The Beauty and Her Crown - Rumor notes 87

Revelation 12

1 A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was with child. She cried out in pain, laboring to give birth.

moon under her feet

Once have I sworn by my holiness, I will not lie to David. His seed will endure forever, his throne like the sun before me. It will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky. (Psalms 89:35-37)

God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars. (Genesis 1:16)

Here is something we need to seriously contemplate. If God's kingdom is not based on hierarchy, what does it mean to have someone or something under your feet? It would not involve forced subjugation of anyone, but willing and honest submission out of appreciation and awakened love.

God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." God created man in his own image. In God's image he created him; male and female he created them.

God blessed them. God said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (Genesis 1:26-28)

The symbol of something under the feet is heaven's symbol for dominion. But we must be alert to the nature of true dominion according to heaven's definition and not be confused by the counterfeit ideas of dominion that are along the lines of domination and even denominations as we find today. This requires a correct appreciation of how God exercises authority and designs that we exercise it in reflection of how the Godhead relates to everyone else in love alone.

Thus says Yahweh, heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what manner of house will you build to me? and what place shall be my rest? (Isaiah 66:1)

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

And the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (Romans 16:20)

Satan's original name was Lucifer or light-bearer. He was created to reflect the most light of God's glory to the rest of the angels and intelligent beings, but he chose a life of selfishness and self-exaltation as he invented an entire counterfeit system to God's original design that is reflected in the way all the governments of this world operate. Lucifer craves worship, and the whole world is drawn to admire his system and follow his ways as the best way to achieve order and control. Lucifer turned Satan can be viewed as the lesser light of this world, for just as the moon has no source of light but can only reflect light, so too Satan has no real light of his own but must rely on the origin of all light by means of counterfeiting the light of heaven. From this perspective it makes sense to see the woman who represents those who are chosen by God as His reflectors on earth, to be seen as having Satan under her feet as Paul writes here in Romans.

I am coming to see that this phrase under her feet could also refer to living as an overcomer, a major theme throughout this book. This would perfectly fit this metaphor. Overcoming also means coming over or getting on top of something. What might this look like?

The question that needs to be clarified at least somewhat is this: What kind of overcoming would fit the symbol of the Sunlight that clothes this woman? There are useful clues that might fit well here. Look at a few of them to see how they might help explain this more.

"Most certainly I tell you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow, because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn't remember the anguish any more, for the joy that a human being is born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full. I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. But the time is coming when I will no more speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name; and I don't say to you, that I will pray to the Father for you, for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from God. I came out from the Father, and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world, and go to the Father."

His disciples said to him, "Behold, now you speak plainly, and speak no figures of speech. Now we know that you know all things, and don't need for anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came forth from God."

Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? Behold, the time is coming, yes, and has now come, that you will be scattered, everyone to his own place, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world." (John 16:20-33)

When I view this along with Paul's statement about God putting Satan under our feet as well as Jesus using the illustration of a woman giving birth that resonates directly with the symbol we are looking at here, I find much to extrapolate in these words of Jesus about things we are to overcome and keep firmly underfoot. Mainly it is our perspective and our own negative feelings that distort reality and prevent us from seeing God through the lens of Jesus. It is our penchant toward unbelief that must be overcome and put underfoot by believing and acting on these words of Jesus that could bring us into a boldness we have hitherto never experienced. Jesus instructs us to ask the Father in His name. This refers to both viewing the Father's disposition as being identical to that of Christ as well as embracing the mind and disposition of Christ ourselves as we are told in Philippians 2.

The disciples thought that they now believed and were hearing Jesus plainly, when in fact they were still oblivious to the far greater perspective and much higher view of God's goodness, kindness and humility than they had ever attempted to imagine. I suspect the same is true for most all of us today. The levels of distrust of God's heart run far deeper into our psyche than we can see, but God is both patient and yet urgent that we wake up to the real issues at stake. This woman represents what we claim to be – honest followers and reflectors of God's design for His children on earth. What needs to be put under our feet is anything and everything that disrupts, disturbs and distorts our perspective and disposition that causes us to reflect any other spirit than what the Lamb displayed in every circumstance. There is one more passage I want to include before moving to the next item.

For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me, or hears from me. By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively. Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me. He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong. (2 Corinthians 12:6-10)

I find here a close parallel to the great sign of a woman with the moon firmly under her feet even while being simultaneously clothed with the sun. Paul's description here was not meant to impress anyone but was an honest recounting of his own struggle to deal with the temptation of pride and reliance on worth and identity from any source other than what God thought of him. What he learned through this interchange with Jesus was a foundational truth that we need to embrace as did Paul, the reality that God's power is most eloquently experienced and released in weakness rather than through what we term strength. God worked hard to get Elijah to learn this lesson but with less success. But the lesson remains for us to believe and embrace in our own lives if we would become qualified to participate in the special forces accompanying the Lamb wherever He goes.

on her head a crown of twelve stars

The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. (Esther 2:17)

For man is not from woman, but woman from man; for neither was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. For this cause the woman ought to have authority on her head, because of the angels. (1 Corinthians 11:8-10)

What is the meaning of a crown? Be careful of the conclusions drawn from this passage. If they involve hierarchy or domination over others, there are serious flaws in our underlying presumptions. We must ever be mindful of the way God relates to authority in contrast with how we think of it.

You shall also be a crown of beauty in the hand of Yahweh, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. (Isaiah 62:3)

This verse actually has within it nuances related to the meanings of two different kinds of crowns. What is missed in translation is that the word in Greek for crown here means something very different from the word for crowns used two verses later related to the nemesis of this woman, the great dragon. Keep in mind that we are talking about a war here, and the war is not about who is more powerful but rather about the very nature of power itself and where authority comes from and the right way to hold people together in a cohesive society organized to avoid chaos and anarchy.

During the ancient Olympic Games, athletes who emerged victorious were awarded olive wreaths, which were considered a sacred prize in Greece, representing the highest honor. The crown mentioned here on this woman comes from the Greek word stephanos and means a twined wreath, a symbol of royalty and honor, something displayed publicly that is conspicuous. It is the same word Jesus uses in His promises to those who overcome found in chapters two and three. Significantly it is also the word used to describe the the crown plated out of thorns that was placed on the head of Jesus as part of the abuse intended to strip Him of honor during His trial and crucifixion process. Yet it actually was used by God to draw attention to the true purpose Jesus came to this earth – to demonstrate through willing weakness the true nature and power of God's passionate love for sinners.

So Pilate then took Jesus, and flogged him. The soldiers twisted thorns into a crown, and put it on his head, and dressed him in a purple garment. They kept saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and they kept slapping him. Then Pilate went out again, and said to them, "Behold, I bring him out to you, that you may know that I find no basis for a charge against him." Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. Pilate said to them, "Behold, the man!" When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they shouted, saying, "Crucify! Crucify!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves, and crucify him, for I find no basis for a charge against him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God." (John 19:1-7)

The system of Satan counterfeits the true design principles of creation by twisting them into perverse meanings and purposes misrepresent the nature of love. The trial of Jesus was actually a microcosm of the trial going on where God is being judged by everyone that He created for His glory. What we see in the way Jesus responded under provocation and abuse is a revelation of what God is like, for Jesus is God's Son who represents Him fully and more accurately than any other being anywhere. Thus it was no accident that a stephanos crown was placed on Jesus, for unintentionally what was intended as a symbol of shame to highlight the weakness of God's Messiah turned out to display better than ever the true nature of God's power of love Jesus came to make plain.

This pivotal scene from the exposé of the character of God reflected in Christ includes key evidence we must not miss if we are to become aware of the major issues of the trial involving God. Pilate explicitly made it unavoidably clear that there was no legitimate cause for condemning Jesus. He stated this publicly more than once, but the spirit of Satan was in control of nearly everyone that day so that the standards and desires of the flesh reigned and suppressed the light of truth blazing clearly right in front of everyone. Pilate declares boldly, “Behold the Man!” Yet in spite of all evidence exonerating Jesus, he religious experts and leaders of God's chosen people on earth joined themselves with their father the devil to accuse Jesus of making Himself out to be the Son of God, while in reality it was God who had several times affirmed the authenticity of Christ's identity. In joining their father the devil, the chief accuser of God and all His children, of Jesus being just like Lucifer as described in Isaiah 14, they locked their hearts and minds into the great delusion of the enemy of souls and destroyed their own capacity to recover from this desperate condition of darkness and lies.

You said in your heart, "I will ascend into heaven! I will exalt my throne above the stars of God! I will sit on the mountain of assembly, in the far north! I will ascend above the heights of the clouds! I will make myself like the Most High!" (Isaiah 14:13-14)

Pay attention to the basis upon which the religious leaders so zealously defended their views of how God should look and act. Jesus had gone too far in their estimation to blaspheme their opinions about God, and they felt fully justified in carrying out the enforcement of law so that God's name would be honored. "We have a law, and by our law he ought to die.”

They had a law all right, but what spin was put on that law and where did much of that system of law originate? Their version of God's law was hopelessly infected with the mindset absorbed by their ancestors while spending 70+ plus years in the pagan atmosphere of Babylon. It was the Babylonian version of law and justice that guided and controlled the thinking of religious leaders both in Jesus' day as well as continuing all the way down to our day. The law of artificial reward and punishment originated in the mind of the master deceiver who lodged in the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and infused his version of justice and law into the thinking of humanity. It was this distorted and dark view of God and His government and design that Jesus came to expose, and He accomplished this by demonstrating the willingness of God to appear weak while retaining all power at His disposal.

But Jesus is not the only one whom God will use to reveal the true nature of His character of selfless love that appears weak according to our false system of assessing power. All who are drawn to follow the Lamb wherever He leads them will find themselves on the same path of channeling the true power of God through willing weakness, for what Jesus demonstrated during those hours of cruel abuse and shame is the same power that is released most eloquently and convincingly by anyone willing to reflect that same glory in their own lives.

Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 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 3:17-18)

By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively. Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me. He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.

(2 Corinthians 12:7-9)

Those who are willing to be identified with the heart of God as expressed most vividly through the response to abuse by the Lamb of God will reflect the same disposition as was displayed by God's Son Jesus His Christ. This is part of the identity we received when Christ absorbed all humanity into Himself through this very process. Jesus redefines what it means to be human reflectors of God's heart, and He also redefines the true meaning of power and authority that is radically different and opposite to how the counterfeit versions define them. The counterfeit kind of crown is found in the meaning and use of the Greek word diadema translated as the kind of crowns found on the heads of the great red dragon. We will study that a little later, but for now we will look more into the nature of this crown of glory that is a signal of victory rather than subjugating power.

Yahweh their God will save them in that day as the flock of his people; for they are like the jewels of a crown, lifted on high over his land. (Zechariah 9:16)

What are things that stars might symbolize? In this next passage stars were symbols of the twelve sons of Jacob. Later in this present chapter stars are symbols of angels swept out of heaven by the deceptive slander of Satan. In Daniel we read that the righteous will shine like the stars.

He dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brothers, and said, "Behold, I have dreamed yet another dream: and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me." (Genesis 37:9)

Interestingly the description of this woman involves the sun, the moon and 12 stars. When we view this in the context of Joseph's dream of the sun, moon and stars bowing down to worship him, we see that these symbols can be referring to the family model for social cohesion. This is God's design for all relationships because it is reflective of how the Godhead has related to each other for all eternity. This is God's organizational design in which true love can exist and thrive. The family model for society is counterfeited by nations and kingdoms which rely on other means of binding people together that is foreign to God's design.

This is why God was grieved when His people demanded to have a king, for a king represents hierarchy which is a denial of the equality of all humans who were created to reflect the image of God collectively. In choosing to throw aside the family model in favor of the system of rulership and power like the surrounding nations, they were following the suggestions of Satan. In doing this they abandoned God's plan to embrace a counterfeit, imagining they could improve their situation when in reality they were rejecting God's love and guidance as effective to deal with their problems. The same challenge remains for us today, for we are still tempted to trust in the ways of this world to resolve our problems rather than believing that the ways of the Lamb are the only effective means of defeating evil and that can restore us to our original design as glimpsed briefly in Eden.

This great sign seen in heaven reminds us that God's design for us to live as family is still the only viable option if we desire to be restored back into harmony with heaven. The true Light that comes into the world must be what surrounds us entirely, not just our head as some artists portray this woman. God's children are to put on Christ, the origin of all light for us, which means to be immersed in His ways, to be motivated with His desires and to reflect His disposition as we live continuously motivated by His Spirit of love, gentleness, kindness, compassion and all the other fruit of the Spirit.

Satan's counterfeit light must also be kept firmly under foot by means of the overcoming power of Jesus Christ who has already exposed and defeated the counterfeit systems of this world. As we rest in Christ and abide in His love for us, infuse our hearts with joy by choosing praise, gratitude and thanksgiving in every situation despite our feelings or circumstances, the power of Christ can be experienced and released in our weakness, and we too may overcome the world in the power of Christ's love as it is released through us because we are resting in Him.

She was with child

While this next verse may initially seem irrelevant, contemplate it from this perspective. We looked at this earlier in our study, but I want to view it from a slightly different perspective. To be pregnant with a child involves much of your insides being filled up by someone else. From that perspective, think of the implications of this verse taking into account that God Himself is the only source of real justice as well as of all righteousness.

How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She was full of justice; righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers. (Isaiah 1:21)

In Revelation 17 we will discover that this woman later is discovered in the wilderness in a very different condition than how she is viewed here, to the point of being called the mother of all prostitutes. Yet in her earlier days she was just the opposite.

A voice of tumult from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of Yahweh that renders recompense to his enemies. Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a boy. (Isaiah 66:6-7)

The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name 'Jesus.'

The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:30-31,35)

cried out in pain, laboring to give birth

Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days! For there will be great distress in the land, and wrath to this people. (Luke 21:23)

You have increased the nation, O Yahweh. You have increased the nation! You are glorified! You have enlarged all the borders of the land. Yahweh, in trouble they have visited you. They poured out a prayer when your chastening was on them. Like as a woman with child, who draws near the time of her delivery, is in pain and cries out in her pangs; so we have been before you, Yahweh. We have been with child. We have been in pain. We gave birth, it seems, only to wind. We have not worked any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen. (Isaiah 26:15-18)

For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, the anguish as of her who brings forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, who gasps for breath, who spreads her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul faints before the murderers. (Jeremiah 4:31)

Now why do you cry out aloud? Is there no king in you? Has your counselor perished, that pains have taken hold of you as of a woman in travail? (Micah 4:9)

A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow, because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn't remember the anguish any more, for the joy that a human being is born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. (John 16:21-22)

Dressing Light - Rumor notes 86

 Revelation 12

1 A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was with child. She cried out in pain, laboring to give birth.

a woman clothed with the sun

Let us rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let us give the glory to him. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready." It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (Revelation 19:7-8)

How does the Bible define the meaning of a symbolic woman?

How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She was full of justice; righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers. (Isaiah 1:21)

The comely and delicate one, the daughter of Zion, will I cut off. (Jeremiah 6:2)

Now when I passed by you, and looked at you, behold, your time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over you, and covered your nakedness: yes, I swore to you, and entered into a covenant with you, says the Lord Yahweh, and you became mine. Then washed I you with water; yes, I thoroughly washed away your blood from you, and I anointed you with oil. I clothed you also with embroidered work, and shod you with sealskin, and I girded you about with fine linen, and covered you with silk. I decked you with ornaments, and I put bracelets on your hands, and a chain on your neck. I put a ring on your nose, and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were decked with gold and silver; and your clothing was of fine linen, and silk, and embroidered work; you ate fine flour, and honey, and oil; and you were exceeding beautiful, and you prospered to royal estate. Your renown went forth among the nations for your beauty; for it was perfect, through my majesty which I had put on you, says the Lord Yahweh. (Ezekiel 16:8-14)

For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I married you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:2)

But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all. (Galatians 4:26)

This woman likely represents the people who are chosen to reflect God's glory on earth. Their description is in terms revealing the nature of the kingdom of heaven distinct and different from the character of God's opponent that we will soon see by contrast. Of course this symbolic woman can be seen throughout history under different human labels, but in essence she is composed of humans who respond to the leading of the Spirit of God in whatever age they live out their lives on earth.

My dove, my perfect one, is the only one, the darling of her mother, flawless to her that bore her. The maidens saw her and called her happy; the queens and concubines also, and they praised her. "Who is this that looks forth like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible [awesome] as an army with banners?"

I went down to the nut orchard, to look at the blossoms of the valley, to see whether the vines had budded, whether the pomegranates were in bloom. Before I was aware, my fancy set me in a chariot beside my prince. Return, return, O Shulammite! Return, return, that we may look upon you. Why should you look upon the Shulammite, as upon a dance before two armies? (Song of Solomon 6:9-13 NRSV)

There are other potential meanings of this woman we might ponder for what they're worth. This woman gives birth to the man-child Jesus. While literally the woman who gave birth to Christ was Mary of Nazareth, Revelation is made up of symbols, so we should be reticent to jump to that conclusion directly. Another aspect seldom considered is that in the family unit of the Godhead, of which humans are created to reflect, the Holy Spirit fulfills best the role of Mother and nurturer, the One who brings to birth righteousness from within.

It was the Holy Spirit that hovered literally over and in the body of Mary, enabling her to receive the physicalized seed from the Heavenly Father that resulted in the human form of God's Son, Jesus the Christ. Thus in a very real sense the Holy Spirit was the Mother of Christ from heaven's perspective. That Spirit is the same Mother who infuses the seed of righteousness into the spirit of all who consent to be impregnated with the mind of Christ.

My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you-- but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. (Galatians 4:19-20)

Jesus answered, "Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can't enter into the Kingdom of God! That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Don't marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born anew.' The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don't know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:5-8)

This raises compelling implications when compared with the woman described in Revelation 17 who is called the mother of harlots. For instance, if this woman in chapter 12 might in part represent the Mother aspect of the Godhead called the Holy Spirit, then the woman riding the beast as the ultimate prostitute could also represent the opposite spirit who exploits others through seduction, intimidation and even violence. But that leads to another study.

a woman clothed with the sun

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)

Bless Yahweh, my soul. Yahweh, my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty. He covers himself with light as with a garment. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain. (Psalms 104:1-2)

Who is she who looks forth as the morning, beautiful as the moon, clear as the sun, and awesome as an army with banners? (Song of Solomon 6:10)

The sun shall be no more your light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light to you: but Yahweh will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, neither shall your moon withdraw itself; for Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended. (Isaiah 60:19-20)

Clothing represents character in Scripture. Clothes often convey messages related to identity, status or responsibility. What we wear often expresses important aspects of how we feel about ourselves.

I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)

He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light. (Matthew 17:2)

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts. (Romans 13:14)

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 3:12-14)

But to you who fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings [rays]. You will go out, and leap like calves of the stall. (Malachi 4:2)

This woman is clothed with the sun of righteousness. But note that this light is full of healing. We also read that the leaves of the Tree of Life in heaven are potent for healing.

He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:1-2)

Significantly, at the beginning of history we find leaves also being used for clothing, but for very a different purpose. No sooner had our first parent's indulged in the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they suddenly felt ashamed of their natural nakedness and felt desperate to cover up in more ways than one. They quickly began figuring out ways to hide their vulnerability, stitching together leaves (quite possible from the Tree they had just aligned with in their thinking) to mask over what they now believed to be shameful. This all because their entire way of valuing everything had been turned upside down and the deep emotional wounds of sin were being infected by dis-ease.

The eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (Genesis 3:7)

There is good reason to believe that previous to the fall, our human bodies were clothed with light, not physical clothing. This is glimpsed in the stories of Moses as well as what was witnessed on the Mount of Transfiguration when Jesus was clothed with light like the sun. This light is not designed to hide but to reveal. Heaven's atmosphere is not about hiding everything like sin leads us to do, but living in full transparency and vulnerability without any trace of fear or shame. It was not until sin infected and warped our perceptions of value and distorted our thinking about vulnerability that the idea of covering up became popular. Because of this God's temporary remedy for His new human children was to cover them with animal skins*, not light. They could no longer stand the exposure of living in the transparency that light brings, so until their inner selves were restored to their original design, they and all of us throughout succeeding generations rely on substitute clothing to hide the shame of our nakedness until we are ready to return to living openly in the light once again.

This is the nature of judgment as Jesus defines it, for judgment is all about exposing through the natural effect of light coming close to us. This theme keeps reoccurring repeatedly throughout our study of this book.

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. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God. (John 3:19-21)

Given this perspective, this symbolic woman clothed with the sun could represent all who are being restored to the original design of humanity. They are willing to be fully exposed by the brilliant light of truth and love that has come into the world and consent to be so saturated by His Spirit that their lives reflect the same glory that the true Son reflected – the Sun of Righteousness. They choose to come to Jesus, the light of the world, so that the light will expose the amazing truth that everything they do is in God. This is what it means to be a human; it means to live as an imager of the glory of God who is the origin of all light, beauty, truth, love and power.

God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:" (Genesis 1:26)

Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 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 3:17-18)

* God did not clothe Adam with the skin of an animal because of a divine need to be appeased, but because of their unconditional love for Adam; they spoke the language of Adam’s own judgment: Adam, not God, was embarrassed about his nakedness.

The clothing was not to make God look at Adam differently, but to make Adam feel better about himself! And ultimately it was to prepare Adam for the unveiling of the mystery of mankind’s redemption in the incarnation.

Here, Deity would clothe themselves in human skin in a son, and the Lion of Judah, would become the Lamb of God, in order to free our minds to re discover his image and likeness in our skin!

Humankind is tailor-made for God!

[Francois du Toit. See 1 Peter 1:18-19 in the Mirror Study Bible]

A Great Sign - Rumor notes 85

 Revelation 12

1 A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was with child. She cried out in pain, laboring to give birth.

A great sign was seen in heaven

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, (Revelation 1:1 NKJV)

This is a reminder of the two templates or filters by which everything in this book is processed, understood and measured. Everything must pass the intense analysis of conforming to Jesus' version of who God is, what He is like and His disposition, methods and motives in every aspect of the great cosmic battle that this book describes as the backstory for all reality. Secondly, the only effective way to make sense and discover the intended meaning and purpose of each verse in this entire book is to approach it with the presupposition that it is first and foremost symbolic and that the meaning of each symbol is discovered by relying on the rest of Scripture to inform us while remaining faithful to the first rule. All of this of course must be guided by the Spirit of truth, love and freedom, not by our preconditioning, traditions or to defend any set of doctrines.

What we are entering as we begin the study of the next couple chapters or so, is the very center of this book. Because it is laid out in typical chiastic format, meaning that the center contains the most important keys to understanding the rest of the book and that moving away from the center in both direction simultaneously one will discover parallel concepts that are tightly linked and are similar to each other, this center hub of the book is where we will find the core descriptions of what is really transpiring and where we find the main contestants and opponents in this story most clearly displayed.

Significantly, this is the first occurrence in this book of the word sign and is followed two verses later with another sign. This is not coincidence as it is introducing clearly the two sides warring against each other. This war is also explicitly spelled out later in this same chapter, which is why these next three chapters are crucial to understand thoroughly if we are to see how everything else in the book links directly to them like spooks of a wheel all depend on their connection to the hub.

The author John who writes this book is the same person who in his gospel emphasized the idea of signs in connection with the life of Jesus as well as found in the stories of the early believers. Signs and wonders are a theme that runs throughout the history of this war, so we must be open to receiving a true appreciation of how we should relate to them in our own involvement in this war. Both sides in the supernatural realm rely on signs and wonders, but they do not use them the same. As always, for every true there is a counterfeit, and this might be most true in the case of signs and wonders. Satan's entire success in deceiving as many as possible depends heavily on compelling people to reflect his motives and choose his methods as he uses signs and wonders to manipulate us to believe our feelings over the word of God.

Manipulation of feelings to deceive is how Eve was tricked into turning away from the only Source of truth, life and love and to believe her emotions more than God. The serpent asserted that God is intimately involved in both good and evil and that she could access His power by doing the same. He still relies on this approach with great success, for the meaning of the word spiritualism involves putting more trust and reliance on our feelings and emotions as our primary source of truth rather than on the objective word of God. This brings us to the very heart of how the war is carried out, for the real contest is not really about who is stronger, but rather what kind of strength will work to maintain cohesion in society, to establish order and to prevent chaos.

Another sign was seen in heaven. Behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven crowns. (Revelation 12:3)

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. (Revelation 15:1)

It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked toward me. How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation. (Daniel 4:2-3)

He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. (Daniel 6:27)

Scribes and Pharisees more than once demanded a sign from Jesus. It is very instructive to examine the context behind these demands. Consider this instance recorded earlier by Matthew.

You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things. I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you." But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:34-40)

How might the sign we are looking at right now fit with that story? Consider the contrast of the nature of the signs and we begin to see a familiar pattern emerge. The first sign here in this chapter is a very vulnerable woman while the next great sign is just the opposite – a fierce and intimidating dragon whose main goal is to exploit others who are vulnerable. This parallels the introduction of sin into this world originally and is the patter repeated all throughout the history of this war.

The context of this demand for a sign from Jesus was that He had been accused of working miracles and expelling demons from people by relying on the power of Satan. When you look over the passages preceding these demands for a sign, it starts to become evident that the hypocrisy of these teachers and leaders was becoming exposed by the words and actions of Jesus. They were under intense conviction and their discomfort with what people were starting to see about them in contrast to the plain truths being presented by Jesus made them feel desperate to find some way to divert attention away from themselves by incriminating Jesus in some way. The spirit of the great accuser motivated them to accuse the Jesus of being the enemy to deflect the conviction they were under to repent. Rather than allow the Spirit of truth and love to heal their hearts, they chose to harden their hards by lashing out to destroy His credibility in order to salvage their own.

I believe the pattern that might explain best the difference in use of signs and wonders by either side in this conflict lies in the message conveyed by them. The enemy and accuser of God uses signs and wonders to manipulate people's feelings and emotions for the purpose of deceiving them and distracting them from the conviction of God's Spirit about the nature of His kingdom. These signs and wonders appeal to our cravings for more power to exalt ourselves and our favorite people above others for our advantage. In Christ's kingdom the spirit of humility, kindness, gentleness and even willing vulnerability is the mark of identity in all who choose to follow the Lamb of God. It was this revelation that exposed the motives and disposition of the religious people of Jesus' day that made them feel exposed and threatened because they were relying on Satan's principles to maintain their authority while Jesus was bringing to light the truth that God's power is just the opposite of the kind of power popular in this world.

If we take this perspective, the following references to signs might begin to make more sense.

Thus says Yahweh, "Don't learn the way of the nations, and don't be dismayed at the signs of the sky; for the nations are dismayed at them. (Jeremiah 10:2)

even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn't receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people. (Revelation 13:13)

These last few references help to clarify the use of signs by Satan in contrast to the purpose and use of signs from heaven. Consider the words of Jesus relating to the signs of His second coming and how we should relate to those signs. In the following passages both kinds of signs are talked about, but if we are open to discern with the heart, we can see the pattern mentioned above showing up throughout these instructions, warnings and encouragement by Jesus.

As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will lead many astray. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren't troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are the beginning of birth pains. Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name's sake. Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another. Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray. Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved. This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

...for then there will be great oppression, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be. Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened. "Then if any man tells you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or, 'There,' don't believe it. For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. "Behold, I have told you beforehand.

But immediately after the oppression of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:3-14, 21-25, 29-30)

They asked him, "Teacher, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen?" He said, "Watch out that you don't get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I AM,' and, 'The time is at hand.' Therefore don't follow them. When you hear of wars and disturbances, don't be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end won't come immediately." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

You will be hated by all men for my name's sake. And not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will win your lives. But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the midst of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein. For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days! For there will be great distress in the land, and wrath to this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves; men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to happen, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near." (Luke 21:7-11, 17-28)

The Time for Judgment - Rumor notes 84

 Revelation 11

18 The nations were angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your bondservants the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints, and those who fear your name, to the small and the great; and to destroy those who destroy the earth." 19 God's temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord's covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed.

the time for the dead to be judged

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 14:7)

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God. (1 Corinthians 4:5)

For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don't obey the Good News of God? (1 Peter 4:17)

For I know their works and their thoughts: the time comes, that I will gather all nations and languages; and they shall come, and shall see my glory. (Isaiah 66:18)

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)

We must keep in mind the true meaning of judgment lest we slip back into old habits of thinking about God as one who arbitrarily imposes sentences and punishment on others. This judgment is not merely about the dead but involves everyone, including fallen spirits, Satan and God himself. This is the only way the universe can be secured from any recurrence of sin without the fear factor involved. Love alone will be the motive compelling anyone left in God's universe, and love can have no fear at all within it, for love requires complete freedom to choose without any fear involved. This is by design of creation, not an imposed rule. The judgment then, is not a threat as we have too long supposed. Rather it is the only means by which love can be fully restored to its highest position in the minds and hearts of all who choose to live in that way. God's kingdom is based on truth, love, freedom and trust, and judgment simply brings truth back into the light and leaves everyone free to choose.

Behold, they cried out, saying, "What do we have to do with you, Jesus, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?" (Matthew 8:29)

Sheol from beneath has moved for you to meet you at your coming. It stirs up the dead for you, even all the rulers of the earth. It has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. They all will answer and ask you, "Have you also become as weak as we are? Have you become like us?" Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, with the sound of your stringed instruments. Maggots are spread out under you, and worms cover you. How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, who laid the nations low! (Isaiah 14:9-12)

Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the pit. Those who see you will stare at you. They will ponder you, saying, "Is this the man who made the earth to tremble, who shook kingdoms; who made the world like a wilderness, and overthrew its cities; who didn't release his prisoners to their home?" All the kings of the nations, sleep in glory, everyone in his own house. But you are cast away from your tomb like an abominable branch, clothed with the slain, who are thrust through with the sword, who go down to the stones of the pit; like a dead body trodden under foot. You will not join them in burial, because you have destroyed your land. You have killed your people. The seed of evil-doers will not be named forever. Prepare for slaughter of his children because of the iniquity of their fathers, that they not rise up and possess the earth, and fill the surface of the world with cities. "I will rise up against them," says Yahweh of Armies, "and cut off from Babylon name and remnant, and son and son's son," says Yahweh. (Isaiah 14:15-22)

Babylon is the symbol of all the lies, confusion and misrepresentation about God used by Satan to maintain his power of deception and coercion. Until Satan has been fully exposed, it will be impossible for all questions to be resolved and God's reputation to be fully exonerated. This last verse is God's promise that all residual traces of the spirit of Babylon and its character (name) will disappear. Yet the method God uses to achieve this is crucial to its effectiveness to neutralize the toxic poison of lies that fuels our distrust of God.

The main point I want to emphasize here is that judgment in no way involves God forcing or compelling anyone like we do judgment in our world. The judgments of God parallel the nature of the wrath of God (a tragic mistranslation), which is to release everyone to the natural outcome and consequences of their own determined will, released to the immutable principles undergirding all creation itself. This is the Law of God that cannot be violated without resulting in death, but the resulting death is not imposed as a punishment from God but rather is the natural result of beings choosing to disconnect from the only Source of life that exists resulting in their ceasing to live. Judgment brings truth into the open; the reaction to truth and love reveals the condition of the heart and leaves that person exposed and naked before everyone. Yet all remain free to choose what they want to do about their situation, for without this freedom love does not exist.

The root cause of the extinction of the wicked in the final day of judgment is not God's determination to destroy them but rather their own fixed character developed by their own choices that blocks them from accepting the offer of repentance. The lost have destroyed their ability to enjoy God's love and have permanently distorted God's image within them, so they can no longer reflect His glory to others. They hate the light and experience love as torment and torture for them because of the dissonance it produces in their soul. This is why demons were so terrified when Jesus came close, because His presence of love is torment to those who hate it and they are eager to run as far from it as possible to avoid the searing pain of the fire of God's passionate love.

Before a person passes the point of no return in their character development, the fire of passionate love can still function as a purifier to consume away the filth, sin and resistance embedded in the heart. But this requires willing consent of the heart of the person, for anything else violates their core design of freedom and violates God's reflection in His creation. Freedom means God always leaves the option open to choose differently than His will for us, and this remains true throughout all eternity. But the virus of sin attacks this central nervous system of our design, corrosively destroying the delicate tissues of our conscience and hardening the heart until our capacity for freedom is stolen from us, destroyed permanently by the effects of sin molding us into its image of hatred and rebellion against God. Once a being passes this point of no return because of the permanent hardening of the heart by continually resisting love, the condition is reached where there is no freedom left internally to embrace healing, so the fire of God's passionate love only produces more of the same – increased resistance with no possibility left of cleansing. This was demonstrated in the story of Pharaoh and the nature of his demise foreshadows the final end that will be chosen by all who follow his path of resisting God's kindness, compassion and mercy beyond the point of no return.

Love can only cleanse and purify the heart with our consent. Once sin destroys all desire and capacity to consent, there is nothing more God can do but respect our final choice to prefer death rather than continued life that is only torment in His presence. This principle can be seen throughout Scripture and throughout history and is central to the function of the kingdom of heaven.

This declaration that the time has come for the dead to be judged is highly significant in this regard. The dead is not merely those who are physically dead, but more so all who have passed the point of no return and are spiritually dead with no capacity to be restored to life in harmony with love. Again, this is not some arbitrary point established by God beyond which He refuses to grant repentance or forgiveness. This is a point where everyone in the universe has passed the Rubicon (to use an old metaphor) so to speak, and it is now time to allow the chips to fall where they will which finalizes the outcome of everyone's free choices. In other words, the 7^th trumpet occurs when there is no one left in the valley of decision, for all have passed over either into full commitment to following the path of life or full abandonment to the control of selfishness, distrust and rejection of love. No longer will further information affect their thinking, for salvation does not come through information alone but is a matter related to the condition of the heart and the spirit.

Let us fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn't profit them, because it wasn't mixed with faith by those who heard. (Hebrews 4:1-2)

Eternal salvation is not a product of making good choices because we are convinced by sufficient knowledge of facts to make a right choice. Our will is not convinced by overwhelming facts as many assume. This is evident in the lives of people who knew Jesus personally while He lived here on earth. The evidence and the miracles testified to the fact that He was the Son of God on earth. Yet many continued to resist and resist and fight against the voice of conscience until no amount of evidence could convince them to surrender to His love for them.

The same was true for Lucifer, for he lived closer to the Source of all love and power than anyone ever could, yet in the full light of the glory of God's passionate fire of love in which he thrived, he chose a life of rebellion against it despite all the evidence that the claims he was making against God were false. Once Lucifer deliberately chose to embrace his own lies as the version of reality he would live by permanently, he sealed his own fate by destroying his very capacity to respond to the drawing of the gentle Spirit of God and lost all hope of recovery. He was no longer a light bearer but a tale bearer and the consequences could never be reversed. This is his goal for everyone who follows his example and is the frightful and lethal outcome of using our will to resist love rather than surrendering to its influence.

By his rebellion against God's law, Satan brought sin into existence; for “sin is the transgression of the law.” God in His wisdom did not use measures of force to suppress Satan's rebellion. Such measures would have aroused sympathy for Satan, strengthening his rebellion rather than lessening his power. If God had at the outset punished his rebellion, many more would have looked upon him as one who had been dealt with unjustly, and would have followed his example. It was necessary for him to have time and opportunity to develop his false principles. There was war in heaven, and the Prince of life overcame the apostate. Satan was cast out of heaven, with the angels who had united with him. [ST July 23, 1902]

What we are studying here is at the other end of this time period begun long ago by God in heaven. God saw that to remain in perfect harmony with His principles of love, truth and freedom, that time had to be granted for Satan to work out his false principles that contradicted the principles of love. What we are studying is at the other end of that timeline when those principles will have been fully exposed as false and there is no longer any doubt left as to which system is credible and who is worthy of our trust. The time has come for God to allow the natural outcomes of His principles to be released, both in the lives of those who have chosen to follow the great apostate and have worshiped him and become like him in spirit and falsehood, as well as the fulfillment of all the promises of hope and joy and peace for all those who have put their trust in God.

God brings full closure to this experiment launched by Satan so long ago, yet not through any arbitrary means but rather by guiding events and circumstances to come to full fruition in such a way that His kingdom of love can be firmly established forever on the sure foundations of truth, love and freedom. All are exposed as to which kingdom has been allowed to shape their character, what principles they have embraced with their will and whose image defines their reflection. The time for full disclosure has arrived, and only then is it safe to release fully the principle of cause and effect with no danger of misunderstanding on the part of anyone. This alone secures the safety of the universe without any hint of fear left in the hearts of all involved.

Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God; (Romans 2:4-5)

Does this offer a clue about the location of the 7's in Revelation? The relevant passage to the time of the dead being judged is chapter 20 which is after the millennium. Is this talking about that time, or is it simply announcing the opening of some 'door' allowing events to move toward that time?

I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them. I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15)

to give your bondservants the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints

Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. (Revelation 22:12)

What is the nature of rewards in God's system? Are rewards something God hands out that are earned and deserved, or are they along the line of natural outcomes of choices made?

Rewards are used to motivate people to make decisions in a certain direction and to avoid other directions and choices. In this sense, God does offer rewards because He has a vested interest in seeing us move in the right direction for our best good and ultimate happiness. Jesus was motivated by the attraction of a desirable outcome at the other end of the path laid out for Him to follow that meant suffering the extreme humiliation, shame and torture caused by taking our sin onto Himself. What was the reward that had such power to sustain Him through such intense agony and torment of mind?

Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

The physical sense of joy comes from the experience of being glad to be together with someone who cares about us. Jesus believed that everything He was going through would be effective to alter our thinking about God to the point of being reconciled and coming into harmony with His passionate love for us.

His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' (Matthew 25:21 repeated in 23)

I would like to propose looking at this phrase from the perspective of God's kind of reward. When Jesus says 'My reward is with me,” the key word here is the with. That is at the very heart of the true definition of joy, for joy is impossible to experience solitarily, for joy is all about connecting at a deep heart level with another heart. So when Jesus relied on the goal of joy to carry Him through all the feelings of abandonment, shame and the cruelty of feeling despised, hated and rejected by everyone around Him including feelings that God might have done the same to Him, His only hope was that somehow all this would turn into joy in the end and the power of that hope propelled Him to endure.

destroy those who destroy the earth

Yahweh has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers, who struck the peoples in wrath with a continual stroke, who ruled the nations in anger, with a persecution that none restrained. The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet. They break out song. (Isaiah 14:5-7)

Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the pit. Those who see you will stare at you. They will ponder you, saying, "Is this the man who made the earth to tremble, who shook kingdoms; who made the world like a wilderness, and overthrew its cities; who didn't release his prisoners to their home?" (Isaiah 14:15-17)

By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your traffic, you have profaned your sanctuaries; therefore have I brought forth a fire from the midst of you; it has devoured you, and I have turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all those who see you. (Ezekiel 28:18)

But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end. The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. (Daniel 7:26-27)

Through his policy he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and in their security shall he destroy many: he shall also stand up against the prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. (Daniel 8:25)

Don't judge, so that you won't be judged. For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:1-2)

Which system of justice and judgment will you subscribe to? Beware, for the system you choose will be the system used to judge and measure you. The choice is ours, for we choose the filter through which we conceive the explanations of why things happen the way they do.

God's temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord's covenant was seen in his temple

After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. (Revelation 15:5)

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. (Revelation 19:11)

Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many. (Matthew 27:50-53)

Don't you know that you are a temple of God, and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for God's temple is holy, which you are. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I will give you. There I will meet with you, and I will tell you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the testimony, all that I command you for the children of Israel. (Exodus 25:21-22)

It shall come to pass, when you are multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, says Yahweh, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of Yahweh; neither shall it come to mind; neither shall they remember it; neither shall they miss it; neither shall it be made any more. At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of Yahweh; and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of Yahweh, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the stubbornness of their evil heart. (Jeremiah 3:16-17)

being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh. (2 Corinthians 3:3)

But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God. (John 3:21 NRSV)

Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed

This is a recurrence of the 'tab' that shows up several times throughout this book. It functions like an alert to a significant transition point we need to pay attention to in the flow of the story. Each time something is usually added to the list. Here it is hail that is added to the previous accumulation.

The seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. One third of the earth was burnt up, and one third of the trees were burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. (Revelation 8:6-7)

Interestingly, the first time hail shows up is at the beginning of the trumpets, while here it marks the end of the trumpet sequence. The next time hail is mentioned is after the 7^th bowl that causes violent plagues on the earth. A question is whether the hail is part of the description of the 7's or does it happen immediately after the conclusion of the 7 sequence.

Great hailstones, about the weight of a talent, came down out of the sky on people. People blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, for this plague is exceedingly severe. (Revelation 16:21)

Keep in mind that Revelation is rooted in symbols, not literal descriptions of events. While there may be corresponding literal corollaries, they are reflections of more vivid spiritual realities transpiring.

Have you entered the treasuries of the snow, or have you seen the treasures of the hail, which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? (Job 38:22-23)

At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, hailstones and coals of fire. Yahweh also thundered in the sky. The Most High uttered his voice: hailstones and coals of fire. (Psalms 18:12-13)

Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fertile valley of those who are overcome with wine! Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one. Like a storm of hail, a destroying storm, and like a storm of mighty waters overflowing, he will cast them down to the earth with his hand. (Isaiah 28:1-2)

I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place. (Isaiah 28:17)

This may be the best definition for the symbol of hail in prophecy. The entire war is between The Truth and The Lie. Hail is hardened water that has more effectiveness to penetrate and arouse awareness than just rain. Truth at times becomes unavoidably obvious to the point of sweeping away the matrix of lies people rely on to hide from the light of truth.

Yahweh will cause his glorious voice to be heard, and will show the descent of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and the flame of a devouring fire, with a blast, storm, and hailstones. (Isaiah 30:30)

The work of righteousness will be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in safe dwellings, and in quiet resting places. Though hail flattens the forest, and the city is leveled completely. (Isaiah 32:17-19)

Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there is no peace; and when one builds up a wall, behold, they daub it with whitewash: tell those who daub it with whitewash, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and you, great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall tear it. Behold, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said to you, Where is the daubing with which you have daubed it?

Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: I will even tear it with a stormy wind in my wrath; and there shall be an overflowing shower in my anger, and great hailstones in wrath to consume it. So will I break down the wall that you have daubed with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation of it shall be uncovered; and it shall fall, and you shall be consumed in the midst of it: and you shall know that I am Yahweh. Thus will I accomplish my wrath on the wall, and on those who have daubed it with whitewash; and I will tell you, The wall is no more, neither those who daubed it; (Ezekiel 13:10-15)

With pestilence and with blood will I enter into judgment with him; and I will rain on him, and on his hordes, and on the many peoples who are with him, an overflowing shower, and great hailstones, fire, and sulfur. (Ezekiel 38:22)

I struck you with blight, mildew, and hail in all the work of your hands; yet you didn't turn to me,' says Yahweh. (Haggai 2:17)