The REVELATION of Jesus Christ - Chapter Seven

1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 ‘Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.’ 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,

from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,

from the tribe of Gad 12,000,

6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000,

from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,

from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,

7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,

from the tribe of Levi 12,000,

from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,

8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,

from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,

from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.

———————

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:

‘Salvation belongs to our God,

who sits on the throne,

and to the Lamb.’

11 All the angels were standing round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, 12 saying:

‘Amen!

Praise and glory

and wisdom and thanks and honour

and power and strength

be to our God for ever and ever.

Amen!’

13 Then one of the elders asked me, ‘These in white robes – who are they, and where did they come from?’

14 I answered, ‘Sir, you know.’

And he said, ‘These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 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 shelter them with his presence.

16 

“Never again will they hunger;

    never again will they thirst.

The sun will not beat down on them,”

    nor any scorching heat.

17 

For the Lamb at the centre of the throne

    will be their shepherd;

“he will lead them to springs of living water.”

    “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”’

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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell

Revelation 7: “144,000” (v.4)

In view of the importance given to this number by Jehovah’s Witnesses, what they teach needs to be checked. It only occurs twice more in the Bible (Revelation 14 vv.1 & 3), which is in itself a warning as to their interpretation. They claim the figure “144,000” is literal, but that the 12 Jewish tribes (12,000 from each) are only symbolical. That’s arbitrary and illogical. 

But they also teach only the “144,000” are “redeemed from the earth” and go to heaven (see 14 v.3). 

Yet John sees “a great multitude that no one could count [over 144,000!!!] … before the throne” (v.9). Yes, me too!

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READINGS

The REVELATION of Jesus christ

Chapter Seven

Read by Sir David Suchet

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OVERVIEW 

The REVELATION of Jesus Christ

Chapter  1 to 11

 - Overview -

The Bible Project 

- How to Read the Bible -

Apocalyptic Literature

Revelation “The Bible in 5” 

Tim Mackie  (The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/Oj7WcXVzHpI

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STUDY - LINKS

The REVELATION of Jesus Christ

David Pawson

-Part 1-

https://youtu.be/xZP8kbY-Cec

-Part 2 - 

https://youtu.be/xn_E5VoeH1w

Part 3

https://youtu.be/OWcgyuQc9Wc

Part 4

https://youtu.be/_A_4PaSsHXE

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SONGS

Salvation Belongs to the Lord

Kensington temple

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The REVELATION of Jesus Christ - Chapter Six

1 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, ‘Come!’ 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, ‘Come!’ 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.

5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, ‘Come!’ I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, ‘A kilogram of wheat for a day’s wages, and three kilograms of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!’

7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, ‘Come!’ 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a quarter of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?’ 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.

12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig-tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?’

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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell

Revelation 6: “slain” (v.9 )

One after another 6 of the 7 seals are opened to reveal frightening future events of war and famine and destruction and death. At the 5th seal John sees “the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called …‘how long until you avenge our blood?’ …”they were told to wait a little longer” (vv.9-11).  

Though this passage expresses truths about the after-life in visionary form, one thing it emphasises is that death is not the end; the “souls” of the “slain” are conscious, call out in prayer, and can hear his reassuring answer from above!

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READINGS

The REVELATION of Jesus christ

Chapter Six

Read by Sir David Suchet

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OVERVIEW 

The REVELATION of Jesus Christ

Chapter  1 to 11

 - Overview -

The Bible Project 

How to Read the Bible - Apocalyptic Literature

Revelation “The Bible in 5” 

Tim Mackie  (The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/Oj7WcXVzHpI

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STUDY - LINKS

The REVELATION of Jesus Christ

David Pawson

-Part 1-

https://youtu.be/xZP8kbY-Cec

-Part 2 - 

https://youtu.be/xn_E5VoeH1w

Part 3

https://youtu.be/OWcgyuQc9Wc

Part 4

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SONGS

Worthy is the Lamb

The REVELATION of Jesus Christ - Chapter Five

1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?’ 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.’

6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:

‘You are worthy to take the scroll

    and to open its seals,

because you were slain,

    and with your blood you purchased for God

    persons from every tribe and language 

and people and nation.

10 

You have made them to be a kingdom 

and priests to serve our God,

    and they will reign on the earth.’

11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:

‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

    to receive power and wealth 

and wisdom and strength

    and honour and glory and praise!’

13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

    be praise and honour and glory and power,

for ever and ever!’

14 The four living creatures said, ‘Amen’, and the elders fell down and worshipped.

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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell

Revelation 5: “Lamb” (vv.6 & 12-13)

Nobody is worthy to open a sealed scroll, until “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” (v.5) is announced. In response John sees “a Lamb … as if it had been slain, standing in the centre of the throne” (v.6) – i.e. in God’s place!  When He [N.B. Jesus, see John 1 vv.29 & 36] takes the scroll, the 4 creatures and the 24 elders erupt in a song of praise, ”worthy is the Lamb … to him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb … be glory and honour and power” (vv.12-13). 

After they “said Amen … they “fell down and worshipped” (v.14). Wow!  Wish you were there to see it?  You will be one day, won’t you?

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READINGS

The REVELATION of Jesus christ

Chapter Five

Read by Sir David Suchet

-=-=-=-=-=-

OVERVIEW 

The REVELATION of Jesus Christ

Chapter  1 to 11

 - Overview -

The Bible Project 

How to Read the Bible - 

Apocalyptic Literature

Revelation “The Bible in 5” 

Tim Mackie  (The Bible Project)

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STUDY - LINKS

The REVELATION of Jesus Christ

David Pawson

-Part 1-

-Part 2 - 

- Part 2 - 

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SONGS

Salvation Belongs to our God 

Kensington temple

Worthy Is the Lamb of God 

(Revelation 5:12)

ROYAL CHORAL SOCIETY: 

Worthy is the Lamb & Amen 

Chorus from Handel's Messiah

- Is He Worthy? - 

Shane & Shane 

Is He worthy? 

By: Andrew Peterson 

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The REVELATION of Jesus Christ - Chapter Four

1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door  standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’ 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the centre, round the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and behind. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all round, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

‘“Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,”

who was, and is, and is to come.’

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11 

‘You are worthy, our Lord and God,

    to receive glory and honour and power,

for you created all things,

    and by your will they were created

    and have their being.’

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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell

Revelation 4: “appearance” (v.3)

Any vision will leave a significant impression, but John’s was overwhelming, “a door open in heaven” (v.1). He is invited up to be shown “what must take place” (v.1), and sees “a throne … with someone sitting on it” (v.2). Trying to describe the sight challenges his ability: “the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian” (v.3). They are both a darkish red blood colour. 

He also sees 24 enthroned “elders dressed in white” (v.4), and 4 “living creatures” (v.6) of varying aspect, expressing their adoration in unison to the “Lord God Almighty” (vv.8 & 11). 

Breathtakingly awesome!

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READINGS

The REVELATION of Jesus christ

Chapter Four

Read by Sir David Suchet

-=-=-=-=-=-

OVERVIEW 

The REVELATION of Jesus Christ

Chapter 1 to 11

 - Overview -

The Bible Project 

How to Read the Bible: 

Apocalyptic Literature

Revelation “The Bible in 5” 

Tim Mackie  (The Bible Project)

-=-=-=-=-=-

STUDY - LINKS

The REVELATION of Jesus ChristDavid Pawson

-Part 1-

-Part 2 - 

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