tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51861606781080978512024-02-08T05:54:29.904-05:00The Amazing Amalgamated Apocalypse AmplifiedAn interestingly different approach to the study of the Book of The Revelation. Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-28537488920892328212013-07-12T04:30:00.000-04:002018-01-22T17:50:04.948-05:00The Bride's Final Invitation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. </span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; <br />and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. <br />He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” <br />Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.</span> 22:17-21</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Surely I Come Quickly</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">The Spirit </span>(the breath) refers to the spirit of Jehovah. Christ said, <span style="color: red;">the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things</span>. </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">John 14:26.</span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> God's method of communicating with us is by His "breath". It does not take a rich imagination to go from "breath" to "words". We use our breath to speak words. Jehovah's breath spoke Jehovah's words to the writers of <i>The Apocalypse.</i></span><i style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></i><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> In this reference it is the spirit of Jehovah that is saying to non-Christians, </span><span style="color: magenta; font-weight: normal;">Come. Pay attention, I have warned you,</span> <span style="color: red; font-weight: normal;">flee from the wrath to come.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Luke 3:7. <span style="color: magenta; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Repent of your sins, accept Christ as your slave master and worship Me!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">The bride, namely, the born again believers also say to the non-Christians; come. Come and take the water of life freely.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"> Let each one who hears them say the same, Come.</span> <i>The Living Bible.</i><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"> Come! </span>Some Bible teachers say that this is the Church's prayer for Christ to come for His Church. I think that it is not, because of the way this paragraph blends into one unit, and that unit is, <span style="color: red;">come take of the water of life freely.</span> <br /><br /> This is not a prayer for Christ to return. This is an invitation, by the spirit of God and by Christians for all to come to Christ; to repent; to have their robes washed in the blood of Christ, and to be prepared to enter into the holy city.<br /><br /> When one reads, <span style="color: red;">let him take of the water of life freely</span>, one tends to think of this word, <span style="color: red;">freely</span>, as meaning to enjoy a superabundance of the water of life. Even though that meaning is possible for the Christian, the more accurate meaning of this phrase is given by Wuest#, Vine+++ and <i>The Living Bible</i> as, <span style="color: blue;">without charge</span> or <span style="color: blue;">gratis</span>. The same idea is expressed by Isaiah, <span style="color: red;">Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink—even if you have no money!</span> </span>Isa. 55:1<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">. <i>The New Living Translation</i></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i> </i></span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Instead of</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> the Book of Life, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">s</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ome translations have <span style="color: red;">the tree of life.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /> Christ continues speaking and gives a solemn warning about changing the book by adding to or deleting from the words of this prophecy. We need to remember that Christ was always more interested in the meaning of the word than in the actual words. As we recall, being ritualistic and paying too much attention to technical detail was one of the problems Christ had with his human peers. <br /><br /> In studying <i>The Apocalypse</i>, the spirit of love, humility, and worship is much more important than exactly describing the shapes and activities of the strange creatures, the geographical locations and the timing of the events. Christ would much rather have us invite sinners to the living water than to have us haggle about the technicalities found in <i>The Revelation</i>. Anyway, how do any of us know for sure that our ideas are closer to right than another persons are</span>?<br />
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I<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">n 22:20, Christ again encourages his despairing, hurting, weary church. He says, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">surely, I come quickly</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. The Greek word quickly, as it is used here, can also mean "soon". Most translations use the word "quickly" and not the word "soon". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then the church responds with the last prayer of the Bible, <span style="color: red;">Even so, come, Lord Jesus</span>. We are waiting for the seventh trumpet blast, the last one, because we have made our robes white. <span style="color: red;">And the seventh angel sounded. And there were great voices in Heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ. And He will reign forever and ever.</span></span>Rev. 11:15</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="color: red;"> Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! </span><span style="color: blue;">Amen to all that the Lord has promised; Amen to the thought of sin and sorrow banished, of wounded hearts healed, of tears of affliction wiped away, of the sting taken from death and victory from the grave, of darkness dissipated forever, of the light of the eternal day.</span></span> EBC<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /> For now, in anticipation, we say with Paul, <span style="color: red;">I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day. </span>We repeat, <span style="color: red;">Even so, come, Lord Jesus.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><i><em># An Expanded Translation,</em></i><em><span style="font-style: normal;"> K.W. Wuest.</span></em></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><i>+++ An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words,</i></span> <span style="font-family: "times new roman";">W.E. Vine</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you for all the +1's, comments and for re-sharing. These acts were always really encouraging.</span></div>
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Thank you for following me in this long study. As I wrote in the introduction to this study: <span style="color: blue;">According to the common consensus, <i>The Revelation</i> is the hardest book in the Bible to explain, and yet there are more commentaries on <i>The Revelation</i> than on any other book of the Bible.</span></div>
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At places I have written very definitively as if only I knew the right answers. At places I have expressed opinions as facts even though they may not yet be settled in my mind. Anyone who has studied <i>The Apocalypse</i> must realize that in many cases there are a variety of ways of interpreting those cases and that it is narrow-minded to be dogmatic about any interpretation. My hope was that if I express other, than normal, views you will take it upon yourself to do your own studying.</div>
<br /> To those whom I have offended I send my most sincere apologies.<br /><br />Remember the words of Christ, <span style="color: red;">surely, I come quickly.</span><br /><br /> May the Lord bless you and keep you!</span></div>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-20146584602928154552013-07-10T04:30:00.000-04:002018-01-17T18:15:03.703-05:00The Alpha and The Omega<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” </span></span>22:12-16</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"> I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.</span> To change the Greek to simple English, Christ is saying, I am the "A" and the "Z" in the alphabet.<br /><br /> He may also have meant, I am the one who started The Church and I will be with it when the Church moves to heaven; or maybe He meant, of all the things that matter to you I am the first requisite and you will find nothing beyond me that matters more. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;"> Behold, I am coming quickly!</span> In the previous post I said, By reading it carefully, we notice that here it is not Christ that was speaking. It is the angel who said these words.</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">However, here in</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> 22:12</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, Christ starts speaking again, as is clarified by 22:16, <span style="color: red;">I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify these things to you in the churches.</span> </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and from the </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">description</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, He gives of himself; </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">22:13. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">also, that it is not the angel that is speaking these words, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work,</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">22:12</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, is obvious from the fact that it is Christ, and not the angel, who will reward his servants.</span></li>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> My reward is with me to give to every one according to his work.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> To reiterate a thought made concerning 20:14, Christ will reward even non-Christians according to their work. In this case, the word </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">work</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> means </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">lifestyle</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. Not only Christians will be rewarded but all those who have lived good lives and done good deeds. At the great Judgment Seat "justice will prevail".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Blessed are those who do his commandments</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> has been changed by the newer translations to </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">blessed are they that wash their robes,</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> with variations in the wording. One difference is that </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The Living Bible</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> has it as a continuing operation; </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">are washing their robes.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> With clean robes, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">they have a right to partake of the tree of life and they may enter in through the gates into the city.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /> <span style="color: red;">Outside the city are dogs, sorcerers, those who are sexually immoral, murderers, idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.</span> The Jews used the word "dogs" to refer to Gentiles because, according to them, Gentiles, like dogs, are ceremonially unclean. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We need to remember that we are now in the epilogue of <i>The Apocalypse</i> and not in one of the “videos” which the writers saw. Therefore, when Christ is speaking in the present tense, it is to be understood as referring to The Church age. That is, the period of time when The Church is living on the earth, and that is why this reference to murderers, sorcerers, etc. is still applicable. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> In 21:8 we learned that those groups of people are being eternally punished. So that in reference to time, 22:15 is actually in effect before 21:8 transpires.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="color: red;"> I, Jesus, have sent My angel.</span> This is the same angel introduced to us in 1:1; <span style="color: red;">He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John.</span> Perhaps, it is the same angel, which we met throughout the book, the one who was the writers' host. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I am the Root and the Offspring of David.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">not the root out of which David springs, as if He would say that He is David’s Lord as well as David’s Son, but the "shoot that comes out of the stock of Jesse and the branch out of his roots that bears fruit" </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">EBC </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Or, in other words, Christ's origin and genealogy spring from king David.</span></div>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-83051362367420253302013-07-07T04:30:00.000-04:002018-01-15T11:38:12.059-05:00Christ's Final Invitation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. <br /> “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” <br /> Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. <br /> Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” <br /> And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. <br /> “He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">22:6-11 </span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Then he, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">the angel,</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> said to me, these sayings are faithful and true </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">or as Wuest</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">#</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> has it,</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">these things you have heard are trustworthy and dependable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> In the statement, <span style="color: red;">the Lord God of the holy prophets</span>, the word, <span style="color: red;">holy</span>, means <span style="color: blue;">sanctified</span> (made pure) and it does not infer that prophets are to be worshiped. The prophets that were used by God were first sanctified and then used by the Lord.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Now, in reiteration, the writer takes us back to the introduction of <i>The Apocalypse.</i> The word <span style="color: red;">servants</span>, 22:6, reminds us of 1:20, where <span style="color: red;">the seven stars are the servants of the seven churches;</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"> the things that must shortly take place,</span> 22:6, reminds us of 1:1: <span style="color: red;">to show his servants --- things which must shortly take place.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"> Behold, I am coming quickly. </span>It is easy to believe that it was Christ who said these words since that is what the church has taught us, and the red-letter editions of the <i>New Testament </i>have those words printed in red which indicates that Christ spoke them. Later we will see that Christ also spoke these words at a different time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">By reading it carefully, we notice that here it is not Christ that was speaking. It is the angel who said these words. <i>The Living Bible </i>changes these words to, <span style="color: red;">Then the angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true: ‘I am coming soon!’ God...has sent his angel to tell you this will happen soon.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And I fell before his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "See that you do not! I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." </span>Rev. 19:10</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"> I fell down to worship...the angel which showed me these things.</span> The writer, a Jew, knew better; in another time and situation, he would not have considered worshipping an angel. No doubt he knew this portion of scripture: <span style="color: red;">You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve. </span></span>Ex. 34:14.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> Why was the writer planning to worship an angel so long after the first time he heard the voice of his host angel? Perhaps he was awestruck at the sight of the marriage feast, or maybe at seeing all the raptured saints. In any case, he felt that worship at that time was appropriate. The voice said to him,<span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="color: magenta;">do not worship me; I am a servant like you and your brothers are;</span><span style="color: red;"> Worship God.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">22:9</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="color: red;">I am a fellow servant...of those who keep the words of this book.</span> Not including passing references to the book of Life, the last book that was mentioned in <i>The Revelation</i> was in 10:8-10 and there it was concluded that the little book was <i>The Bible</i>. Here the angel again reminds us that to keep on being Christians we must keep the sayings of this book, the Bible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="color: red;">Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.</span> In the <i>KJV,</i> there appears to be no distinction between this book in 22:9 and this book in 22:10. <i>The Living Bible</i> has made the difference distinct by writing, <span style="color: red;">this Book</span>, with a capital "B" in 22:9, by which is meant the Bible, and in 22:10 instead of using the word book they write, <span style="color: red;">what you have written,</span> which, of course, later became the last book of our Bible; <i>The Apocalypse.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When Daniel received the prophecy of the last days he was told to <span style="color: red;">seal the book, even to the time of the end.</span> Now, at the end of time, the writer of <i>The Revelation</i> is told <span style="color: red;">Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">He that is unjust, let him be unjust still. </span> There are several very different ways of interpreting this. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One interpretation is, <span style="color: blue;">it is too late to change, Christ has returned and judgment is imminent.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another interpretation is the way <i>the Living Bible</i> has it, <span style="color: red;">All doing wrong will do it more and more, the vile will become more vile; good men will be better; those who are holy will continue on in greater holiness.</span></span> 22:11</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">For the testimony of</span> (about) <span style="color: red;">Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.</span> </span>19:10. <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Is easier to understand in these words:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="color: blue;">for it is of Jesus that thy brethren ... testify by the Spirit in them.</span> </span>JFB<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /><span style="color: blue;">The design of prophecy is to bear testimony to Jesus.</span> </span>Barnes<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /><i>The Living Bible </i>has translated this part of 19:10 into understandable English; <span style="color: red;">The purpose of all I have shown you is to tell about Jesus.</span><br />_____</span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">________________________</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><i><em># An Expanded Translation,</em></i><em><span style="font-style: normal;"> K.W. Wuest.</span></em></span></span></div>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-6561712277486546492013-07-05T04:30:00.000-04:002018-01-10T21:47:39.446-05:00The Lamb is its Light<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">21:1 </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A New Sky; A New Earth</span></h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Vine</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">+++</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> defines the word <span style="color: red;">new</span>, like this, <span style="color: blue;">not “new” in time, … but “new” as to form or quality, of different nature from what is contrasted as old. Isaiah wrote, For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Isa. 65:17</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. According to Vine the earth and sky will remain but they will be different. The rulers of the inhabitants of the new earth will periodically visit heaven to worship there. ...<span style="color: red;">the kings of the earth bring their glory and honour into it. … And they shall bring the glory and the honour of the nations into it. </span></span>21:22+24.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. </span> It sounds as if they cease to exist. According to Peter also, it sounds as if the sky, the earth, and the sea will cease to exist. <span style="color: red;">The heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">2 Peter 3:10.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /> However, the words and meaning of <span style="color: red;">the first heaven and the first earth had passed away</span> in </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: normal;">21:1</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> are entirely different than the words and meaning of </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">20:11,</span></span> <span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;">the earth and the heaven fled away</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;"> or </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;">were quickly left behind</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;">. </span></h4>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> <span style="font-weight: normal;"> And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. <br /> In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. <br /> And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. <br /> They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: normal;">22:1-4</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The word </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">he</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> refers to the same angle, one of the seven, who had poured out the bowls of wrath. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> This river flows </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the middle of its street</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> On each side of the river, but still in the centre of Main Street, as a median, is </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the tree of life</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The Living Bible</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> has taken the liberty to make it more readable by writing, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">coursing down the centre of the main street: on each side of the river grew trees of life.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Then, as a footnote, </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The Living Bible</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> has, </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the tree of life-used here as a collective noun, implying plurality.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> This tree (or trees) bears twelve kinds of fruit, a different kind each month. It is interesting that in heaven, the Holy City, there are also twelve months per year. Does this thought also imply that there will be seasonal changes in the weather in heaven? Will the leaves also change colour and fall in Autumn? Here, on earth, some fruits need warmer weather and others need cooler temperatures to produce.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> Also interesting is the fact that the leaves are for medicine for the nations, that is, for those people living on the new earth. Certainly, they cannot be for healing those in the lake of fire; and they are not for the occupants of heaven because in that city there will be no more sorrow or pain, hence no need for medicine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> We recall that in the story which Christ told about the rich man and Lazurus the rich man in torment asked for a drop of water to cool his tongue and Abraham's response was<span style="color: magenta;"> in your life you were well off and you had no regard for the poor, now there is no pity for you.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Luke 16:20-25.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Therefore, it can be assumed that the leaves used for medicine will not be for those in torment.<br /><br /> The tree of life grows fruit. It would seem that the fruit would be for eating, it would certainly not for wasting. Still, in spite of that, <i>Bakers Bible Dictionary of Theology</i> says, <span style="color: blue;">there is no eating or drinking</span> (in heaven), and to substantiate that statement they cite <span style="color: red;">the kingdom of God is not meat and drink</span>, </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Romans 14:17</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, but give it a totally false meaning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> When Paul wrote that <span style="color: red;">the kingdom of God is not meat and drink</span>, he did not mean that we won't eat or drink in heaven. In agreement with Paul's meaning, <i>The Living Bible</i> has worded Romans 14:17 correctly, <span style="color: red;">after all, the important thing for us as Christians is not what we eat or drink.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span> The statement, <span style="color: red;">pure river of water of life</span> surely must imply that we will be drinking from that river of life, and why would there be fruit trees if we would not be eating in heaven?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="color: red;"> There shall be no more curse.</span> This is a gigantic statement! The curse has been the problem since Adam ate of the forbidden fruit. </span><br />
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<li style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">to Adam God said, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">cursed is the ground for your sake. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Genesis 3:17</span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">to those who are trying to earn their way to hea</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;">ven by keeping the laws of the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;">Old Testament</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;"> Paul wrote, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;">for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.</span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">" </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gal. 3:10.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Paul, quoting Deut. 21:23, said,</span> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;">for he who is hanged is accursed of God.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;"> We see Christ, the Lamb of God, hanging on a tree; Cursed by Roman soldiers, cursed by Jewish law-makers, cursed by His Father - for us! </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> However, there, in heaven, <span style="color: red;">shall be no more curse</span>, for by then the Destroyer has been destroyed and Jehovah is dwelling with humans.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /><br /> <span style="color: red;">His servants shall serve him</span>, no doubt with pleasure, but not only that <span style="color: red;">they shall see His face</span>. This applies to all those who have His name written on their foreheads as we learned in 7:5-12. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> Note that before Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden he was already working, looking after the garden, and we have been told that The Garden of Eden is a prototype of Heaven. Work is not a curse, it is a blessing. If we are healthy enough to work we should be thankful that we can work.<br />_______________________________</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-indent: 0.25in;"><i>+++ An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words,</i></span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-indent: 0.25in;">W.E. Vine</span></span></h4>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-10100702402312942072013-06-29T04:30:00.000-04:002018-01-08T22:07:42.974-05:00Heaven and Earth Fled Away<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;"><b style="font-size: small;"> </b></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">20:11</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Earlier the writer said, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.</span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">4:2.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Now the writer says, <span style="color: red;">I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">20:11. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Vine</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">+++</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> tells us that the word, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">heaven</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, in this case means, </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the sky.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It is a gigantic thought to imagine that when the earth and the sky became aware that they were in God's presence they fled away in awe. Some Bible expositors use that line of reasoning. </span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> That, however,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">is </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">likely not the right interpretation, because, according to their own teaching (the omnipresence of God), heaven and earth have been in the presence of God for many long ages before this incident happens so why would heaven and earth suddenly attempt to flee from the presence of God.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> A more likely interpretation is this. The words, <span style="color: red;">fled away</span>, could mean that because the viewer was moving it created the illusion that the earth and the heaven (sky) fled away. Could it be that the earth and the sky did not move at all but that the writer, in the presence of the great white throne, which was part of the spaceship that the writer was in, was being transported into outer space? In fact, the word, <span style="color: red;">fled</span>, does have an element of speed involved in it. Then he says, <span style="color: red;">there was found no place for them;</span> <span style="color: magenta;">I could no longer see the place where the earth and the sky were visible before.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><span style="color: red;"> But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. </span><br /><span style="color: red;"> The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. </span><br /><span style="color: red;"> And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. </span><br /><span style="color: red;"> Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). </span><br /><span style="color: red;"> And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. </span><br /><span style="color: red;"> But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">21:22-27</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.</span> As long as we are mortal, we need some ritual, some formality. However, there in eternity, we can bypass those things <span style="color: blue;">that help us unto God</span>, because there we can worship Him in His actual presence. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> While Christ was on earth, he frequently condemned his peers for being ritualistic but spiritually dead. Once he said, <span style="color: red;">You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.</span> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">John 5:39-40.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> He meant, you are coming close to spiritual reality, but because of your rules and rituals you are completely missing it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> Here we clearly see that even Bible study can be an empty ritual if the living Christ does not bless it. While on earth, this is a constant hazard, but later, in that holy city, when <span style="color: red;">we shall see Him as He is</span>, our worship of Him will not need ritual, buildings, paintings, prayer chains or other things that lead us to worship.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"> the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light. </span>This city, <span style="color: red;">the New Jerusalem</span>, has its own internal source of light and energy and does not need the light of the sun or moon to lighten the streets to walk on</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span> <span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">21:24 </span><br />
<span style="color: red; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">21:26</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> By repeating verse 24, verse 26, emphasizes the fact that, at that time, after the white throne judgement, when all Christians are safe in heaven, there are still people living on the earth, outside the Holy City, those who are not in the lake of fire; it is the rulers of those people who will bring glory and honour into the Holy City.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /> Dr McGee* states, <span style="color: blue;">The kings of the earth bring their glory into it. This is my reason for saying that there will be a great deal of traffic commuting back and forth between the New Jerusalem and this earth down here. Not only will Israel come up there to worship, but the nations of the world, which have entered eternity will also come up. It will not be their permanent abode, but they will come up there to worship. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"></span><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span> Throughout his Bible study he has been adamant that all people who are not born again must spend eternity in “hell”. His argument here makes one wonder where he gets the people of the nations who will come and visit heaven, if they are all in <span style="color: blue;">perpetual eternal torment</span>.<br /><br /> The <span style="color: red;">gates shall not be shut at all by day</span> and since <span style="color: red;">there is no night there</span>, 22:5, one must assume that the gates are always open.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> Dr McGee* suggests that there will be a great deal of traffic commuting back and forth between the New Jerusalem and this earth down here.<br /><br /> I will take that thought a step further and suggest that people are already travelling in space capsules to a satellite out in space. Once the Holy City "comes down" and is within reach for earth launched spaceships this space travel may become common occurrence.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="color: red;"> the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.</span> I wonder if by "kings" is meant the rich people of society. We are already hearing of rich people who are buying tickets to take flights into space.<br /><br />I find this array of thoughts completely fascinating!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><i>+++ An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words,</i></span> <span style="font-family: "times new roman";">W.E. Vine</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">* </span></span><span style="color: black; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Through the Bible</i></span></span><span style="color: black; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> with Dr. J Vernon McGee.</span></span></div>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-32485916569545097692013-06-27T15:35:00.000-04:002017-12-11T17:35:51.202-05:00Inhabitants of the New City<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. And there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor crying out, nor will there be any more pain; for the first things passed away. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rev 21:3-4</span></span><span style="color: red; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rev 21:7 </span></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, will have their part in the Lake burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rev 21:8 </span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: red;"> And the nations of those who are saved will walk in the light of it; and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">Rev 21:24</span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="color: red;">And there shall in no way enter into it anything that defiles, or any making an abomination or a lie; but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.</span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">Rev 21:27</span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">Some Will Enter, Some won't</span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> B</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">y reading the last phrase of this chapter we can confirm who these are that are saved: they are</span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: red; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;"> the ones who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. </span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;"> We see again, that not all those whose names are not in the Book of Life are in torment, for if they were, who are those </span><span style="color: red; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;">kings of the earth who bring their glory and honor into the city</span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;">? </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;">21:24.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;"> If those who are saved all live in the city, and those who are not saved are in the lake of fire, what is the purpose of a new earth, since it would have no inhabitants?</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Q<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">uoting Dr McGee</span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">*</span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"> again, <span style="color: blue;">The children of Israel will be among the multitudes who come into this city to worship in eternity. They will come from the earth to bring their worship and glory. </span>This statement states that even t</span>he <i style="text-indent: 0.25in;">Old Testament </i><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">saints that "walked with God" did not make it into heaven. I cannot accept that teaching! Is Jehovah really Anti-Semitic?</span></span></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">According to this study, the Bible teaches that, at first, in eternity, there will be four categories of humans: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">1. The first ones are the martyrs. They reign with Christ for one thousand years. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God, and who had not worshipped the beast nor his image, nor had received his mark on their foreheads, nor in their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">20:4</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> This is the same one thousand years in which Satan is bound in the bottomless pit. After that time, they move into the Holy City when it descends. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">21:3</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">The second are those who are saved, </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">21:24,</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> the blood washed multitudes from all nations of the world. The term for these, in Christian circles, is, “</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">those who are born again</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">”. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> Immediately, after the white throne judgment, they will enter the holy city, the place we usually call heaven. It is then that Christians will join those who were martyred for Jesus. There is no teaching in the Bible of a place out there somewhere, way beyond our imagination, that we will go to when we die. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /> We need to realign our thinking to agree with the teachings of the Bible. According to the description given in <i>The Apocalypse</i>, heaven is a physical realm with dwelling places, streets and a wall to keep out those who may not enter. The city has food to eat and water to drink. It also grows trees, the leaves of which are, used for medicine for those who still dwell on earth. We can surmise this because there is no sickness in heaven.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">3. Third are those who did not accept Christ but they lived good, clean, honest lives. They will not spend eternity in fiery anguish but they will be the inhabitants of the new earth</span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> These are the people, whose kings will come to visit the holy city:</span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">21:24.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> 4. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fourth are those who turn back from following Christ because of fear, <span style="color: red;">the cowards,</span> or because of false doctrines, <span style="color: red;">those without faith</span>. It also includes murderers; pimps; drug dealers; it includes those who knew better, but who willfully, deliberately disobeyed the cardinal basic rules of decent humanity. <span style="color: red;">But as for the cowards and those without faith and those who are disgusting in their filth and murderers and fornicators and those practicing spiritism and idolaters and all the liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur. This means the second death.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rev 21:8 NW.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /> It is interesting that in the Greek text, in place of <span style="color: red;">and those practicing spiritism </span>we find this very modern prevailing sin listed; a sin found mostly in the younger generation: <span style="color: red;">and to druggers. </span>Two thousand years ago the writer of <i>The Revelation </i>already predicted the coming of the curse of street drugs. Now countries are jostling to get into line to be the next one to make it legal!<br /><br />Those who insisted on living the lifestyle mentioned in this verse, and never in their life repented of their evil actions must, according to the rules of their Creator, pay the price in torment.<br />______________________________</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">* </span></span><span style="color: black; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Through the Bible</i></span></span><span style="color: black; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> with Dr J Vernon McGee.</span></span></div>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-29359435363585618292013-06-23T04:30:00.000-04:002018-01-01T17:34:39.281-05:00The Holy City is Measured<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"> The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And he measured its wall, a hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"> The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. <br /> The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, <br /> the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. <br /> The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">21:16-21</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 24px;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: start;">twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 24px;">Mr. Smith</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 24px;">**</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 24px;"> offers this view concerning the size of the city. In ancient times, when the size of the city was given, the number referred to the circumference of the city and not to the length of one side. If that is the way this is to be interpreted, the New Jerusalem will be only three hundred and seventy five miles on any one side. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 24px;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 24px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 24px;">The reference to the word <span style="color: red;">equal</span> concerning the height would not be the actual height but rather it would mean that the height was proportionate to the size of the wall. This way of reckoning would, of course, make the Holy City much smaller.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">He measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits</span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">,</span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"> that is, about 216 feet (65 meters). </span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">This, obviously, does not refer to the length of the wall if the length of the city is 1500 miles each way. So, was he measuring the thickness or the height of the wall? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here are two answers:</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><br />
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<li><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Then he measured the thickness of the walls and found them to be two hundred and sixteen feet across.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Living Bible.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">He measured its wall, two hundred and sixteen feet (in height).</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Wuest#</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: red;">According to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.</span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wuest</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">#</span></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> clarifies this by writing, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">using the measuring system of mankind, which is that used by the angel.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Living Bible</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is even more up to date in its translation; </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the angel called out the measurements to me, using standard units. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We must notice that the writer very carefully says the wall was <span style="color: red;">of jasper</span> not that it was “like jasper”. The city was of gold and not like gold, but then he continues to say that the gold was <b>like</b> clear glass.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> <span style="color: red;">The foundations of the wall of the city</span>, not the foundations of the city, <span style="color: red;">were garnished with all manner of precious stones.</span> There are twelve foundations, </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">21:14,</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> each foundation had its own gem. Foster*** points out that these twelve gems very closely compare to the twelve gems worn by the high priest on his breastplate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> In the statement, <span style="color: red;">the street of the city was pure gold,</span> we see that the word, street, is singular. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="color: blue;">The broad avenue of the city was pure gold.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Wuest</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"># </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">The main street of the city was pure gold</span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">Berean Study Bible. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Is it possible that only one and not all the streets of heaven are paved with gold (as we so glibly say)?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> Even though it is impossible for us to imagine a city this large with only one street, is it possible that heaven has only one street, as the Bible says? Dr McGee* suggests that it is one continuous street weaving throughout the city to provide access to any part of the city; from the bottom tier of the city to the very top level.<br />_________________</span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">__________________</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><i><em># An Expanded Translation,</em></i><em><span style="font-style: normal;"> K.W. Wuest.</span></em></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>**Daniel and The Revelation,</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Uriah Smith</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">*** Shadow of the Antichrist, Ivan Foster</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">* </span></span><span style="color: black; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Through the Bible</i></span></span><span style="color: black; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> with Dr J Vernon McGee.</span></span></div>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-66925859499849996672013-06-21T04:30:00.000-04:002017-12-27T21:01:05.699-05:00The Holy City Comes Down<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. <br /> “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” <br /> Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” <br /> And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0px;">21:2-6 </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />The Holy City Comes Down</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It is unfortunate that throughout the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">New Testament </i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">only one word is used for the word heaven. The word in Greek is </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ouranos</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and it means any of the following: </span></div>
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<li style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">the air, </span></li>
<li style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">the home of the heavenly orbs, </span></li>
<li style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">the sky, </span></li>
<li style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">the sphere in which the evil powers do their work </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">the eternal dwelling place of God.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Vine+++</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> Naturally, our upbringing and our education flavor our understanding of the word heaven, and we subconsciously hold on to our idea, whether or not that is what the Scriptures means to portray. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> It seems logical to believe that this city of God did not proceed out of the place that Vine</span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">+++</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> calls</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> the eternal dwelling place of God</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, or <span style="color: blue;">The Akashic Field</span>, but perhaps, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">rather </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">was fashioned</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (built) </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">among the home of the heavenly orbs, that is, among the stars.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> In fact, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Living Bible</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> in 21:10 </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">says,</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: red;">Descending out of the skies.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> As we saw in the last post, its dimensions are very limited, not at all comparing in size to the earth and sky that we just read of as having been changed. Regardless of its origin, it is a spectacular sight to behold. <i>The Living Bible</i> describes it this way; <span style="color: red;">It was a glorious sight, beautiful as a bride at her wedding.</span> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">20:2</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We cannot believe that our eternal home has always been the same as it will be when we get there, because Christ said, <span style="color: red;">In My Father’s house are many mansions; ... I go to prepare a place for you.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">John 14:2</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. Whatever it is that Christ is doing to our future home, we can only believe that they are improvements, fit for His bride.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Dr McGee* writes, <span style="color: blue;">Is anything incongruous about a civilization out yonder in space on a new planet? The New Jerusalem will either become another satellite to the earth or, what is more probable and what I think is true, the earth will become a satellite to the New Jerusalem as well as the rest of the new creation. This chapter indicates that the city will be the center of all things. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It seems unlikely that the earth will become a satellite of the New Jerusalem, because of the limited size of the New City. Isn't a satellite always smaller than its home planet?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our New Home</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Living Bible</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">American Standard</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> have changed, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I heard a loud voice from heaven</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, to, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I heard a loud shout from the throne. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The voice said, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The tabernacle of God is with man.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The word tabernacle means </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">a temporary dwelling place</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. The </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">LB</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> has put it this way, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the home of God is now among men, and he will live with them, and they will be his people. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Whereas Wuest</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">#</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> has confused the issue by inserting, </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the glorified body of the Lord Jesus in which he lives </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">in place of</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">tabernacle.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> He that sat on the throne is God, the Father. 4:3. The one sitting there, calls himself, <span style="color: red;">the Beginning and the End;</span> therefore it is not an angel.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> 21:6.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="color: red;">Then the temple of God was opened in heaven.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">11:19</span> That is exactly the place in <i>The Apocalypse</i> where the Rapture of the Church is recorded. That thought is repeated in 21:2 with these words, <span style="color: red;">Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="color: red;"> I make all things new.</span> So far, in chapter 21, there is </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;">a new sky, a new earth, v.</span><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;">1</span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;">, </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;">a New Jerusalem, v.</span><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;">2</span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;">, </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;">a new tabernacle (as far as man is concerned), v.</span><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;">3</span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 24px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">a new manner of life. v.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">4</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;"> It has also been suggested that the New Heaven refers to the atmosphere around the new earth. I also read that the old heaven needed cleansing because that is where Satan used to be, for more on this see Eph. 6. All traces of Satan's influence needed to be eradicated from it before it was fit to contain the Holy City!</span></div>
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In 16:17 we also had the words,<span style="color: red;"> It is done!</span> In the post dealing with 16:17 I wrote, <span style="color: blue;">The words, it is done, certainly include the completion of The Church of Christ, and her rapture. </span> That same thought is repeated here. If modern day Bible prophets are right, The Church took about 2000 years to "construct" and it is not at all surprising that it would be mentioned several times that it is finished. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It is an important feat, afterall, she is the Bride of Christ! In place of the words, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Write, for these words are true and faithful...It is done!</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Wuest</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">#</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> has <span style="color: blue;">These words are trustworthy and dependable ... they have come to pass and stand accomplished.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> According to Wuest, included in the word, <span style="color: red;">write,</span> is the meaning of, <span style="color: blue;">Do not be hesitant to write what you have seen and heard, because my words are trustworthy.</span> <span style="color: magenta;">What I have said will happen, must happen, because I started this program and I know how it ends.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>+++
An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words,</i> W.E.
Vine</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">*
</span></span><span style="color: black; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Through
the Bible</i></span></span><span style="color: black; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
with Dr. J Vernon McGee.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><i><em>#
An Expanded Translation,</em></i><em><span style="font-style: normal;">
K.W. Wuest.</span></em></span></span></div>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-90036521020945066382013-06-19T04:30:00.002-04:002017-12-26T17:40:29.105-05:00The Holy City<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">having the glory of God. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">21:10-16</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Glorious City</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The new perspective of this last section is glorious. “From the smoke and pain and heat it is a relief to pass into the clear, clean atmosphere of the eternal morning where the breath of heaven is sweet and the vast city of God sparkles like a diamond in the radiance of his presence” (Moffatt) </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Guzik<br /><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> In 16:20 we learned that when the seventh angel poured out his bowl of wrath the mountains of earth were not found. Here in v. 10 the writer was "beamed up" to a great and high mountain; I suppose we must assume that this mountain is on the new earth, it was from that mountain that he saw heaven, the holy Jerusalem, our eternal abode</span>.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">In its meaning 21:10 is a repeat of verse 21:2. 21:3-8 are simply an interruption in the major thought. In 21:2 the city was noted as being as beautiful as a bride and starting in 21:10 it is described in the same way again. This fact indicates that the two verses are in the same time frame.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">This holy city is bathed in the glory of God. It's splendour and radiance as a luminary, a light giving body, was like a stone which is most precious, like a stone of crystal clear jasper.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Wuest#. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> <span style="color: blue;">The basic color of jasper is that of fire.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Vine+++</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">. In fact, it is so bright that the people, living on the new earth, live in the light of this holy city. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">21:24</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On each of the twelve gates is the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel, and each gate has a guardian angel attending it. The city wall has twelve foundations and on each one of them is the name of one of the twelve apostles of Christ. <span style="color: red;">You…having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eph.2:20</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> This phrase about the names of the twelve apostles, being on the twelve foundations, has caused some to suggest that, it was not John, the Apostle, who wrote </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">The Apocalypse</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">. For, they say, it would be an unprecedented display of egotism for the writer, an apostle, to claim that his name is on one of the foundations of the holy city.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On each side of the city are three gates, and we imagine them all on the same level, but a city that is as high as it is long may well have the gates staggered at different levels. This would be very practical, if those who came to visit the new city came in spaceships. For anyone who has watched Si Fi movies of this type, this is easy to imagine and certainly easy to believe. </span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He who talked with me</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, is the angel, which we met in 20:9. He has a measuring reed made of gold. </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The length of a reed is given in Eze. 40:5, as being six times a cubit plus six handbreadths or almost eleven feet long. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Unger++</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /> The city is square; in fact, it is a cube. In each direction, it is 12,000 furlongs or 1500 miles. Measuring in a straight line, West to East, that is the distance from Victoria, Canada to the western tip of Lake Superior in Canada and North to South from Tuktoyaktuk in the North-West Territories of Canada straight south to the Canada-US border. <br /><br /> A rather large city when one considers that it stands as high as it is wide. Yet we cannot think of it as a small planet because planets, by their very nature are round, but this city is laid out as a square. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Dr McGee</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">*</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> explains how this could be possible. He admits that the city is a cube but that a translucent sphere surrounds the cube. He says that the people living in heaven would live inside the sphere, not on the surface of the sphere as dwellers on earth live on its surface.<br /><br /> Foster</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">***</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> has given the calculation of the capacity of the Holy City. <span style="color: blue;">It is 3,375,000,000 cubic miles.</span> Then he continues by saying, <span style="color: blue;">multiply that figure by 64 and you have the number of allotments equaling one quarter of a cubic mile the city would provide.</span> <span style="color: blue;">That gives a total of 216,000,000,000...segments.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> One gets the idea that he is implying that each "block" in heaven will have a cubic area of one-quarter mile and that there will be room for 216,000,000,000 "blocks" in heaven. Christ said, </span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are many rooms in my Father's house. I wouldn't tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: red;">After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together.</span> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">John 14:2-3 CEV</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">The present population of the earth is less than 7,000,000,000. It has been estimated that the total number of people that have ever lived in the world is 107,602,707,791. Playing around with all this wild speculation would allow for a population of about 15 people per one quarter cubic mile. If by some weird coincidence, these numbers happened to be true, and if all the people that have ever lived in our world, would be in heaven, heaven would still not be crowded.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">________________________________</span><br />
<i style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><em># An Expanded Translation,</em></i><em style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> K.W. Wuest.</span></em><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>+++ An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words,</i> W.E. Vine</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>++ Unger’s Bible Dictionary, </i>Merrill F. Unger</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">* </span></span><span style="color: black; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Through the Bible</i></span></span><span style="color: black; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> with Dr J Vernon McGee.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">*** <i>Shadow of the Antichrist</i>, Ivan Foster</span></span></div>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-17800496835175862762013-06-16T04:30:00.002-04:002017-12-18T17:40:33.293-05:00A Great Multitude<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">worshiped</span> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">God, </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” </span><br /> <span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” </span><br /> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">. </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">7:11-14</span><b style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> This is all just too wonderful for words; the bride and the bridegroom are finally together. After all these years of separation and longing for closer fellowship, it has happened. Now The Church is there where Jehovah Himself will be with them</span>. <br />
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I<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">t is so fitting that </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All the angels stood around the throne ... saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Would we expect less than that</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> the elders and the four living creatures, would fall on their faces before the throne and say: Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”</span></div>
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The writer is asked by one of the twenty-four elders, <span style="color: red;">who are these that are dressed in white robes, and where do they come from.</span> The answer given is; <span style="color: magenta;">I do not know, but you do.</span> The elder answered, <span style="color: red;">These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> These are the saints, which throughout the ages have overcome torture in a time of great tribulation and are now worshipping at the throne of God. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But the rest of the dead <b>did not live again until the thousand years were finished</b>. This is the first resurrection. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">20:5. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This statement clearly tells us that we do not "go to heaven" when we die!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Why do modern Christians think that Christians of other ages should have undergone torture and persecution, but, we, the modern generation will bypass the tribulation at the end of time? The Bible distinctly says that Christians will still be on earth during the great tribulation</span>.</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> T</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">hese are the ones who...washed their robes</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> implies a certain element of responsibility for each individual to have his robes washed. Even though Christ does the cleansing, the onus lies with each person individually to ask for it. It sounds like a good argument against the teaching of absolute predestination. Jehovah will not force people to repent, neither did He decide beforehand who would and who would not believe. This is always the choice of the human.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br />The Blessings of Heaven</span></h4>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> “for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">7:15-17</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> There, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">those who are dressed in white</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> with </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the Lamb</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> as </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the Shepherd</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (AS) will have ultimate comfort. No more hunger, no more thirst, no more tears and no more working in the burning sun. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> All <span style="color: red;">those whose names are in the Book of Life</span>, on the day of judgment, will be before the throne of God. Christians will serve Him 24/7; I wonder, though, if we will have eight hours shifts. In any case, temple service to Jehovah will be continuous. The benefits are out of this world:</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those who serve shall never <span style="color: red;">hunger</span> <span style="color: red;">anymore</span>. This promise is the antitheses of the great famine that will be coming at the end of time. see 6:6,</span> <span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">http://ikefehr1939.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-black-horse-pale-horse.html </span></li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They shall <span style="color: red;">never <span style="color: red;">thirst</span> anymore.</span> This promise obliterates the curse of the third bowl of wrath. see 16:4-7.</span> <span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">http://ikefehr1939.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-third-trumpet-and-third-bowl.html </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat.</span> This promise cancels the curse of the fourth bowl of wrath. Extreme heat and worse sunburns will become more prevalent in the last days perhaps due to the thinning of the ozone layer. see 16:8-9. <span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">http://ikefehr1939.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-fourth-trumpet-and-fourth-bowl.html</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="color: red;">for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. </span>This is when the first part of the 23rd Psalm really takes on meaning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="color: red;"> And God will wipe away every tear fro</span><span style="color: red;">m their eyes.</span> Babylon, that great city which we studied has killed so many saints throughout history, and the ones left behind have shed oceans of tears. Terminal illness has torn families apart and what can the ones who are left behind do, but weep? Praise Jehovah, there is a promise, given by One who cannot lie, and that promise is, <span style="color: red;">God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.</span></span></div>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-76098602966386209662013-06-14T04:30:00.003-04:002017-12-20T20:42:36.198-05:00The Lamb's wife - The Church<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">21:9</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Here the writer again meets an angel he had already seen in action. This angel was one of those who had one of the seven bowls of wrath. The angel said to him, <span style="color: red;">Come, I will show you the</span> (video of the) <span style="color: red;">bride, the Lamb's wife.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Wedding Feast</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> “For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-weight: normal;">Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-weight: normal;">And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!” </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-weight: normal;">And I </span><span style="color: red; font-weight: normal;">heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters an</span><span style="color: red; font-weight: normal;">d as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-weight: normal;">And to</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">her</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: red; font-weight: normal;">it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-weight: normal;">Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” </span></span></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">19:1-9</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h4>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In 19:1-3 it is a great multitude that speaks the praise of Jehovah.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In 19:4 it is the 24 elders and the four living creatures (see chapter 4) which say, <span style="color: red;">Amen, Alleluia</span>.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">In 19:5 it is the voice from the throne that says, <span style="color: red;">Praise our God</span>.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In 19:6 the voice of the great multitude said, </span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify;">Alleluia! For the Lord God omnipotent reigns!</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"> And such a reason to praise Jehovah! It is time for the marriage supper of the Lamb. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">At this point in the book, the angels have called The Church home to heaven. Surely, we will have reason to praise Jehovah!</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> In a parable Christ told, He said, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son.</span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mat.22:2.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Here we see the full meaning of that parable. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="color: red;">A certain king</span>, God, the Father, has prepared <span style="color: red;">a marriage for His Son</span>, Jesus, the Messiah. His wife has adorned herself; she is arrayed in smooth, <span style="color: red;">clean and pure linen</span>. This linen is merely symbolic of what she is really wearing. Her attire is the <span style="color: red;">deeds of righteousness</span> which is the trademark of a true Christian.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> It seems that looking at the way some "Christians" carry on, they will not be allowed into the wedding feast at all; no acts of mercy, no unexpected traits of honesty, no superabundant caring for one's family; nothing special with which they can adorn themselves for their husband, Jesus. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> In another parable, Jesus Himself warned people about coming to a wedding feast, but not being allowed to stay in the hall because they were not properly dressed. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mat. 22:11-14.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> Unfit to stay at the wedding feast because of an ungodly lifestyle! That sounds so sad.</span><br />
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-89676938895173180672013-06-12T04:30:00.002-04:002017-12-13T17:05:38.914-05:00The Lamb of Calvary <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">L) Saints Worship God</b><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">14:1-5</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The worshipping 144,000</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> After the depression brought by the False Prophet, the Antichrist and the battle of Armageddon, it is so refreshing to again see the Lamb; the wonderful Lamb of Calvary! </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">5:6</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Now He is not on Mount Calvary, now he is standing victorious on Mt. Zion. Now he is not alone and forsaken as He was at Calvary, now <span style="color: red;">one hundred and forty four thousand</span> (a non-specific number) redeemed saints </span>surround him, all of them have <span style="color: red;">His Father’s name written on their foreheads</span>.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Almost the same words are repeated again in 19:8, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Accompanying the heavenly, subtle sound of the harps, the redeemed sang a song; it was as if it were a new song, which only those 144,000 could learn. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="color: red;">These are they which have not defiled themselves with women; for they are virgins. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> By using the word <span style="color: red;">defiled</span> he tells us that he is not talking about any moral sexual activity within the marriage bond; those activities do not cause defilement as the Roman Catholic church teaches. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Vine</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">+++</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> suggests that </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the word, defile, has to do with physical fornication or adultery, whereas the word, virgin, has to do with spiritual uprightness.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> According to Vine, even though they were sexually active within the confines of marriage, they are still called virgins because they are not sexually defiled.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> A question concerning gender does arise. Were the 144,000 all males? Perhaps the whole statement is not gender sensitive at all; maybe it was simply John’s way of writing because of the times in which he lived. Also, as mentioned earlier, the number given may just represent, a huge crowd; including everyone there. For more on this see: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://ikefehr1939.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-opening-of-fifth-and-sixth-seal.html</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> they are without fault before the throne of God. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The Bible says that </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is none righteous, no, not one; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.</span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rom. 3:10+23. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Who, then, are those who are without fault? As surmised earlier - these are the Christian martyrs of all ages who are faultless in heaven because they have been washed clean by accepting the forgiveness provided by Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. </span></div>
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They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! </div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.”</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: red;"> </span>15:2-4</span><span style="color: red;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I saw something like a sea of glass.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The writer again saw a video and the screen was showing what he thought looked like a Sea, but now he saw a fire burning on the sea of glass (the video screen). He also saw, standing on the sea of glass, those who were victorious over the beast. These saints had the harps of God and they sang two songs: </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Mr Smith notes that </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the song of Moses</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is the song of redemption which the Israelites sang after they had successfully crossed the Red Sea. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Thou hast guided in thy righteousness this thy people whom thou hast redeemed, by thy strength thou hast called them into thy holy resting-place. </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: normal;">Exodus 15:13 </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: normal;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bring them in and plant them in the mountain of their inheritance, in thy prepared habitation, which thou, O Lord, hast prepared; the sanctuary, O Lord, which thine hands have made ready.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Lord reigns for ever and ever and ever.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: normal;">Exo 15:17-18. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> How very fitting these words will seem when we are finally safe in the </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">prepared habitation </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">which the Lord has prepared for us. Christ said, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.</span> </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">John 14:2 </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> At this point in the book, the rapture has happened, all people have been judged, and the earth has undergone cataclysmic changes. Former Christians are worshipping Jehovah in heaven; people who had lived decent lives in their lifetime are living in peace on the new, refined earth; people who lived wicked lives, those we read about in 20:8, together with the false prophet, the beast and the devil are in the lake of fire. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> The Bible says, that at that time </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">all nations shall come and worship before You</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">. It seems as if this could refer only to the people on the new earth; they will come to the holy city to worship Jehovah. To confirm this theory 21:26 says, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">(from outside the holy city into it).</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"> The next post will have more about the Bride of Christ - The Church.<br />_______________________________<br />+++ An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, W.E. Vine,</span></span></h4>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-59355937284279561382013-06-09T04:30:00.002-04:002017-12-11T17:07:37.394-05:00The White Throne<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">11:18</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">20:10-15</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Judgement</span></span></b></h4>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> <span style="color: red;">I saw the dead;</span> we recall that <span style="color: red;">those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus…lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">20:4-5.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We have come to the point in the narrative where the thousand years are finished, </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">20:7, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and the last war is done with. Satan has been disposed of, </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">20:10,</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and now the rest of the dead have come back to life. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">20:12</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Except for those martyred for Christ, every human stands before the throne for judgement. According to true and honest accounting practices, <span style="color: red;">the books were opened.</span> This is not a time for guessing, or for whitewashing. It is not a time for embellishing good deeds or noble intentions. The open books will reveal all that really matters.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is important to realize that<span style="color: red;"> another book was opened</span>, which is <span style="color: red;">the Book of Life. </span>This tells us that it is not until this point, in the affairs of the world, that anyone, except martyrs for Christ, is allowed to enter heaven.<br /><br /> Those who have lived good lives but were not born again are also destined for the same judgement seat. Those who have lived decidedly wicked lives must also meet the Judge at the same time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Those who have died “in Christ” have been waiting in Paradise for this day. The Bible does not teach that when we die we immediately go to heaven or to the place of eternal torment. Saint Paul wrote <span style="color: red;">since it is a righteous thing with God ... to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">2 Thes. 1:6-7.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> That rest is coming at the return of Christ - not before.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">They were judged according to their works.</span> This word, <span style="color: red;">works</span>, basically means, <span style="color: blue;">to toil</span>, or, <span style="color: blue;">an occupation</span>, but it also can mean, <span style="color: blue;">an act or a manner of acting as in a lifestyle.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Strong</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. It is good to remember that when we are standing at the Judgement seat the great accuser is no longer in the presence of God; he has been cast into the lake of fire. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">20:10. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Unregenerate people will stand alone, face to face, with the Judge. There will be no one to witness against them and the only thing pleading their cause will be their works and their lifestyle. Saint Paul again, <span style="color: red;">since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation ... when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">2 Thes. 1:6-7</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /> <span style="color: red;">The sea, death and Hades, </span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: red;">the</span> unseen </span>(</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Wuest#),</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">all delivered up the dead, which were in them.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Now they have yielded up their dead for judgement. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Death and</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> the unseen are now empty, with no future purpose, and consequently, they are cast into the lake of fire, to join the dragon, the beast and the false prophet. </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">20:14.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Being cast into the lake of fire is the second death. In 20:6 we read that those who were resurrected in the first resurrection (the martyrs) had no need for concern over the second death. Judgement for all others, Christians and non-Christians, will be at the white throne. <br /><br /> Christians, who have stood the test and remained true to Christ, that is, all those whose, names have not been blotted out of the book of life, also need not fear the second death. <br /><br /> Unger++ states that the names of all people are in the book of life at birth and that the names are only removed from the book of life when a person, at his or her last chance, refuses to accept Christ as Saviour (or if a person turns back from following Christ). <br /><br /> The spirit of God will not plead indefinitely with a sinner to repent. People who put off "turning to God" until just before they die have no way of knowing whether or not the spirit of Jehovah will call them at that time. For them, any rejection might be the last.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> All non-believers, those who have not actually accepted Christ, </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">so as to have their manner of life changed </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">(Wuest#)</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> will be judged by their lifestyle alone; as is shown by these words, <span style="color: red;">the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> Wuest#</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">, whose translation is said to be based on the best manuscripts available, has made an interesting omission in 20:15. His text does not include the part that says, <span style="color: red;">anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Based on the teachings of Christ it is obvious that many who have done good deeds will rise to the resurrection of life. The Bible makes it apparent that not all non-Christians will be cast into the lake of fire. Only those, whose lifestyle was decidedly wicked, and those whose names are no longer in the Book of Life, will experience that fate. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The Bible does not teach that all non-believers will spend eternity in the lake of fire. In this connection we recall the words of Christ; </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">John 5:28-29.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Christ is saying that the resurrection that non-Christians are destined for is in accordance with their works; their lifestyle. Of course, it goes without saying that not only Christians do good deeds. There are many who do not even profess to be Christians, who by their good works put many Christians to shame!<br /><br /> To strengthen the argument, let us look at another example Christ left. <span style="color: red;">Come, you blessed...inherit the kingdom...I was thirsty and you gave me drink...Then He will also say to those on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:...I was thirsty and you gave me no drink...and these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Matthew 25:34-46. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> Very distinctly, the rewards and punishments are commensurate with the works done by the individual. I am well aware that this sounds like salvation by works, but we cannot just ignore these, and other Bible portions of this nature, just because they do not agree with what the church has taught us. <br /><br /> Obviously, though, this is not a teaching of salvation by works, because those who are not saved will not spend eternity in heaven. It is simply stating, as Christ did, that their eternal destination depends on their lifestyle. <br /><br /> There is a third option; life on the new earth. There will be much more about this thought later.</span></div>
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<i style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-indent: 0.25in;">++ Unger’s Bible Dictionary, </i><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-indent: 0.25in;">Merrill F. Unger</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><i><em># An Expanded Translation,</em></i><em><span style="font-style: normal;"> K.W. Wuest.</span></em></span></span></div>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-50656781644988320202013-06-07T04:30:00.002-04:002017-12-06T20:32:40.611-05:00The Seventh Bowl of Wrath - The third Woe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” <br /> And there were noises and thundering and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. <br /> Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. <br /> Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. <br /> And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly grea</span><span style="color: red;">t. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">16:17-21</span></span><b style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Here we resume the interrupted story from 10:7. Remember, this is the third woe which was heralded by the seventh trumpet!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> When this, the last angel poured the seventh bowl of wrath on the air, a voice said, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">it is done</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. 16:17. The words, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">it is done</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, surely must include the completion of the Church of Christ and her rapture. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Emptying the seventh bowl happens immediately after the blowing of the seventh trumpet announces its launch;</span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> 11:15-19.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Because this bowl is poured out after the last great battle, it is obvious that the Church will still be on earth during the battle at Armageddon, because, after all, this is the trumpet call that calls the Church home. When the seventh bowl is empty, Jehovah's wrath, because of mankind's sinfulness, will be appeased. <br /><br /> In 11:19, when the seventh trumpet sounds to announce the rapture, we find these words, <span style="color: red;">Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.</span> Here, in </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">16:18</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, we find the almost identical words, <span style="color: red;">there were noises and thundering and lightnings, and there was a great earthquake.</span> Obviously, the seventh bowl of wrath refers to the same scenario as the seventh trumpet blast does; the rapture of The Church and the last great destruction on earth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">After the removal of The Church from this world, doomsday comes quickly and harshly. Then happens the greatest earthquake that this world has experienced in the history of humankind. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> Because of this cataclysmic earthquake, the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. It is easy to see that a Jewish writer, who hated Rome, could have been referring to Rome, without naming it, as the great city. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">T</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">he earthquake also destroyed many other cities. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> If the writer was making reference to Rome, maybe it was not to a geographical place but rather to a spiritual Rome; the Church based in Rome; the Roman church which he saw in the future. If that is true, the statement, the cities of the nations fell, surely must also speak of all the other non-Christian churches who fly the Christian flag. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> <span style="color: red;"> The islands of the world were moved from their places and the mountains were not found.</span> Is he saying that the mountains were levelled, or is he saying that they were underwater? Was it the earthquake, or a giant comet that caused this devastation? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> On March 12, 1998, a news report said that an asteroid is hurtling towards the earth and that it would probably plunge into an ocean in Oct. 2028 (30 years from the year of the newscast). The following day the news report said that it would probably not hit the earth at all, but if it did, it would have the impact of 100 atomic bombs such as hit Hiroshima. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">If there was any truth to this report would the present day astronomers, twenty years later, not be telling us more about this?</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> I find it interesting that ever since the last comet exploded over Russia astrologers and reporters are talking much about future comets. Now they are not saying "if", they have changed that to "when". They are even wondering what the inhabitants of the earth can do to keep the comets from reaching earth.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /> Saint Peter, writing about the final destruction of the earth, said, <span style="color: red;">And God has also commanded that the heavens and the earth will be consumed by fire on the day of judgment, when ungodly people will perish. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and everything in them will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be exposed to judgment.</span> </span>2 Peter 2:7+10 NLT. <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> According to Peter, our engineers will not save the world from that ordeal. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="color: red;"> great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. </span> If we accept that the word, <span style="color: red;">talent</span>, refers to the “common talent”, and the word, pound, to refer to a 16-ounce pound, we see that each hailstone would weigh about 75 pounds. That seems impossible, but we must remember that by this time the weather, the sea, and the rivers have changed. Who knows what these changes might do to affect the hail storms? </span><br />
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-17280438911575880982013-06-05T04:30:00.000-04:002017-12-04T17:04:55.324-05:00The Seventh trumpet - The third woe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.” </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">11:15-19</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /> The return of Christ is the single greatest expectation of The Christian Church. For the Christian, all of history has led to this point, and this is the climax of all our hopes.<br /><br /> The mighty angel said, <span style="color: red;">when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">10:7</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. Paul wrote, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eph 5:32.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> When the seventh trumpet sounds, the mystery, The Church, will be finished.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Paul also wrote </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">we shall all be changed — in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">1 Cor. 15:51-52.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> The last trumpet sound, the one to which Paul refers, is the sound of the seventh trumpet of <i>The Revelation</i>, when the Church is called home. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It is that last trumpet sound, to which the mighty angel is referring here; the trumpet blast of the seventh angel. This teaching is greatly disputed. Those who do not accept this theory say that Paul and John are not referring to the same trumpet blast at all. <b>That argument raises this redundant question; how many last trumpet calls can there be?</b><br /><br /> In chapter 10:7, the sound of the last trumpet was announced and in 11:15 we are told the seventh angel sounded. In spite of that, Concordia writes, <span style="color: blue;">The third woe is not pictured at all.</span> It is illogical to suppose that the fifth trumpet sound heralded the first woe, the sixth trumpet sound heralded the second woe but that the seventh trumpet sound would not herald the third woe. This is especially true, since the contents of the seventh trumpet blast, so exactly fit the picture of the most horrible of all woes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In contradiction to the Scriptures, Dr McGee writes, <span style="color: blue;">The third woe is not the blowing of the seventh trumpet.</span> However, the angel had specifically stated that it was. <span style="color: red;"> I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">8:13</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /> In chapter 19, the writer sees another "video", a video in which the rapture of the church and the praise in heaven that accompanies that event, is more fully portrayed. There is great cause to rejoice: for the struggling church is now “the church triumphant”. This is the event to which Paul referred, when he said, <span style="color: red;">We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">1 Cor. 15:51</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At this point in <i>The Apocalypse</i>, all Christians have been changed, and there is much praise in heaven. The great multitude in heaven says, <span style="color: red;">Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">19:7</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> To John's mind it was as if a great multitude praised God; then he said, <span style="color: magenta;">no it was louder than that, it was like a giant waterfall. Actually, he says, it was even louder than that, it was as loud as mighty rolls of thunder.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Of the seven trumpet blasts, only the last three herald a woe. The reason that the fifth, sixth and seventh trumpet blasts are worse than the first four is that, according to this study, it was immediately before the fifth trumpet blast that Satan was released from his prison. The last, the seventh trumpet blast and the last bowl of wrath are also the last of the three woes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Being that this is the last trumpet blast it is also the call for the rapture of the church when all the redeemed (excluding the martyred saints), <span style="color: red;">will be caught up in the air to meet their Lord and be rewarded according to their deeds.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">11:18.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We, who are redeemed, are so enthralled with this prospect that we overlook the fact that this is really a woe; it is a woe for all those who are not ready to meet Jehovah; the last chance for redemption is eternally past.<br /><br /> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">This is the last, and the saddest of all woes. It is also a woe for Christians who have done no deeds of kindness for which to be rewarded. They will be eternally without rewards. They will have no trophies to present to their Master, the Redeemer who bought them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> <span style="color: red;"> When the seventh angel sounded,…there were loud voices in heaven…and the twenty-four elders…fell on their faces and worshipped God.</span> This seems so fitting and wonderfully glorious. Christ said that <span style="color: red;">there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repents</span>, </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Luke 15:7</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, but now, the whole church is in heaven; surely, there would be praise, joy and worship in heaven.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /> <span style="color: red;"> You have taken Your great power and reigned.</span> Throughout history, from the Garden of Eden onward, humanity has been rebellious against the Lord. Demanding blessings </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">against His wishes a</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">nd refusing praise. The Lord in loving kindness and in great patience has been waiting for hum</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ans</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> to repent and turn to him in humility. Now Jehovah will take his rightful place on the throne of judgement.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> Concordia notes, and some Bible translations agree, that in 11:17, the words, <span style="color: red;">and is to come, </span><span style="color: blue;">are not in the best texts.</span> This seems right, because, at this point in the narrative, Christ has just returned, the rapture has transpired and the temple of God is opened in heaven. There is no more room for another, <span style="color: red;">is to come,</span> in history. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Concordia continues, <span style="color: blue;">God is no longer hidden from men’s eyes in the Holy of Holies enthroned upon the ark. His covenant promise … is forever fulfilled, and those that love Him see Him face to face.</span> Concordia also teaches that God is invisible! Go figure.<br /><br /> However, not only is the Church, the Bride of Christ, safe with the Bridegroom, but the Lord God has revealed His great power and has taken His rightful place as the King of all nations.<br /><br /> <span style="color: red;">the time of the dead, that they should be judged,</span> <span style="color: red;">And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great. The time has come that the dead should be judged.</span> Until now, they were dead and were still in Paradise or in Hades. At the same time that The Church is being raptured, the non-Christians rise up together with The Church to go to their judgment. All, except the martyrs, will be judged in the same scene. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For more on this see: </span><span style="background-color: #edf4ff; color: #888888; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 0px;">https://wwwthinkagai.blogspot.com/2012/07/we-shall-all-be-changed.html</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> That people go to their eternal reward at the time of their death</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is just another unscriptural doctrine, which the church holds. A careful study of the Bible concerning this teaching clearly shows that together with Paul and Daniel we all must wait until the rapture of the church.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">For more on this see: </span><span style="background-color: #edf4ff; color: #888888; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 0px;">https://spaceshiptheology.blogspot.com/2015/02/56-life-after-death-of-course.html</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #edf4ff; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0px;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: #edf4ff; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0px;">and: </span><span style="background-color: #edf4ff; color: #888888; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 0px;">https://spaceshiptheology.blogspot.com/2015/03/57-when-christ-returns.html</span></div>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-16181371029002599942013-06-02T04:30:00.002-04:002017-11-29T17:24:30.173-05:00The Great Contrast<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"> “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death</span>.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> 21:7-8</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Interlace 21:7 with 21:8, for one is the antithesis of the other. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;"> He who overcomes</span> is contrasted with <span style="color: red;">the cowardly and unbelieving</span><br /><span style="color: red;">Shall inherit</span> is the counter statement of <span style="color: red;">shall have their part</span><br /><span style="color: red;">I will be his God</span> is the counterpart of <span style="color: red;">the second death.</span><br /><br /> <span style="color: red;">He who overcomes shall inherit all things. </span> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">We are adopted by God, and because we are adopted, we are His sons and daughters, and as such we stand to inherit all things that He has promised His children.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"> he shall be My son.</span> Translate this to <span style="color: blue;">"The son to Me”</span> as it is in the Greek <span style="color: blue;">... This is a very unusual expression. Vincent calls attention to the fact that this is the only place in John’s writings where a believer is said to be a son (huios) in relationship with God. John writes of us as being God's children.</span> ... <span style="color: blue;">God is the One who says “my son,” and He says it here. ... They are the sons of God in a unique and glorious fashion. </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Dr McGee*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Those who teach that The Revelation was written by two (or more) writers use this statement, "The son to Me” as an argument that John did not write all of The Apocalypse because no where else did John use those words. </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dr McGee* </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /> <i>The Living Bible</i> clarifies, <span style="color: red;">the fearful and unbelieving</span>, by stating 21:8 like this, <span style="color: red;">But cowards who turn back from following me, and those who are unfaithful to me.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> There are eight sins in this list; four of these are also found among the ten commandments:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red; text-indent: 0.25in;">Fearful, cowardly</span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"> - Those who will not follow Christ because they are afraid of the possible consequences.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">Unbelieving - But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Heb.11:6</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. It is possible for humans to have faith without accepting Christ as their redeemer. People can have faith in "their God" without believing Christ. They can have faith in their lifestyle and still reject Christ. <span style="color: red;">Abraham believed God, it was counted to him for righteousness</span>, but he never even heard of Christ!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">Abominable</span> - The Greek word here means <span style="color: blue;">foul</span>. One of the meanings for <span style="color: blue;">foul</span> is <span style="color: blue;">morally or spiritually odious</span>: <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detestable">detestable</a>. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Merriam-Webster</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">Murderers</span> - People with guns find it so easy to kill another person. Is it because from a distance the murder seems less real; the murderer feels less involved with the action?</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Commandment #6:</span> <span style="color: red;">You shall not murder.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">Sexually immoral</span> - it is absolutely amazing that so many people think that "sleeping around" is acceptable because "everybody is doing it". The Supreme Judge does not think that it is acceptable and He is the one who will be sitting in the Judges Chair on that future day.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Commandment #7:</span> <span style="color: red;">You shall not commit adultery.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">Sorcerers</span> - For the word, sorcerers, <i>The Living Bible</i> has, <span style="color: red;">those conversing with demons</span>. We noticed earlier that the word sorcery is also associated with mind-altering drugs. <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Doing drugs is not allowed for Christians. see:</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">h</span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">ttp://ikefehr1939.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-fall-of-babylon.html. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">Idolaters</span> - Some people in some cultures still pray to, and worship idols; we, modern North Americans are much too sophisticated to do that. We simply put our pleasures and our things first in our lives and Jehovah gets whatever is left over, and usually, that is not much. Saint Paul wrote, <span style="color: red;">covetousness ... is idolatry</span>. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Col. 3:5</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Commandment #1:</span> <span style="color: red;">You shall have no other gods before Me.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: red;">all liars</span> - Many Christians shun "serious" sins but rather glibly think that lying in business or for convenience sake is all right. Those Christians ought again to read 21:8; <span style="color: red;">all liars shall have their part</span>. Christ said <span style="color: red;">I am the Way, the Truth.</span> How can Christians claim to be His followers if lying is a non-issue with them?</span> <br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #7f6000;"> Commandment #9:</span> <span style="color: red;">You shall not bear false witness.</span></span><span style="color: red;"> </span><br /><br /> </li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> In linking this phrase, and the phrase <span style="color: red;">all liars</span>, with the rest of the book one can look back at chapters 2+3. In these chapters, several times Christ said, <span style="color: red;">I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan and I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews and are not, but do lie.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">2:9+3:9</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It could be that these are the liars that are being referred to in 21:8.<br /><br /> It is well worthwhile to notice that this verse does not include all those who have never been born again as having their part in the lake of fire. Why would a person have to have the same "life view" as I do to "<span style="color: red;">be born again</span>"? Surely Jehovah's mercy and forgiveness extend beyond what we can imagine or believe. He is not as narrow-minded as Christians are.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just those, whose lifestyle was drastically contrary to that which God intended for people to have <span style="color: red;">shall have their part in the lake </span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">which burns with fire and brimstone,</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> The list in 21:8 may not be all inclusive but it is clear.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> Whether one believes in a literal lake of fire or in a symbolic one, the Bible makes it clear that the difference between being in a place of punishment or in a place of blessing is gigantic. There are those who insist that God would not punish any human so harshly, and that thought is certainly soothing, but while interpreting the Bible we cannot go by our feelings, but only by the meaning of what is written.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">* </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><i>Through the Bible</i></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> with Dr J Vernon McGee.</span></div>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-56613559165818525822013-05-31T04:30:00.001-04:002017-11-27T17:27:11.747-05:00The Beast is Captured<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> “that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.</span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">19:17-21</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I saw an angel standing in the sun</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is rendered in </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Living Bible</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and the Greek text as </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I saw an angel standing in the sunshine.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> This angel, </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">v.17,</span> called together all the flying birds to come and devour the carcasses of the slain soldiers and horses. In 19:21, we read that the <span style="color: red;">birds were filled with their flesh</span>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> the false prophet who worked signs in his</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (the Antichrist's) </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">presence, by which </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(signs)</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The beast, who is the Antichrist, and the false prophet were both brought into submission. Then those two were cast alive into the lake of fire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Only the beast and the false prophet </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">were cast alive into the lake of fire</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> at that time. The others: kings, soldiers, captains, freeman and slaves, </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">19:18</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, were merely <span style="color: red;">killed with the sword of Him ... that sat upon the white horse.</span> No human is <span style="color: red;">c</span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ast alive into the lake of fire </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">until after a fair trial at the judgement seat of Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The warning had been clearly given, don’t go fighting against the Lord of Hosts, you will lose the battle and your shame will be great; </span> <span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame. </span>16:15 </div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The Taliban, ISIS and their ilk are in for a mighty big surprise when the risen Son of God returns with His army to destroy them and to rescue Jehovah's adopted children; The Church of Jesus Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Perhaps the sword that Christ is wielding is the sword of instructions. His army, of devote martyrs, follow His instructions and consequently, the Lamb will overcome them, for He is <span style="color: red;">Lord of lords and King of kings.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">Just in passing, the word <span style="color: red;">Lord</span> as it is used here does not mean <span style="color: red;">God</span> but rather <span style="color: blue;">master. </span>Because <span style="color: red;">God also has highly exalted Him, and has graciously given Him a name which is above every name.</span> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Philippians 2:9 EMTV</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Why did the warning go unheeded? It is because people count <span style="color: red;">the King of kings</span>, as having no significance! Some openly mock Him, some completely disregard Him, many believe that He lived a good life, left a good example and because He did not conform to society’s demands, He died while He was still a young man. Some of t</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">hose same people do not accept that He rose from the grave and is alive now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> They refuse to accept the history of Christ by faith <span style="color: red;">because the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.</span> With their eyes blinded they believe that He is still dead and so they need not worry about Him coming back as the victorious king.</span></div>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-68084690185790534662013-05-29T04:30:00.002-04:002017-11-22T17:39:22.655-05:00The Faithful Rider <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. </span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">19:11-16</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.</span> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">17:14</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This story of Christ fighting the beast and the kings of the earth must be placed into 11:18, where there is an allusion to this war in these words, <span style="color: red;">The nations were angry</span> <span style="color: blue;">(seething in agitation)</span>.<br /><br /> Mankind is bent on having war. Much of this talk about war, in <i>The Apocalypse, </i>refers to The Battle of Armageddon and it has taken a lot of space in the book.<br /><br /> People, powered by Satan, have started the last war, but Christ is coming t</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">o finish it. Thanks to His intervention, it will not be as bloody as it otherwise would have been! It sounds as if Psalm 110:-5-6 speak of this war, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath. He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">His eyes were like a flame of fire.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> This phrase is also used of Him in 1:14.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: red;"> He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood.</span> Foster</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">***</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> says that <span style="color: blue;">the blood represents a day of vengeance and crushing judgment for his enemies. He is depicted as being blood stained before his encounter with the Antichrist to emphasize the character of the mission he is on.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /> H</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">is view does not follow through logically, because, his armies, which followed him, also on white horses, were on the same mission, they were also clothed in fine linen, which was white and clean. If the blood represents vengeance, would not the whole army be wearing garments red with blood? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Rather, it seems to me, that, as stated concerning the </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">vesture dipped in blood</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">, which Christ is wearing in 1:14, this is a picture of Calvary, and it is a sign to Christ's army, and to his enemies, that He already has obtained the victory by His death and resurrection. All he and His army need to do now is to tie up some loose ends.</span><br />
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I<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">n the post called <i>the White Horse; the Red Horse</i> in chapter 6, we studied about Christ's name and His wardrobe. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">http://ikefehr1939.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-white-horse-red-horse.html </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"> </span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> <span style="color: red;">With <span style="color: red;">His sword</span>, the word of His Mouth</span>, He will lay out the program to His soldiers: </span><br />
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<li><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">He will strike the nations</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">He will rule the nations with a rod of iron </span>(strength)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">it is for <span style="color: red;">The Almighty God,</span> that Christ is <span style="color: red;">treading the wine press of the fierceness and wrath.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">19:15. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The grapes of sinfulness and rebellion have been seeded, nurtured and brought to fruition. Now is the time to tread the grapes in the presence of his enemies.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As Quiet as a Thief </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Christ said that when He returns it will be unannounced,</span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">as a thief in the night</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">, but when the seventh trumpet sounds the stillness of the night will be shattered in </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">the twinkling of an eye</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">T</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">hen, when people see Him, they will know who He is, because on His slacks and on His coat will be written His title, <span style="color: red;">KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.</span> Then, according to Paul, <span style="color: red;">at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and ... every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Phil. 2:10-11</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.</span> Throughout my studies I have declared that ordinary Christians do not go to heaven until after the seventh trumpet sounds; the only Christians in heaven at the time that the Battle of Armageddon begins will be the martyrs of Jesus; if my thinking about this is right, these might be the ones who would be riding into battle with Christ.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">__________________________________</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">*** Shadow of the Antichrist, Ivan Foster</span></div>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-12925523443357255612013-05-26T04:30:00.000-04:002017-11-09T17:49:44.211-05:00The Sixth and Seventh Angels<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.</span> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">14:17</span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Just as the commanding angel of 14:15 told the grain reaping angel of 14:14 that it was time to reap the grain, (the previous post), so the angel, of 14:18, the angel with power over fire, tells the grape reaping angel of 14:17, that it is time to gather the clusters of the vine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dr McGee* says, <span style="color: blue;">My feeling is that no careful study of the Word of God would lead any person of reasonable intelligence to believe that the church is going through this awful period (the Great Tribulation). Folk who want to push the church into the Great Tribulation seem to think that it will be no more unpleasant than a trip to the dentist to get a tooth pulled.</span> Let it be noted, that I believe that I have reasonable intelligence but I do not interpret the Bible according to “how it feels”. There is already far too much “feel good” theology in modern churches. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We cannot change the words of the Bible, or our theological beliefs, just because what we read does not make us feel good. Christ very plainly said that <span style="color: red;">Immediately after the tribulation of those days…the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and…He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mat. 24:29-31.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Distinctly, according to Christ, the rapture will take place after the Great Tribulation, whether or not Mr McGee wants it there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Angel with Power Over fire </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> <span style="color: red;">And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.”</span> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /> <span style="color: red;"> So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. <br /><br /> And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs. </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">14:18-20</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It sounds as if this is the angel we first met in 8:5, where we read that <span style="color: red;">the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire from the altar.</span> Here, we read of him as another angel, who came out from the altar, an angel <span style="color: red;">who had power over fire.</span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The grapes, now gathered, are placed into the winepress of God's wrath. They will be trodden <span style="color: red;">outside the city</span> walls of Jerusalem. It sounds, to me, as if this is again referring to the Battle of Armageddon, which is to be fought about 60 miles north of Jerusalem; <span style="color: red;">outside the city</span>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="color: red;">blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles.</span> In the notes on 8:8 it was suggested that the words "red as" should be added before the word "blood" so that the meaning would make sense. It seems that a similar change is needed here. So that it would read, <span style="color: magenta;">and blood red juice of the grape, came out of the winepress</span>, as opposed to actual blood. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> This is allegory and the wine that is overflowing the cup is not the wine of human blood. Certainly, the harvest was not actual grapes. We learned in 14:8 that Babylon had caused all nations to drink of her fornication. Now, symbolically, these are the grapes that the angel has reaped, the grapes of physical, immoral and spiritual fornication; it is this fornication that will be trampled. It is the juice of this fornication that will run </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">out of the winepress.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The blood flowed out in a stream 200 miles long.</span> <i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Living Bible.</span></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> About this, Dr McGee* writes, <span style="color: blue;">A thousand and six hundred furlongs” is about 185 miles, and that is the distance from Dan to Beer-sheba.</span> <span style="color: blue;">All of Palestine is the scene of this final war ... and is concluded by the personal return of Christ to the earth.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In contradiction,<span style="color: blue;"> t</span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">o imagine that it marks the extent of the Holy Land from Dan to Beer-sheba is ... to introduce an incorrect calculation. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">EBC</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Many commentaries use the idea that this blood will be a "lake of blood" but it seems to fit the picture better to see it as <i>The Living Bible</i> has </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">The blood flowed out in a stream. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> The stream was about 200 miles (300 km) long.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">If the word stream is used it might paint the picture that the pain and suffering caused by the war will be ongoing; without cessation, like a flowing stream.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and as high as a horse’s bridle. </span><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Living Bible.</span></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> As has already been noted, the horses in <i>The Apocalypse</i> are not actual horses. For example, the horses in 9:17 have lion's heads. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For that matter, horses are not even mentioned in these verses except as a commonly understood height against which to measure the depth of the wine of God's wrath. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">An example of this is found at the Grist Mill in Keremeos in British Columbia, Canada. Early settlers writing about the height of the grass wrote, <span style="color: blue;">Bunchgrass as high as a horse's belly.</span> This did not mean that the horses were in the grass, it was merely a standard unit of measurement, to which a person at another place could relate.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">_____________________________________</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black; text-indent: 0.25in;">* </span><span style="color: black; text-indent: 0.25in;"><i>Through the Bible</i></span><span style="color: black; text-indent: 0.25in;"> with Dr J Vernon McGee.</span></span></div>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-62343975755613005632013-05-24T04:30:00.000-04:002017-11-15T18:22:54.909-05:00The Forth and Fifth Angel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">j) </span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Harvest Time has Come</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"> Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. <br /> And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe. <br /> So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.</span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">14:14-16</span><span style="color: red; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Grain Reaping Angel</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> What he saw was <span style="color: red;">a white cloud and on the cloud sat One like unto the Son of Man.</span> It is imperative to notice that John says that the one sitting <span style="color: red;">on the cloud was like unto the</span> <span style="color: red;">Son of man</span> and not that it was <span style="color: red;">the Son of Man.</span> Wuest changes, <span style="color: red;">the Son</span> to <span style="color: red;">son</span> and in brackets he adds <span style="color: blue;">(human in appearance).</span> <i>The American Standard</i> has changed, <span style="color: red;">the Son</span> to <span style="color: red;">a son</span>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Foster</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">***</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and McGee</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">*</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> disagree, and say that it was Christ; there are several clues in 14:15 that insist that it was not Christ sitting on the cloud.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In 14:15, we have the words: <span style="color: red;">another angel</span> which, indicates that this one, sitting on the cloud, was also an angel and not Christ.</span><br />
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<li> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The angel of 14:15 tells the angel of 14:14 what to do, <span style="color: red;">Thrust in Your sickle and reap.</span> No angel in heaven, just as no human on earth, is in a position to tell Christ what to do! </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Christ was speaking of this time of reaping, and he said, <span style="color: red;">the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels….The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather.</span> </span>Mat. 13:39-41.<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Based on the words of Christ, we must believe that the one sitting on the cloud was a reaping angel and not Christ.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It might be appropriate here to remind ourselves that not all of these things happen in the sequence in which they are written here because some of them are concurrent. However, it is apparent that they cannot be read at the same time and therefore it seems that the one that is read sooner is the one that is expected to happen sooner. Paul told us that these things would happen in the blinking of an eye, and that, obviously, is much faster than it takes to read these few points, which according to Biblical teaching all seem to happen at once.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Commanding Angel </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="color: red;">another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: red; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 24px;">4:15</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 24px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The time has come for the harvest; it is time to separate the wheat from the tares. The sharp sickle in the hands of the angels will do the reaping. <i>The American Standard</i> has changed the word,<span style="color: red;"> ripe</span>, too, <span style="color: red;">overripe</span>.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /> According to Matthew, Christ put that prophecy into these words. <span style="color: red;">The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. “The enemy who sowed them is the devil (the wicked one), the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"> “Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, “and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. “Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mat.13:38-43.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Notice that the angels will gather <span style="color: red;">all things that offend</span>; there is a partial list of the things Christ finds offensive in Matthew 7: <span style="color: red;">For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man. All those things will be cast into the furnace of fire. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The angels will also gather all those who practice lawlessness and they will also be cast into the furnace of fire. There is a list of these in Rev. 21:8: </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">About the word <span style="color: red;">cowardly</span> Clarke writes </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those who, for fear of losing life or their property, either refused to receive the Christian religion, though convinced of its truth and importance; or, having received it, in times of persecution fell away, not being willing to risk their lives.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">*** <i>Shadow of the Antichrist,</i> Ivan Foster</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">* </span></span><span style="color: black; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Through the Bible</i></span></span><span style="color: black; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> with Dr J Vernon McGee.</span></span></span></div>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-41230819930812661442013-05-22T04:30:00.001-04:002017-11-13T17:44:23.401-05:00Two Witnesses Return to Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">11:8-14</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Two Witnesses Lie in State</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city.</span> Dr McGee* writes, <span style="color: blue;">These men are not given even a decent burial. This reveals the crude, cold barbarism of the last days, which will be covered with but a thin veneer of culture. There is a strange resemblance to the sadistic curiosity, which placed two dead men, Lenin and Stalin, on display in Red Square in Moscow. They have removed Stalin, but at this writing, Lenin is still there, and I understand that that body is beginning to deteriorate.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-weight: normal;">The picture here is that the word used for bodies (carcasses) denotes the contempt and hatred the world will have </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">for </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the two witnesses. They are treated as dead animals.</span></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"> C<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">onversely, <span style="color: red;">their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city,</span> may have a different meaning than Dr McGee offers. It is unlikely that the bodies would last long with dogs and birds rampant in a city. In addition, a very specific length of time is allotted for them to be on view; </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">three-and-a-half days</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">. </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> To me it seems more fitting to see these two witnesses "lie in state"; after all, they had been notable individuals; they will </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The whole world knew about them;</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">11:9.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Various people, not all people; <span style="color: red;">And many of the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">11:9 MKJV</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, shall come to Jerusalem to see these two witnesses "lie in state" for three and a half days. Many will rejoice over their deaths and send gifts in merriment because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">11:10. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> By some, this is interpreted to mean that their righteous manner of life and preaching bothered the conscience of the people of the world, and the world is glad that the preachers of righteousness are finally silenced. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> If we look back at 11:6 we see that the torment they inflicted was much more physical. <span style="color: red;"> These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls …and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues.</span> The reason for merriment may be much more physical than moral or spiritual.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> After they had been lying in state for three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered into them. <span style="color: red;">They stood up and great fear fell on those who saw them</span>. How would we feel if we saw a corpse come back to life after three and a half days?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> As Christ ascended to heaven <span style="color: red;">in a cloud</span>, not by a cloud, so did these two resurrected witnesses; <span style="color: red;">and their enemies saw</span> it happen. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">11:12.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red;">I</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">n the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.</span> Those that were left alive were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. This sounds so different than those whom we read about earlier: <span style="color: red;">the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 9:20</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Second Woe is Past</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Verse 21 says <span style="color: red;">The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.</span> Very plainly, that means that the sixth trumpet has sounded, the sixth bowl of wrath has been poured out, and the seventh trumpet will be sounding soon. We must not expect the rapture of the Church until the two witnesses have done their preaching or before the beast from the bottomless pit has killed them or even before they have ascended to heaven.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> In an earlier post was this statement: <span style="color: blue;">the sixth trumpet and the sixth bowl of wrath are the second woe and the second woe is the Battle of Armageddon. However, a prelude to that battle is Babylon, which we must visit first.</span> But now we are finished with Babylon, we have seen the little book, the temple and the two witnesses. Now that the two witnesses have ascended to heaven <i>The Apocalypse</i> says, <span style="color: red;">The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">__________________________________________</span></div>
<span style="color: black; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">* </span></span><span style="color: black; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Through the Bible</i></span></span><span style="color: black; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> with Dr J Vernon McGee.</span></span></div>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-75610586092357253142013-05-19T04:30:00.000-04:002017-11-08T19:17:34.478-05:00The Two Witnesses <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">11:3-8</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Moses and Elijah</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 11:5 certainly does not allow these two witnesses to be humans, as we know humans. The Bible says that </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies.</span> <span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Many Bible teachers agree that these two witnesses are Moses and Elijah in a transformed state; </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">they have power to stop the rain from falling. They also have power to turn water into blood and to smite the earth with plagues. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">11:6</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We recall that when Elijah <span style="color: red;">prayed that it might not rain it rained not for three and a half years.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">James 5:17</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. When Moses, with Aaron's help, stretched forth his rod, the waters of Egypt <span style="color: red;">became blood</span>, and at another time the land was infested with plagues. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ex. 7:19.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We also recall that when Christ was transfigured, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias (Elijah) talking with him. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mat. 17:3.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> These two witnesses stand <span style="color: red;">before the God of the whole earth </span>and they come to the new Jerusalem to preach; they have magnificent powers. However, they must die again; </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will ... kill them.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">11:7</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, but just as surely they will be raised to life again; </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And after three days and a half, a spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">11:11.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> These two witnesses will prophesy for three and a half years clothed in sackcloth. They are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks. <span style="color: red;">he said to me, “What do you see?” So I said, …there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, …one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.” So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these,…So he answered and said to me: “These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth. </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Zech. 4:1-14.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here is a quote from </span><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Signs</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">^</span></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, <span style="color: blue;">the two witnesses represent God's word in the Old and New Testaments.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I reject this theory because:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1. The <span style="color: red;">witnesses had power 1260 days. </span> According to <i>The Signs</i> own interpretation, this is from 538 AD to 1798 AD, which would mean that the Bible was not to be found on the earth before 538 AD or after 1798 AD.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2. The witnesses have power to turn water into blood but the Bible has never done that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3. The beast will kill the witnesses, </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">11:7.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The beast does not have the power to kill the Bible.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4. The witnesses ascended to heaven before the Church is raptured. If that would happen the Church would be left on earth without the Bible. Based on the emphasis the Church has put on the Bible we cannot believe that that will happen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Asimov says that some suggest that the two witnesses are Paul and Peter and that the great city is Rome. John says that Christ was killed in what is <span style="color: red;">spiritually</span> (figuratively) <span style="color: red;">called Sodom or Egypt</span>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> However, some scholars would insist that it could be said that Christ was killed in Rome since Rome and Babylon are the names used to designate other evil places as well. In this case, John would have been calling Jerusalem, at the time of Christ’s crucifixion, an evil city, comparable to Rome. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Low Moral Standards</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> In a spiritual sense, the city will be as wicked as Sodom was and as destitute of hope, as Egypt was, for the Israelites when they lived there. The city is not Sodom, not Rome, not a city in Egypt, but the city <span style="color: red;">where also our Lord was crucified. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="color: red;">the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">17:18</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It seems, by inference, that Babylon, in this case, is apostate Judaism, the great city where our Lord was crucified. It is so sad that it is often the religious people of the day that "crucify" our Saviour or His followers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Mr Jim Crew says that in <i>The Apocalypse</i> the women represent the churches. The woman of chapter 12 represents the "right" church and the wicked woman (Babylon) represents all the other churches. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> If one were to accept that line of thinking, this reference to Sodom would certainly fit the modern, God-forsaken, United Church of Canada. The following, printed in blue, is what I found on Google under the heading, <i>The United Church of Canada.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1965 premarital sex is approved</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1988 Practicing gays approved for ordination</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1997 Church head denies Christ's resurrection.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1997 Leaders unanimously approve Phipps (as moderator of the United Church of Canada in October 1997, even though he is recognized to be) an infidel and enemy of Christ!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2003 church <a href="http://www.bible.ca/cr-united-Can.htm#gays">petitions Ottawa to change the definition of marriage</a> to include homosexuals. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(Phipps) Head of United church denies Resurrection of Christ!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> This church condoned same-sex marriage before the government of Canada even legalized it. It is the Christian church that should set the highest moral standards in the world; it is not the church's position to petition the government of the country to lower that country's standard!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christ said <span style="color: red;">You are the light of the world.</span> </span>John 5:14<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. Thank Jehovah, there are still some churches whose lights shine <span style="color: red;">in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.</span> Phil. 2:15. Some other churches are just social groups with low moral standards.</span></div>
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<i style="font-family: "times new roman";">^ Signs of the Times Magaizine: What the Revelation says about.</i></div>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-89170995257702159362013-05-17T04:30:00.002-04:002017-11-06T17:39:42.114-05:00The Bible and the Temple<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I) A Little Book</span></h3>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, <br /> Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.” <br /> So I went to the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.” And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” <br /> Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. <br /> And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.” </span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">10:2+8-11 </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Bible</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The <span style="color: red;">little book</span> we read of here is not the <span style="color: red;">Book of Life</span>, found in 3:5, nor is it the book of future events of 5:1. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Based on what follows in chapter 10 it would appear that this little book is the Holy Scriptures. Symbolically, by standing on the sea and on the land, the messenger is saying that the message of God is for all people, both seafarers and land dwellers. The fact that the book is open is significant, because, as was said, this book is the Bible and it is open because the spirit of God has revealed its truths to Christians. It is the free, open gospel to all inhabitants of earth and sea.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> This little book was introduced; </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 24px;">he had in his hand a little book</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">10:2</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">,</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> John heard a voice telling him to seal what he had heard, </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">10:4,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> John hears that same voice again and the voice told him to go and take the little book.</span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">10:8 </span> </li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> As already stated the word</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">heaven</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">has various meanings, and at this point, John is probably referring to the spaceship, which he had already described for us in chapter 4.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The words, <span style="color: red;">the voice which I heard from heaven</span>, indicate that John is not in heaven at that time. The last location given for John was heaven; </span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">one of the four beasts</span> in heaven said, <span style="color: red;">Come and see.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">6:1</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Therefore, we could surmise, that John had left heaven in the meantime, because now he says, that <span style="color: red;">the voice</span> he hears is <span style="color: red;">from heaven</span>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After John took the book (as he was told to do), from the hand of the messenger, he was told to eat it. That is, to take it in, partake of it, and ingest it. Jeremiah said, <span style="color: red;">Thy words were found and I ate them.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jer. 5:16</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. As Foster</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">*** </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">points out, <span style="color: blue;">even though Bible study is sweet afterwards it lays on us the bitterness of responsibility.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />The Temple<br /> </span></h4>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">“But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="text-indent: 0.25in;">11:1-2</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In chapter 11, there are two distinct temples: one on earth (the one that John measures) and the other, in heaven, which is recorded in 11:19.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> In writing of the temple on earth, Wuest</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">#</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> puts it this way, <span style="color: blue;">the temple of God, the altar, (the Holy place and the Holy of Holies)</span>. John is to measure, or count, those who worship in the temple, but not those in the outer court. The reason that John was not to measure the outer court is that the Gentiles will desecrate it and they will wreck havoc in the holy city; </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 24px;">they will tread the holy city underfoot</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 24px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">for three and a half years, or, as stated,</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> forty-two months.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The holy city is Jerusalem, but this poses a problem. Did John indeed write this before the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD so that there was still a temple to measure? Tradition says that <i>The Apocalypse</i> was written around the turn of the first century. If that is true, what is John to measure? Mr Foster***, quoting B.W. Newton says, <span style="color: blue;">In reading this chapter, therefore, we must imagine Jerusalem again restored to seeming dignity and greatness. Its temple rebuilt, its worship re-established.</span> This answer raises a new question; how could John measure it before it was built?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Asimov</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">^</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> says that John uses the word <span style="color: red;">temple</span> to refer <span style="color: blue;">to the church at large</span>. <i>Concordia</i> uses the same reasoning but defines the inner court as representing the true believers and the outer court as being the false church. However, that is an unlikely interpretation because Christ, in speaking of this particular time, limited the events to Jerusalem, not to the worldwide church; false or otherwise. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Luke 21:24.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> As before, the term, forty-two months (or three and a half years), could be an arbitrary length of time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: left;">________________________________</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">*** Shadow of the Antichrist, Ivan Foster</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><i><em># An Expanded Translation,</em></i><em><span style="font-style: normal;"> K.W. Wuest.</span></em></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><i>^ Guide to the Bible</i>, Isaac Asimov</span></span></div>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-21786663635773219722013-05-15T04:30:00.000-04:002017-11-01T21:26:41.437-04:00The Third Angel <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">i)</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.25in;"> The Rapture is announced</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. </span><br /><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"> He had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, </span><br /><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"> And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. </span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Now when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">10:1-4</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Seven Thunders</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> This chapter opens with a <span style="color: red;">mighty angel</span>, but it does not start a new woe. This section is still in the thick of the second woe, announced by the sixth trumpet and brought by the sixth bowl of wrath. We studied about these before we got mired down in Babylon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The description of this angel is reminiscent of Christ in 1:15-16 and in Mat. 17:2 where we read of Christ's transfiguration and since the word <span style="color: red;">angel</span> can mean <span style="color: blue;">messanger</span> it is possible that this angel is Christ. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">In speaking of the appearance of the angel, a few things might be mentioned. </span><br />
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is not a foreign thought that when persons, or angels, move from heaven to earth, or from earth to heaven they are surrounded by a cloud. Christ at His transfiguration and at His ascension was, so is this angel.</span></li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">N<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ot only is the angel wearing a cloud but, on his head, there is a rainbow. Many prehistory cave drawings show what appear to be spacemen who, are wearing things around their heads, things that look like rainbows; actually, they look more like space helmets.</span></li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We also notice that his face was like the sun. This was also said about Christ at His transfiguration; <span style="color: red;">His face shone like the sun.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mat. 17:2.</span></li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">N<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ot only that, but the angel's feet <span style="color: red;">were like pillars of fire</span>. Pillars of fire would seem logical if the "angel" was using jet propulsion, as a means of transportation.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One idea might be that the rainbow </span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">on the angels head</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">reminded God of his promise of mercy; </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">I set my rainbow in the cloud. And it shall be a token of a covenant between Me and the earth. </span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And it shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">And I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you</span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gen 9:13-15.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Asimov</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">^</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> mentions that, even though many warnings have been given, much grace has been shown and judgment is past due, still God is not hastening to end life on this earth. <span style="color: red;">The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness, but is long-suffering toward us, not purposing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">2 Peter 3:9 </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It is fitting that this angel should appear immediately after the degradation shown in chapter 9. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">And the rest of the men who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and golden, and silver, and bronze, and stone, and wooden idols (which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk). </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">And they did not repent of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">9:20-21</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">;</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> just as the rainbow appeared in the sky immediately after the destruction during "Noah’s flood".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="color: red;">When he</span> (the mighty angel) <span style="color: red;">had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.</span> That is, they spoke loudly. According to earlier instructions, John was going to write what he had heard, but he, like Daniel many years before, Dan. 12:9, was told to <span style="color: red;">seal up those things which the thunders spoke.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We still don't know what the thunders said!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The Angel with the Good News</span></h4>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven <br /><br /> and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, <br /><br /> but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">10:5-7</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The stage is being set for the climatic end to history. As in a great novel, all the pieces must be in place before the grand finale can happen. When the end does come, events will transpire quickly, as Paul said, <span style="color: red;">in the twinkling of an eye.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">1 Cor. 15:52</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The rapture of the church has been announced with the words, <span style="color: red;">in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished. </span> In the book of <i>Ephesians</i>, we learn that the mystery of God is The Church of Jesus Christ; </span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. </span></span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eph. 5:32</span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"> </span>W</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">hen the seventh trumpet sounds, the Church will be finished.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="color: red;">The mighty angel made an oath, swearing by the creator, that there should be no more delay.</span> Events are moving quickly and Jehovah has been so patient. He is still waiting for sinners to repent. In our study, we will encounter three more events, and four more angels, before the seventh trumpet blows.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The three events are:<br />1) John eats the book<br />2) John measures the temple of God<br />3) The two witnesses appear.</span><br />
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Guide to the Bible</i>, Isaac Asimov</span></span></div>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186160678108097851.post-9328258663237888422013-05-12T04:30:00.002-04:002017-10-31T16:16:43.948-04:00The Second Angel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">There followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">14:8 </span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">18:1-2</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />The Angel with an Announcement</span></h4>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> In 14:8, this scene of the fall of Babylon is introduced, then dropped; it is reintroduced in 18:2, with more details. I believe these Bible verses refer to the same angel. It seems as if the writer thought about what he had written in 14:8, and decided that he should have added a few more details, and so he did. He did not have the option of inserting words or pushing the delete button; options we take so very for granted. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> This angel is not one of the seven that poured out the bowls of God's wrath, for he is not introduced, as was the angel of 17:1, for example; </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">It is confusing that the KJV and the NKJV have used the word wrath in 14:8. Vine</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">+++</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> tells us that the word </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">wrath</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> can, sometimes, be translated as </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">fierceness</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. If we do that, here, this verse makes more sense. It would then read, </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">she made all nations drink of the wine of the fierceness of her fornication.</span></span><br />
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<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> As a practical application of this word "wrath" Clarke has this to say: </span></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No nation of the earth spread their idolatries so far as the ancient Romans; they were as extensive as their conquests. And papal Rome has been not less active in disseminating her superstitions. She has given her rituals, but not the everlasting Gospel, to most nations of the earth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> Babylon is so bent on practicing her blasphemy and immorality that she is said to be </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">fierce about it</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Babylon the Great ... made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">NIV.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Babylon is fallen...because she seduced the nations of the world and made them share the wine of her intense impurity and sin. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">TLB</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Three posts ago</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">we learned that Babylon will be eternally destroyed; <span style="color: red;">Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">18:21. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Here, in 18:2, we read that <span style="color: red;">Babylon is fallen, and, that it has become home to demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! </span> It appears obvious that Babylon is not completely obliterated. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> Note that just because Babylon, a selfish lifestyle, will be eternally destroyed (</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 24px;">not be found anymore) </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">it does not mean that the souls of people will be included in that destruction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> 14:8 refers to the wine of the sins of the materialistic society. In 14:10 the wrath of God is incurred, and it will fall, because the nations partook of Babylon's fornication. It is not the wrath of fornication, but the wrath because of fornication. As mentioned earlier, </span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">2:16</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">, this does not refer to physical fornication only, it refers to spiritual fornication; a careless, blasphemous attitude toward Jehovah. </span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Why has Babylon fallen? <span style="color: red;">Because she has made all nations drink.</span> This wine of the wrath of her fornication is not the same as the wine of the wrath of God in 14:10. </span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"> Babylon is fallen.</span> According to tradition, Peter was in Rome, when he wrote his letters, and some believe, that he called Rome, Babylon, because of the rampant evil in the city. </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Maybe Paul did that also because Rome was King Nero's home city and Nero was a wicked king who killed many Christians; to protect himself Paul did not want to be point blank in his accusation of Nero. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> Could John be making the same analogy in speaking of Babylon? Babylon, throughout history, has represented things that are ungodly. If John was speaking prophetically, the fact that he called Rome, Babylon, may lend some credence to the idea that he was speaking of the Roman Catholic Church. However, in John's time, at the end of the first century, the church in Rome, was not yet known for being evil.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon, the great is fallen”.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> In God's eyes, Babylon is anything but great; <span style="color: red;">she is the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth.</span> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">17:5.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> Vine tells us the word, <span style="color: red;">great</span>, can refer to degree or intensity. Babylon is intense in its sin and pride, it will keep on</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span>sinning</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> to the nth degree, and, in the sense of intensity, it, is "a great city". The record of the fall of that materialistic society is recorded in 14:8 and 18:2.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;"> <span style="color: red;">a prison for every foul spirit.</span> <span style="color: blue;">the word foul means ceremonially unclean</span>. </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">Vine. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">Since spirits were not involved in the ceremonies of the Bible, one can surmise that these are the spirits of people; those people who were ceremonially unclean. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">It bears repeating that in <i>The Apocalypse</i> references to Babylon include the carnal church with its loose teachings and careless lifestyles. It is in this manner that the church offers to God unholy sacrifices; sacrifices presented to God by preachers who are ceremonially unclean; that is, those who are morally and ethically unfit to be preachers.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /> <span style="color: red;">The unclean and hated bird</span> also refers to those birds that were not acceptable as sacrifices in ceremonial services. Vine takes it a step further and says, <span style="color: blue;">the birds are apparently figurative of destructive Satanic agencies.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Now that Babylon has been dealt the deathblow, we can leave that dirty, sinful city and find something less depressing.</span><br />
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<i style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">+++
An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words,</i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> W.E.
Vine,</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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Ike Fehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09992132511882090438noreply@blogger.com0