In the Spirit - Rumor notes 3

 

Revisit Rev 1:6 related to glory and dominion as being the two major issues that must be resolved completely before God's government can rule without any resistance or fear.

Glory and Dominion are the two things that must be completely restored in order for God to govern the entire universe without resistance. Glory relates to His reputation that has been seriously damaged causing many to believe He cannot be trusted with infinite power; dominion relates to how many are willing to live under His benign rulership without fear and distrust. Since the earth is the headquarters of the rebellion of Satan, Jesus came to the heart of the rebellion to disarm it and restore as many as are willing back to living in full trust and love, winning the authority to exercise the dominion lost by Adam over this planet. Additionally, Jesus wins full authority and dominion over the entire creation by similarly earning their trust in God's heart so all things can be restored to complete freedom, allegiance and the rule of love alone. The glory of God is most clearly evidenced in His humility, gentleness and selflessness, not in displays of power, making it difficult for sinners to accept that His ways alone are effective to govern everyone. This is why the primary symbol of Jesus, the hero of this book, is that of a violently slaughtered Lamb, not the Lion.

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7)

I looked, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud one sitting like a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. Another angel came out from the temple, crying with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, "Send forth your sickle, and reap; for the hour to reap has come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe!" (Revelation 14:14-15)

How many will mourn over him? (review links except for Zechariah)

How many are included as those who pierced him? (review Zechariah 12:10-13:6)

I will pour on the house of David, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they will look to me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and will grieve bitterly for him, as one grieves for his firstborn. In that day there will be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.

The land will mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of the Shimeites apart, and their wives apart; all the families who remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.

"In that day there will be a spring opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness. It will come to pass in that day, says Yahweh of Armies, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they will be remembered no more. I will also cause the prophets and the spirit of impurity to pass out of the land. It will happen that, when anyone still prophesies, then his father and his mother who bore him will tell him, 'You must die, because you speak lies in the name of Yahweh;' and his father and his mother who bore him will stab him when he prophesies. It will happen in that day, that the prophets will each be ashamed of his vision, when he prophesies; neither will they wear a hairy mantle to deceive: but he will say, 'I am no prophet, I am a tiller of the ground; for I have been made a bondservant from my youth.' One will say to him, 'What are these wounds between your arms?' Then he will answer, 'Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.' (Zechariah 12:10 – 13:6)

Two different kinds of mourning going on.

Many will mourn for themselves, their losses, their fate for eternity.

The saved will mourn for Him because they have chosen to so identify with His life and death that they see how their own sins participated in bringing about His death as He literally felt the effect of their sins as He was dying.

This mourning becomes so personal and intense that each person feels isolated from identification from anyone else but Jesus, the one who took on the effects of their false identity in order that they might take on all the benefits of His true identity implanted into them. It is one thing for all to be in Christ because He fully identified with each one of us, allowing the full impact of all our sins to weigh Him down and suffocate the life out of Him in Gethsemane and on the cross. But what must also happen for completion of salvation is that we also identify with Him, allowing our hearts to break and be re-formed by identifying so closely to what He experienced that we leave off all blame of anyone else for our choices to sin. This may well be what is being described in this passage related to each mourning apart from everyone else. They are taking full responsibility for themselves, thus reversing the pattern set by the first Adam who began blaming instead of confessing.

This brings about a revival as a spring is thus opened up to them for cleansing from distrust and fear that causes all their malfunction of sin to be eliminated. This spring causes us to cut ourselves off from every false source of identity and provision – idols. It also exposes and defeats all messengers claiming to represent God as prophets but do not reflect His true character in their lives or their messages. Prophecy will come to an embarrassing end when the true is revealed.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with. (1 Corinthians 13:8-10)

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day...

I will pour on the house of David, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they will look to me...

In meditating on God in the revelation brought by Jesus Christ, John opens the door of authority for Jesus to come in person to convey the most fabulous insights possibly ever shared with a human being. We have the same power and privilege given to us by our human will that can be used at any time to authorize God's will to find access to our world through and in us.

Our prayers, petitions and praises are not to manipulate God to give us what we want or do things we think need to happen. They are to open doors for God to accomplish what He knows best needs to happen. By leaving prayers open for God's will we position ourselves strategically for His benefit.

Give glory to Him is the resounding theme throughout Revelation and is to be the focus and obsession on the part of all who want to participate in God's strategy for overcoming evil with good. This was the central theme of the life of Jesus while here on earth and continues to be His main focus all the way to the end when everything is restored to its original design of joy.

I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. Having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands. (Revelation 1:12)

Are these candlesticks or lampstands? The original word can mean either. There is no record of individual candlesticks in the sanctuary because they were all part of a single lampstand.

Could this represent seven menorahs representing each of the groups of believers addressed here? Each group or synagogue would typically have their own menorah, not a single candlestick. The menorah or lampstand would be like a trademark identifying them as belonging to the same religion.

And among the lampstands was one like a son of man, clothed with a robe reaching down to his feet, and with a golden sash around his chest. (Revelation 1:13)

The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out, clothed with pure, bright linen, and wearing golden sashes around their breasts. (Revelation 15:6)

I am convinced these seven angels represent those on earth who have come to perfectly reflect the same character as displayed by Jesus.

But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

The context of this chapter is Paul contrasting two glories – the old inferior glory witnessed at Mt. Sinai eclipsed by the far superior glory revealed by Jesus. This movement from one glory to another glory parallels those in Revelation who sing the song of Moses the servant and the song of the Lamb. They transition from the old glory song over always winning over enemies as defining victory, to loving enemies and laying down their lives for them like the Lamb.

When his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky, and destroy them, just as Elijah did?" But he turned and rebuked them, "You don't know of what kind of spirit you are. For the Son of Man didn't come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." They went to another village. (Luke 9:54-56)

This is the radical nature of the new song. This is what defines those represented by the 7 angels who pour out their prayers and praises of God on every aspect of this world that brings the empire of evil to its knees in defeat. They overcome, not by crushing their enemies but through reflecting the truth about God's heart of love just like Jesus.

This is the process of judgment – bringing light into the open so clearly that its opponents either embrace it or hate it and react violently as they do in reaction to what is poured out of the bowls.

His head and his hair were white as white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace. His voice was like the voice of many waters. He had seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest. (Revelation 1:14-16)

Head, hair, eyes, feet, voice, hand, mouth, face.

"Come now, and let us reason together," says Yahweh: "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it." (Isaiah 1:18-20)

Eyes like a flame of fire.

Gideon said to him, Oh, my lord, if Yahweh is with us, why then has all this happened to us? and where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not Yahweh bring us up from Egypt? but now Yahweh has cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of Midian. Yahweh looked at him, and said, Go in this your might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian: have not I sent you? (Judges 6:13-14)

Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come here. The king said to Hazael, Take a present in your hand, and go, meet the man of God, and inquire of Yahweh by him, saying, Shall I recover of this sickness? So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Your son Benhadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, Shall I recover of this sickness? Elisha said to him, Go, tell him, You shall surely recover; however Yahweh has shown me that he shall surely die. He settled his gaze steadfastly on him, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept. Hazael said, Why weeps my lord? He answered, Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: their strongholds will you set on fire, and their young men will you kill with the sword, and will dash in pieces their little ones, and rip up their women with child. Hazael said, But what is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing? Elisha answered, Yahweh has shown me that you shall be king over Syria. (2 Kings 8:7-13)

But Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you are talking about!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. The Lord turned, and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord's word, how he said to him, "Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times." He went out, and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:60-62)

When Jesus heard this, He said to him, "One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. And Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! "For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Luke 18:22-25 NAS95)

The flame of fire in His eyes parallels the sea of glass mingled with fire.

The eyes are where the most intense communication of the heart interacts between people. Fire represents the passionate love of God for all of His children. Fire produces exposing light which expels darkness to reveal everything hidden. This is the kind of light that initiates judgment (John 3:19). This entire book is about judgment, light that exposes and overcomes the kingdom of darkness.

Feet were like burnished bronze.

Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this who is glorious in his clothing, marching in the greatness of his strength? I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Why are you red in your clothing, and your garments like him who treads in the wine vat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yes, I trod them in my anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled on my garments, and I have stained all my clothing. (Isaiah 63:1-3)

You make him ruler over the works of your hands. You have put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yes, and the animals of the field, The birds of the sky, the fish of the sea, and whatever passes through the paths of the seas. Yahweh, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Psalms 8:6-9)

Yahweh says to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet." (Psalms 110:1)

I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. There was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, 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. (Daniel 7:13-14)

Contrast this with the feet composing the image of Daniel 2 representing the kingdoms of this world.

Whereas you saw the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, because you saw the iron mixed with miry clay. (Daniel 2:41)

The iron kingdom relies on force, coercion and violence to conquer and control people. This is not the nature of the dominion given to our first parents. Their dominion was over all the living creatures of the earth and the physical planet, not over people. Their exercise of dominion likewise was not to be coercive but to reflect God's ways of relating through kindness and firmness. This is the dominion recaptured for Jesus, not the counterfeit kind of dominion we do after Satan's order.

I came across something very fascinating when I looked up the Greek word used for burnished bronze. The Greek word from which this word bronze is derived means burnished copper or an alloy of copper and silver (or gold). This word is a combination of two words: 'chalkos' conveying the idea of hollowing out a metal such as copper or brass to use as a vessel, and 'libanos' which is the incense tree implying frankincense. This hints strongly at representing a bowl/censer for carrying incense.

The censers used in the OT were made of bronze.

Speak to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter you the fire yonder; for they are holy, even the censers of these sinners against their own lives; and let them be made beaten plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before Yahweh; therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel. Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burnt had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar, to be a memorial to the children of Israel, to the end that no stranger, who isn't of the seed of Aaron, comes near to burn incense before Yahweh; that he not be as Korah, and as his company: as Yahweh spoke to him by Moses. (Numbers 16:37-40)

Do we find a hint here at a connection between the feet of Jesus and references to censers and bowls later in Revelation? I find this curious and compelling.

This description and reference to the feet of Jesus can also tie into what the feet represent elsewhere in Scripture. Consider the following passages.

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns! The voice of your watchmen! they lift up the voice, together do they sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when Yahweh returns to Zion. (Isaiah 52:7-8)

For though the fig tree doesn't flourish, nor fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive fails, the fields yield no food; the flocks are cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in Yahweh. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! Yahweh, the Lord, is my strength. He makes my feet like deer's feet, and enables me to go in high places. (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:13-14)

Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace; above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. (Ephesians 6:13-16)

What is the common element in these references to feet? The good news of peace. This is the antidote to the fear that has pervaded all humanity ever since we bought into the lies of distrust of God's heart. Peace has been very elusive ever since, for peace can only exist and thrive when there is trust and freedom from fear. And so long as we remain infected with fear-based beliefs about God we will never enter into the peace and joy that Jesus came to give us. That is the truth that sets us free and reconciles us to God. For as we come to realize that God is not our problem but our own fearful, selfish thinking, the obstacles to peace can be removed and we can be restored into intimate fellowship with Them.

Now let's look at a compelling parallel description to what we find here in Revelation 1.

I looked, and behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, a great cloud, with flashing lightning, and a brightness round about it, and out of the midst of it as it were glowing metal, out of the midst of the fire. Out of the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. Everyone had four faces, and each one of them had four wings. Their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot; and they sparkled like burnished brass. (Ezekiel 1:4-7)

their wings were joined one to another; they didn't turn when they went; each one went straight forward. As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man; and they four had the face of a lion on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four had also the face of an eagle. Their faces and their wings were separate above; two wings of each one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. Each one went straight forward: where the spirit was to go, they went; they didn't turn when they went. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches: the fire went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning. (9-14)

When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Wherever the spirit was to go, they went; there was the spirit to go: and the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. (19-20)

Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse, like the awesome crystal to look on, stretched forth over their heads above. Under the expanse were their wings straight, the one toward the other: each one had two which covered on this side, and every one had two which covered on that side, their bodies. When they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a noise of tumult like the noise of an army: when they stood, they let down their wings. There was a voice above the expanse that was over their heads: when they stood, they let down their wings. Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and on the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above. I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it round about, from the appearance of his waist and upward; and from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness round about him. As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke. (Ezekiel 1:22-28)

This expanse may well be partly due to the division between heaven and earth perspective. Or it may have many other meanings as well. What is fascinating is to consider other places in Scripture that describe this expanse or sea. But we can look at them more exhaustively when we get to chapter 4. But what is interesting is how different people saw this same expanse from different angles, some from above and others from underneath.

Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up. They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was like a paved work of sapphire stone, like the skies for clearness. He didn't lay his hand on the nobles of the children of Israel. They saw God, and ate and drank. Yahweh said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain, and stay here, and I will give you the tables of stone with the law and the commands that I have written, that you may teach them." (Exodus 24:9-12)