Chapter 9 -- The Book of Revelation

Please read Revelation Chapter 9.

The Fifth Trumpet Bring the First Terror

Verses 1-2 "A star that had fallen from the sky..."  (see Chapter 8:10-11) Could this be talking about that same star?

Verses 3-6:  It is very specific here about who would be tortured.  Like the Israelite in the time of Moses, the people who had the seal of God were protected. (Exodus 8:22-23; 9:4-6, 26; 10:23, 11:4-7)

Verses 7-12:  What do you think these "locusts" are?  In Bible times Peter had never heard of a helicopter or drone... Do you think this is what he's describing?

The 6th Trumpet Brings the Second Terror

Verses 13-16:  I find it interesting that there are specifically four angels prepared for this specific time, but there army is "200 million troops"! And who are these troops?  Angels? It does not specify!?!

Verses 17-19:  The colors of the armor are the primary colors... Sulfur smells horrible.  I can begin to imagine how terrible these plagues must be.

Verse 20:  I wonder if the people with the seal of God, as mentioned in verse four, will be protected from this terror as well?  The people who didn't die that are mentioned in verse 20 are not including the people with the seal of God, right? A little confusing there for me.

Verse 20-21: Idol worship is mentioned here.  The first and greatest commandment... "Love the Lord your God with all your heart soul mind and strength! (click here to see an earlier post on present day idolatry)  Notice the other specific sins mentioned here: murder, witchcraft, sexual immorality and theft...  How do you think America (or even the world) is ranking in that list of sinful activity today?  Sounds awfully familiar doesn't it?

Every day it becomes more and more evident that the end times are near. In the Gospels it mentions "as in the days of Noah... so it will be when the Son of Man comes..." (Matthew 24:37-39, Luke 17:26-27).  Does it seem like we're living in the days of Noah to you?

What insights have you gained while reading this chapter?

Blessings!

~ S*

Chapter 7 -- The Book of Revelation

Please read Revelation chapter 7.

God's People Will Be Preserved (Verses 1-8)

Verses 1-3:  Do you believe this "seal of God" is something we can see in our earthly/natural realm?  Or is this visible in the spirit realm only?

Verse 3:  "on the foreheads of His servants."

Verse 4:  This verse only mentions how many were sealed from the tribes of Israel.  It does not mention anyone else.  Do you think only Israelites are sealed?  Or are the other tribes not mentioned because there are too many of them(see verse three quoted above)?  Or is Israel mentioned to show how special they are/to set them apart?  Or possibly to show how few of them will be marked/protected?

Verses 5-8: Notice in these verses that the tribes of Dan and Ephraim are not included... Joseph and Manasseh make it the complete twelve.  After researching Dan and Ephraim, it appears no one (including myself) really knows why these tribes were excluded.  I will list a few verses, which might shed a little light on the subject.  But I want you to ask God, and let Him reveal the truth to you.  

Dan:  Genesis 49:16-17 Dan's "blessing" from Jacob before he died, Judges 18 talks about Dan's idolatry, Amos 8:14 "the god of Dan", 1 Kings 12:29-30 and 2 Kings 10:29 talk about sin in Dan.  Also, in 1 Chronicles chapters 2-12 Dan is omitted completely.

Ephraim: Hosea 4:17 and 9:11 some translations read, "Leave Israel alone, because she is married to idolatry." But in Hebrew it says Ephraim instead of Israel meaning the northern kingdom of Israel.

Dan and Ephraim: Jeremiah 4:15 Mentions Israel's destruction from Dan to the hill country of Ephraim.


Praise from the Great Crowd (Verses 9-17)

Verses 9-10: That means everyone!  Not just the Israelites!

Verses 11-12:  The angels and elders praised God by saying "so be it!" Notice also, that wisdom is included in this blessing.

Verses 13-14:  Who are these people clothed in white?  Well, if you look back at 6:11 (6:9-11 the fifth seal) that is where the white robes are handed out!  These verses explain who these people are: "These are the ones who died in the great tribulation."  These verses in conjunction with 6:10-11 and 9:4 lead me to believe that at this point the martyrdom may be complete.  Anyone left on earth whose name is written in the "Lamb's Book of Life" will live through the rest of the end times or live until the rapture.

Verses 15-17:  The blessing/reward for those who die in the tribulation!  Awesome!

Now, I am not claiming to have any or all of the answers here... But this is how I've been inspired to  interpret these scriptures.  I pray for wisdom when writing my blog, and I believe I will be blessed for taking the time to study His Word. (Even when I don't understand everything).

Thanks for reading, and I encourage you to study too!  Look at a particular passage of scripture that God has brought to your attention, and dig deeper into what God is teaching you through it!

Blessings!

~ S*

Chapter 4 -- The Book of Revelation

Please read Revelation chapter four!

Worship in Heaven

Verse 1: "Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast..." Referring to the voice he heard in 1:11.

Verse 2: "instantly I was in the Spirit"  What does this mean to you?  Would you consider it an out of body experience?  

Verse 4: Who do you believe the 24 elders are?  Do you think they are angels, disciples, apostles, the original sons of Israel, prophets, or maybe a hand-selected special few?

Verses 7-8a: What is the significance of the four living beings?  Do they represent something/someone?  Are they real or was it just a vision?  Why are they covered in eyes? 

• The ox in particular stands out to me, because I wouldn't normally think of an ox as a very important animal... A lion or an eagle, yes, but an ox?

• This being could show us that even the people/things we label as insignificant are very important.  Or maybe these beings could be relevant to show importance to people of different beliefs and backgrounds?  For Americans eagles are very significant/important; they represent freedom.  In the Asian community cows (ox?) are sacred animals.  And to many people the lion represents the king of beasts... 

• How do you interpret the living beings?

Verse 8b-11:  "Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come...'”  

• I am on the praise and worship team at my church, and this verse has come to me multiple times while worshiping.  What an honor and privilege to honor the Lord in this way!  When worshiping the Lord and possibly staying on a single song for a long time, we can get tired or bored, but this verse shows that God never gets tired or bored when we worship Him!

• How do you worship the Lord?  What can we do to stay focused on Him constantly?  I would love to hear your thoughts and findings with this chapter!

Have and amazing week!

Blessings!

~ S*

"Christmastime Is Here"

Well, it is that time of year!  The time when we celebrate Christ's birth.  If He was never born, then He never could have died for the sins of the world.  Christmas is a very significant time of year, for it represents the beginning of forever in eternity with Jesus.

What are some of the ways you celebrate Jesus around the Christmas holiday?  One example for me is that we used to hide baby Jesus from the nativity set until Christmas day.  The thought was Jesus didn't come until Christmas day, and we had a chance to search for Him all around the house during the days leading up to Christmas...  Do you have traditions that represent something special?  If so, please share them below.

These past couple Christmas's I have read the "Christmas" story in the Bible.  Both accounts (Matthew and Luke).  It is amazing what took place all those years ago.  I can't even begin to fathom what the people of that time went through because they chose to be involved in Jesus and His life.  Can you imagine being Mary?  Being a woman who would love to get married sometime in the near future, I have pondered Mary's situation many times.  I can't imagine having your husband picked for you and marrying him when you are still a "child".  Do you think she truly loved Joseph?  Imagine all the ridicule and criticism she received because she was pregnant. I have felt criticized before when choosing to go a way that wasn't popular to the world, but I knew it is what God wanted me to do.  And sometimes I didn't even feel like doing it, but I knew for certain it was what God wanted me to do.  There is an indescribable peace when you are following God's will and His plan for your life.  I believe Mary had the certain peace as well.  Another thing that is unfathomable for me, transportation...  Can you imagine traveling miles and miles on untamed terrain walking?  Possibly riding a donkey or other animal, but I doubt it.  The animals were probably primarily used to carry necessities like food... I can't imagine that, camping out every night along the way...  Do you think Mary and Joseph saw the star before the Magi came?  Was Mary happily willing to travel to Egypt? Or did she put up a fuss, or pout along the way?  Maybe she didn't outwardly show her disgust, but strongly felt it inside her with every step in the opposite direction of their previous home.  Did her family completely write her off?  Did they not want anything else to do with her once she became pregnant?  Did they eventually become followers of Jesus after they heard His message?  

I will never know what is was like to live in that time period, but I am so very thankful that it happened all those Christmas's ago.  How about you?  Have you put much thought into it?  I encourage you this Chrsitmas season to read the amazing story of Jesus's birth. Ponder it... Soak it all in...  What questions would you like to ask Mary and/or Joseph?  What have you always believed about the Christmas story that you realized wasn't necessarily true compared to the true biblical account?  Did anything surprise you? I would love to hear your thoughts and see what you discovered this CHRISTmas!

Blessings!

~ S*