Here we find that John actually turned to see the voice that was coming from behind him. This starts the first of John's visions. John sees seven golden lamp stands. There are three mentions in the old Testament of golden lamp stands.
1. The lamp stands here are mentioned as seven separate lamp stands, or some bibles state as candlesticks. That would indicate that they are not like the ones in the tabernacle as they were seven-branched. (Exo 25:31-37)
2. Recall Solomon's temple, in it there was to be five golden candlesticks on right and five on the left. (1Kings 7:49)
3. The third came from Zechariah 4:2 in his vision of the golden candlestick with a bowl on top of it.
William Barclay mentions all three in his book, "The Revelation of John" Vol.1 and makes mention that John see visions similar to the old Testament visions in which God has previously revealed himself. Then Mr. Barclay suggests that the lesson here is in order to discover new revelation, we must first learn the revelation God has already given us. Awesome thought!
In the holy place, Christ is represented by the seven branched candlestick, the Spirit of God by the lamps upon it. However, while Christ is away in Heaven we, His people, are to be the lights for Him here in this world. The seven lamp stands are also representative of the seven churches (see prior blog concerning Rev 1:4), representing a possible picture of the Church's history until our Savior comes again.
Moving on to verse 13, John sees a figure in the the midst of the circular arrangement of the candlesticks, "...One like unto the Son of Man,...". Son of Man, a title Jesus frequently applied to himself, and is used for the Messiah in Daniel 7:13 in addition to being mentioned like this in all four of the Gospels.
We will further discuss the appearance in the next blog, until then, ask yourself, Am I truly a light for Him while we wait for his return?
Blessings on all,
Calabash
Monday, February 21, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Revelation 1: 9,10 & 11
This verse starts off with John telling us where he is, Patmos, and that he was exiled there. This was his punishment for preaching Christ and Christ risen. (Oh how easy we have it today to speak and yet, so many of us are afraid of what others may think of us.) Here John is shut away from all fellow Christians and yet, God continued to use him for His glory and WOW how God utilized him.
John speaks to us as a brother and companion in tribulation. Not of the tribulation to come that will last seven years but, of the tribulation he is experiencing now as a disciple. Being a believer does not exempt us from trouble, it does exempt us from the sever years of tribulation yet to come, as it is for Israel and the unbelieving Gentiles (see Rom 5:9: 1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9; Rev. 3:10).
John is "in the Spirit on the Lord's day". This is the first use of "the Lord's day" in the new testament. Interesting passage here, The Sabbath is to be observant of God for creation of the world. The Lord's Day is for commemorates the raising of Jesus from the Dead.
John was "in the Spirit", he was allowing the Holy Spirit to consume him, to take him to a place of peace, a place of clarity, a place of connection to listen to our Father. All of us should be able to go to our special inner Spirit to be "in the Spirit" with our Father to talk and listen to what He has to say to us and for us to just "be" with Him. Patmos was not a place of calmness or quiet, there was no Christian fellowship or meeting hall for John, but it didn't matter, he took the Bible with him and was with the Father frequently, as should we-always, not just on Sunday.
John says, "I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet," The comparison of the voice to a loud trumpet gives us a clear vision of the Lords voice to a clear, crisp booming sound of a trumpet call. The identification came, of the "...Alpha (Greek letter, first in the alphabet) and the Omega (Greek letter, last in the alphabet), signifies the beginning and the end. This followed by the instructions to see, wright and then to send to the seven churches.
What an amazing command from our Father.
Blessings to all,
Calabash
John speaks to us as a brother and companion in tribulation. Not of the tribulation to come that will last seven years but, of the tribulation he is experiencing now as a disciple. Being a believer does not exempt us from trouble, it does exempt us from the sever years of tribulation yet to come, as it is for Israel and the unbelieving Gentiles (see Rom 5:9: 1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9; Rev. 3:10).
John is "in the Spirit on the Lord's day". This is the first use of "the Lord's day" in the new testament. Interesting passage here, The Sabbath is to be observant of God for creation of the world. The Lord's Day is for commemorates the raising of Jesus from the Dead.
John was "in the Spirit", he was allowing the Holy Spirit to consume him, to take him to a place of peace, a place of clarity, a place of connection to listen to our Father. All of us should be able to go to our special inner Spirit to be "in the Spirit" with our Father to talk and listen to what He has to say to us and for us to just "be" with Him. Patmos was not a place of calmness or quiet, there was no Christian fellowship or meeting hall for John, but it didn't matter, he took the Bible with him and was with the Father frequently, as should we-always, not just on Sunday.
John says, "I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet," The comparison of the voice to a loud trumpet gives us a clear vision of the Lords voice to a clear, crisp booming sound of a trumpet call. The identification came, of the "...Alpha (Greek letter, first in the alphabet) and the Omega (Greek letter, last in the alphabet), signifies the beginning and the end. This followed by the instructions to see, wright and then to send to the seven churches.
What an amazing command from our Father.
Blessings to all,
Calabash
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Revelation 1:5-8
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen 7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.- (KJV)
Verse 5 we find a description of our Jesus Christ:
Faithful witness-
Verse 5 we find a description of our Jesus Christ:
Faithful witness-
wit·ness (w t n s) n. 1. a. One who can give a firsthand account of something seen, heard, or experienced: a witness to the accident. b. One who furnishes evidence.
Here, Christ is Gods witness, by definition, he can give "firsthand account". He has seen, heard or experienced what is being written here. He is unique in that He had first-hand knowledge about God.
John 3:11 Jesus confirms this by saying to Pilate, "For I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth"
First-born (begotten)of the dead-
The word first-born is prototokos. It has two meanings:
1. Literal- first-born. In relation to Revelation, it would mean Jesus was crucified and resurrected, thus having victory over death and being first born of the dead. But,you may say Jesus was the not first raised from the dead and you would be correct. The difference being,they experienced death again. Resurrection in Christ name continues today. As a matter of fact, there are many raised from the dead recently in Brazil (see healingherald.org/2011/01/16-flood-victims-raised-from-the-dead-in-brazil/). 2. First-born was to be the one who inherits. Prototokos, here means one with power and honor, one who occupies the first place.
Both seem to apply in this verse.
The prince of the kings of the earth-
Jewish scholars translate this as a description of the coming Messiah, stemming from Psalms 89:27
Then John breaks into adoration, praise and worship, overcome with the Glory of God and his promises.
He mentions in verse six, "And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father;". The mention of making us kings and priests is for us who believe, we are sons of God by faith, therefore, we will be made kings and priests! See Exodus 19:6 where it says, "You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation"
John then continues with the praise and worship mentioning the coming of Christ again. This guarantee accords with 317 other promises of His return and is mentioned more frequently than any other subject, with the exception of salvation.
The words in verse eight are words used by Jesus to John to identify Him with the
"I AM" of scripture. Putting Him in the completeness with God and an official affirmation by Jesus of His deity.
Blessings to all,
-Calabash
First-born (begotten)of the dead-
The word first-born is prototokos. It has two meanings:
1. Literal- first-born. In relation to Revelation, it would mean Jesus was crucified and resurrected, thus having victory over death and being first born of the dead. But,you may say Jesus was the not first raised from the dead and you would be correct. The difference being,they experienced death again. Resurrection in Christ name continues today. As a matter of fact, there are many raised from the dead recently in Brazil (see healingherald.org/2011/01/16-flood-victims-raised-from-the-dead-in-brazil/). 2. First-born was to be the one who inherits. Prototokos, here means one with power and honor, one who occupies the first place.
Both seem to apply in this verse.
The prince of the kings of the earth-
Jewish scholars translate this as a description of the coming Messiah, stemming from Psalms 89:27
Then John breaks into adoration, praise and worship, overcome with the Glory of God and his promises.
He mentions in verse six, "And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father;". The mention of making us kings and priests is for us who believe, we are sons of God by faith, therefore, we will be made kings and priests! See Exodus 19:6 where it says, "You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation"
John then continues with the praise and worship mentioning the coming of Christ again. This guarantee accords with 317 other promises of His return and is mentioned more frequently than any other subject, with the exception of salvation.
The words in verse eight are words used by Jesus to John to identify Him with the
"I AM" of scripture. Putting Him in the completeness with God and an official affirmation by Jesus of His deity.
Blessings to all,
-Calabash
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