advanced technological state, with everything seemingly going for the world, the human race will, in just seven years, come very close to annihilating its self to extinction.
God will evangelize the entire world. Satan will rally most of the population of the world, aligning them first against the Jews, next against the Christians, and finally nation against nation, and humanity against itself in the final Armageddon battle.
The white cloud symbolizes glory and majesty, Rev. 1:7; Matt 17:5; 24:30; 26:64; Acts 1:9. The one who sits is Jesus Christ, the only person deserving of glory and majesty. The one who controls history. The one who gives life and takes it away.
The Son of Man, Dan 7:13, speaks of the Son of God in his incarnate state, as human and God in one person, the only unique person in the universe, Matt 8:20; 9:6; 24:27,30; Mark 2:10,28; 8:31; 9:9; Luke 6:22; 7:34; 9:22; 12:8; John 5:27; 6:27,62; 8:28, Phil 2:7-8.
On His head is a golden crown, but not the crown, ‘diadema,’ of royalty or a king, but the crown, ‘stephanos,’ of a victor in a competition, the victor in a battle. And in the battle against Satan and Satan’s forces, Jesus Christ will prove to be the victor in all respects.
It is Satan’s objective to destroy all that belongs to God. Satan will fail, although he will lead history’s most ruthless genocide ever.
In his hand is a sickle, ‘drepanon.’
A sickle is a long handled tool with an ‘L’ shape and a long blade on the far end, used to swing widely using two hands, to cut grain stalks when they are ready for harvest.
Now two harvests are being mentioned in these last several verses. The grain harvest is mentioned first and then the grape harvest is mentioned.
In the grain harvest, the sickle is used properly (believers) and is the right tool for the job. But later when we get to the grape harvest. The sickle is not the correct tool for harvesting grapes off a vine. In the latter case, the harvest is used for cleaning out of the grape vines (unbelievers) altogether, to make room for new and better vines.
With the first half of the tribulation essentially over, the power of Satan will turn to the destruction of all Jews and Christians. And thus with his government policies, with his mandate for all to worship the anti-christ, that will be a green light for anyone and everyone to take advantage of all believers to the point of extreme violence.
Evil will kill believers, but God will use His sickle, symbolically, to collect all the good grain, all believers as they die, and bring them into heaven.
The numbers will be staggering. That means that worldwide violence will be beyond imagination.
Despite the horrors and extreme temptation to turn to the anti-christ, huge numbers of people will actually believe in Christ, and then go to their death at the hands of evil people.
Oddly enough, at the beginning of the Tribulation everyone was an unbeliever and could care less about God, or Christ or anything religious. But in less than three to seven years, millions and perhaps billions of people will turn to Christ in the midst of the greatest period of violence in all of human history.
Enter Your Comments about this study:
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Friday, October 22, 2010
Revelation 14:13
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
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Revelation 14:13
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13 And [kai] I heard [akouo] a voice [phone] from [ek] heaven [ouranos] saying [lego] unto me, [moi] Write, [grapho] Blessed [makarios] are the dead [nekros] which [ho] die [apothnesko] in [en] the Lord [kurios] from henceforth: [aparti] Yea, [nai] saith [lego] the Spirit, [pneuma] that [hina] they may rest [anapauo] from [ek] their [autos] labours; [kopos] and [de] their [autos] works [ergon] do follow [akoloutheo] [meta] them. [autos] KJV-Interlinear
13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them." NASB
John is commanded to write. And this time, he is writing the blessing that will belong to a specific group of people, namely those who will be martyred in the latter half of the Tribulation.
With the pouring out of the gospel from all of the sources that have already been mentioned, there will remain a huge population of people who will still reject Christ.
Along with all of the pressures and harassments that believers will be forced to endure, from unbelievers, remember that the policies, the government policies of economic ostracism, namely the prohibition of buying and selling, will cause great hardship among believers.
An unbelieving world will starve them without remorse. That alone would cause many people to bow to the beast, if only to get something to eat. Imagine if a family had children and they are all crying due to hunger. The mental and emotional pressure would, or rather will, be staggering.
Therefore, comes this phenomenal promise from God to help those who are suffering, through their suffering.
There will be many who will die. This promise is not for delivery from death, but delivery in death. These folks are going to die and they know it.
The phrase, ‘from now on,’ defines this specific group of people distinguishing them from all other peoples in history. The specific group will be those believers who will live, and die, in the latter half of the Tribulation.
Remember that our context is in the seventh trumpet and prior to the bowl judgments. As violence escalates against believers, so too, judgments will escalate against unbelievers.
The word for blessed, ‘makarios,’ means supremely blessed, fortunate, well off.
Even though those folks (believers) are going to suffer unimaginable hardships, they are going to be far better off (heaven and eternal life) than their counterparts, the unbelievers who are causing them their suffering, and will be destined for the Lake of Fire.
John is told to write a quote from the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not saying this at the moment, but has already said it – past tense. Jesus Christ is the voice commanding John to write and Christ is telling John what to write.
The Holy Spirit is the agent of spiritual growth. The Spirit is the one who makes the scriptures real and lucid in the soul of the believer. The Spirit is the one who maintains control over the soul of the believer when in fellowship. The Spirit is the one who facilitates the spiritual life.
It is under the control of the Spirit, and in the power of the Spirit that the spiritual life functions. We call this simply being in fellowship, or being under the control of the Spirit.
Furthermore, it is from within this sphere (fellowship) that the spiritual life flourishes, where spiritual production occurs, often called gold, silver, and precious stones.
It is on the basis of spiritual production that eternal rewards are determined, 1 Cor. 3:12-14.
God is fair. If a person lives a long life and does not have a spiritual life, then his reward is lost. Heaven is never lost, but the additional blessings that are available, will be lost. If a person lives a short life, then God is able to see their life in its entirety and knows what they would have done if they had lived longer, and can apply the principle of reward where appropriate.
In the Tribulation, the believers living then will have little or no time to develop their spiritual lives, but they will be exposed to unbearable hardships, even death, and for that reason, God has promised them phenomenal rewards and credit for their faith, even though short lived.
Rest from their labor, means relief from the pressures and sufferings they will endure.
Their works will follow them, means that they will receive not only full credit, but enhanced credit for their faith and endurance through the greatest pressures that this world will throw at them.
This may well be the most memorized verse for believers in the Tribulation.
Enter Your Comments about this study:
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Revelation 14:13
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org
13 And [kai] I heard [akouo] a voice [phone] from [ek] heaven [ouranos] saying [lego] unto me, [moi] Write, [grapho] Blessed [makarios] are the dead [nekros] which [ho] die [apothnesko] in [en] the Lord [kurios] from henceforth: [aparti] Yea, [nai] saith [lego] the Spirit, [pneuma] that [hina] they may rest [anapauo] from [ek] their [autos] labours; [kopos] and [de] their [autos] works [ergon] do follow [akoloutheo] [meta] them. [autos] KJV-Interlinear
13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them." NASB
John is commanded to write. And this time, he is writing the blessing that will belong to a specific group of people, namely those who will be martyred in the latter half of the Tribulation.
With the pouring out of the gospel from all of the sources that have already been mentioned, there will remain a huge population of people who will still reject Christ.
Along with all of the pressures and harassments that believers will be forced to endure, from unbelievers, remember that the policies, the government policies of economic ostracism, namely the prohibition of buying and selling, will cause great hardship among believers.
An unbelieving world will starve them without remorse. That alone would cause many people to bow to the beast, if only to get something to eat. Imagine if a family had children and they are all crying due to hunger. The mental and emotional pressure would, or rather will, be staggering.
Therefore, comes this phenomenal promise from God to help those who are suffering, through their suffering.
There will be many who will die. This promise is not for delivery from death, but delivery in death. These folks are going to die and they know it.
The phrase, ‘from now on,’ defines this specific group of people distinguishing them from all other peoples in history. The specific group will be those believers who will live, and die, in the latter half of the Tribulation.
Remember that our context is in the seventh trumpet and prior to the bowl judgments. As violence escalates against believers, so too, judgments will escalate against unbelievers.
The word for blessed, ‘makarios,’ means supremely blessed, fortunate, well off.
Even though those folks (believers) are going to suffer unimaginable hardships, they are going to be far better off (heaven and eternal life) than their counterparts, the unbelievers who are causing them their suffering, and will be destined for the Lake of Fire.
John is told to write a quote from the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not saying this at the moment, but has already said it – past tense. Jesus Christ is the voice commanding John to write and Christ is telling John what to write.
The Holy Spirit is the agent of spiritual growth. The Spirit is the one who makes the scriptures real and lucid in the soul of the believer. The Spirit is the one who maintains control over the soul of the believer when in fellowship. The Spirit is the one who facilitates the spiritual life.
It is under the control of the Spirit, and in the power of the Spirit that the spiritual life functions. We call this simply being in fellowship, or being under the control of the Spirit.
Furthermore, it is from within this sphere (fellowship) that the spiritual life flourishes, where spiritual production occurs, often called gold, silver, and precious stones.
It is on the basis of spiritual production that eternal rewards are determined, 1 Cor. 3:12-14.
God is fair. If a person lives a long life and does not have a spiritual life, then his reward is lost. Heaven is never lost, but the additional blessings that are available, will be lost. If a person lives a short life, then God is able to see their life in its entirety and knows what they would have done if they had lived longer, and can apply the principle of reward where appropriate.
In the Tribulation, the believers living then will have little or no time to develop their spiritual lives, but they will be exposed to unbearable hardships, even death, and for that reason, God has promised them phenomenal rewards and credit for their faith, even though short lived.
Rest from their labor, means relief from the pressures and sufferings they will endure.
Their works will follow them, means that they will receive not only full credit, but enhanced credit for their faith and endurance through the greatest pressures that this world will throw at them.
This may well be the most memorized verse for believers in the Tribulation.
Enter Your Comments about this study:
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/biblestudy/contents_comments_online_studies.html
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
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Thursday, October 21, 2010
Revelation 14:12
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
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Revelation 14:12
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org
12 Here [hode] is [esti] the patience [hupomone] of the saints: [hagios] here [hode] are they that keep [tereo] the commandments [entole] of God, [theos] and [kai] the faith [pistis] of Jesus. [Iesous] KJV-Interlinear
12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. NASB
Although the tribulation begins with unbelievers only, during those seven years, millions and perhaps billions of people will believe in Christ.
Like we have studied before, since we do not know the exact date of the Rapture, then we do not know in what seven year period the Tribulation will occur. It may not be for another century, but then it could all start tomorrow, too.
If that future date is not for another century, then the population of the world could easily be huge, in the tens of billions. But this is all speculation of course.
However, we do know that the Tribulation will be the most horrible period in all of history.
Jesus Himself stated that if those days were not cut short, then no life would survive. Jesus stated that this period will be far worse than any other period of history, ever, Matt. 24:21-22.
And now we have a verse that will help explain what is coming up in just a few more verses.
During the first half of the tribulation, Satan, through the anti-christ, will try to bring in a perfect world. It is called Satan's failed utopia. We have already studied that those future world government policies will be responsible for the death of one-fourth of the population of the world.
Now, to most folks that would be a huge disaster, but the worst is not yet.
God is going to evangelize the entire world through two very remarkable prophets, through 144,000 Jewish evangelists, through three surreal angels with nothing like it ever before in history. And the bulk of the population of the world is still going to reject Christ. And to make matters worse, those unbelievers are going to adopt the evil policies of the anti-christ, and harass and torture and kill Jews and Christians, not in ones or twos, but in the millions and perhaps billions.
The slaughter in the last half of the Tribulation is going to be beyond imagination.
If that does not paint a picture of unendurable stress on people, then I do not know what would.
But now we have a verse which describes the attitude of believers, who just weeks or months or three years prior, were unbelievers, and now they are believers in Christ and they are going to endure the most horrific period in all of human history.
Do you suppose people today would endure that kind of pressure? I seriously doubt it.
But anyway, our verse states, ‘Here is the patience of the saints.’
Patience, ‘hupomone,’ means to be cheerful, constancy, enduring, patience, to undergo, to have fortitude, to persevere.
And this statement tells us a great deal about those who are going to face the worst possible conditions in all of human history. They are going to look to God and His promise, rather than to the anti-christ and his false prophet and their promises. These Christians are going to endure, right up to the point of their own death, regardless of how it comes to them, and knowing that it is going to come to them. And, they are not going to waver in their faith in Christ.
Just as we know that horrible times are coming, so too, those future folks will know what is going to happen to most of them. And they will not blame God, or hate God, or cry and scream hate against God. They are going to accept it, because even in death, Gods promise is certain and sure. More so than anything that this world has to offer.
Enter Your Comments about this study:
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/biblestudy/contents_comments_online_studies.html
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
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Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here:
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/donation.html
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Revelation 14:12
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org
12 Here [hode] is [esti] the patience [hupomone] of the saints: [hagios] here [hode] are they that keep [tereo] the commandments [entole] of God, [theos] and [kai] the faith [pistis] of Jesus. [Iesous] KJV-Interlinear
12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. NASB
Although the tribulation begins with unbelievers only, during those seven years, millions and perhaps billions of people will believe in Christ.
Like we have studied before, since we do not know the exact date of the Rapture, then we do not know in what seven year period the Tribulation will occur. It may not be for another century, but then it could all start tomorrow, too.
If that future date is not for another century, then the population of the world could easily be huge, in the tens of billions. But this is all speculation of course.
However, we do know that the Tribulation will be the most horrible period in all of history.
Jesus Himself stated that if those days were not cut short, then no life would survive. Jesus stated that this period will be far worse than any other period of history, ever, Matt. 24:21-22.
And now we have a verse that will help explain what is coming up in just a few more verses.
During the first half of the tribulation, Satan, through the anti-christ, will try to bring in a perfect world. It is called Satan's failed utopia. We have already studied that those future world government policies will be responsible for the death of one-fourth of the population of the world.
Now, to most folks that would be a huge disaster, but the worst is not yet.
God is going to evangelize the entire world through two very remarkable prophets, through 144,000 Jewish evangelists, through three surreal angels with nothing like it ever before in history. And the bulk of the population of the world is still going to reject Christ. And to make matters worse, those unbelievers are going to adopt the evil policies of the anti-christ, and harass and torture and kill Jews and Christians, not in ones or twos, but in the millions and perhaps billions.
The slaughter in the last half of the Tribulation is going to be beyond imagination.
If that does not paint a picture of unendurable stress on people, then I do not know what would.
But now we have a verse which describes the attitude of believers, who just weeks or months or three years prior, were unbelievers, and now they are believers in Christ and they are going to endure the most horrific period in all of human history.
Do you suppose people today would endure that kind of pressure? I seriously doubt it.
But anyway, our verse states, ‘Here is the patience of the saints.’
Patience, ‘hupomone,’ means to be cheerful, constancy, enduring, patience, to undergo, to have fortitude, to persevere.
And this statement tells us a great deal about those who are going to face the worst possible conditions in all of human history. They are going to look to God and His promise, rather than to the anti-christ and his false prophet and their promises. These Christians are going to endure, right up to the point of their own death, regardless of how it comes to them, and knowing that it is going to come to them. And, they are not going to waver in their faith in Christ.
Just as we know that horrible times are coming, so too, those future folks will know what is going to happen to most of them. And they will not blame God, or hate God, or cry and scream hate against God. They are going to accept it, because even in death, Gods promise is certain and sure. More so than anything that this world has to offer.
Enter Your Comments about this study:
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Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Revelation 14:11
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
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Revelation 14:11
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org
11 And [kai] the smoke [kapnos] of their [autos] torment [basanismos] ascendeth up [anabaino] for [eis] ever [aion] and ever: [aion] and [kai] they have [echo] no [ou] rest [anapausis] day [hemera] nor [kai] night, [nux] who [ho] worship [proskuneo] the beast [therion] and [kai] his [autos] image, [eikon] and [kai] whosoever [ei tis] receiveth [lambano] the mark [charagma] of his [autos] name. [onoma] KJV-Interlinear
11 "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name." NASB
The Bible describes a hell, which will go on forever and ever for those who will be cast into it, Rev. 20:10, Isa. 66:24, Dan 12:2, Matt 3:12; Luke 3:17, 2 Thess. 1:9.
Jesus Christ spoke of hell as the place of ‘eternal fire,’ Matt 18:8; 25:41, of ‘unquenchable fire,’ Mark 9:43, where ‘the fire is not quenched,’ Mark 9:48, where it will last forever, Matt. 25:46. For all who reject Christ, heaven will not be an option, and hell will be their certain destiny.
Hell is not a place of social interaction, but one of isolated punishment for each person cast into it. The smoke of their torment is an expression describing an ongoing continuous process of unimaginable anguish, fright, terror, pain, suffering and much, much worse. And, it will last forever.
For those who will live in the Tribulation, that concept will be ignored by many. Most will refuse to believe that there is a place of eternal destruction, even while the world is literally collapsing into tyranny and chaos, all around them.
For seven long years, from the moment following the Rapture, starvation, death, suffering, crime, atrocities, natural disasters and worse, will be constant and unending. With but a couple of pauses between major events, life in the Tribulation will be miserable at best during all of the seven years, and it will get progressively worse during the last three-and-a-half years.
We do not know when the Tribulation is going to occur, because we do not know when the Rapture is going to occur. Therefore we do not know the population of the world in that future date. But many scriptures imply that the population will be huge, because the numbers of martyrs is going to be huge, and the numbers of unbelievers in the world will also be huge. We will see this in the next few verses.
This verse repeats the reason for eternal condemnation, and that reason is because people reject Christ, and in turn favor evil. Furthermore they freely choose the anti-christ, who is the beast, and his policies, and by participating in those policies (all manner of aggression against Jews and Christians in violence and economic ostracism, etc).
And this is supported by their willful acceptance of the mark and image of the beast, and the adoption of evil policies.
The facts of life mandate that repentance is needed. This is a true principle that applies now just as it will in the future. But without doctrine, by rejecting or ignoring doctrine, then people refuse to see their flaws and errors, and that leads to self destruction and worse. You do not want to be caught in that trap.
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Revelation 14:11
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11 And [kai] the smoke [kapnos] of their [autos] torment [basanismos] ascendeth up [anabaino] for [eis] ever [aion] and ever: [aion] and [kai] they have [echo] no [ou] rest [anapausis] day [hemera] nor [kai] night, [nux] who [ho] worship [proskuneo] the beast [therion] and [kai] his [autos] image, [eikon] and [kai] whosoever [ei tis] receiveth [lambano] the mark [charagma] of his [autos] name. [onoma] KJV-Interlinear
11 "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name." NASB
The Bible describes a hell, which will go on forever and ever for those who will be cast into it, Rev. 20:10, Isa. 66:24, Dan 12:2, Matt 3:12; Luke 3:17, 2 Thess. 1:9.
Jesus Christ spoke of hell as the place of ‘eternal fire,’ Matt 18:8; 25:41, of ‘unquenchable fire,’ Mark 9:43, where ‘the fire is not quenched,’ Mark 9:48, where it will last forever, Matt. 25:46. For all who reject Christ, heaven will not be an option, and hell will be their certain destiny.
Hell is not a place of social interaction, but one of isolated punishment for each person cast into it. The smoke of their torment is an expression describing an ongoing continuous process of unimaginable anguish, fright, terror, pain, suffering and much, much worse. And, it will last forever.
For those who will live in the Tribulation, that concept will be ignored by many. Most will refuse to believe that there is a place of eternal destruction, even while the world is literally collapsing into tyranny and chaos, all around them.
For seven long years, from the moment following the Rapture, starvation, death, suffering, crime, atrocities, natural disasters and worse, will be constant and unending. With but a couple of pauses between major events, life in the Tribulation will be miserable at best during all of the seven years, and it will get progressively worse during the last three-and-a-half years.
We do not know when the Tribulation is going to occur, because we do not know when the Rapture is going to occur. Therefore we do not know the population of the world in that future date. But many scriptures imply that the population will be huge, because the numbers of martyrs is going to be huge, and the numbers of unbelievers in the world will also be huge. We will see this in the next few verses.
This verse repeats the reason for eternal condemnation, and that reason is because people reject Christ, and in turn favor evil. Furthermore they freely choose the anti-christ, who is the beast, and his policies, and by participating in those policies (all manner of aggression against Jews and Christians in violence and economic ostracism, etc).
And this is supported by their willful acceptance of the mark and image of the beast, and the adoption of evil policies.
The facts of life mandate that repentance is needed. This is a true principle that applies now just as it will in the future. But without doctrine, by rejecting or ignoring doctrine, then people refuse to see their flaws and errors, and that leads to self destruction and worse. You do not want to be caught in that trap.
Enter Your Comments about this study:
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/biblestudy/contents_comments_online_studies.html
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Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Revelation 14:10
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
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Revelation 14:10
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org
10 The same [autos] [kai] shall drink [pino] of [ek] the wine [oinos] of the wrath [thumos] of God, [theos] which [ho] is poured out [kerannumi] without mixture [akratos] into [en] the cup [poterion] of his [autos] indignation; [orge] and [kai] he shall be tormented [basanizo] with [en] fire [pur] and [kai] brimstone [theion] in the presence [enopion] of the holy [hagios] angels, [aggelos] and [kai] in the presence [enopion] of the Lamb: [arnion] KJV-Interlinear
10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. NASB
In logical sequence, the three angels will fly across the high noon sky, and preach with a loud voice, first, giving the promise of the gospel and eternal life, second, the warning of condemnation, and then third, the judgment that is certain for all who oppose truth, reject God, ignore Christ, and embrace the opposite – lies, Satan, and evil without end.
This is the message to all who have not believed in Christ. And remember, I’ll repeat this paragraph from yesterdays study, even though this is a warning that will occur in that future time the principle applies today just as it has applied to all peoples in every generation throughout history.
Wine when consumed in ancient times, was usually a strong drink, and therefore was diluted with water. This is a practice even today, when various liquors are mixed with other non-alcoholic beverages, to lessen their bite.
However, this diluting of Gods wrath, is in reference to His mercy and compassion which He has always used to lessen judgment throughout the ages.
In the tribulation, this policy will change, and judgment will not be diluted or softened. The full force of Gods wrath will explode on unbelievers, and this will ultimately end up with eternal condemnation in the Lake of Fire.
In that place, there will be no compassion, no mercy, no grace, nothing from God to lessen the unbelievers pain and suffering and torment. It will be as the Bible states, pure hell, or the Lake of Fire, which will be an endless environment of unimaginable and continuous punishment.
In the presence of all the holy angels and the lamb, refers to all those saved angels, all of the host of believers in heaven, and of Christ.
All unbelievers, at the very end of history, which will occur at the end of the Millennium, will be brought before the Great White Throne of Christ. This is a public trial and sentencing. All who are saved, will be present as spectators, and all who are condemned will of course be present to hear the judgment against them.
However, this phrase in our current verse, is not a reference to the trial itself, but to the public display of the condemned who will be standing there to be seen by everyone. This is a public embarrassment for those who rejected truth, for those who refused to think six little words, ‘Father, I believe in Jesus Christ,’ throughout their entire life, who rejected faith in the face of overwhelming proofs of God and Christ, and of His work.
They will have no excuse or their decisions, for their repeated decisions, day after day, year after year, for all of their respective lives.
To believe in Christ would have allowed them to escape this final judgment, but arrogance and a stubborn heart, of their own making, will prevent them from doing what is right, and condemn themselves to eternal hell.
Refusal to believe in Christ, and to condemn ones self to the Lake of Fire for all of eternity, is the quintessence of stupidity. But to make matters worse, those same unbelievers are guilty of evils committed against all of humanity, for their own selfish interests. So, in a way, what goes around, comes around, as they say.
Enter Your Comments about this study:
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Revelation 14:10
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org
10 The same [autos] [kai] shall drink [pino] of [ek] the wine [oinos] of the wrath [thumos] of God, [theos] which [ho] is poured out [kerannumi] without mixture [akratos] into [en] the cup [poterion] of his [autos] indignation; [orge] and [kai] he shall be tormented [basanizo] with [en] fire [pur] and [kai] brimstone [theion] in the presence [enopion] of the holy [hagios] angels, [aggelos] and [kai] in the presence [enopion] of the Lamb: [arnion] KJV-Interlinear
10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. NASB
In logical sequence, the three angels will fly across the high noon sky, and preach with a loud voice, first, giving the promise of the gospel and eternal life, second, the warning of condemnation, and then third, the judgment that is certain for all who oppose truth, reject God, ignore Christ, and embrace the opposite – lies, Satan, and evil without end.
This is the message to all who have not believed in Christ. And remember, I’ll repeat this paragraph from yesterdays study, even though this is a warning that will occur in that future time the principle applies today just as it has applied to all peoples in every generation throughout history.
Wine when consumed in ancient times, was usually a strong drink, and therefore was diluted with water. This is a practice even today, when various liquors are mixed with other non-alcoholic beverages, to lessen their bite.
However, this diluting of Gods wrath, is in reference to His mercy and compassion which He has always used to lessen judgment throughout the ages.
In the tribulation, this policy will change, and judgment will not be diluted or softened. The full force of Gods wrath will explode on unbelievers, and this will ultimately end up with eternal condemnation in the Lake of Fire.
In that place, there will be no compassion, no mercy, no grace, nothing from God to lessen the unbelievers pain and suffering and torment. It will be as the Bible states, pure hell, or the Lake of Fire, which will be an endless environment of unimaginable and continuous punishment.
In the presence of all the holy angels and the lamb, refers to all those saved angels, all of the host of believers in heaven, and of Christ.
All unbelievers, at the very end of history, which will occur at the end of the Millennium, will be brought before the Great White Throne of Christ. This is a public trial and sentencing. All who are saved, will be present as spectators, and all who are condemned will of course be present to hear the judgment against them.
However, this phrase in our current verse, is not a reference to the trial itself, but to the public display of the condemned who will be standing there to be seen by everyone. This is a public embarrassment for those who rejected truth, for those who refused to think six little words, ‘Father, I believe in Jesus Christ,’ throughout their entire life, who rejected faith in the face of overwhelming proofs of God and Christ, and of His work.
They will have no excuse or their decisions, for their repeated decisions, day after day, year after year, for all of their respective lives.
To believe in Christ would have allowed them to escape this final judgment, but arrogance and a stubborn heart, of their own making, will prevent them from doing what is right, and condemn themselves to eternal hell.
Refusal to believe in Christ, and to condemn ones self to the Lake of Fire for all of eternity, is the quintessence of stupidity. But to make matters worse, those same unbelievers are guilty of evils committed against all of humanity, for their own selfish interests. So, in a way, what goes around, comes around, as they say.
Enter Your Comments about this study:
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/biblestudy/contents_comments_online_studies.html
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http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/quick-links.html
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Monday, October 18, 2010
Revelation 14:9
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
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Revelation 14:9
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org
9 And [kai] the third [tritos] angel [aggelos] followed [akoloutheo] them, [autos] saying [lego] with [en] a loud [megas] voice, [phone] If any man [ei tis] worship [proskuneo] the beast [therion] and [kai] his [autos] image, [eikon] and [kai] receive [lambano] his mark [charagma] in [epi] his [autos] forehead, [metopon] or [e] in [epi] his [autos] hand, [cheir] KJV-Interlinear
9 And another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, NASB
In logical sequence, the three angels will fly across the high noon sky, and preach with a loud voice, first, giving the promise of the gospel and eternal life, second, the warning of condemnation, and then third, the judgment that is certain for all who oppose truth, reject God, ignore Christ, and embrace the opposite – lies, Satan, and evil without end.
This is the message to all who have not believed in Christ. And remember even though this is a warning that will occur in that future time the principle applies today just as it has applied to all peoples in every generation throughout history.
As we have already studied, people will flock to the anti-christ of their own volition. Even though everyone will be threatened with immediate execution, most of the unbelieving population will embrace the anti-christ of their own free will. And, they will be doing so throughout the Tribulation.
God, on the other hand, will be sending out His gospel and warning, over and over, day after day, to all of humanity, so that everyone will have the opportunity to repent (change their minds) regarding evil and choose for truth in Christ.
However, the warning of impending and certain judgment is given for those who embrace the anti-christ, adopt his policies, accept his laws, and live by them to the detriment of all believers.
Unbelievers by default will be joining in the conspiracy of murder and all manner of evil, against believers, just by rejecting Christ and all the components of truth that accompany Him.
Worshipping the anti-christ, receiving his mark, recognizing his image, all indicate a comprehensive and unequivocal commitment to evil. With a total rejection of God, of Christ and of everything that is good and right, people will be condemned to eternal destruction.
And, they will have no excuse, when the end finally comes upon them.
With the unheard of activities and events of the Tribulation, without equal in all of human history, with angels teaching, with demon hoards attacking across the planet, with death and destruction occurring with unparalleled outcomes, no one will have any excuse for not knowing the facts of life, the repercussions of their decisions, and the consequences of their actions.
Around the clock, people will be hammered with the gospel and the warnings. Some will listen, most will not.
Enter Your Comments about this study:
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/biblestudy/contents_comments_online_studies.html
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
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Revelation 14:9
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org
9 And [kai] the third [tritos] angel [aggelos] followed [akoloutheo] them, [autos] saying [lego] with [en] a loud [megas] voice, [phone] If any man [ei tis] worship [proskuneo] the beast [therion] and [kai] his [autos] image, [eikon] and [kai] receive [lambano] his mark [charagma] in [epi] his [autos] forehead, [metopon] or [e] in [epi] his [autos] hand, [cheir] KJV-Interlinear
9 And another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, NASB
In logical sequence, the three angels will fly across the high noon sky, and preach with a loud voice, first, giving the promise of the gospel and eternal life, second, the warning of condemnation, and then third, the judgment that is certain for all who oppose truth, reject God, ignore Christ, and embrace the opposite – lies, Satan, and evil without end.
This is the message to all who have not believed in Christ. And remember even though this is a warning that will occur in that future time the principle applies today just as it has applied to all peoples in every generation throughout history.
As we have already studied, people will flock to the anti-christ of their own volition. Even though everyone will be threatened with immediate execution, most of the unbelieving population will embrace the anti-christ of their own free will. And, they will be doing so throughout the Tribulation.
God, on the other hand, will be sending out His gospel and warning, over and over, day after day, to all of humanity, so that everyone will have the opportunity to repent (change their minds) regarding evil and choose for truth in Christ.
However, the warning of impending and certain judgment is given for those who embrace the anti-christ, adopt his policies, accept his laws, and live by them to the detriment of all believers.
Unbelievers by default will be joining in the conspiracy of murder and all manner of evil, against believers, just by rejecting Christ and all the components of truth that accompany Him.
Worshipping the anti-christ, receiving his mark, recognizing his image, all indicate a comprehensive and unequivocal commitment to evil. With a total rejection of God, of Christ and of everything that is good and right, people will be condemned to eternal destruction.
And, they will have no excuse, when the end finally comes upon them.
With the unheard of activities and events of the Tribulation, without equal in all of human history, with angels teaching, with demon hoards attacking across the planet, with death and destruction occurring with unparalleled outcomes, no one will have any excuse for not knowing the facts of life, the repercussions of their decisions, and the consequences of their actions.
Around the clock, people will be hammered with the gospel and the warnings. Some will listen, most will not.
Enter Your Comments about this study:
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/biblestudy/contents_comments_online_studies.html
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/quick-links.html
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Friday, October 15, 2010
Revelation 14:8
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 14:8
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org
8 And [kai] there followed [akoloutheo] another [allos] angel, [aggelos] saying, [lego] Babylon [Babulon] is fallen, [pipto] is fallen, [pipto] that great [megas] city, [polis] because [hoti] she made [potizo] all [pas] nations [ethnos] drink [potizo] of [ek] the wine [oinos] of the wrath [thumos] of her [autos] fornication. [porneia] KJV-Interlinear
8 And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality." NASB
The first angel brought good news of salvation and eternity, and now the second angel brings bad news of failure and judgment.
Babylon is a reference to the anti-christs’ worldwide empire. The anti-christ will demand that everyone worship him, or be executed. And, he will have control over the worlds political, military, economic, and religious power.
For our convenience the angel uses the term Babylon, because that is the history of Satan's evil attempts at destroying humanity. In the Tribulation, the actual terminology of the anti-christ (name, position, etc., which we do not now know) will be used rather than expressions of symbolism.
In either case, the population of the world will know and understand exactly who the angel is talking about.
From its inception, Babylon has symbolized evil which is accompanied with rebellion against God, Christ, and truth.
It was founded by Nimrod, Gen. 10:9. Likewise, Babel was the site of the first organized effort in idolatry and religion. Gen. 11:1-4. God destroyed the tower, confused the languages, and scattered the population to the four corners of the world, Gen. 11:5-9.
In the final days, the religions of the world will gather together and unite once again, into one ultimate and evil religion, under the anti-christ, and there God will destroy it finally and forever, Rev. 17:1-5.
And so the warning. The anti-christ has lost, so do not follow a loser. His loss is permanent and will last forever in the Lake of Fire. So do not follow a loser.
The anti-christ has been, and is, the cause of all the nations falling under the ‘wrath and passion of immorality.’
The key word here is ‘thumos,’ which is a reference to strong and consuming lusts. The world will be engaging in extreme sins of passion and lust, and while this carries a connotation of deviant and perverse sexual activities, the real crime here is the prostitution of the spiritual life, in favor of the extremes of degenerate carnal behavior.
Of the many passages that describe the social morals, norms and standards of those last days, this word in this verse probably is the best description of them all. The fixation on sin will be so great, that even angels in the sky, teaching and preaching, will not be considered somewhat unusual, and therefore ignored.
Enter Your Comments about this study:
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/biblestudy/contents_comments_online_studies.html
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
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Revelation 14:8
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org
8 And [kai] there followed [akoloutheo] another [allos] angel, [aggelos] saying, [lego] Babylon [Babulon] is fallen, [pipto] is fallen, [pipto] that great [megas] city, [polis] because [hoti] she made [potizo] all [pas] nations [ethnos] drink [potizo] of [ek] the wine [oinos] of the wrath [thumos] of her [autos] fornication. [porneia] KJV-Interlinear
8 And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality." NASB
The first angel brought good news of salvation and eternity, and now the second angel brings bad news of failure and judgment.
Babylon is a reference to the anti-christs’ worldwide empire. The anti-christ will demand that everyone worship him, or be executed. And, he will have control over the worlds political, military, economic, and religious power.
For our convenience the angel uses the term Babylon, because that is the history of Satan's evil attempts at destroying humanity. In the Tribulation, the actual terminology of the anti-christ (name, position, etc., which we do not now know) will be used rather than expressions of symbolism.
In either case, the population of the world will know and understand exactly who the angel is talking about.
From its inception, Babylon has symbolized evil which is accompanied with rebellion against God, Christ, and truth.
It was founded by Nimrod, Gen. 10:9. Likewise, Babel was the site of the first organized effort in idolatry and religion. Gen. 11:1-4. God destroyed the tower, confused the languages, and scattered the population to the four corners of the world, Gen. 11:5-9.
In the final days, the religions of the world will gather together and unite once again, into one ultimate and evil religion, under the anti-christ, and there God will destroy it finally and forever, Rev. 17:1-5.
And so the warning. The anti-christ has lost, so do not follow a loser. His loss is permanent and will last forever in the Lake of Fire. So do not follow a loser.
The anti-christ has been, and is, the cause of all the nations falling under the ‘wrath and passion of immorality.’
The key word here is ‘thumos,’ which is a reference to strong and consuming lusts. The world will be engaging in extreme sins of passion and lust, and while this carries a connotation of deviant and perverse sexual activities, the real crime here is the prostitution of the spiritual life, in favor of the extremes of degenerate carnal behavior.
Of the many passages that describe the social morals, norms and standards of those last days, this word in this verse probably is the best description of them all. The fixation on sin will be so great, that even angels in the sky, teaching and preaching, will not be considered somewhat unusual, and therefore ignored.
Enter Your Comments about this study:
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/biblestudy/contents_comments_online_studies.html
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/quick-links.html
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
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Thursday, October 14, 2010
Revelation 14:7
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 14:7
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org
7 Saying [lego] with [en] a loud [megas] voice, [phone] Fear [phobeo] God, [theos] and [kai] give [didomi] glory [doxa] to him; [autos] for [hoti] the hour [hora] of his [autos] judgment [krisis] is come: [erchomai] and [kai] worship [proskuneo] him that made [poieo] heaven, [ouranos] and [kai] earth, [ge] and [kai] the sea, [thalassa] and [kai] the fountains [pege] of waters. [hudor] KJV-Interlinear
7 and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.” NASB
And with a loud voice, the angel proclaimed his message. The angel speaks with a voluminous voice so all could hear.
The message is directed to an unbelieving world.
While the anti-christ demands worship of himself, here God demands fear. Why?
Because the anti-christ can do nothing to you except to your body. God, on the other hand, can destroy the soul or the essence of ones being, in the Lake of Fire. And the Lake of Fire will last forever.
Fear causes you to focus and to concentrate on reality, and not fantasy.
The anti-christ is delusional. Religion is delusional. All philosophy is delusional. They neither define fact nor reality.
And where exactly does fact and reality begin? With creation.
Long before the ideas of Darwin and evolution, God created all that is. In the last portion of this verse, credit is given to God for His work, for His design, for His plan. Jesus Christ created all that is, including your individual human life.
The created universe both offers proof of Gods existence and provides grounds for worshiping Him, Psa. 19:1-4. Creation reveals Gods glory and majesty, Isa 40:21-26. God reveals Himself in His creation. The very content of the universe suggests and demands a designer and creator.
So, the very foundation and fabric of human philosophy, in rejecting God, has discredited itself and is false.
When the very first cause of existence is rejected, then all truth is rejected.
God took dust and inserted life into it. God can create animal life in sophisticated creatures and even in a single cell. Humanity cannot do that.
God formed life out of dust and inserted human life into the dust, along with beauty and form and intelligence, and far more. Man cannot do that.
If nature can do it by accident and chance, then shouldn’t man be able to take a little dust and salsa and electricity and create life?
But man cannot, because the ingredients of the universe are not the source of life. God is.
What can the anti-christ and the false prophet do? They can put on a magic show and nothing more.
In Gods hands lie your destiny, along with the power and ability to do anything, literally. Therefore, allegiance and praise, and worship and obedience and obligation belong to God (Jesus Christ), and not to anything nor anyone else.
Enter Your Comments about this study:
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Revelation 14:7
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org
7 Saying [lego] with [en] a loud [megas] voice, [phone] Fear [phobeo] God, [theos] and [kai] give [didomi] glory [doxa] to him; [autos] for [hoti] the hour [hora] of his [autos] judgment [krisis] is come: [erchomai] and [kai] worship [proskuneo] him that made [poieo] heaven, [ouranos] and [kai] earth, [ge] and [kai] the sea, [thalassa] and [kai] the fountains [pege] of waters. [hudor] KJV-Interlinear
7 and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.” NASB
And with a loud voice, the angel proclaimed his message. The angel speaks with a voluminous voice so all could hear.
The message is directed to an unbelieving world.
While the anti-christ demands worship of himself, here God demands fear. Why?
Because the anti-christ can do nothing to you except to your body. God, on the other hand, can destroy the soul or the essence of ones being, in the Lake of Fire. And the Lake of Fire will last forever.
Fear causes you to focus and to concentrate on reality, and not fantasy.
The anti-christ is delusional. Religion is delusional. All philosophy is delusional. They neither define fact nor reality.
And where exactly does fact and reality begin? With creation.
Long before the ideas of Darwin and evolution, God created all that is. In the last portion of this verse, credit is given to God for His work, for His design, for His plan. Jesus Christ created all that is, including your individual human life.
The created universe both offers proof of Gods existence and provides grounds for worshiping Him, Psa. 19:1-4. Creation reveals Gods glory and majesty, Isa 40:21-26. God reveals Himself in His creation. The very content of the universe suggests and demands a designer and creator.
So, the very foundation and fabric of human philosophy, in rejecting God, has discredited itself and is false.
When the very first cause of existence is rejected, then all truth is rejected.
God took dust and inserted life into it. God can create animal life in sophisticated creatures and even in a single cell. Humanity cannot do that.
God formed life out of dust and inserted human life into the dust, along with beauty and form and intelligence, and far more. Man cannot do that.
If nature can do it by accident and chance, then shouldn’t man be able to take a little dust and salsa and electricity and create life?
But man cannot, because the ingredients of the universe are not the source of life. God is.
What can the anti-christ and the false prophet do? They can put on a magic show and nothing more.
In Gods hands lie your destiny, along with the power and ability to do anything, literally. Therefore, allegiance and praise, and worship and obedience and obligation belong to God (Jesus Christ), and not to anything nor anyone else.
Enter Your Comments about this study:
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/biblestudy/contents_comments_online_studies.html
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/quick-links.html
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
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Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Revelation 14:6
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 14:6
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org
6 And [kai] I saw [eido] another [allos] angel [aggelos] fly [petomai] in [en] the midst of heaven, [mesouranema] having [echo] the everlasting [aionios] gospel [euaggelion] to preach [euaggelizo] unto them that dwell [katoikeo] on [epi] the earth, [ge] and [kai] to every [pas] nation, [ethnos] and [kai] kindred, [phule] and [kai] tongue, [glossa] and [kai] people, [laos] KJV-Interlinear
6 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; NASB
We are studying the Tribulation. That is a future seven year period, the date of which we do not yet know.
It will begin when the Rapture removes all Christians from the earth, and it will end with the Second Advent of Christ.
The Rapture is the final event that will terminate our era of history, which we call the Church Age.
During the Tribulation, Satan, working through the most evil ruler in all of human history, will try to bring about world peace and prosperity during the first half of the Tribulation (the first three and a half years). That attempt will fail horribly.
Someone once said that mans efforts to bring about world peace and full employment and prosperity and no poverty and so forth, amount to nothing more than rearranging the deck chairs of the Titanic, so passengers can get a good or better view of themselves sinking.
And that is what the Tribulation really amounts to. During the first half of that seven year period, one-fourth of the entire worlds population will die. That is a very poor result for mans best plans.
During the last half of the tribulation, Satan will change his tactics and try to kill off all Jews and Christians, and then everyone in order to destroy humanity completely.
Mans destiny in this world, according to the Bible, is not a good one, but a horrendously bad one.
In this chapter three visions describe the previews of Gods plan and results in the Tribulation.
The first vision was of the victory of 144,000 evangelists (and others), who while under horrendous circumstances, will be victorious in their lives, despite the onslaught of horrible world policies and laws and atrocities.
The second vision is where we are now. Where three angels will proclaim the coming judgments for all who reject truth and pursue evil. The first angel preaches the gospel, the second pronounces judgment, and the third promises condemnation.
The first angel, is an actual angel. Some may think that this is a reference to satellite radio or television transmissions, however most folks will tune out any channel that does not interest them.
Remember that we are studying the Tribulation, and in it will occur phenomenal disasters from weather, from hurricanes, from earthquakes, and such. Lots of folks will be without power and services for a very long time.
God will allow demons to run rampant throughout the world tormenting unbelievers. We have already studied that. Likewise, the world will see many tens of thousands of evangelists, the two prophets, and disasters beyond description, and still many will refuse to believe in Christ.
So, yet another attempt to bring the gospel to people will come through an angel who flies high in the sky, and who will announce the gospel of Christ to everyone who does not have access to the many evangelists and the two prophets. This makes it possible for everyone on the planet, to see the angel, and to hear the gospel of Christ, so that they can believe in Jesus Christ. Or at least to have that opportunity.
No one can say that they did not have an opportunity.
The word for midst of heaven, ‘mesouranema,’ means the zenith or at the peak, referring to high noon. A position in the sky where everyone can see and hear.
The word for another, ‘allos,’ means another of the same type, referring to the angel. So this is not a piece of technology being symbolized as an angel.
All that dwell on the earth, is a reference to all who need to hear, or unbelievers. This action also brings comfort and assurance to those who have already believed.
Every nation, and kindred, and tongue and people, means everyone on the planet.
While the evangelists will have their limitations in mobility, this angel will have no limitations restricting his message. Everyone will hear the gospel and no one will have any excuse.
Enter Your Comments about this study:
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/biblestudy/contents_comments_online_studies.html
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/quick-links.html
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here:
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DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Revelation 14:6
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org
6 And [kai] I saw [eido] another [allos] angel [aggelos] fly [petomai] in [en] the midst of heaven, [mesouranema] having [echo] the everlasting [aionios] gospel [euaggelion] to preach [euaggelizo] unto them that dwell [katoikeo] on [epi] the earth, [ge] and [kai] to every [pas] nation, [ethnos] and [kai] kindred, [phule] and [kai] tongue, [glossa] and [kai] people, [laos] KJV-Interlinear
6 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; NASB
We are studying the Tribulation. That is a future seven year period, the date of which we do not yet know.
It will begin when the Rapture removes all Christians from the earth, and it will end with the Second Advent of Christ.
The Rapture is the final event that will terminate our era of history, which we call the Church Age.
During the Tribulation, Satan, working through the most evil ruler in all of human history, will try to bring about world peace and prosperity during the first half of the Tribulation (the first three and a half years). That attempt will fail horribly.
Someone once said that mans efforts to bring about world peace and full employment and prosperity and no poverty and so forth, amount to nothing more than rearranging the deck chairs of the Titanic, so passengers can get a good or better view of themselves sinking.
And that is what the Tribulation really amounts to. During the first half of that seven year period, one-fourth of the entire worlds population will die. That is a very poor result for mans best plans.
During the last half of the tribulation, Satan will change his tactics and try to kill off all Jews and Christians, and then everyone in order to destroy humanity completely.
Mans destiny in this world, according to the Bible, is not a good one, but a horrendously bad one.
In this chapter three visions describe the previews of Gods plan and results in the Tribulation.
The first vision was of the victory of 144,000 evangelists (and others), who while under horrendous circumstances, will be victorious in their lives, despite the onslaught of horrible world policies and laws and atrocities.
The second vision is where we are now. Where three angels will proclaim the coming judgments for all who reject truth and pursue evil. The first angel preaches the gospel, the second pronounces judgment, and the third promises condemnation.
The first angel, is an actual angel. Some may think that this is a reference to satellite radio or television transmissions, however most folks will tune out any channel that does not interest them.
Remember that we are studying the Tribulation, and in it will occur phenomenal disasters from weather, from hurricanes, from earthquakes, and such. Lots of folks will be without power and services for a very long time.
God will allow demons to run rampant throughout the world tormenting unbelievers. We have already studied that. Likewise, the world will see many tens of thousands of evangelists, the two prophets, and disasters beyond description, and still many will refuse to believe in Christ.
So, yet another attempt to bring the gospel to people will come through an angel who flies high in the sky, and who will announce the gospel of Christ to everyone who does not have access to the many evangelists and the two prophets. This makes it possible for everyone on the planet, to see the angel, and to hear the gospel of Christ, so that they can believe in Jesus Christ. Or at least to have that opportunity.
No one can say that they did not have an opportunity.
The word for midst of heaven, ‘mesouranema,’ means the zenith or at the peak, referring to high noon. A position in the sky where everyone can see and hear.
The word for another, ‘allos,’ means another of the same type, referring to the angel. So this is not a piece of technology being symbolized as an angel.
All that dwell on the earth, is a reference to all who need to hear, or unbelievers. This action also brings comfort and assurance to those who have already believed.
Every nation, and kindred, and tongue and people, means everyone on the planet.
While the evangelists will have their limitations in mobility, this angel will have no limitations restricting his message. Everyone will hear the gospel and no one will have any excuse.
Enter Your Comments about this study:
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/biblestudy/contents_comments_online_studies.html
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/quick-links.html
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here:
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/donation.html
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Revelation 14:5
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 14:5
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org
5 And [kai] in [en] their [autos] mouth [stoma] was found [heurisko] no [ou] guile: [dolos] for [gar] they are [eisi] without fault [amomos] before [enopion] the throne [thronos] of God. [theos] KJV-Interlinear
5 And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless. NASB
To lie is to be deliberate in stating something false, or deceptive, or misleading, or misdirecting, or untrue.
All religion is a lie. All religion is the invention of human deception and/or self deception. All religion is the adoption of falsehoods in an effort to formulate an equal footing or to elevate humanity to the level of deity, through the efforts of human energy.
Christianity is not a religion. Christianity is a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ.
Of these 144,000, though there will be a huge temptation to promote the lies of the anti-christ and follow in his ways, they will stick with truth and doctrine. And as such, will denounce and resist and reject the lies of Satan and the world systems that will be in place.
But more than that, there will be unbelievable pressures to conform to the worlds norms of degeneracy, of unethical practices, of just staying alive in a world gone mad.
And the second part of this verse addresses that.
They will be blameless.
Note, this does not say sinless, for they are human after all.
But when the world is literally starving and corrupt and murderous and worse. When lives have been turned upside down due to unemployment and weather damage and such, then it will be a huge temptation for folks to lie and cheat and steal just to survive.
And yet these will live honest lives in integrity. Helping others when they can, not taking advantage of others, not throwing others out of the life boat, so to speak, just to survive themselves.
And more important, they will not lead lives of the self righteous, because we are told that they will live ‘before the throne of God.’ They will live their lives in accordance with Gods plan, by studying, learning, confession of sins, living in fellowship, pursuing their spiritual lives and so forth.
No holy roller stuff. No tent meetings, attempting to whip up emotions in order to get money or notoriety. No false promises. No misleading assurances or guarantees. No pray for me, whining and crying over their difficulties in life.
They will live mature and responsible and self accountable lives, well oriented to the time in which they live. Understanding why things are the way they are, and that in this devils world, there will be tough roads to follow, but the answer to all problems is Jesus Christ.
Belief for salvation, and doctrine for growing up and completing ones life.
Enter Your Comments about this study:
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/biblestudy/contents_comments_online_studies.html
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/quick-links.html
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here:
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/donation.html
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Revelation 14:5
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org
5 And [kai] in [en] their [autos] mouth [stoma] was found [heurisko] no [ou] guile: [dolos] for [gar] they are [eisi] without fault [amomos] before [enopion] the throne [thronos] of God. [theos] KJV-Interlinear
5 And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless. NASB
To lie is to be deliberate in stating something false, or deceptive, or misleading, or misdirecting, or untrue.
All religion is a lie. All religion is the invention of human deception and/or self deception. All religion is the adoption of falsehoods in an effort to formulate an equal footing or to elevate humanity to the level of deity, through the efforts of human energy.
Christianity is not a religion. Christianity is a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ.
Of these 144,000, though there will be a huge temptation to promote the lies of the anti-christ and follow in his ways, they will stick with truth and doctrine. And as such, will denounce and resist and reject the lies of Satan and the world systems that will be in place.
But more than that, there will be unbelievable pressures to conform to the worlds norms of degeneracy, of unethical practices, of just staying alive in a world gone mad.
And the second part of this verse addresses that.
They will be blameless.
Note, this does not say sinless, for they are human after all.
But when the world is literally starving and corrupt and murderous and worse. When lives have been turned upside down due to unemployment and weather damage and such, then it will be a huge temptation for folks to lie and cheat and steal just to survive.
And yet these will live honest lives in integrity. Helping others when they can, not taking advantage of others, not throwing others out of the life boat, so to speak, just to survive themselves.
And more important, they will not lead lives of the self righteous, because we are told that they will live ‘before the throne of God.’ They will live their lives in accordance with Gods plan, by studying, learning, confession of sins, living in fellowship, pursuing their spiritual lives and so forth.
No holy roller stuff. No tent meetings, attempting to whip up emotions in order to get money or notoriety. No false promises. No misleading assurances or guarantees. No pray for me, whining and crying over their difficulties in life.
They will live mature and responsible and self accountable lives, well oriented to the time in which they live. Understanding why things are the way they are, and that in this devils world, there will be tough roads to follow, but the answer to all problems is Jesus Christ.
Belief for salvation, and doctrine for growing up and completing ones life.
Enter Your Comments about this study:
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/biblestudy/contents_comments_online_studies.html
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/quick-links.html
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here:
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/donation.html
Monday, October 11, 2010
Revelation 14:4
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 14:4
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org
4 These [houtos] are they [eisi] which [hos] were [moluno] not [ou] defiled [moluno] with [meta] women; [gune] for [gar] they are [eisi] virgins. [parthenos] These [houtos] are they [eisi] which [ho] follow [akoloutheo] the Lamb [arnion] whithersoever [hopou] [an] he goeth. [hupago] These [houtos] were redeemed [agorazo] from [apo] among men, [anthropos] being the firstfruits [aparche] unto God [theos] and [kai] to the Lamb. [arnion] KJV-Interlinear
4 These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. NASB
Today, the population of the world is around seven billion people. In the next century, if all of these events do not occur for another century, then that population could easily increase to perhaps fifty billion people.
Today, we have relative peace and prosperity in the world (when compared with what life will be like in the Tribulation). In most countries people’s lives are hammered with the daily pressures of work, education, bills, social activities, and such things.
And yet even with all of the opportunities that we have today, the vast majority of the worlds population is indifferent toward God, Christ, and their spiritual lives. Most folks don't think much about those things, and of those who do think about them, they tend to invent their own rules and standards for their faith, whatever it may be.
But now we leap forward in time, to a period in history called the Tribulation, and God gives us the example of not one or two or even a dozen folks, but the example of 144,000 people who will live in the most horrendous time in all of human history.
If the Rapture does not occur for another hundred years, then the population that will be left behind, after the Rapture, will be in the tens of billions, perhaps forty or more. That is a lot of folks.
Now review the circumstances that will exist in that future life.
The restraint on sin has been removed. The corruption and evil and sin that will exit will run rampant around the world. Government policies will destroy economies, crops, production, jobs, and so forth. The world will be hampered with famine, starvation, disease, inflation, unemployment, crime, atrocities, and not to mention the most horrible and oppressive government regulations, ever, which will just further the suffering that will be forced on people.
Natural catastrophes will decimate roads, and bridges, communication and power and water and gas services, and homes. There will not be any insurance companies to pay, and no banks to process money or they will be crippled industries at best. Life is going to be very ugly for everyone.
How could anyone, under those conditions, turn to Christ, let alone stick with their faith in Christ, let alone study and learn and grow up to spiritual maturity?
Today you are not starving, or hiding from gangs, as it were, and most folks have plenty of time to build on their spiritual life. But in those days, time and even freedom will simply not exist, for reading the Bible.
And yet, God, through John, gives us the example of many tens of thousands of men, who will turn to Christ, and stick with their faith, come hell or high water, regardless of their circumstances, until the Second Advent, or until their lives are taken in martyrdom. They will be faithful throughout.
All will begin the tribulation as unbelievers, at whatever age they are at the time, and then believe in Christ, and then dedicate themselves to Christ thereafter.
This is what, ‘follow the lamb,’ means. They will stick with their faith as Job did, as Daniel did, and so forth.
They will not be defiled with women.
Defilement is a reference to illegitimate sexual activities. This does not mean that they will be unmarried and single. Their virgin status means that they will not participate in the perverted sex that is most likely going to exist in the Tribulation. Remember that all holds on sin are removed and degeneracy will run rampant.
So they will not participate, even out of curiosity, even a single time, in deviant or illegitimate sex. They will remain faithful to their wives, or chaste, if single.
Redeemed from among men, means that they will believe in Christ and therefore set apart in their salvation, from all of those who will remain as unbelievers.
The first fruits, carries a couple of connotations. First it can mean that they will be among the first in the Tribulation who will be saved, and it can also mean that they will be first among those who will be martyred.
First fruits here does not mean they will be first, per se. But it means that they as faithful and loyal and mature believers, will be among the first of that category (faithful, loyal, mature) for the Tribulation period.
There will be many millions of people saved and martyred during the Tribulation, and many will be saved as a result of the evangelization of these 144,000 people. However, most believers in the Tribulation will never advance to spiritual maturity. But these will.
Enter Your Comments about this study:
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/biblestudy/contents_comments_online_studies.html
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/quick-links.html
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here:
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DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Revelation 14:4
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org
4 These [houtos] are they [eisi] which [hos] were [moluno] not [ou] defiled [moluno] with [meta] women; [gune] for [gar] they are [eisi] virgins. [parthenos] These [houtos] are they [eisi] which [ho] follow [akoloutheo] the Lamb [arnion] whithersoever [hopou] [an] he goeth. [hupago] These [houtos] were redeemed [agorazo] from [apo] among men, [anthropos] being the firstfruits [aparche] unto God [theos] and [kai] to the Lamb. [arnion] KJV-Interlinear
4 These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. NASB
Today, the population of the world is around seven billion people. In the next century, if all of these events do not occur for another century, then that population could easily increase to perhaps fifty billion people.
Today, we have relative peace and prosperity in the world (when compared with what life will be like in the Tribulation). In most countries people’s lives are hammered with the daily pressures of work, education, bills, social activities, and such things.
And yet even with all of the opportunities that we have today, the vast majority of the worlds population is indifferent toward God, Christ, and their spiritual lives. Most folks don't think much about those things, and of those who do think about them, they tend to invent their own rules and standards for their faith, whatever it may be.
But now we leap forward in time, to a period in history called the Tribulation, and God gives us the example of not one or two or even a dozen folks, but the example of 144,000 people who will live in the most horrendous time in all of human history.
If the Rapture does not occur for another hundred years, then the population that will be left behind, after the Rapture, will be in the tens of billions, perhaps forty or more. That is a lot of folks.
Now review the circumstances that will exist in that future life.
The restraint on sin has been removed. The corruption and evil and sin that will exit will run rampant around the world. Government policies will destroy economies, crops, production, jobs, and so forth. The world will be hampered with famine, starvation, disease, inflation, unemployment, crime, atrocities, and not to mention the most horrible and oppressive government regulations, ever, which will just further the suffering that will be forced on people.
Natural catastrophes will decimate roads, and bridges, communication and power and water and gas services, and homes. There will not be any insurance companies to pay, and no banks to process money or they will be crippled industries at best. Life is going to be very ugly for everyone.
How could anyone, under those conditions, turn to Christ, let alone stick with their faith in Christ, let alone study and learn and grow up to spiritual maturity?
Today you are not starving, or hiding from gangs, as it were, and most folks have plenty of time to build on their spiritual life. But in those days, time and even freedom will simply not exist, for reading the Bible.
And yet, God, through John, gives us the example of many tens of thousands of men, who will turn to Christ, and stick with their faith, come hell or high water, regardless of their circumstances, until the Second Advent, or until their lives are taken in martyrdom. They will be faithful throughout.
All will begin the tribulation as unbelievers, at whatever age they are at the time, and then believe in Christ, and then dedicate themselves to Christ thereafter.
This is what, ‘follow the lamb,’ means. They will stick with their faith as Job did, as Daniel did, and so forth.
They will not be defiled with women.
Defilement is a reference to illegitimate sexual activities. This does not mean that they will be unmarried and single. Their virgin status means that they will not participate in the perverted sex that is most likely going to exist in the Tribulation. Remember that all holds on sin are removed and degeneracy will run rampant.
So they will not participate, even out of curiosity, even a single time, in deviant or illegitimate sex. They will remain faithful to their wives, or chaste, if single.
Redeemed from among men, means that they will believe in Christ and therefore set apart in their salvation, from all of those who will remain as unbelievers.
The first fruits, carries a couple of connotations. First it can mean that they will be among the first in the Tribulation who will be saved, and it can also mean that they will be first among those who will be martyred.
First fruits here does not mean they will be first, per se. But it means that they as faithful and loyal and mature believers, will be among the first of that category (faithful, loyal, mature) for the Tribulation period.
There will be many millions of people saved and martyred during the Tribulation, and many will be saved as a result of the evangelization of these 144,000 people. However, most believers in the Tribulation will never advance to spiritual maturity. But these will.
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Friday, October 8, 2010
Revelation 14:3
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
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Revelation 14:3
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3 And [kai] they sung [ado] as it were [hos] a new [kainos] song [ode] before [enopion] the throne, [thronos] and [kai] before [enopion] the four [tessares] beasts, [zoon] and [kai] the elders: [presbuteros] and [kai] no man [oudeis] could [dunamai] learn [manthano] that song [ode] but [ei me] the hundred [hekaton] and forty [tessarakonta] and four [tessares] thousand, [chilias] which [ho] were redeemed [agorazo] from [apo] the earth. [ge] KJV-Interlinear
3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. NASB
These 144,000 are distinguished separate and apart from the masses of people who will live, and die, during the Tribulation, as they will be one of the thrusts of doctrinal teaching, especially the gospel of Christ, as it is evangelized throughout the world, and by them, masses of people will be saved.
Remember that when the Tribulation begins, the entire population of the world will be unbelievers only. All believers will disappear from the earth at the Rapture, so the world in the Tribulation starts without believers.
These 144,000 will find Christ in some way. They will either already have heard the gospel, will already have heard the various prophecies, will already be aware of the events that are associated with the end days, and so forth.
Whatever it is that will come back into their memory, even if it is only the event of the Rapture and they see firsthand that believers are indeed gone, and they were not a part of that. These 144,000 will believe in Christ and they will be hot, as it were, for doctrine, fully moved by the events that are unfolding before them.
Remember also, that in the first half of the Tribulation, one-fourth, of the worlds population will die at the hands of the anti-christs policies. There will also, be catastrophe after catastrophe. And all of these things combined, should cause any normal person to turn to Christ, or at least to God in general.
But that will not be the case. Most people will reject God more and more, and even revert to turning against believers in the harshest of fashions.
Anytime a person believes in Christ, they are also set apart from the world. No longer unbelievers, but now born again into the family of God, and distinguished from the rest of the world. And whether or not you sing or hum or just have a happy feeling, your life takes on a new song, that of salvation and eternal life.
In heaven there will be people and angels beyond counting, who will be singing that new song, and this is a picture of 144,000 people who will be living in the world, and faced with the most horrendous conditions ever in history. And yet they will remain focused on not themselves, but on their mission, which is the evangelization of the world, so that many more will be saved and snatched out of the hands of evil.
Yes, most will die, but then all believers go to heaven and have a destiny in eternity, which is far better than any unbeliever who will find himself in the Lake of Fire.
Remember too, that God did not put any of us here on earth to remain here forever. This life is just the preparatory portion for getting us ready for the next life. If it were for anything else, then your lifespan would be far longer. But we all eventually leave this world. How many folks do you know that remain alive from the earliest part of last century, or the century before that or before that? None.
Since Adam and Eve, billions, and probably trillions of people have been born and died before us. How are we any different? We are not.
Therefore, the new song.
And the new song is before who? The hosts who are in heaven. John identifies those who are in heaven, not those who are on earth.
This chapter is one of celebration and victory. The 144,000 evangelists will be successful, even though they are martyred. The world looks at success in the environment of the world – possessions, privilege, credentials, status and so forth. But those things of the world are empty, because they are temporary and disappear for everyone eventually, when people die.
But in heaven, those things of success, go on forever, and more than that, they are an integral part of ones essence. Which means that they are even more valuable, and more personal and more intimate to ones self.
And who does not learn this new song? Unbelievers.
They do not learn it, because they reject it. And they reject it because they are full of hate and arrogance and evil.
Look to Satan to see the attributes of evil. Whether terrorists, or criminals, or self righteous people, all unbelievers take, or want, or want to prevent others from having anything, including life, property, happiness, etc.
Their agenda is destruction and ruin.
And history reveals the results of their agenda. The ultimate revealing will come in the Tribulation, when humanity will literally try to kill itself off completely.
The tribulation will begin with unbelievers only. Many will eventually believe in Christ, and from the earth they came (unbeliever status), and into a new song they will go (salvation, eternal life, and destiny beyond imagination).
Enter Your Comments about this study:
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/biblestudy/contents_comments_online_studies.html
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DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Revelation 14:3
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org
3 And [kai] they sung [ado] as it were [hos] a new [kainos] song [ode] before [enopion] the throne, [thronos] and [kai] before [enopion] the four [tessares] beasts, [zoon] and [kai] the elders: [presbuteros] and [kai] no man [oudeis] could [dunamai] learn [manthano] that song [ode] but [ei me] the hundred [hekaton] and forty [tessarakonta] and four [tessares] thousand, [chilias] which [ho] were redeemed [agorazo] from [apo] the earth. [ge] KJV-Interlinear
3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. NASB
These 144,000 are distinguished separate and apart from the masses of people who will live, and die, during the Tribulation, as they will be one of the thrusts of doctrinal teaching, especially the gospel of Christ, as it is evangelized throughout the world, and by them, masses of people will be saved.
Remember that when the Tribulation begins, the entire population of the world will be unbelievers only. All believers will disappear from the earth at the Rapture, so the world in the Tribulation starts without believers.
These 144,000 will find Christ in some way. They will either already have heard the gospel, will already have heard the various prophecies, will already be aware of the events that are associated with the end days, and so forth.
Whatever it is that will come back into their memory, even if it is only the event of the Rapture and they see firsthand that believers are indeed gone, and they were not a part of that. These 144,000 will believe in Christ and they will be hot, as it were, for doctrine, fully moved by the events that are unfolding before them.
Remember also, that in the first half of the Tribulation, one-fourth, of the worlds population will die at the hands of the anti-christs policies. There will also, be catastrophe after catastrophe. And all of these things combined, should cause any normal person to turn to Christ, or at least to God in general.
But that will not be the case. Most people will reject God more and more, and even revert to turning against believers in the harshest of fashions.
Anytime a person believes in Christ, they are also set apart from the world. No longer unbelievers, but now born again into the family of God, and distinguished from the rest of the world. And whether or not you sing or hum or just have a happy feeling, your life takes on a new song, that of salvation and eternal life.
In heaven there will be people and angels beyond counting, who will be singing that new song, and this is a picture of 144,000 people who will be living in the world, and faced with the most horrendous conditions ever in history. And yet they will remain focused on not themselves, but on their mission, which is the evangelization of the world, so that many more will be saved and snatched out of the hands of evil.
Yes, most will die, but then all believers go to heaven and have a destiny in eternity, which is far better than any unbeliever who will find himself in the Lake of Fire.
Remember too, that God did not put any of us here on earth to remain here forever. This life is just the preparatory portion for getting us ready for the next life. If it were for anything else, then your lifespan would be far longer. But we all eventually leave this world. How many folks do you know that remain alive from the earliest part of last century, or the century before that or before that? None.
Since Adam and Eve, billions, and probably trillions of people have been born and died before us. How are we any different? We are not.
Therefore, the new song.
And the new song is before who? The hosts who are in heaven. John identifies those who are in heaven, not those who are on earth.
This chapter is one of celebration and victory. The 144,000 evangelists will be successful, even though they are martyred. The world looks at success in the environment of the world – possessions, privilege, credentials, status and so forth. But those things of the world are empty, because they are temporary and disappear for everyone eventually, when people die.
But in heaven, those things of success, go on forever, and more than that, they are an integral part of ones essence. Which means that they are even more valuable, and more personal and more intimate to ones self.
And who does not learn this new song? Unbelievers.
They do not learn it, because they reject it. And they reject it because they are full of hate and arrogance and evil.
Look to Satan to see the attributes of evil. Whether terrorists, or criminals, or self righteous people, all unbelievers take, or want, or want to prevent others from having anything, including life, property, happiness, etc.
Their agenda is destruction and ruin.
And history reveals the results of their agenda. The ultimate revealing will come in the Tribulation, when humanity will literally try to kill itself off completely.
The tribulation will begin with unbelievers only. Many will eventually believe in Christ, and from the earth they came (unbeliever status), and into a new song they will go (salvation, eternal life, and destiny beyond imagination).
Enter Your Comments about this study:
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/biblestudy/contents_comments_online_studies.html
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/quick-links.html
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here:
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