February 1, 2006

• Revelation is a book that people seem to think is very difficult to understand. People look at it in many different ways, some see it as highly symbolic, some see it as having happened already, some see it as prophetic. It is the only book in the Bible that comes with it’s own outline. Revelation 1:19 Write the things that you have seen (Chapter 1) the things which are (Chapters 2 & 3), and the things which will take place after this. (Chapter 4-22)

  
  

  The first words in Chapter 4 in the Greek are: Meta tauta which means after these things. Which things? After the Church age Chapter 2 & 3.

  
  

  Chapter 4 comes after chapters 2 & 3, now John lookes and sees a door standing open in heaven and heard a voice like a trumpet.

  
  

  This trumpet brings to mind, 1 Thes. 4:13-18 which many see as a passage that talks about the Church being caught up in heaven (and although the word rapture is not used in the Bible, the descriptions in the three primary passages regarding this imply the church being caught up). From Chapter 4 on, everytime we see the saints in Revelation, they are in heaven and in no instance after chapters 2 and 3 is the church on earth mentioned in Revelation. But that is a discussion for another day and time.

  
  

  1 Thes 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

  
  

  In case we miss the fact that this chapter takes place after the Church age, at the end of Revelation 4:1 the voice tells John “Come up here, and I will show you the things which must take place after this.”

  
  

  What is cool is that after the summons where is John? He is in Heaven IMMEDIATELY, and what is the first thing that He sees? The throne. it it SET in Heaven. It is permanent, anchored, unmovable. In Jeremiah, Jeremiah laments how often Israel is seduced by false Gods, and goes to groves, which move. When one grove dies, it is replaced by another grove. Unlike the idols we worship, God is true, and everlasting. He does not move with the tides, He is set in the truth. Even on earth today we are so swayed by the opinions of others, our belief systems move with the trend, and we sometimes seem to lose sight of the Truth as expressed in the Word.

  
  

  And after John sees the throne, he sees the One who sits on the throne. This person is like a jasper (diamond) and a sardius (which is a red carnelion). These stones were stones that represented two of the 12 tribes of Israel. Jasper – was Benjamin which means, Son of my Right Hand., which is light, and the sardius was of the tribe of Reubin (Behold a Son) the Sardius was a blood red stone. So this speaks of light and love – the beginning and the end. Reubin was the first born of Israel, Benjamin was the last son born. (Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last). On the Ephod of the Priest were twelve stones, set in rows, the first stone on the first row was the Sardius, and the last stone on the last row was a Jasper. Again the first and the last. And on those stones on the Ephod were the 12 tribes of Israel’s names.

  
  

  pretty safe to conclude that the person on the throne is Jesus. It is also comforting to find that he is SEATED, He is not nervously pacing and rubbing His hands together, He is not running to and fro, His work is finished. The work was finished on the Cross. And now He is seated at the Right Hand of the father.

  
  

  Have to stop so my husband can use computer for work, will try to touch base later.

  
  

  Again, thanks so much for the love and care that you have shared with me as I sort out the issues from my past. You are loved and in my prayers.

  
  

  Heather

  • 9:47 am
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