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LET’S STUDY REVELATION #20

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Revelation

“And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.”  (Revelation 5:10-12).

It is the believing Hebrews who overcome, that are represented by this song. The statement, “we shall reign on the earth,” signals us that Hebrews are the subjects. Verse 10 sheds more light on who they are. “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” We covered this in the letters to the churches (see Revelation 1:6; 2:26, 27).

Although the scene in verse 11 is in heaven, it has fast-forwarded to the end of the Day of the Lord, and perhaps the end of the Millennium. The number of those, who are compelled out of love and gratitude to worship the Lamb and Him who sits on the throne, continues to grow. Innumerable hosts of angels, along with the beasts and the elders, have gathered to give glory and praise to Him on the throne. Johncan only describe the scene as, “ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.”

Like an endless sea, every creature with breath is now singing in unison to the One who is worthy to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing (v.12).

“And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.”  (Revelation 5:13-14).

We must lay aside our pen and join with these in giving praise to so great a God and Savior! What words can one use describe Him who is indescribable? That is why there is so much symbolism in this wonderful book. He is clothed with a garment down to the foot, girded with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs are white as snow. His eyes, as a flame of fire; his feet like fine brass in a furnace; his voice as many waters. In his right hand are seven stars and out of his mouth, a sharp sword. His countenance is as the sun. His voice is like a trumpet. He is like jasper and a sardine stone to look upon. There is a rainbow round His throne and He has the appearance of an emerald. Lightning, thundering, and voices sound through the heavens. There are lamps of fire, a sea of glass like unto crystal; four beasts full of eyes before and behind who looked like a lion, like a calf, as a man and like an eagle. There are crowns and a choir with millions of creatures singing praise to Him day and night! All this is an attempt to describe the wonder and the greatness of the indiscernible Almighty God!

 

THE MISUNDERSTOOD TRANSITION # 3

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The transition ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ reveals that John the Baptist, and  none of the disciples knew or understood that Jesus must die and be raised again. These articles are about that transition.
II. HIS BURIAL AND RESURRECTION WAS NOT PART OF THEIR KINGDOM GOSPEL- Again, our text makes it clear that John, Jesus, and the Twelve preached the gospel, or good news, in the four gospels. Yet, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus was completely absent from their gospel!
a. Notice that His resurrection was not part of their gospel. “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day” Matthew 16:21.
b. Notice that they had no knowledge of his upcoming death, burial and resurrection. “Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken” Luke 18:31-34. Notice carefully verse 34. They could not have been preaching what they did not understand or believe. Yet, they preached a gospel!
c. Notice that the preparation of His body showed that they did not believe in His upcoming resurrection. “Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury” John 19:40. They would not go to the effort of wrapping the body in burial cloth if they expected His resurrection in three days. Yet, they had heard His gospel.
d. Notice that the concern of the women was who could roll the stone away from the tomb. “And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him… And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?” Mark 16:1, 3. If they expected His resurrection, they would not be coming to anoint His body or be concerned about the stone.
c. Notice the unbelief of the eleven when Mary Magdalene brought news of His resurrection. “Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not” Mark 16:9-11. Now, we can’t believe that the Twelve preached the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for three years, and then all of them changed their theology! Yet, they had preached a gospel.
d. Notice that Thomas did not believe the report of the other disciples. “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe” John 20:24-25. Are we to believe that Thomas preached the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus for sin for three years, and now he is an unbeliever?
e. Notice that Jesus rebuked the eleven sharply for their unbelief. “Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen” Mark 16:14. The Lord actually scolded the eleven for not believing that He was alive. Now, are you going to hold on to a tradition that has not one verse to support it?

LET’S STUDY REVELATION # 19

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Revelation
By Ken Blue

In the Old Testament and at the cross, He is the lamb crucified for sin. In John’s Gospel and the Revelation, He is the Lamb coming in wrath to remove sin from the earth. That is the theme of Revelation. He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!

The seven horns and seven eyes are symbolic of His omnipotent and omnipresent Spirit that searches all the earth in righteousness. He is perfect in wisdom- the seven eyes, and He is perfect in power- the seven horns.

“And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”   (Revelation 5:7-9).

When the Lamb took the book from the hand of Him who sat on the throne, there was great fanfare throughout all heaven (v.7-8). The four beasts and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. They had vials, as it were, full of the prayers of the saints which were made to the Father in the Tribulation. These prayers were a beautiful odor in the nostrils of God. (See Psalms 141:2).

       “And they sung a new song…” (v.9). When the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea, and were redeemed out of Egyptian bondage, they sang a new song unto the Lord. That song was called the song of Moses. “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea” (Exodus 15:1).

John hears a new song. This time it is by those in heaven who represent all the redeemed of Israel. The Jews have been scattered throughout the whole earth and will return to Israel during the days preceding and following the Day of the Lord. However, not all Jews will return. The 144,000 will go into all the earth and offer the Gospel of the Kingdom to them first. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20). The commissions in the Gospels will be obeyed and will be successful. “And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold.” (Luke 8:8).  

It is impossible for the church of this dispensation to obey this commission. If anyone doubts what we say, let him examine each commission and tell us who complies with them.

 

LET’S STUDY REVELATION #18

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Be sure and listen to the great songs to lift your spirit

Revelation

A Book, A Lion and A Lamb

 

“And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” (Revelation 5:1-6).

The scene in heaven continues. We see a book, a lion, and a lamb. John’s attention shifts from the heavenly choir surrounding the throne, back to the One sitting on the throne and to the book in His hand. The book is in His “right hand,” and is “written within and on the backside…” and sealed with “seven seals” (v.1).

We have already commented on the “right hand” (v.1). It symbolizes power, security, and favor. Since no one in heaven or earth was worthy to open the book or look thereon, we can be assured that the contents of that book were the very words of Him who held it in His hand.

This book contained all the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Day of the Lord. The book contained writings which no man or angel had seen, as yet. Daniel was told to seal the book, for it concerned the end time. “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4). “And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end” (Daniel 12:9).

The time has come in the Revelation to open the book, and only the Lion of the tribe of Judah is worthy to open its seals. The fact that the book was written within and without, implies that it is filled with the wrath of God and His judgments. The seven seals simply show that its contents were complete and secure until the appointed time. The book was a roll or scroll. Imagine a scroll about seven feet long and twelve inches wide. Once the scribe finished writing on both sides, he rolled it about twelve inches and put a seal on the top and bottom rolls, and then he rolled it another twelve inches and placed seals again on the top and bottom. He continued this until all seven feet were rolled together with seven seals on it. This is how the book looked to John.

John“wept” when no one could be found worthy to open the book (v.4). This shows the sinfulness and hopelessness of man without the mercy and grace of God. In all creation, no one was worthy to open the book. Who is worthy to open the book and unleash these judgments on men and devils? What man could claim to be worthy to execute judgment on sin? The answer is no one. In doing so, he would condemn himself. If no one could be found, paradise was indeed lost and could never be regained. All the promises of God and the hopes for mankind were for naught, if no one could be found. Not only was no one worthy to open the book; no one was worthy to look upon it! “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

John is comforted and told not to weep for “…the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof” (v.5).  The lion was the symbol of a king and of the tribe of Judah. It was from this tribe Israel’s king was to come. “Judah is a lion’s whelp…” (Genesis 49:9).

Not only is He of Judah, but also He is the “Root of David.” He is David’s promised Son who would rule forever over a just and righteous kingdom. This is He of whom all the prophets spoke. He is the one subject of the Law of Moses, of the Psalms, and of the Prophets! In the volume of the book it is written of Him! Weep not John, for the One who came to His own, and they knew Him not has prevailed and is worthy to open the book!!

The Lamb had prevailed! He overcame temptation in the wilderness as the “Son of Man” by obeying the Word of God. He overcame in Gethsemane through prevailing prayer. He overcame at Calvaryby yielding Himself to the death of the cross, and He overcame the grave by His power over death. Weep not! The Lamb is worthy and has prevailed!

John looks and sees in the “midst of the throne” (v.6), not a Lion, but a Lamb as it had been slain. The Lamb that had been slain was now standing! He is the resurrected Christ, and so shall He be throughout all eternity. He will be “as a Lamb that had been slain.” One should run the cross references on the title, “the Lamb.”John refers to Him in his Gospel in chapter 1:29, 36.

In Revelation He is called the Lamb over 25 times!Paul never uses that title in any of his church epistles. This ought to convince anyone that the title is associated with Israel and her redemption. InJohn’s gospel, He is the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. In the Revelation, He completes that purpose.

 

THE MISUNDERSTOOD TRANSITION #1

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Be sure and listen to the great songs to lift your spirit

 

By Ken Blue

There will be nothing in this article about the church, the body of Christ. Therefore, the church must be excluded from our thinking as we read the following. The church, called “the one new man” was a mystery and has no place in Kingdom of Heaven theology. Thus, everything will be about literal Israel, and their literal earthly Kingdom

Definitions: The Kingdom of Heaven is God’s kingdom rule of “peace on earth, good will toward men” under the rule of the Lord Jesus Christ, from Jerusalem, through Israel. The closest thing to it, since Adam, wa s the rule of King Solomon. His kingdom was physical and earthly.

The Kingdom of God is spiritual, and both kingdoms were present underAdam. It will be present again when men give “glory to God in the highest…” Today, the Kingdom of God is in every Christian, but the Kingdom of Heaven is absence.

Ministry of John the Baptist

Perhaps there’s not a portion of Scripture more misunderstood or confusing to the Christian than that period from the first announcement of John the Baptist that their Messiah was present, to the end of the offer of the Kingdom Heaven.

John the Baptist came on the scene preaching repentance and baptism for the remission of sins to prepare Israel for their King and His Kingdom. His was a ministry of preparation.  Confession of sins and baptism was necessary when accepting John’s message. “Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins” Matthew 3:5-6. John’s mission was twofold: he was to prepare a people to receive their Messiah, and present Him to His followers. This was why he came baptizing. “And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water” John 1:31.

The Death and Resurrection Were Not Part of The Transition Gospel

Note, “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people” Matthew 4:23. We invite the reader to examine every use of the word “gospel,” in the four gospels, and he will discover that it has to do with the promised earthly Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God.

We will go through the gospels and establish that the preaching of John, Jesus, and the Twelve never included or anticipated the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

The first thing we will prove is that the death of Jesus had no place in the Kingdom gospel. Mark begins his account of our Lord’s ministry this way. “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” Mark 1:1.  “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God” Mark 1:14.

When we hear a word certain pictures come to mind. For example, when I say “automobile,” “airplane,” “baptism,” or “gospel” you get a mental equivalent. Try it; you will see. However, your image may not match my intended use of the word. You will understand it according to your training and preferences. Only by understanding the context in which I use it, can you see what I mean. The same is true of any word in Scripture.

For example, the word “gospel” in our text means “good news.” But, the question is, what is the message of that good news? We are going to settle forever the fact that the good news preached in the four gospels, and that preached by Paul, are light years apart.