Breaking the Seals - Rumor notes 28

 Revelation 6 – Breaking Open Seals

As discussed in the previous chapter, I believe the best way to view the nature of these seals, given the context of how they appear in the flow of this narrative, is that they most likely represent a perfect (7) system of compelling lies and insinuations crafted by the most brilliant created mind, designed to distract and derail attention from God as the source of all life, wisdom and knowledge. Because this attack has resulted in a serious erosion of trust in God's system of governing, the evidence desperately needed to diffuse the power of these charges must be publicly exposed. Yet the lies themselves are designed to reinforce each other and keep truth covered up, making this matrix of complex lies so effective that it appears God's reputation can never be restored fully.

This is exposed in chapter 5 where John feels the enormous stress of seeking a solution for God's seemingly unsolvable problem. Then he hears the most exciting news of all history as it is revealed that a hero has been found who can effectively unmask and dismantle this nemesis of deception that threatens the entire universe,. The Hero is a Lion that presents itself as a completely vulnerable Lamb. This is key for understanding the rest of the book beginning with how we come to view the meaning of each of the seals as they are broken by the Lamb one by one. Remember, only by viewing all of these symbols from the perspective and disposition of heaven who side with the Lamb can be begin to discover the shocking revelations each of these seals exposes about the nature of the subtle and sinister opponent bent on exploiting God's creation.

The only way I believe we can appreciate the nature of what is released each time a seal is broken by the Lamb is to maintain our perspective that God is exactly as portrayed by the Lamb. This alone will guide us to look through the right lens as we peer into heaven to see what John describes. Any other lens or interpretation will be distorted by false notions about how God relates to sin and sinners because we are predisposed to view everything based on paradigms from our flesh instead of the spirit.

So let's begin with the first broken seal and observe the symbols to see what might emerge.

I saw that the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying, as with a voice of thunder, "Come and see!" And behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow. A crown was given to him, and he came forth conquering, and to conquer.

(Revelation 6:1-2)

Is it possible to discern using clues, which of the 4 creatures it might be who announces this seal-breaking ceremony? Let's check out other passages that might guide us in this.

I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. He had in his hand a little open book. He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land. He cried with a loud voice, as a lion roars. When he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices. (Revelation 10:1-3)

This is the only creature heard using a voice of thunder. The lion represents intense emotion, either terrifying fear or intense joy. It would come from the East side of the encampment of Israel whose standard was the Lion of Judah. The entire arrangement of Israel around the sanctuary represents the psychological and social design of what it means to live together as humans.

In the context of these first four seals, this invitation to come and see might be expressed as 'bring it on'. This is like saying, it's time to expose the counterfeits - let's get on with exposing all the lies with the real truth.

behold, a white horse

Does the symbol of a white horse always mean the good guy must be riding it? In a war initiated and perpetuated through use of lies, intentional deceptions, insinuations and vicious slander, it would only be expected to find that the first lie exposed would be the most subtle. After all, these seals are intended to prevent truth from coming into the open. And the greatest truth to counterfeit would be the character of the hero commissioned to defend the reputation of God who is the main target of attack.

I believe this to be a counterfeit of Jesus riding a white horse. Having said that, it does not necessarily follow that the white horse itself could still represent professed followers of Jesus who are misled as those in leadership rely on wrong methods that increasingly leads them deeper into deception and confused notions about God and His character of selfless love.

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ's apostles. And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:13-14)

What are subtle clues in this passage that could alert us here that something is suspicious?

Compare this description of a rider on a white horse with a more positive ID of Jesus later on.

I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war.

I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse, and against his army.

The rest were killed with the sword of him who sat on the horse, the sword which came forth out of his mouth. All the birds were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:11, 19, 21)

Emerging out this first broken seal we see a rider with a bow, a crown that is given to him and who is bent on conquering. This does not perfectly correspond to the true character of the Lamb.

This actually counterfeits the lion creature as well as the Lion/Lamb Himself. It seems to appear like courage, yet it uses ungodly methods to conquer rather than the methods of the Lion of Judah who is presented as a willingly vulnerable Lamb. It is vital to be anchored in a correct appreciation of the motives and methods of the true Hero before we go on to the things we will encounter further along in this book. The way the Lamb overcomes is never through conquering others with a bow, rather with words of truth and love alone represented as a sword that comes out of His mouth. A bow is not part of the weaponry of our Hero of Revelation. But it can be discerned through descriptions of the attacks of the enemy. A bow, remember, is for shooting arrows, which are fiery darts of Satan.

In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (Ephesians 6:16 NAS95)

Why does it say the crown was given to him? If this is really Jesus then the crown would most likely already be in place. If it needs to be given to him it might indicate it is borrowed, or at least not inherently self-evident of having a good character. The crown might also represent authority given to him originally belonging to Adam. Satan acquired the crown of authority and dominion originally intended by God for Adam, but who gave it away to Satan, betraying God's trust in him.

Also note that this crown is in contrast to the many crowns seen on Jesus in Revelation 19:1.

Do we continue to give away our kingly power of our will to Satan, allowing him to conquer us and keep us in subjugation under his system of manipulation through rewards or threats of punishment?

Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head." Don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

(Romans 12:20-21)

This verse highlights the stark contrast of motives and methods between the two warring camps. This is how we test every spirit, by comparing the subtle nuances of deceptions to see how they hold up to the light from Jesus. The words here translated overcome in this verse are the same Greek word that is translated as conquer we are studying here in the first seal. Satan insists that to counter evil and deter it must be accomplished by inflicting evil back on offenders. However, Jesus comes to defeat and overcome evil by responding to it with its opposite, not more of the same.

Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? (Romans 2:4 NAS95)

I see this masquerading horseman as possibly the greatest master deceiver exposed in this first seal. The Lamb begins with the most difficult one to unmask and works His way through all of them to arrive at the most obvious evils in the last horse and rider released by the broken seals.

The Lamb's method of making war in Rev 19:11 and Isa 1:1-66:24 is to liberate others, in contrast to this sort of conquering. This kind of conquering means to dominate, to rule over others. This is really a counterfeit of what is actually needed, a conquering of internal selfishness and gaining self control. This exposes the extreme subtlety of this deceiver, appearing as a champion for righteousness while deftly employing methods of the dragon.

Note also that there is no mention here of clothing on the rider, in contrast to the blood-sprinkled robe seen on the authentic Jesus in Rev 19:13.

Given that these seals are likely lies being exposed as counterfeits, it could be possible that each horse might also be a counterfeit one of the 4 creatures around the throne, starting with the most subtle deception. This white horse and its rider masquerading as the 'good guys,' is in fact being controlled by the masterful imposter. Compare this with the nature of the activity of similar horses and riders in Zechariah 1:8-11, all patrolling the earth and found again in Zechariah 6:1-8. There we find the phrase 'walk back and forth through the earth' as connected with their activities which provides even more evidence that they may really be assertions of Satan's authority over the earth, just as Satan asserted to God in the story found in Job 1:7; 2:2.

The strong went out, and sought to go that they might walk back and forth through the earth: and he said, "Go around and through the earth!" So they walked back and forth through the earth. (Zechariah 6:7)

Yahweh said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it." (Job 1:7)

When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come!" Another came forth, a red horse. To him who sat on it was given power to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another. There was given to him a great sword. (Revelation 6:3-4)

the second living creature

This might be announced by the second creature like a calf. This horse may relate to a counterfeit of the red heifer. Note that this is the only creature who does not say 'come and see'.

The calf connects to what might be viewed as being counterfeited by Aaron when he claimed to have thrown the people's gold (faith and love?) into the fire (of human passion and lust?) resulting in a molten idol in the likeness of raw power. This symbolizes a terrible misdirection of faith and love. That kind of gold is offered to us in exchange for our garbage (remember the counsel to Laodicea) to make harps and censers for fighting the enemy with praises and petitions. Don't waste it on indulging in power plays or lustful passions.

Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

Phillips translation says, Don't be squeezed into the world's mold. This entire book is all about methods, motives and messages that need to be properly understood in light of the Lamb. It portrays the contest between the methods of the dragon which are all about power, versus the methods of the Lamb which is all about self-sacrificial love.

So long as we long for power, we are being conformed or squeezed or molded into the image of this world, for that is the goal and desire of the flesh. The gold used by Aaron to make a symbol of Egyptian power was molded by melting down the gold to make it conform to the shape Aaron wanted in order to please the debased cravings of the people for selfish indulgence. This was only days after they had solemnly promised to obey everything God had told them from Mt. Sinai. This demonstrates the weakness of power, for power devoid of true, selfless love only produces death. Paul calls this the law of sin and death.

This rider carries a great sword, implying that it rules with great force through use of intimidation and violence. This is a trademark attribute that emerges in this book as the primary method the enemies of the Lamb rely on consistently. This power may at times purport to be exercised for the good of the people, yet it always robs the earth of true peace which can never be established through violence and fear. Killing one another and robbing others of their freedoms is the means whereby earthly governments control the masses in their efforts to enforce artificial law, but it will never transform the heart for good but only produces the heart of a rebel.

Power to take peace from the earth

Our first parents gave Satan their dominion which he used to steal their peace and that of all the earth, introducing violence and death seen most clearly starting with Cain.

given to him a great sword

Note that in many instances the source of the giving is not identified. We must not always assume the direct source is God.

The passive nature of this action is part of the exposing nature of this war that contrasts God's methods with the forceful, coercive nature of Satan's methods.

This sword is a counterfeit of the sword of truth. This can be seen currently in compelling deceptions backed by threats, media control and coercion to suppress any truth that might expose the lies used to manipulate the masses.

Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven. Don't think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn't come to send peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man's foes will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn't worthy of me. He who doesn't take his cross and follow after me, isn't worthy of me.

He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:32-39)

Why would Jesus say He did not come to send peace but a sword when one of His titles is Prince of Peace? Is this a contradiction or a confrontation, a protest against the counterfeit kind of peace we imagine we need?

I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled. But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division. (Luke 12:49-51)

We must come to appreciate the contrast of methods relating to how the Lamb comes to restore peace.

Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king comes to you! He is righteous, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow will be cut off; and he will speak peace to the nations: and his dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. (Zechariah 9:9-10)

What kind of sword does Jesus bring?

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 1:16)

Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. (Revelation 2:16)

Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.

The rest were killed with the sword of him who sat on the horse, the sword which came forth out of his mouth.... (Revelation 19:15, 21)

For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

Notice the significant difference in the location of the war being fought from two opposing sides. The sword used by the hand signifies external control through fear, intimidation, force, coercion and killing that robs the earth of peace. Jesus comes with a sword, but the sword is in His mouth meaning it is words, not violence used to control others. The sword Jesus relies on exclusively is designed to operate at the heart level and can only be wielded effectively by the Holy Spirit through inward promptings. This is in stark contrast to the external abuse of power relied on by the Lamb's opponents in attempts to compel conformity to their demands or suffer the consequences.

So how are we to explain the divisive nature of the sword Jesus uses? How does this relate to peace? Maybe we need to understand the true nature of peace as well as the meaning of a sword.

Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don't let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. (John 14:27)

When a person begins to respond and become synchronized with the Spirit of Jesus, a division increasingly develops between their heart and those around them that they previously depended on to give them comfort or identity or security. When relatives and loved ones become angry and resentful at these changes of dependence and affection, division is inevitable. It is then that we are faced with a painful choice, whether to continue to make the Lamb our highest priority or whether we will go back to our codependent and familiar ways of relating to others.

It might appear that because of this division that takes place, instead of bringing peace Jesus has introduced dissonance, and this is true. However, the peace that the world gives is not a heart peace but an artificial kind of peace, a superficial peace where conflict and tension between the opposing sides of the war is maintained through fear or appeasement. The world's peace is measured by conformity to the will of those in power, while the peace of heaven is entirely internal, rooted in the heart connected to the heart of God as its exclusive source of identity, value and trust. This always results in tension and conflict with anyone we have depended on to provide our sense of worth and identity in the past, which is why the internal peace results in external division brought on by the resistance of all who refuse to follow the Lamb with us.

When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, "Come and see!" And behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a balance in his hand. I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A choenix of wheat for a denarius, and three choenix of barley for a denarius! Don't damage the oil and the wine!" (Revelation 6:5-6)

This announcement is from the creature with a face like a man. A man partially represents calculating and protecting assets, especially from our fallen thinking in the flesh. This is signified by the use of balance scales alerting us to the fact that this involves the counterfeit system designed by Lucifer to replace God's original design for governing. Scales are associated with all three foundations of the counterfeit design: trading/commerce, artificial law and hierarchy. In fact, one of the most recognized symbols of our version of justice is the scales.

The face of a man is related to knowledge as well. Remember, these things that emerge upon the breaking of each seal are all full of lies mingled with truth designed to prevent us from seeing the pure truth that will exonerate God and His methods and motives. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is directly linked to these symbols found released by this seal. The man is linked to the knowledge part of the tree while the scales are used to measure good and evil in our design for keeping order by keeping good and evil in balance.

What often is not noticed here is that this word translated scales also means yoke. Here is Strong's definition of this word in the Greek.

(to join, especially by a "yoke"); a coupling, i.e. (figuratively) servitude (a law or obligation); also (literally) the beam of the balance (as connecting the scales):--pair of balances, yoke.

Compare this with the following quotation from the writings used as the foundation of this earth's system as explained by Albert Pike.

At the same time that we judge that a free agent has done a good or a bad act, we form another judgment, as necessary as the first; that if he has done well, he deserves compensation; if ill, punishment …That judgment may be expressed in a manner more or less vivid, according as it is mingled with sentiments more or less ardent. Sometimes it will be a merely kind feeling toward a virtuous agent, and moderately hostile to a guilty one; sometime enthusiasm or indignation … The judgment of merit and demerit is intimately connected with the judgment of good and evil… Merit is the natural right which we have to be rewarded; demerit the natural right which others have to punish us… Reward accorded to merit is a debt; without merit it is an alms or a theft … The Good is good in itself, and to be accomplished, whatever the consequences… Virtue without happiness, and crime without misery, is a contradiction and disorder … … This law that attaches pleasure and sorrow to the good and the evil, is, in general, accomplished even here below…To the moral law in the reason of man, corresponds liberty in action. Liberty is deduced from obligation, and is a fact irresistibly evident. Man, as free, and subject to obligation, is a moral person; and that involves the idea of rights. To these ideas is added that of merit and demerit, which supposes the distinction between good and evil, obligation and liberty; and creates the idea of reward and punishment.

The distinction of the two Principles was admitted in all the Theologies, and formed one of the principal bases of all religions. It entered as a primary element into the sacred fables, the cosmogonies and the Mysteries of antiquity… The harmony of the Universe is a combination of contraries, like the strings of a lyre, or that of a bow, which alternately is stretched and relaxed.” “The good,” says Euripides, “is never separated from the Evil … The two must mingle, that all may go well.” …“And this opinion as to the two principles, continues Plutarch, is that of all antiquity. From the Theologians and Legislators it passed to the Poets and Philosophers. Its author is unknown, but the opinion itself is established by the traditions of the whole human race, and consecrated in the Mysteries and sacrifices both of the Greeks and Barbarians, wherein was recognized the dogma of opposing principles in nature, which, by their contrariety, produce the mixture of good and evil … We must admit two contrary causes, two opposing powers, which lead, one to the right and the other to the left, and thus control our life … This doctrine … has been generally received by most nations, and especially by those who have had the greatest reputation for wisdom ...

All have admitted two gods, with different occupations, one making the good and the other the evil found in nature. The former has been styled “God,” the latter “Demon” … Morals and Dogma p.246-247; Albert Pike – founder of the Masons

This horse represents the exposure of the source of the philosophy of this world, relied on throughout history by governments and religions of every stripe. Albert Pike simply points this out as an undeniable fact, and he is right. This is the way our world operates, but it is challenged by a new kingdom introduced by the hero of Revelation, the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. But His advance is not without fierce resistance and opposition at every step, which is why we find ourselves immersed in so much conflict whenever we begin to respond to the invitations to change sides and join the Lamb. The battle is not merely over our allegiance but primarily over our heart, for where our heart chooses to anchor itself, everything else in our lives will follow.

a voice in the midst of the four living creatures

There are many possible ways to look at this, but given other references using the phrase in the midst of I would view this as being a statement likely in harmony with heaven's view of what is going on here.

A choenix of wheat for a denarius, and three choenix of barley for a denarius!

Scholars have puzzled over this ever since it was written, for one reason being that no one seems to know just what a choenix is. What does seem to be a consensus is that these prices are extremely high. A denarius was a full day's wages, so to buy a measure of wheat for a full day's wages is way out of line, and the only reason the barley is less is because it was less desirable than wheat. But still this is an insanely high price.

One view is that these exorbitant prices indicate that a famine is taking place, making all food very scarce and thus difficult to purchase reasonably. Given the symbolic aspect of all of these passages, what sort of famine might this refer to? This is not necessarily a prediction of a literal famine where literal wheat and barley soar in economic value. So what do these symbols inform us about and how can we benefit from what we read here?

The beginning of the wheat harvest was used to determine the timing for the Feast of Weeks festival.

All of the things listed here were used in worship activities during the sanctuary services.

Wheat and oil are foundational ingredients for bread. Jesus is represented as our bread of life.

Wheat was associated with the idea of blessings from God.

Wheat is connected to the idea of God's people bearing fruit, similar to grapes or fruits of the vine.

Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. (John 12:24)

He makes peace in your borders. He fills you with the finest of the wheat. He sends out his commandment to the earth. His word runs very swiftly. (Psalms 147:14-15)

I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire. (Matthew 3:11-12)

He set another parable before them, saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away. But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then the darnel weeds appeared also. The servants of the householder came and said to him, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where did this darnel come from?' "He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and gather them up?' "But he said, 'No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, "First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn."'" (Matthew 13:24-30)

Destroyers are come on all the bare heights in the wilderness; for the sword of Yahweh devours from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh has peace. They have sown wheat, and have reaped thorns; they have put themselves to pain, and profit nothing: and you shall be ashamed of your fruits, because of the fierce anger of Yahweh. (Jeremiah 12:12-13)

There seems to be two distinct sources of scarcity mentioned here. First are mentioned destroyers, which might indicate outside interference, while it is pointed out that they are not reaping what they thought they planted but something useless and even disturbing.

The field is laid waste. The land mourns, for the grain is destroyed, The new wine has dried up, and the oil languishes. Be confounded, you farmers! Wail, you vineyard keepers; for the wheat and for the barley; for the harvest of the field has perished. The vine has dried up, and the fig tree withered; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all of the trees of the field are withered; for joy has withered away from the sons of men. (Joel 1:10-12)

Note how this following passage links wheat with balance scales.

Saying, 'When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may market wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel large, and dealing falsely with balances of deceit; that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes, and sell the sweepings with the wheat?' (Amos 8:5-6)

What may be emerging from consideration of these references is that the famine or shortage resulting in such exorbitant prices, might just be a scarcity of true followers of the Lamb who are producing much fruit as He designed for them to do.

I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man doesn't remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you. In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples. (John 15:5-8)

Don't damage the oil and the wine!"

Anointing Oil and Worship Elements

This is the thing that you shall do to them to make them holy, to minister to me in the priest's office: take one young bull and two rams without blemish, unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil: you shall make them of fine wheat flour.

Then you shall take the anointing oil, and pour it on his head, and anoint him. (Exodus 29:1-2, 7)

Every meal offering, mixed with oil or dry, belongs to all the sons of Aaron, one as well as another. This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which one shall offer to Yahweh. If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mixed with oil. (Leviticus 7:10-12)

He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.

(Leviticus 8:12)

You shall not go out from the door of the Tent of Meeting, lest you die; for the anointing oil of Yahweh is on you." They did according to the word of Moses. (Leviticus 10:7)

Samuel said to Jesse, Are here all your children? He said, There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is keeping the sheep. Samuel said to Jesse, Send and get him; for we will not sit down until he come here. He sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful face, and goodly to look on. Yahweh said, Arise, anoint him; for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers: and the Spirit of Yahweh came mightily on David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. (1 Samuel 16:11-13)

Oil of Favor and Joy

as I was in the ripeness of my days, when the friendship of God was in my tent, when the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me, when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me, (Job 29:4-6)

You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows. (Psalms 45:7)

You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows. (Hebrews 1:9)

The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on me; because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble; he has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of Yahweh's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified. (Isaiah 61:1-3)

Beauty Oil

Each young woman's turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after her purification for twelve months (for so were the days of their purification accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet fragrances and with preparations for beautifying women). (Esther 2:12)

Your oils have a pleasing fragrance. Your name is oil poured forth, therefore the virgins love you. (Song of Solomon 1:3)

They shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow to the goodness of Yahweh, to the grain, and to the new wine, and to the oil, and to the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all. (Jeremiah 31:12)

Oil Shortages

For she did not know that I gave her the grain, the new wine, and the oil, and multiplied to her silver and gold, which they used for Baal. (Hosea 2:8)

The field is laid waste. The land mourns, for the grain is destroyed, The new wine has dried up, and the oil languishes. (Joel 1:10)

I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on that which the ground brings forth, on men, on livestock, and on all the labor of the hands. (Haggai 1:11)

Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, 'Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!' Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'What if there isn't enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' (Matthew 25:1-9)

Wine

Drink no wine nor strong drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the Tent of Meeting, that you don't die: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations: (Leviticus 10:9)

Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them: When either man or woman shall make a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to Yahweh, he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of fermented drink, neither shall he drink any juice of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or dried. All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is made of the grapevine, from the seeds even to the skins. (Numbers 6:2-4)

You shall keep the feast of tents seven days, after that you have gathered in from your threshing floor and from your winepress: (Deuteronomy 16:13)

Because you didn't serve Yahweh your God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, by reason of the abundance of all things; therefore shall you serve your enemies whom Yahweh shall send against you, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron on your neck, until he have destroyed you. Yahweh will bring a nation against you from far, from the end of the earth, as the eagle flies; a nation whose language you shall not understand; a nation of fierce facial expressions, that shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favor to the young, and shall eat the fruit of your livestock, and the fruit of your ground, until you are destroyed; that also shall not leave you grain, new wine, or oil, the increase of your livestock, or the young of your flock, until they have caused you to perish. They shall besiege you in all your gates, until your high and fortified walls come down, in which you trusted, throughout all your land; and they shall besiege you in all your gates throughout all your land, which Yahweh your God has given you. You shall eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and of your daughters, whom Yahweh your God has given you, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemies shall distress you. (Deuteronomy 28:47-53)

I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes have not grown old on you, and your shoe has not grown old on your foot. You have not eaten bread, neither have you drunk wine or strong drink; that you may know that I am Yahweh your God. (Deuteronomy 29:5-6)

Now therefore please beware and drink no wine nor strong drink, and don't eat any unclean thing: (Judges 13:4)

but he said to me, Behold, you shall conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing; for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.

She may not eat of anything that comes of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing; all that I commanded her let her observe. (Judges 13:7, 14)

Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase: so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. (Proverbs 3:9-10)

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine. Don't look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly. (Proverbs 23:29-31)

Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish; and wine to the bitter in soul: (Proverbs 31:6)

I said, "I will climb up into the palm tree. I will take hold of its fruit." Let your breasts be like clusters of the vine, the smell of your breath like apples, Beloved Your mouth like the best wine, that goes down smoothly for my beloved, gliding through the lips of those who are asleep.

(Song of Solomon 7:8-9)

I would lead you, bringing you into my mother's house, who would instruct me. I would have you drink spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate. (Song of Solomon 8:2)

He dug it up, gathered out its stones, planted it with the choicest vine, built a tower in its midst, and also cut out a winepress therein. He looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.

(Isaiah 5:2)

In this mountain, Yahweh of Armies will make all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of choice wines, of fat things full of marrow, of well refined choice wines. (Isaiah 25:6)

Gladness and joy is taken away from the fruitful field and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to cease from the wine presses: none shall tread with shouting; the shouting shall be no shouting. (Jeremiah 48:33)

Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away understanding. (Hosea 4:11)

They haven't cried to me with their heart, but they howl on their beds. They assemble themselves for grain and new wine. They turn away from me. (Hosea 7:14)

The field is laid waste. The land mourns, for the grain is destroyed, The new wine has dried up, and the oil languishes. (Joel 1:10)

Yahweh answered his people, "Behold, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied with them; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations." (Joel 2:19)

"Behold, the days come," says Yahweh, "that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the one treading grapes him who sows seed; and sweet wine will drip from the mountains, and flow from the hills. I will bring my people Israel back from captivity, and they will rebuild the ruined cities, and inhabit them; and they will plant vineyards, and drink wine from them. They shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them." (Amos 9:13-14)

For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine the virgins. (Zechariah 9:17)

Neither do people put new wine into old wineskins, or else the skins would burst, and the wine be spilled, and the skins ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved. (Matthew 9:17)

No one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and the wine pours out, and the skins will be destroyed; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins. (Mark 2:22)

No one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved. No man having drunk old wine immediately desires new, for he says, 'The old is better.' (Luke 5:37-39)

Don't be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, (Ephesians 5:18)

Another, a second angel, followed, saying, "Babylon the great has fallen, which has made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality." (Revelation 14:8)

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here. I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality, and those who dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her sexual immorality."

The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of the sexual immorality of the earth.

I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great amazement. (Revelation 17:1-2, 4, 6)

Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. (Revelation 19:15)

Given these insights related to grain, oil and wine, what might we deduce as being in shortage?

What might it mean that the oil and wine should not be damaged?

Do they need to be guarded, protected, preserved from loss or vandalism or spoilage?

God on Trial - Rumor Notes 27

 

(Rev 5)

1 I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book [scroll] written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals.

2 I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?"

3 No one in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look in it.

4 And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look in it.

5 One of the elders said to me, "Don't weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome; he who opens the book and its seven seals."

6 I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.

7 Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne.

8 Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

9 They sang a new song, saying, "You are worthy to take the book, and to open its seals: for you were killed, and bought us for God with your blood, out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,

10 and made us kings and priests to our God, and we will reign on earth."

11 I saw, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands;

12 saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!"

13 I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!"

14 The four living creatures said, "Amen!" The elders fell down and worshiped.

The ideas of heaven in crisis is brushed aside by many because of our failure to appreciate the nature of God's government. Our thinking is so infected by lies of the enemy about our loving Father that we find it incredulous to even imagine that God could ever be in a crisis given His infinite power.

This is precisely where we must allow the Spirit of God to open our minds and hearts to the true meaning of this stupendous revelation about God that defies nearly everything we have been taught or assumed about power. Simply because God has infinite power does not mean He can do anything and everything we wants. God is restricted in His use of power by the very nature of His own character which is love. This is where love and law intersect and things can become very confusing if we fail to understand the dramatic difference between the nature of God's law and the nature of the counterfeit.

Without a correct understanding of the difference between artificial and natural law, we find it impossible to reconcile what is going on here, for in the counterfeit view of law this makes no sense. But when we begin to see that heaven does not operate using our standards and methods for maintaining order and control, suddenly we begin to appreciate John's extreme distress. Only when we begin to taste the tears of John in our own hearts in sympathy with God, gained through a proper appreciation of His true character, can we then be able to also share the enormous relief and excitement that John feels when a solution is located that holds potential of saving God's authority.

Within the paradigm of artificial law it makes no sense that God could be trapped by accusations while being the Source of infinite power. In our system, power is what we use to force compliance to our rules. Because we have projected this back onto our perceptions and interpretations of God's interactions with us, we imagine that all God needs to solve this problem, since His is clearly superior in rank, capacity, authority and raw power, is to simply exert His authority to bring a stop to the rebellion. To do anything less we imagine would lessen respect on the part of all who serve Him, or so it is proposed by those who little appreciation for the nature of God's family system of government. We live under a corporate system of law that is not about family virtues and operates on the principles of this world that are infused into our thinking. This happened when our first parents gave their will over to the author of Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. That tree represents the counterfeit system of government we know too well, but it also blinds us to the original design for which we were created and produces all the dysfunction in our world full of sin.

Were God to simply exercise raw force and assert His innocence as it seems He could easily do, then He would not be holding the scroll waiting for someone else to come to His rescue. I realize that to even suggest that God might need rescuing from anything sounds like blasphemy, yet if we accept the truth that God is exactly like Jesus as Jesus insists, we have to challenge most of our paradigms about God's disposition, methods, motives and meanings. When we begin to grasp that the One sitting on the throne of infinite power over the entire universe has the same character and disposition as the Lamb who alone is qualified and trustworthy to save the One on the throne, we can appreciate better the scene portrayed in this chapter.

The evidence for this way of viewing God and how He exercises authority as being the same way Jesus does is all through Scripture. Yet until we are willing to see God as the most humble being in the universe, we will find it tough to grasp the extent of the crisis created by the enemy of God that threatened the entire universe, not just our world.

For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son. (John 5:22)

Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne.

Here we find key evidence corresponding to what we see transpiring here. God is holding a sealed scroll, likely filled with evidence that if made public could potentially solve the greatest government crisis of confidence ever. The One we always assumed to be the Supreme Judge is the one who is the accused. If a judge is accused with evidence presented incriminating the character of that judge, it is impossible to remove suspicions created if that same judge insists on presiding over his trial. He must recuse himself from any trial involving himself.

This is just what we find here in Revelation 5. God is on trial because He has been accused of abuse of power, of harboring secret dark motives out of harmony with His claims of running His government only on the basis of love alone, that God has a dark side that would be forced into action should rebellion reach a level sufficient to seriously threaten His authority.

I believe all these charges and many more are what is displayed written on the outside of this scroll. The fact that this scroll is in the right hand of God denotes that an issue under contention is His use of power, for the right hand is a symbol of authority and power. Thus by location we may deduce what the crisis is about while the scroll likely contains evidence that could be used to exonerate God's reputation. But until His reputation is fully exonerated (Rev. 7:10) and every shadow of doubt about His methods and motives are fully dispelled, it is impossible for Him to effectively rule the universe without lingering seeds of rebellion lurking with potential to spring up again. This is something He is unwilling to allow (Nahum 1:9) so His only valid option is to continue to exercise methods consistent with true love to validate His claims that love really is the most powerful force in the universe, and that fear is a liar and must be eliminated entirely as incentive for obedience.

What we see here is a confrontation between the kingdom of darkness ruled by the father of lies, and the kingdom of love created by the One who is defined as love. We must grasp this reality and make it the center of our focus from here all the way to the end of the book if we hope to receive the amazing insights and appreciate the true meaning of the symbols portrayed here. If we commit to cling to the truth that God is only love, that He is light and in Him is no darkness at all, no shadow of turning, no deviation at any time from living out the foundational principle of other-centered love as the only way in which everything can operate orderly in total freedom, then we can begin to appreciate why God needs to be rescued from this dilemma and how the hero who appears soon here goes about to accomplish this.

Note in particular that the Almighty God of the universe does not even hint at seeking a resolution of this dilemma by resorting to force as all pagan myths do. Neither does He hold threatening thunderbolts in His hand. Rather, He passively holds the sealed evidence in His right hand of power that could vindicate Him if only it could be exposed. Yet even He is evidently unable to open it. This problem requires someone else to come to His defense. This is because the root problem can never be resolved through coercion but only through an effective revelation of the real truth that itself has the power to discredit all the slander that has undermined God's credibility to govern effectively.

May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, "That you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment." (Romans 3:4)

May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, "THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED." (Romans 3:4 NAS95)

I saw an angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal Good News to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people. He said with a loud voice, "Fear the Lord, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!" (Revelation 14:6-7)

Do we see the direct connections between these passages? To give God glory and worship Him is all part of conducting His trial to prove His true character. This is not something we are forced to do out of fear but rather from heart gratitude, genuine appreciation of the true character of love that defines the Godhead. Ourselves being transformed by exposure to this love presents us as evidence of the power within the eternal Good News that God is light and has no darkness at all, God is love and never resorts to fear to maintain control or prop up His authority. This is foreign to our way of thinking and living and perceiving God, yet it is the true gospel, the light that is flooding the whole earth as predicted in chapter 18. And it is this light of glory and praise that has within it the power to precipitate the final stages of this trial and finally bring it to completion. This chapter then is the context for the entire book as it describes a scene of judgment, but with God as the focus of the trial instead of a Him being a stern judge presiding over a trial about us.

This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. (John 3:19)

As we grasp this truth about judgment involving light exposing lies that cause darkness and fear, rather than viewing it through our context of supposedly impartial judges with juries imposing sentences and enforcing punishments, viewing God as the One on trial suddenly allows everything else to fall into place with a clarity and beauty like never seen before.

God desires from all His creatures the service of love—service that springs from an appreciation of His character. He takes no pleasure in a forced obedience; and to all He grants freedom of will, that they may render Him voluntary service.

One of the elders said to me, "Don't weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome; he who opens the book and its seven seals."

I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing

We find here one of the first heard/saw couplings scattered throughout this book. What is important to learn is how the real truth about the cross of Jesus changes the assumed meanings of many things. John hears about a Lion here but when he looks for it he sees a Lamb. He hears about 144,000 people but when he looks he sees many more (Rev 7:1-4, 9). He sees a beast looking a lot like a lamb but then hears it speaking like a dragon (Rev 13:11). He hears about the bride of the Lamb but what he sees is a city (Rev 21:9-10). We must be careful about clinging to only what we hear or think we see lest we be in danger of rejecting what might be real in experience.

in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders

This strategically positions the Lamb at the very center of where the controversy is being played out, not only in heaven but on earth (symbolized by 4) among humans (symbolized by the creatures and elders) where the true image of God is designed to be most clearly exposed.

The Lamb is the hero of Revelation because He alone can save both God's reputation and authority as well as save all humans willing to receive His mind and be transformed into His likeness.

His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made purification for our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:3)

This Lamb is a lion in disguise. He has the heart, will, strength of character, boldness, strength and courage of a lion, yet presents as gentle and child-like, willingly vulnerable and with an empathy in the disposition of a lamb. He is a lion in lamb's clothing. It takes far more moral fortitude and strength to not respond to evil with retaliation than it does to resort to violence in anger. Our usual definition of courage is actually foreign to how heaven sees moral strength, for we glorify violence as the epitome of the hero while it is really a sign of weakness. Resorting to force and violence to win over enemies betrays that one does not trust that love is really is effective or trustworthy. This is why the majority rejects the truth exposed by the Lamb, because they reject the reality that God is love and instead cling to the enemy's version of God as being a mixture of good and evil.

This Lamb willingly makes Himself totally vulnerable just like our first parents were naked (Gen 2:25), exposing Himself without resistance to abusive exploiters in order to restore humans back to their original design to live in joy. This is the epitome of how God governs the universe, from a position of vulnerability and innocence, maintaining and protecting the freedom of all.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:29)

a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.

This Lamb is the superhero of not merely this book but the superhero of all superheroes. This is because He does not rely on the methods or motives or logic of earthy superheros that are all replicas of pagan mythical gods. Every other god is a false god because they rely on the tactics of the enemy of the Creator God to win. Every false superhero relies on the counterfeit system to win which is grasping for power by controlling others using a mixture of good and evil along with skill and cunning to manipulate circumstances and people.

Jesus the Lamb does not indulge in our politics, our reliance on deception to gain advantage, our addiction to control or anything involving selfishness. The power of this Lamb represented as 7 horns is not political power like horns often represent in our venue but are more likely connected to the horns of the altar of sacrifice in the sanctuary.

We see 3 sets of 7 here which are both numbers representing perfection or completeness.

Discuss the meaning of horns and why there might be 7 of them on this Lamb.

Discuss why there are 7 eyes and what eyes represent and what they are used for.

What and why are there 7 spirits of God? Do we find this list elsewhere? We studied it previously.

Having 7 horns gives the Lamb capacity to break an equal number of seals; 7 eyes give him ability to read, discern and interpret correctly what is written in the scroll.

What is implied that these 7 spirits are sent out into all the earth?

After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with his glory. (Revelation 18:1)

The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is full of darkness. (Luke 11:34)

This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. (John 3:19)

Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

While I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (John 9:5)

You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can't be hidden. (Matthew 5:14)

This light is linked to the rivers of fire that pour out from the throne, the fire mingled into the sea of glass, the fire identified in the most sacred book of Scripture as the very flame of Yahweh. This fire is the original power of passionate love that is not to be confused with all strange fire that is contaminated with selfishness that might look similar on the surface. The Lamb is the epitome of the true fire of God, and this Lamb most clearly demonstrated this by willingly submitting to the abuse of evil in order to bring to light the contrast between the power of love and the power of fear.

Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne.

What point in history might this identify? When did Jesus take the scroll from Father God?

Right hand is a symbol of authority.

Is this a transfer of authority from Father to Lamb?

How is authority transferred in God's system? Is it top down like we do or something very different?

If God authorizes the Son to solve this dilemma because He is worthy, how can this inform us as to the nature of their relationship?

when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

They sang a new song

Compare this description with what we examined in the previous chapter for similarities and differences.

This time both groups fall down. Why the difference from last time when only the elders fell down?

Everyone involved this round each has a harp and a bowl. This is extremely important to assess as we move deeper into this book. We must understand this and have it securely fixed in our thinking in order to properly interpret other things that show up later that might seem dissonant with this scene and particularly with the character of the Lamb.

What are these bowls? They are lavers. What are lavers used for?

What is the contents of these bowls? This is critical to keep locked in our thinking for future reference.

What may we learn from the difference between harps and bowls of incense?

How do these differ in worship experience?

What we will come to see more and more clearly throughout this revelation of the truth about the way God fights this war is that these are the primary weapons He relies on to win this war. We must not miss this or we will fall into the snares of Satan who would have us imagine that God fights like the dragon fights. This is because we have such confused and slanted ideas of what constitutes power.

There are two instruments of warfare mentioned here just as it requires two wings for the eagle to fly.

"To whom then will you liken me? Who is my equal?" says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these, who brings out their army by number. He calls them all by name. by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power, Not one is lacking.

Why do you say, Jacob, and speak, Israel, "My way is hidden from Yahweh, and the justice due me is disregarded by my God?" Haven't you known? Haven't you heard? The everlasting God, Yahweh, The Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn't faint. He isn't weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak. He increases the strength of him who has no might. Even the youths faint and get weary, and the young men utterly fall; But those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:25-31)

The harps of God that are the primary weapons relied on by those following the Lamb throughout this book represent praises, gratitude and glory given to the One on the throne and to the Lamb who alone accurately represents Him. We must embrace this, for this is the primary message of this entire book and is demonstrated as the norm in these two chapters. This is the contents of the New Song, the ammunition that alone has power to defeat every weapon brought against it. It is this ammunition that at last tears apart the empire of evil and precipitates its collapse in chapter 17.

I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God's wrath is finished. I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who overcame the beast, his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. (Revelation 15:1-2)

Check out Revelation 16:17-19 to see the final effect of these weapons used agains the empire of evil.

The censers or bowls full of incense represents the petitions and prayers of those who willingly follow the Lamb by embracing the methods, motives and message of the Lamb exclusively. But they always offer these prayers bathed in praise, gratitude and admiration of the wonderful revelation of love unleashed by the example of the Lamb. This is how they overcome, by the love unleashed through the testimony of the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony seconding the testimony of the Lamb that God is love, that God is light alone and in Him is no darkness at all.

They sang a new song, saying, "You are worthy to take the book, and to open its seals: for you were killed, and bought us for God with your blood, out of every tribe, language, people, and nation, and made us kings and priests to our God, and we will reign on earth."

This Lamb is trustworthy because it exhibits a strength of character far beyond anything ever witnessed previously in the universe, the very character of love that reflects the true character of the One who sits on the throne.

This character is in stark contrast to the lack of integrity and character exhibited by all the counterfeit gods we find especially in chapter 13. The Lamb reflects love alone while the counterfeits rely on fear, intimidation, threats and severe punishments for non-compliance to their demands.

Rather than threaten or killing others, this Lamb allows Himself to be violently mistreated and finally slaughtered by His enemies. Yet in doing so the light of the real truth about God's heart is finally released and exposed that has been locked inside the scroll ever since the enemy sealed it out of sight near the beginning of the war. This revelation of God's true character through the willing submission of the Lamb to all the violence and abuse that could be heaped up against Him is what alone has sufficient power to win the trust of those who are willing to believe His version of what God is like.

The outcome of embracing the real truth as exposed by this Lamb is that all who embrace His message, motives and methods come out of every divisive entity disrupting the perfect oneness of family love for which humanity was designed to experience. Throughout Scripture we read of God destroying nations, and it all can be very confusing until we separate destroying labels and divisive perceptions that divide people rather than attacking human beings directly. God hates sin but never sinners. We struggle to appreciate this because we are so infected by sin. But the liberating truth brought to us by this Lamb sets us apart as unique and incomprehensible to the world because it sheds all vestiges of hierarchy, control and all the defining opinions inherited from the mindset of commerce.

The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn't dwell in temples made with hands, neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath, and all things. He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings, that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. (Acts 17:24-27)

For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26-28)

You also once walked in those, when you lived in them; but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth. Don't lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator, where there can't be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection. (Colossians 3:7-14)

made us kings and priests to our God, and we will reign on earth

What does a king look like in the kingdom of heaven?

What is their function, their disposition? How do they relate to those around them?

How does a God-like King reign on earth?

Jesus summoned them, and said to them, "You know that they who are recognized as rulers over the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant. Whoever of you wants to become first among you, shall be bondservant of all. For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:42-45)

This disposition, reflective of the same mind that was in Christ Jesus, alone qualifies a person to properly reign on the earth. This is the nature of the kingdom of heaven represented in Daniel as the rock separated from the mountain without hands, that pulverizes all the kingdoms of the world and sweeps away their dust forever. This is the mindset of heaven that must be embraced by any who wish to side with the winner in this war. No compromise with the enemy is permissible lest we betray our fearless leader like the disciples did in the garden of Gethsemane.

Why does this song say that the Lamb has made us priests to God?

What is a priest and what do they do? Who do they serve and how.

We must keep in focus that this entire war and the judgment it includes revolves around the One sitting on the throne who was left holding the scroll and unable to open it Himself. How might that affect our idea of serving as a priest? If it is God's reputation that needs salvaging the most, how can a kingdom of priests (mentioned in chapter 1) help to bring this about?

Jesus is the ultimate high priest, so He should be our prime example of what it looks like to serve as a priest to our God. How can Jesus' ministry as priest inform us as to what it looks like to be a priest to God? What do we find described right here in this passage that could inform us as to how the Lamb acts as a priest to God and how we might follow His example? Is it the disposition of the Lamb under evil circumstances and injustice that provides the most compelling evidence to save God's reputation?

I saw, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!"

I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!"

The four living creatures said, "Amen!" The elders fell down and worshiped.

What do we witness happening here compared to everything that has come previously?

Worship here goes exponential. Worship ignites more worship on the part of more beings, not unlike a fast growing wildfire.

Notice how much more elaborate and potent is this worship compared to chapter 4. Why?

What we catch a preview of here is the final outcome of the war, when every created being throughout the entire universe acknowledges the real truth about God that has too long been sealed away inside the scroll. This does not mean however, that every created being will want to live in the consuming fire of passionate love, but merely that the evidence provided by the Lamb is so incontrovertible that it overwhelms every lie, slander, insinuation and deception of the enemy that has for so long undermined God's authority to govern with love alone.

Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you who have escaped from the nations: they have no knowledge who carry the wood of their engraved image, and pray to a god that can't save. Declare you, and bring it forth; yes, let them take counsel together: who has shown this from ancient time? who has declared it of old? Haven't I, Yahweh? and there is no God else besides me, a just God and a Savior; there is no one besides me.

Look to me, and be you saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else. By myself have I sworn, the word is gone forth from my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Only in Yahweh, it is said of me, is righteousness and strength; even to him shall men come; and all those who were incensed against him shall be disappointed. In Yahweh shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

(Isaiah 45:20-25)

God always governs in love, but all who obey Him must do so from a genuine appreciation of His love, never out of fear. The universe will never be secure until every doubt about the superior power of love is eliminated. This is what the Lamb proves beyond a shadow of a doubt. But every being must be fully convinced in their own mind without any coercion. Otherwise lingering fear would be like a lurking ember ready to break out in the fire of rebellion at some time in the future.

Security can only be achieved through respect for the final choice of each created being, not by use of force, threats or coercion. This is the context of this entire book and must be appreciated so as to see how everything fits together properly. Every thing heaven's side does in this war must be interpreted through the disposition and character of the Lamb. This is what must be kept in view in our study.

For those interested, here are some interesting facts and numbers compiled from these two chapters. As with all other symbols in Revelation, numbers are primarily symbolic, not necessarily literal yet highly significant.

Chapter 4

1 on the throne

24 around the throne

3 things come out of the throne – lightnings, sounds, thunders

7 lamps and spirits before the throne

4 creatures in the midst and around the throne

6 wings on each of 4 creatures (6 x 4 = 24)

3 times Holy (describing the One on the throne) (3 + 4 = 7)

3 reasons given for worthiness by the 4 creatures – glory, honor, thanks

3 reasons given for worthiness by the 24 elders – glory, honor, power

Chapter 5

1 book in 1 hand of the 1 seated on the throne, with 7 seals locking it shut that need to be broken

1 Lamb identified as in the midst of 3 other entities – the throne, the creatures, the elders

1 Lamb described as having 3 attributes – 7 horns, eyes, spirits

4 creatures each have harps and bowls

24 elders each have harps and bowls

The sum of these is 28 harps and 28 bowls

The New Song contains 2 sets of 2, possibly paralleled

The Lamb is worthy to (1) take the book and (2) open its seals

The Lamb was (1) killed and (2) bought us for God

This purchase results in an exit from 4 divisive conditions/labels

tribe, language, people, nation

The Lamb transforms these from living under these 4 conditions into serving in 2 functions,

as kings and priests

The resulting praise aroused by all this lists 7 things

power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, blessing

Every created thing which is

in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them

in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them

To (1) him who sits on the throne, and to (2) the Lamb

4 things – blessing, honor, glory, dominion