It is my main objective to bring the actual scriptures to you as literally, historically and grammatically as they were written by the 40 inspired writers of the Holy Bible (KJV) while sharing with you my beliefs and why I believe them. However, I urge you NOT to believe a word I say but rather be as the Bereans at Thessalonica were and search the scriptures daily to see if what was said is true. (Acts 17:11)
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Major Judgments to come
In Revelation are three judgments that affect everyone on the earth in one form or the other. Each one is different and each judges a separate set of people before and after the Millennium to come. These are not to be confused with the Judgments of the Seals, Trumpets and Bowls or other Judgments God has brought or will bring brought upon Nations, Kingdoms and Peoples of the earth.
i. Bema Seat of Christ 1. This Judgment happens after the Harpozo (Rapture) of the Bride to the Marriage of the Lamb. Through this Judgment, rewards, crowns and assignments are given to each Saint for their work on earth following their Justification. The Bible gives us hints of these awards through the Parables given by Jesus Christ, (i.e. Talents, Virgins, Uninvited guest, etc).2
ii. The Sheep and Goat judgment 3 This Judgment involves three different entities. First, all the Nations of the world that have survived Daniel’s 70th week (tribulations). Second, the Citizens ( the Sheep) that stood by and helped Israel or the Jewish population within and Third, the Citizens (the Goats) of these nations that were undeniable anti-Semitic for both the individual and the nation of Israel. This Judgement will happen after the last battle of Daniel’s 70th week known as Armageddon and before the beginning of the Millennium. Those people who fall in to the “SHEEP” category will live during the Millennium on a revitalized earth. Those people who are labeled Goats, will be thrown into the Lake of Fire forever. There will be no White Throne Judgment for them.
iii. The White Throne Judgment 4 convenes after the millennium has completed its 1,000 years on earth under the Iron Fist of Jesus Christ. All the remaining dead on earth will be raised out of what is known as Hell and reunited with their bodies from the grave. Here they will be judged for their “works” on earth during their lifetime. If their name is not written in the Book of Life, they will be also thrown into the eternal Lake of Fire. Following this Judgment, there will be a New Heaven, a New Earth and a New Jerusalem.
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Revelation,
the Series: Chapter 1:12-20
Revelation is the only book in the bible that offers a blessing to those who read and understand its pages.
Tonight, we will continue in our Bible Study of the Book of Revelation written by John of Patmos. Revelation is the ancient Greek word apokalupsis (apocalypse). The word simply means “a revealing, an unveiling.”. It is important to note that Revelation is singular and is NOT the Revelation of John but rather the unveiling of Jesus Christ.
Rev 1:12-20 (KJV)..”And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.”
"And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks" This is no dream, John can both hear (used thirty time in Revelation) and see during his time in the spirit. He states “I saw” thirty six times throughout Revelation. The seven golden candlesticks (a King James edition idiom, other versions have “lampstands”) that John ‘saw’ are the seven Churches in verse 20.
“And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle." The one who is in the middle of the candlesticks (lampstands) is no other that Jesus Christ. As always, Jesus is the son of man and the son of GOD, fully man and fully GOD.
To girt about : περιζώννυμι perizṓnnymi, per-id-zone'-noo-mee; to gird all around, i.e. to fasten on one's belt (literally or figuratively):—gird (about, self).
The paps : μαζός, μαζου, ὁ, the breast: of a man
With a golden: χρύσεος chrýseos, khroo'-seh-os; from G5557; made of gold:—of gold, golden;
Girtle: ζώνη zṓnē, dzo'-nay; probably akin to the base of G2218; a belt; by implication, a pocket:—girdle, purse. 5
He was clothed with a garment to the foot which usually stood for someone who had authority and had a belt around His waist up to his breast. with a golden girtle. Representing someone of the Priesthood as Jesus is being King and Priest.
There are only three people who are allowed to be kings and priest. The first was Melchizedek (Gen 14:18), Jesus Christ and His Body, His Church (Rev 5:8-10).
His head and his hairs were white like wool, associated with wisdom from age of life, called “Ancient of Days”. (Daniel 7:9)
as white as snow; defined as purity. (Isaiah 1:18)
and his eyes were as a flame of fire; Fire throughout the Bible is associated with the Judgement of GOD.
And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; Brass was the strongest metal in this age and was used for judgment and sacrifice. (Kings 16;15) Therefore it signifies His strength and stability
and his voice as the sound of many waters. A loud strong voice as a water falls. A trumpet is also used many time to describe His voice.
" And he had in his right hand seven stars: The seven stars are “angels of the seven churches”. Scholars are in disagreement of just who are these angels. Some say they are the pastors of the churches, others say they are actual angels for each church and others say they are simply messengers of the churches. It might be noted that these “angels” are under the direct command of Jesus Christ whoever they are.
and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword: Most swords in the era only had one sharp side and a blunt side. The two edge sword is the “Word of God”. It can heal and destroy. The ancient Greek word for this two edged sword is “rhomphaia”.
i. Guzik notes The idea of it coming out of His mouth is not that Jesus carries a sword in His teeth. The idea is that this sword is His word. His weapon – and ours also – is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). Sometimes the New Testament speaks of a smaller, more tactical sword known in the ancient Greek language as the machaira. Hebrews 4:12 uses the term for this smaller, more precise sword
ii. Barnes notes that John didn’t necessarily see a sword coming out of Jesus’ mouth. “He heard him speak; he felt the penetrating power of his words; and they were as if a sharp sword proceeded from his mouth.”
iii. It is a sharp two-edged sword: “There is no handling this weapon without cutting yourself, for it has no back to it, it is all edge. The Word of Christ, somehow or other, is all edge.” (Spurgeon)
and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength." Countenance (ones facial expression), was as bright as the sun (Matthew 17:2) which showed His strength.
i. “His face was like the disk of the sun in the brightest summer’s day, when there were no clouds to abate the splendour of his rays.” (Clarke)
ii. “What do you see in Christ’s right hand? Seven stars; yet how insignificant they appear when you get a sight of his face! They are stars, and there are seven of them; but who can see seven stars, or, for the matter of that, seventy thousand stars, when the sun shineth in his strength? How sweet it is, when the Lord himself is so present in a congregation that the preacher, whoever he may be, is altogether forgotten! I pray you, dear friends, when you go to a place of worship, always try to see the Lord’s face rather than the stars in his hand; look at the sun, and you will forget the stars.” (Spurgeon
iv. Everything in this vision speaks of strength, majesty, authority and righteousness. There is an impressive difference between this vision of Jesus and the many weak, effeminate portrayals of Jesus seen today. But the Jesus that John saw is the real Jesus, the Jesus that lives and reigns in heaven today. (Guzik)
“And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. John was not prepared for what He saw even though John was at the ascension of Jesus to Heaven. Seeing Jesus in His Heavenly glory emphasizes the greatness and the authority that is Jesus Christ.
i. How well is it for us that God speaks to us by men like ourselves, whose terrors shall not make us afraid, for none can see the face of God and live! (Henry)
ii. “Blessed position! Does the death alarm you? We are never so much alive as when we are dead at his feet.” (Spurgeon)
And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. “ John must have felt a familiar touch when Jesus laid His hand on John; not only giving Him comfort but also strength by saying “Fear Not”. Of course, John did not need to be afraid for He was in the presence of Jesus Christ. Jesus then gave to John three titles which would show up 6 six times in Isaiah and Revelation.
i. I am the first and the last: this title speaks to His divine nature that He is our eternal past and eternal future.
ii. I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen;
Jesus brings back memories of the Cross where He was dead and now He liveth forever and will never die again. His conquering of sin and death, being able to open the graves.6
iii. and have the keys of hell and of death. Clearly Satan has no powers or authority over hell or able to determine life or death. hell is not the abode of Satan as so many believe and preach but rather hell was made for Satan7 and those that sin both Chieftain and layman awaiting final His final Judgment where there is no appeal. Only Jesus has the keys to hell and the authority of life and death.
“Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;”This is the outline for the whole Book of Revelation.
i. The things that John has seen are verses one through eighteen. These there visions and sounds of Jesus Christ.
ii. The things which are; Chapter 2 and 3. These chapters contain the letters that John delivered for Jesus in Rev. 1:11.
iii. The things which shall be after; These are the prophecies that judge the whole world and bring the remnant of Israel back to God (the Father).
“The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks.The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.”
There are many that try to symbolize or allegorize the entire book of Revelation saying it’s events have happened in the past. Yet, to this writing, all mysteries of this book have been explained in following verses and/or chapters. Here we see the Seven Stars are the (Angels, Pastors, Messengers; as spoken of earlier) for each of the seven churches. The seven candlesticks (lampstands in some versions) represent the seven Churches.
*The next post will be about the Church of Ephesus, Rev 2: 2-7. I urge you to read all of chapters 2,3 and Ephesians. Outline each church as there are some surprises in store for you there.
“to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (Rev 1:6)
*The
Authorized King James Edition (1611, 1769) was used exclusively as
other versions are somewhat different depending upon the year of
their printing.
*All verses in the Bible are: “All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness:” (Note: we have placed all scripture in RED
for your convenience)
*God is considered the
author of all 66 books through 40 writers including those of Psalm 2
by the author of this blog.
*Because none of us know when our time on this earth is at an end; it is paramount that you know exactly where you are in your walk with Jesus Christ. Since your justification/salvation is not determined by the church you attend, the amount of good work you do, your status in society, etc.; I urge you to make sure of your personal relationship with Jesus Christ in the privacy of your own mind, your own time. Don’t put it off, Time is Short
1
Cor 15:3-4.."Moreover,
brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you,
which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye
are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye
have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that
which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according
to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day
according
to the scriptures:"
We welcome your comments, suggestions and questions.
Please keep them precise and clean!
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References:
1. 2 Cor 5:10; 1 Cor 3:11-15
2. Mat 13:18; Mat 13:31; 13:33; Mat 24:32; Mat 25:1 ; Luk 19:11
3. Matthew 25: 31-46
4. Rev 20:11-15
5. Blue Letter Bible interlinear
6. Matthew 27:52
7. Isa 14:9
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Sources:
1.
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2. Blue Letter Bible
3. The King James Edition
5. Apocalypse Road, Revelation for the Final Generation
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This
article was originally published in the
8/18/20,
'Sharing God's Word' @ Justifiedends.blogspot.com
