Revelation

• Messages sorted by:[ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]

Hi all,

Timothy Litteral agreed that part of Revelation concerns salvation
after I sent my post regarding the taking of the little book by
the Lamb as indicating salvation.  If that is indeed salvation,
(taking the little book, and the crying out of thanks by the
4 beasts and 24 elders for redemption), then think about the 
"contents" of the little book.  If taking the little book is 
salvation, then what might the nature of the contents of the little 
book be with redemptioon in mind?  It must be tied to redemption,
for taking the book initially certainly and plainly involves
redemption.

We know the seven seals were broken as the book was opened.  
And the seals being broken involved the four horsemen, (Rev 6) etc.  
But keep in mind that the taking of the book, to begin with, 
referred to redemption as we read about these "ingredients" in the
little book.

The reason I feel Revelation and the seals, etc., refer 
to spiritual maturity, and general trials and troubles which 
cause us to grow, is due to the fact that the taking of the 
book is indeed referring to redemption.  We must work from THAT
standpoint for that is where the seals work from.  By the time
you see Christ descend in Rev 10 with the little book, it 
has been opened totally.  All seals broken off.  If the taking 
of the little book is redemption, what would the fully opened 
book represent?

We must take what we knwo to be solid facts about the symbolisms in 
Revelation and continue with them since they remain an 
integral part of the remaining visions of John.  IOW, 
the taking of the little book reperesents redemption.  That is solid.
And the little book is opened throughout chapter 6, causing
us to keep the thought of redemption in mind, for the book is 
still involved.  

And when the seventh seal is opened the seven trumpets are 
kicked into effect. IOW, the seven trumpets are part of the 
seventh seal.  So the little book is STILL involved.  One thing 
leads to another and it all began with the little book being initially
retrieved by the Lamb, Christ.  The seventh seal contains 
the seven trumpets.  So what has all this got to do with opening 
a book which was initially taken in indication of redemption?

We must find that out.

And in Rev. 10, the Lord descends with the little book opened!
He shouts a victory roar like a lion after standing on land and
sea.  

Recall that when He first took the book, although he Looked like a
lamb, he was called the Lion of Judah.  And in Rev. 10 He is in fact
that Lion as He roars like a lion.  So, Rev 10 has got to 
do with redemption also since the LION prevailed to take the
book in our redemption.

Think about him standing on the land and sea in Rev 10.  
We were made from the earth.  Our flesh is that which was made
from the earth, whereas our spirits were made from God's breath 
of life. And victory over the flesh can be truly represented by
Christ standing on the land and sea.  Victory over the flesh allows 
Christ to truly be our Lord!  

I do not claim to understand all
of Revelation, but I feel I am being pushed by the Spirit towards the
thought that Rev. 10 shows Victory over the flesh.  That which Jesus
took into His hand upon redemption has been fully opened and finally
victory is achieved.

Paul distinctly lists seven types of "breakings" in 2 Cor. 4:8-12, 
after speaking about our treasures of a "changed heart" which sits
in earthen vessels.  And Jeremiah 32:14 mentions the point of God having 
the prophet PURCHASE or REDEEM land of his kin by taking a SEALED 
scroll and putting it in an earthen vessel.  This is the "levirate"
law of redemption saying that one who is kin can redeem one's loss
of property.  Unless we look at such Old Testament parallels as Jer 32's
reference to the sealed book in an earthen vessel, we will
miss the whole meaning of Revelation.  (Please read my study
"Redemption Day by Day by the Revelation of Jesus Christ" as found
at my website given below under PROPHECY for full explanation of
that thought of the breaking of flesh for our spiritual growth, and 
Jer. 32's parallel to Rev 5).

What I am saying is that Jer. 32 ties the sealed scroll of Rev. 5,
which taking and placing in an earthen vessel symbolized redemption, 
with the fact that Paul spoke of "earthen vessels" of our flesh which
gives need for SEVEN BREAKINGS to occur.  And this simply puts it
too far away from coincidence for Revelation's broken seals being 
so similar to Paul's breaking of fleshliness towards spiritual 
maturity for it not to be talking about our spiritual growth in 
symbolic form.

Can you see why I have looked at the troubles of Revelation as being 
symbolic of the trials all believers go through after God has us in 
hand upon redemption, and how that we GROW through trials?  See Romans 
5:3-5.

Thoughts that Revelation refers solely to Endtime evenst alone are 
made when no consideration for Old Testament parallels are referred to.


Despite such claims as God not ever able to put His bride through
tribulation before He marries her, as some have preached, the Bible still
says that tribulation is intended by God for the beleiver to grow.

Acts 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting 
them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much 
tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Rom 5:3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: 
knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Rom 5:4  And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is 
shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

1 Pet 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery 
trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened 
unto you:
1 Pet 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's 
sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad 
also with exceeding joy.


2 Cor 4:8  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we 
are perplexed, but not in despair;
2 Cor 4:9  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not 
destroyed;
2 Cor 4:10  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord 
Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
2 Cor 4:11  For we which live are alway delivered unto death 
for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest 
in our mortal flesh.
2 Cor 4:12  So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

2 Cor 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward 
man perish [THROUGH TRIBULATION], yet the inward man is renewed 
day by day. 
[CONSIDER THE OPENING OF THE BOOK TO REVEAL ITS CONTENTS AS THE 
OUTWARD SEALS ARE BROKEN.]
2 Cor 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, 
worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2 Cor 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at 
the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are 
temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.


-- 
In Christ,
Mike Blume
mfblume@ns.sympatico.ca
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/mfblume/mblume.htm