A Message For The End Time
by Jim Lisenby
Changing From The Old
To
The
New
One thing we shall see in this chapter is the transfer of things from the old way to the new. In a sense, from Yahweh of the Old Testament to Jesus of the New Testament. Of course, they really are one and the same, but it is all shown symbolically here. Now salvation is available to everyone because Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb as depicted by the Passover, paid the price to make it so.
Rev. 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.In chapter 4, John was at and around the throne of God and we are still there in this chapter. The One who sits on the throne has a sealed book in His hand. This same book is also talked about in the book of Daniel. Revelation and Daniel complement each other in several ways and for that reason we will also refer to Daniel from time to time as we go along studying in this book of Revelation. Let's go there now.
Dan. 10:14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.Notice the words latter days and many days. Friends, it has been many days since Daniel lived and we now live in these same latter days. He is talking about our time now, the year 2000 and beyond.
Dan. 10:15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.Daniel has just been told what would happen to Israel, and indeed the entire Earth, at the end time. He was speechless! Thunderstruck! Sick to his stomach! Terror siezed him and he went limp. Yes, the things he heard and saw were absolutely mind numbing.
Dan. 10:16 And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.God revealed to Daniel what the end of this world age would be like and it absolutely stunned him. I know what he saw even though I've never seen it, and let me hasten to add that I don't want to see it. He showed him the end of all flesh and how it is to come to pass. Daniel literally became ill after seeing the vision because it disturbed him so much.Dan. 10:17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.
Dan. 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.Even though Daniel didn't give us any details it is clear that he had an extremely hard time accepting what he saw and heard. Being human and in the flesh, how can we understand something like this? How can we plumb the depths of the idea of the total destruction of the Earth, and the end of all life in the flesh? How can we rationally accept it while we are in the human body? We are alive in the flesh, and we view the death of our bodies from a visceral perspective, or perhaps even a feral perspective, because that is all we know. So, like Daniel, to us the end of this age is the worst disaster that can possibly happen, but there is hope. The Bible says that the age that follows this one is far better. We will see that in chapters 20 - 22. Our flesh body will perish, but our individual spirit, our id, our ego, our personality will not die. We will all survive this unwanted catastrophe in the spirit and we will all live through the coming Millennium.
Is the biblical prophecy of a catastrophic end to life as we know it preposterous? Evidently not. It has happened multiple times before to planet Earth, and many scientists have recently become concerned about it. Hollywood has made movies concerning it, two or three within the past decade. Of course, the way they pictured it mankind always somehow survived in the flesh, but survival of the flesh body is not biblical. Survival of the spirit is however.
And at that
time shall Michael
stand up, what
does that mean? Could it have anything to do with Rev. 11:11
where
the two witnesses will stand up on their feet after being
dead for three and a half days? It is certainly possible.
Dan. 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.Those that sleep in the dust of the earth are all the dead. Notice that they shall awake. That is a figure of speech meaning that they each shall become aware of their personal situation. They will finally awake intellectually and come to their senses during this time when Michael stands up. What will they become aware of when they come awake? They will see that some are blessed and rewarded with everlasting life immediately, while others will see that they have to work for it throughout the Millennium.
Those that are ashamed are those who realize that they didn't make the first resurrection even though they thought that they were okay while they lived in the flesh. They undoubtedly fell prey to the deception of Satan and religion. Everlasting contempt is for those who didn't even try.
Dan. 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.Those who names are written in the book (verse 11) will be glorified in the first resurrection and will teach those who aren't during the Millennium. What happens during this time is pictured by the Feast of Tabernacles, sometimes called the Feast of Booths, or Sukkot. It comes at harvest time in early Autumn, and the greatest harvest of all time will take place during this 1,000 year period.
Dan. 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.Do we not run to and fro in every way now? Especially in gathering information. It should be obvious to all how knowledge has increased and is increasing daily. Everything is changing at the speed of light and the Internet is a good example for us to consider. We are now living in what is called the information age, and it is also the time of the end.
Dan. 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.Daniel was told this over 400 years before Christ was born but it would not be until our time now, more than 2,400 years later, that the seals on the book would be opened and for the events described therein to come to pass.
Dan. 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.The wise should be construed as those who have ears to hear, who love God and obey Him. It doesn't mean individuals with high I.Q.s or those who have honors conferred on them by other men. You don't need a doctorate to be wise biblically. Those who are wise are those Jesus exemplified in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.
Rev. 5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?Rev. 5:3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
Rev. 5:4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to openDelete and to read.and to readthe book, neither to look thereon.
Rev. 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David,Delete hath and to loose. Prevailed should be translated overcame. Of course, this is referring to Jesus Christ who overcame all things while still in the flesh. He is the only One who is worthy.hathprevailed to open the book, andto loosethe seven seals thereof.
Rev. 5:6 And I beheld,Beheld should read saw. Omit and, lo. The Lamb (a perceptually helpless, or meek, creature) is Jesus Christ who was slain at Passover as planned, but then He became the most powerful being in the whole universe next to the Father of us all. The number seven means completeness or perfection in biblical numerology. Horns are symbols of power, these particular seven horns are described in verse 12 below, and show what power the slain Lamb possesses.and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Once again the seven Spirits of God are mentioned, but this time they are represented by seven eyes instead of seven lamps like they were in Rev. 4:5 (which see). These are probably seven attributes, or seven gifts of the Holy Spirit of God. In any case, Christ has all seven of them, that much is evident from this verse.
Rev. 5:7 And he came and tookAgain, He here is the Lamb. Right here is where things change from the old to the new symbolically. The One that sat on the throne is the same One in chapter 4. Now the Lamb takes the book from the Him who sat on the throne. Things are changing from the Old Testament way to the New Testament way. Omit the book and insert it. The Lamb is able to open the seals and start the chain of events that lead to His second appearance and the ushering in of His government.the bookout of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
Rev. 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.Harps should read a harp. It has to do with music and singing. In chapter 4 these 24 elders fell down before Him that sat upon the throne. Now they fall down before the Lamb. Jesus has become our intercessor with the Father and our prayers come before him now as well as our songs of praise.
Rev. 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;They now sing a new song about their Redeemer and the New Covenant. The song of the Old Covenant has been fulfilled by the sacrifice of Jesus and has been replaced by the New. Notice that He has redeemed us out of the whole Earth, from every kind of people, not just Hebrews.
Rev. 5:10 And hast madeOmit us. Kings would better be translated as a kingdom. A priestly kingdom. We should read they. Those who are glorified in the first resurrection will be rewarded for their good works. They will once again be a part of the Kingdom of God literally, and as we shall see a little later in our study of Revelation, they will be a part of, and will participate in administering the government of Christ.usunto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Rev. 5:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;These numbers should not necessarily be taken literally. John is expressing what he saw in base 10 multiples, and here John is raising 10 to the 3rd and 4th power. In other words, it is a figure of speech meaning a great multitude as in Rev. 7:9 (which see).
Rev. 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.There are seven things mentioned here, count them. Some have taught them as being the seven eyes in verse 6 which are defined there as the seven Spirits of God, but actually they are more likely to be the seven horns mentioned in that same verse. Let's look at the definition of each one separately as they would apply to the Lamb.
Power - Greek dunamis (Strong's No. 1411) inherent power, to be able or capable. We get our word dynamo from it. God can do anything.
Riches - Greek ploutos (Strong's No. 4149) wealth, fullness of riches. All things are God's.
Wisdom - Greek sophia (Strongs's No. 4678) supreme intelligence, skilled wisdom. We get our word sophisticated from it. God knows all things.
Strength - Greek ischus (Strong's No. 2479) might, forcefulness, power. He is that energy that holds all matter together and controls the universe. He possesses absolute power.
Honour - Greek time (Strong's No. 5092) - [pronounced tee-may] esteem of the highest degree, having great value.
Glory - Greek doxa (Strong's No. 1391) praise, worship. We get our word doxology from it.
Blessing - Greek eulogia (Strong's No. 2129) commendation, benediction, adoration. We get our word eulogy from it.
Rev. 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, andOmit such as are. In should read on. Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, these are four things that everyone can give to the Lamb in support and worship of Him. The other three things above among the seven He possesses within Himself. These four words are the same as in verse 12 except power. Here power is the Greek word kratos (Strong's No. 2904) and means dominion or all powerful. The power of a creator. The power of government. We get our words aristocracy and theocracy from it.such as arein the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Rev. 5:14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And theOmit four and twenty and him that liveth for ever and ever. He has earned the everlasting love and admiration of the elders, angels, cherubim, seraphim, saints and all the saved in heaven.four and twentyelders fell down and worshippedhim that liveth for ever and ever.
God bless with
understanding
of His word.
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