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MEAT – Now that it’s Over
July 22nd 2018
When we started in Revelation I had a lot of things that needed clarification – which we have talked about.
Now that we have gone through it – literally verse by verse – and checking the Greek, other versions of the same passages, the futurist view as compared with the Historicist and Idealist (in many places) as well as the Preterist (partial and full and hyper) I have come to see some things that were not necessarily addressed in our nearly two-year verse by verse study.
I want to share some of those things with you all today, as a sort-of topical approach.
First, my present view of the BOOK OF REVELATION
Two, the nature of the relationship with God and Christ and Man is much clearer, and (3rd)
Three, the relationship of the Bride as firstfruits and first born relative to everyone afterwards is made clearer.
Fourth, the identity of Father and Son has been made radically clear.
And finally, the New Heaven, The New Earth and the New Jersusalem will be briefly addressed (or the age that we are presently in)
Next week, we will open up to 2nd Corinthians as I find that book to be very cumbersome personally and definitely meaty in content.
Today, I am going to ask the questions some ask of me, and then answer:
Number one: So, has my opinion changed about the Book of Revelation and its place in the New Testament? If so, how?
Yes, it has changed. Dramatically. I was not sure of its purpose or place or validity initially, and sided with many predecessors in the faith in thinking that it perhaps did not belong in our New Testament.
Add in the fact that the majority of Pastors avoid teaching Revelation all together to their flocks and I assumed that time in it was a waste.
How wrong I was.
I have learned a number of things relative to the Book and will touch on them now.
First, I learned what a Jewish book Revelation is – and how it speaks to and references most things Hebrew beginning to end.
This includes the Old Testament books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Isaiah, Job, the Psalms, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Malachi and I’m sure others I’ve failed to miss.
The problem is many people take the contents of these Old Testament books and assign them directly to us in our age (which to a Jew was the age to come) when in fact those prophecies all spoke to the wrapping up of the former age or the age that must pass before the age to come could be fully in place.
Additionally, I learned that the way a Jew would write and communicate is on display in Revelation, and missing this key bit of information can cause some readers to greatly mistake what is actually being said.
That being said, I have also learned first hand what a volatile, disruptive, even divisionary book Revelation can be in the hands of those who expect its contents to somehow have application to our day and age.
The very nature of this divisionary element of the book tells me that it must be approached with a tremendous amount of leeway and love; without it human beings are prone to engage in actual warfare with people they should otherwise love.
Additionally, I have seen first hand how the contents of the book appeal to people with a soul for magical realism which is the combining of real world imagery with elements of magic, fables, myths and hyperbolic exaggerations.
For me, it is impossible to read or study the book as literal, though futurists try to their demise, but admittedly there are elements of it that must be literal mixed with others that are certainly representational.
Knowing the difference is where the divisions lie.
Also, I have been able to see and read, firsthand, how secular history supports the imagery of Revelation and in so doing go a long way to PROVE both our Lord Jesus Christ and His Apostles absolutely correct in the things they said in the New Testament narrative.
No other eschatological position is able to reasonably do this but are instead left with having to infer that Jesus and His apostles were either speaking in code or they were flat out wrong.
Not so. The full Biblical Preterist model goes much much further to support biblical inerrancy than any other eschatological position.
This realization, of course, has then allowed me to better see how other approaches to this sacred faith are so failing – all because of adherence to the popular traditions of men.
To my surprise I also found myself drawn deeper into certain positions I found myself embracing in the faith BEFORE our study of the Book; in other words, Revelation has actually clarified some things for me as a believer which prior to our study were not as concrete.
I want to spend the rest of our time together sharing those clarifications with you.
THE ORDER OF THE KINGDOM?
From GOD, in and through the Former Heaven and Earth came . . .
MAN – ADAM
WOMAN (His Wife) – EVE
PRESENT AGE
(through them came the )
Children of Israel (mortal forefathers)
Nation of Israel
City of Peace (Brick and Mortar Jerusalem)
Prophets
Oracles
Messiah
Apostles
SECOND ADAM – JESUS
His Wife? BRIDE
(the Apostolic Church that passed
through tribulation and through them
came the . . .?)
Children of God (with an immortal forefather)
Women (Daughters)
Men (Sons)
AGE TO COME
START HERE:
GOD THE FATHER GIVES ALL THINGS THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST
JESUS WAS GIVEN ALL THINGS BY HIS FATHER GOD
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. The ultimate being Jesus Christ.
WHILE A MORTAL ON EARTH
John 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
Matthew 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
John 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
John 6:39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
John 13:3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
John 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
John 18:11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
POST RESURRECTION
Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Romans 14:9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
Hebrews 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Hebrews 2:8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
Hebrews 1:13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Daniel 7:3 I saw in the night visions, and,
behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
THE END OF THE AGE
1st Corinthians 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.
Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
THE NEW AGE, THE NEW KINGDOM, THE NEW HEAVEN, THE NEW EARTH, THE NEW JERUSALEM
After the hall of fame of faith chapter (11), where the writer describes all the heroes of the faith in the Old Testament, he goes on in chapter 12 and says:
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
FIRST-FRUITS and THE CHURCH OF THE FIRST-BORN
Prior to the establishment of the New and Eternal Age, God through Christ set in place the following
FIRST-FRUITS / FIRST-BORN
Who are the Bride of Christ with the New Jerusalem being our mother above. BELIEVERS TODAY ARE NOT PART OF THIS GROUP. We are the “many brethren but cannot be firstborn or the first-fruits.
FIRST-FRUITS
FIRST-BORN
CROPS
Le 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
In the old Testament the first-born sons enjoyed certain special privileges. (Deuteronomy 21:17; Genesus 25:23,31,34; 49:3; 1st Chronicles 5:1; Hebrews 12:16; Psalm 89:27.
This was also called “Birthright.”
The “first-born of the poor” signifies the most miserable of the poor Isaiah 14:30. The “church of the first-born” signifies the church of the redeemed.
The destruction of the first-born was the last of the ten plagues inflicted on the Egyptians (Exodus 11:1-8; 12:29-30)
Menephtah is probably the Pharaoh whose first-born was slain. His son did not succeed or survive his father, but died early. The son’s tomb has been found at Thebes unfinished, showing it was needed earlier than was expected. Some of the records on the tomb are as follows:
“The son whom Menephtah loves; who draws towards him his father’s heart, the singer, the prince of archers, who governed Egypt on behalf of his father. Dead.”
The Redemption of the First-born
From the beginning the office of the priesthood in each family belonged to the eldest son. But when the extensive plan of sacrificial worship was introduced, requiring a company of men to be exclusively devoted to this ministry, the primitive office of the first-born was superseded by that of the Levites (Numbers 3:11-13) and it was ordained that the first-born of man and of unclean animals should henceforth be redeemed (Numbers 18:15.)
The laws concerning this redemption of the first-born of man are recorded in Exodus 13:12-15; 22:29; 34:20; Numbers 3:45; 8:17; 18:16; Leviticus 12:2,4
The first-born male of every clean animal was to be given up to the priest for sacrifice (Deuteronomy 12:6; Exodus 13:12; 34:20; Numbers 18:15-17)
But the first-born of unclean animals was either to be redeemed or sold and the price given to the priest Lev 27:11-13,27 The first-born of an ass, if not redeemed, was to be put to death Ex 13:13; 34:20
Sanctification of the Firstborn
A peculiar sanctity was attached to the first-born both of man and of cattle. God claimed that the first-born males of man and of animals should be consecrated to him, the one as a priest Ex 19:22,24 representing the family to which he belonged, and the other to be offered up in sacrifice. (Genesis 4:4)
SONS
Exodus 13:12 That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD’S.
JESUS
Matthew 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn
NATION
Romans 11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. (Nation of Israel)
PREDESTINATION OF THE FIRSTBORN (of Many brethren)
Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren
OF RESURRECTION (see whole chapter)
1st Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1st Corinthians 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
BELIEVERS
Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
The 144,000
Revelation 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. (speaking of the 144,000)
THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH
James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, the One Lord God
1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
All throughout the Old Testament, we read the title of, LORD God. It is used 519 times. When we get to the New Testament, we see the title used on 13 times – two in the Gospels, two in the epistles, and nine in the Book of Revelation.
Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
Here the LORD GOD, relative to Jesus, is the One who gives Jesus, the Son of the Highest, the throne of David. This is an OLD TESTAMENT REFERENCE
Luke 1:68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
Here the LORD GOD is described as visiting and redeeming His people. This is an OLD TESTAMENT reference.
1st Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Better put – “the LORD GOD sanctify your hearts,” which places Him in the seat of all things FROM Him.
Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Here the LORD GOD is differentiated from our LORD, Jesus Christ. So this too, is an OLD TESTAMENT reference.
Revelation 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Revelation 11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
Revelation 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways,
thou King of saints.
Revelation 16:7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
Revelation 18:8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
Revelation 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Revelation 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Revelation 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Revelation 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
This is speaking of the LORD GOD of the Old Testament – not Jesus, the Lamb.
This is a similar reference to Him (and not the Lamb).
The song of the Lamb says, “Great and marvelous are thy works, LORD GOD Almighty . . .
No insight
Not insight
This speaks to the reign of the LORD God over all things.
Here the LORD GOD and the Lamb are differentiated again.
The LORD GOD gives the Light (through the Lamb)
The LORD GOD, who only knew the day and hour, would show which was to shortly be done.
I am personally convinced that THE LORD GOD of the OLD TESTMENT, in and through the Man, Jesus of Nazareth, born of a woman, born under the Law, born of a virgin, came into the world, saved it, and then mediates all things according to His will through Him forever more; that all people who have ever walked the earth as He has placed all things in the LORD and SAVIORS hands.
There is a distinct use of the term Jesus in Revelation however. It is more tied to things relative to the earth and us that things related to the LORD GOD.
“JESUS” 12 times in Revelation
Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Re 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
Re 1:5 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,
Re 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Re 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Re 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Re 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
Re 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Re 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Re 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Re 22:20 ¶ He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Re 22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
“THE LAMB” – used 24 times in Revelation
Revelation 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.
Re 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.
Re 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in 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.
Re 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
Re 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Re 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Re 7:10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Re 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Re 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Re 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Re 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Re 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
Re 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Re 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
Re 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Re 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Re 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Re 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
Re 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Re 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Re 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Re 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (it’s the LAMBS book of Life – those who are HIS from this earth)
Re 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Re 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
CONCLUSIONS:
The LORD GOD and the LAMB are separate entities.
The LORD GOD came down and embodied Jesus of Nazareth through the Holy Spirit.
The Lamb of God, as described by John the Baptist, overcame sin and death and the grave and inherited all things from His Father.
Now the LORD GOD Almighty and the LAMB reign. There is a LAMB’s BOOK OF LIFE. It is a book of continuous entries. We will never see or relate to the LORD GOD Almighty directly, but will have total access to Him by and through Jesus Christ, the LAMB OF GOD. Because the Lamb reigns every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Him and His name of Lord, Savior and King, to the glory of the Father.
The New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem
Christianity Since 70 CE
Having discovered( (and thoroughly proven) the biblical reality that everything of the former age has not only ended with the coming of Christ and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE but has also been shaken so mightily (in heaven and earth) that the only things that remain are unshakeable, how are Christians to see the faith, their walk in the world, and the aims and purpose of being a follower of Christ? I would suggest the following is a start:
That all material approaches to brick and mortar religion are not ony unimportant but at times serve as a hinderance to the things of the Spirit and should be seen in this light.
That no man (or woman) is in a position to tell another how they must or should believe – as God is with (dwells in) all who are His and all who are His will know Him intimately and personally in this way.
That the Good News is shared as a foregone conclusion – instead of “believe and be saved,” the message is “Jesus has saved you.” Saved to what? To the heavenly realm by overcoming sin, death, the grave, sheol, hell, Satan and any other hinderance that once stood between God and Man.
That the Spirit is primary, with the fruits thereof, and Christians are known by these fruits manifest in their lives.
That doctrinal disputes are wholly unnecessary as Jesus has had the victory; that God Almighty has allowed for the biblical tenets of the faith to be subjectively understood among those who seek Him, and we will only come to a unity of the faith through love, and no other means.
That the Kingdom of God on earth and the Kingdom of God above are one in the same – to be a member here is to be a member there.
This Kingdom is not theocratic nor political – it is not based on overwhelming nations but in thriving in the individual. Warfare is not against flesh and blood, nor is it against devils and demons or social evils. Warfare is all internal as the individual believer learns to let God reign over them and their will. Truly, “the Kingdom of God is within you.”
The afterlife consists of a heavenly kingdom with a New Jerusalem as its capital. Inside its walls are those who loved the Lamb. Those outside its walls have yet to fully receive Him and His Kingdom – but the gates to that city are open day and night and are accessible from every direction in heaven. The New Jerusalem is the destination for all heavenly inhabitants, but it is up to them and their will to want to enter therein.
The environs outside the New Jerusalem are not described in terms of being painful, hot, cold, miserable nor are its inhabitants described as suffering or gnashing their teeth. This reality is all due to the total victory Jesus has had over all things. All have been reconciled to God by and through His Son. All have access to Him and His Kingdom.
Those who are His by faith, who have from the heart chosen to follow Him and His life and to make themselves His disciple through suffering of their will to take a back seat to His, are called “joint-heirs.”
Joint-heirs will have some sort of proximal relationship to God and the Lamb. The less a person chooses to receive the universal invitation to receive Jesus, the less they truly pursue Him in heart and mind, the more “distance” they will appear to have to the glory of God and the Lamb who dwells in the New Jerusalem.
In summary, all people, because of the total victory of Christ, have entered into the Spiritual Garden of Eden which has been restored to it original place by Jesus. Some will have God walking with them in the cool of the day while others will enjoy the blessings of life and living but will choose to reject His invitation to enter into an intimate relationship by the Spirit.
There is no judgement necessary as all people are wholly responsible for the lives they choose to live, for where they place their focus, and how much they allow God to have influence over them.
All people are free and all people are responsible for their every choice before God. All people will reap what they have sown. All have a place and call on their lives by God to live out, and He blesses all with breath, life, and His outstretched hand.
But those who are His, who through their own freewill choose to receive and believe and focus their life-time on relationship with Him and His Son, are not only known by Him, but they have always been, and will continue to be, His sons and daughters.
Such are known by their love for all, all the time. As being light. As not being of this world but having a heart for those who are. These are Christians today. Such are His.
THE WORLD
The scripture speaks of this earth never going away. Ages will come and go but this earth will never be destroyed. It also speaks of the Kingdom going on forever and ever. What will this look like?
It seems that God, the grantor of life and creator of all things, has given life as a gift to His human creations. He let’s the rain fall on the just and the unjust. He provides for the good and evil.
All people therefore will continue to abide here choosing whom they will serve. If they choose self, they will reap accordingly after this life. If they choose God and others, the same. Those who are truly His, who receive His invitation to come to Him, will be His here and there. Those who reject the invitation will not. They will still have life and experience great things – sometimes magnificent things. But His Son’s and Daughters, known from the foundation of the world, will forever receive Him and His Son, come to Him by faith, and walk as Christ. Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. The remainder care not for such things and will receive according to their hearts desires.
THE GOOD NEWS
From these positions we share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others – as a means to help them receive what has been done for them. May the Spirit and all of its fruit, guide and abide.
