Posts

Showing posts from March, 2020

Babylon's Fall Announced

Angels announce the judicial sentence on Babylon and the inhabitants of the earth, but "rest" awaits the followers of the Lamb .  Next, “ another angel ” announces the “ fall of Babylon ,” and he is followed by “ a third angel ” who pronounces the judicial sentence on the men who gave their allegiance to the “ Beast ,” namely, torment by “ fire and brimstone .” God is about to vindicate His “ martyrs .”

Everlasting Gospel - Final Harvest

Whether one follows the Lamb or the Beast, he will reap everlasting consequences as a result in the coming final harvest  - Revelation 14:6-7.  The preceding sections presented two very different groups - the “ inhabitants of the earth ” that render homage to the “ Beast ,” and the  priests of God , the “ first fruits ” of the earth purchased by the blood of the “ Lamb .” Now, an angelic herald issues the final summons to humanity to repent and pay homage to God while time remains and before the “ final hour ” begins.

Jesus is not Late!

Image
In his second epistle, Peter addresses the growing weariness of some believers due to the apparent delay in or even the failure of the “ arrival ” of Jesus to materialize, an open door for false teachers and outside critics to exploit. Instead of the predicted terrestrial and cosmic upheaval, daily life was continuing as it always had. The Apostle’s explanation is as relevant today as it was two thousand years ago.

Beasts in the Church

The Greek term rendered “ Antichrist ” in English translations of the New Testament is found only in two of John’s epistles. In the first one, John warns that “ it is the Last Hour; and just as you heard that Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come to pass .” Thus, the Apostle’s letter does not deny that an individual “ Antichrist ” is coming, but his more immediate point is that many “ antichrists ” are active already in the church.

144,000 Priests on Zion

The 144,000 males on Mount Zion comprise the first fruit of the final harvest, the priestly company that follows the Lamb  – Revelation 14:1-5.  Previously, John saw the 144,000 “ males ” from the tribes of Israel encamped in the wilderness. Now, they appear together on “ Mount Zion ” as a priestly company, the “ first fruits ” of the greater harvest to come. They stand with the “ Lamb ” in contrast to the “ inhabitants of the earth ” who bow and give total allegiance to the “ Beast from the Sea .”

Mark of the Beast

All men who refuse to follow the Lamb will render homage to the Beast and take its mark  – Revelation 13:16-18.  The “ False Prophet ” uses the power of the first “ Beast ” against anyone who refuses to give full allegiance to it. Its “ mark ” is an economic tool. Commerce is the lifeblood of the  World Empire , and leveling sanctions against nations and peoples is its enforcement mechanism. Economic restrictions mean deprivation and suffering for their victims.

Beast's Global Dominion

The kings and the inhabitants of the earth refuse to follow the Lamb. Instead, they give homage to the beast .  In  Revelation , there are no geographic restrictions on the reign of the “ beast .”  ALL  the “ inhabitants of the earth ” take its “ mark ” and bow to its “ image .” Not a single government resists the final incarnation of the “ ancient serpent ,” for it is granted “ authority over every tribe, people, tongue and nation .”

Counterfeit Christ

Image
In the  Book of Revelation , John saw a “ Beast ascending from the Earth ,” the “ False Prophet .” He was intent on deceiving the “ Inhabitants of the Earth ” on behalf of the “ Beast from the Sea .” The latter was characterized by its political power, while the “ False Prophet ” used religious propaganda to deceive men, and economic might to suppress anyone who did not conform to the demands of the  World Empire .

Four Beasts in One

In the 13th chapter of Revelation, the single “ Beast from the Sea ” displays the same animal characteristics of the four creatures that Daniel saw ascending from the sea. John’s “ beast ” is from the same lineage, but it is also something more. It certainly is not identical to the “ fourth beast ” with the “ little horn ,” though it incorporates many of its attributes.

The Mark of the Beast

SYNOPSIS: Humanity is divided into two groups – men who have the mark of the Beast, and those who bear the name of the Lamb’s Father – Revelation 13:16-14:5.  The “ mark of the Beast ” is the Dragon’s counterfeit of the “ seal of God ” that is placed on the foreheads of the followers of the Lamb. The “ inhabitants of the earth ” that take this mark are contrasted with the saints who stand on “ Zion ” with the Lamb and have his Father’s “ name written on their foreheads ” ( Revelation 7:1-3, 14:1-4, 19:2-5, 22:3-6 ).

Beast from the Earth

The Beast from the earth mimics the Lamb. It is the mouthpiece of the Dragon and the propagandist of the Beast from the sea .  In chapter 13, the “ great voice in heaven ” pronounced “ woe ” on the “ inhabitants of the earth and sea because the Devil has descended to you, having great wrath .” He then launched his war against the “ seed of the woman ” by summoning his own “ seed ,” namely, the “ Beast from the sea ,” and now, the “ Beast from the earth. ”

War Against the Saints

Image
  In John’s vision, the “ Dragon ” tasks his “ Beast from the Sea ” with the destruction of the “ saints ,” and the “ Beast ” receives authority over all nations to do so. Humanity is divided into two groups: The “ Inhabitants of the Earth ” who “ render obeisance to the Beast ,” and those who “ tabernacle in the heavens ,” namely, the “ saints .” The “ Beast ” attacks the followers of the “ Lamb ,”  NOT  the nations of the Earth.

Beast from the Sea

The Dragon begins his war on the seed of the woman by summoning his seed, the beast from the sea  – Revelation 13:1-5.  In chapter 12, the “ Dragon ” is poised to attack the “ seed of the woman ” as he stands on the seashore while summoning his “ seed ”; first, the “ beast from the sea ,” then, the “ beast from the earth .” Having failed to destroy the “ son ” and the “ woman ,” he sets out to annihilate her “ seed ,” the men and women who have the “ testimony of Jesus. ”

War on the Earth

After his expulsion from heaven, Satan attacks the seed of the Woman, those who hold the testimony of Jesus .  Having failed to destroy the messianic “ son ,” and now, thoroughly enraged, the “ Dragon ” vents his rage by pursuing the “ woman ” into the “ wilderness ,” not by waging war against the " inhabitants of the earth .” But he is thwarted in this effort, so instead, he turns his rage on her offspring – the men and women who “ have the testimony of Jesus. ”

Seventh Trumpet, Third Woe

When the seventh seal was opened, a half-hour of “silence” ensued before the seven angels began to sound their “trumpets.” During that interlude, the prayers of the “saints” were heard ascending to the throne of God. Now, when the “seventh trumpet” sounds, “loud voices” declare the triumph of the kingdom and the possession of the nations by the “Lamb” as promised in the second Psalm.

Little Scroll

Next, John sees the scroll again, only now it is unsealed and open, signifying the time for his call to prophesy once more to peoples and kings  – Revelation 10:1-11.  The first six trumpet plagues  failed to cause the “ inhabitants of the earth ” to repent. Instead, they only hardened their hearts even more.  Something more is needed to complete “ the mystery of God .” The narrative now takes a new direction. Rather than another plague, John sees the scroll unsealed, then he is commissioned to prophesy to “ nations and kings .”

Sixth Trumpet - Second Woe

The sixth trumpet unleashes the demonic horde from beyond the “Euphrates” to afflict the “inhabitants of the earth”  - Revelation 9:13-21.  The blowing of the “ sixth trumpet ” also marks the commencement of the “ second woe .” While the description of the “ plague ” unleashed by the trumpet only continues until the end of chapter 9, the “ second woe ” does not end until the sounding of the “ seventh trumpet ” that will culminate in the final judgment. Presumably, the “ sixth trumpet ” will conclude when the seventh angel blows his trumpet.

Fifth Trumpet, First Woe

The fifth trumpet unleashes the first of “three woes,” and malevolent creatures began to ascend from the Abyss  – Revelation 8:13-9:12.  When the fifth angel blows his trumpet, John sees smoke “ ascending ” from the “ Abyss ,” a place ruled by an “ angel ” associated with “ destruction ,” and the “ Abyss ” becomes prominent in several of subsequent visions. It is the source of entities hostile to the “ Lamb ” and his people, creatures that “ ascend ” to wreak havoc, sometimes on the “ inhabitants of the earth ,” but more often on the “ saints. ”

First Four Trumpets

SYNOPSIS: The seventh seal ended with the seven angels prepared to sound their trumpets. A close link between the seals and the trumpets is seen as the first four trumpets sound - Revelation 8:7-12.  The first four trumpets parallel the  first four seals . Both seals and trumpets afflict within defined limits. The first four seals harm a fourth of the earth, the first four trumpets a third of the earth, sea, rivers and heavenly luminaries. Both series are preceded by the prayers of the saints that ascend as incense.

New Covenant and the Law

SYNOPSIS  –  The “word spoken in the Son” inaugurated the New Covenant that rendered the old one obsolete  -  Hebrews 8:1-13 .  The  letter to the Hebrews  is structured around a series of comparisons that demonstrate the superiority of the “ word spoken in the Son ” over the past revelations of Yahweh “ spoken in the prophets ,” including Moses. The previous “ words ” were true revelations of God but partial, promissory, and preparatory –  Here a little, there a little . But now, “ upon the last of these days ,” He has “ spoken ” with  great finality  in one who is a “ Son .”

The Light of the World

Image
According to the Apostle John, “ Life ” is found in the “ Word ,” and that life is the “ Light of men .” It is “ shining in the darkness ,” and the darkness “ cannot seize ” or suppress it. This same “ Word ” or  Logos  has become “ flesh ,” the Living Word of God manifested in the man, Jesus of Nazareth. In him, the Glory and the Life of the God who created all things are manifested for all humanity to see.

True and Greater Temple

Image
Jesus is the true Sanctuary of God that was foreshadowed in the ancient religious structures and worship rituals of the nation of Israel. He is the dwelling place of God’s presence and glory and the true and final mediator between Heaven and Earth. The man from Nazareth was the Temple “made-without-hands” that was destroyed by evil men but restored when his Father raised him from the dead.

Lawless One Destroyed

Jesus will deal with the “ Lawless One ” at his “ arrival ” or  Parousia . In describing this, Paul employs language from Daniel’s vision of the “ little horn speaking great things ,” originally, an image representing the Seleucid ruler who attempted to destroy the Jewish faith and nation through deceit and persecution.

Until Revealed

Paul has explained why the “ day of the Lord ” has not commenced. Neither the “ apostasy ” nor the “ revelation of the man of lawlessness ” has occurred. Next, he describes the “ mystery of lawlessness ” that is setting the stage for the “ arrival ” of the “ Lawless One .” He will be unveiled when this “ mystery of lawlessness ” completes its preparatory task.

Two Missing Events

Two events must occur before the Day of the Lord comes, the Apostasy and the unveiling of the Man of Lawlessness . The men who were spreading false rumors in Thessalonica about the immediate future were deceiving believers by raising false expectations about the imminence of the “ Day of the Lord ” and the “ arrival ” of Jesus when he will gather his saints. Paul warned the church not to be alarmed or deceived by such rumors, especially such reports that claimed (falsely) to be from him or his coworkers.

Rumors and Disinformation

D isinformation about the return of Jesus is causing alarm among some believers .  In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul addresses rumors and even claims that the “ Day of the Lord has set in ." False information and incorrect expectations about his “ arrival ” at the end of the age are disrupting the assembly. Moreover, this false information is being attributed by some either to a “ spirit ,” word ( logos ), or a letter “ as if from ” the Apostle Paul and his coworkers.

POPULAR POSTS

The Living Word

The Suffering Servant