Another seal- another horse

Second Seal

Excerpt- Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith

Revelation 6-

Verse 3 And when He had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

The Second Seal.--

Perhaps the first feature noticed in these symbols is the contrast in the color of the horses.

This doubtless has special significance. It the whiteness of the first horse denoted the purity of the gospel in the period which that symbol covers, the redness of the second horse would signify that in this period that original purity began to be corrupted.

The mystery of iniquity already worked in Paul's day, and the professed church of Christ was so far corrupted by this time as to require this change in the color of the symbol. Errors began to arise. Worldliness came in. The ecclesiastical power sought the alliance of the secular. Troubles and commotions were the result.

Speaking of the period of the Christian church from A.D. 100 to 311, the historian remarks:

"We now descend from the primitive apostolic church to the Graeco-Roman; from the scene of creation to the work of preservation; from the fountain of divine revelation to the stream of human development; from the inspirations of the apostles and prophets to the productions of enlightened but fallible teachers. The hand of God has drawn a bold line of demarcation between the century of miracles and the succeeding ages, to show, by the abrupt transition and the striking contrast, the difference between the work of God and the work of man."

"The second period, from the death of the apostle John to the end of the persecutions, or to the accession of Constantine, the first Christian emperor, is the classic age . . . of heathen persecution, and of Christian martyrdom and heroism. . . . It furnishes a continuous commentary on the

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Saviour's words, 'Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves.' "

"The ante-Nicene age . . . is . . . the common root out of which both [Catholicism and Protestantism] have sprung, Catholicism (Greek and Roman) first, and Protestantism afterwards.

It is the natural transition from the apostolic age to the Nicene age, yet leaving behind many important truths of the former (especially the Pauline doctrines) which were to be derived and explored in future ages. We can trace in it the elementary forms of the Catholic creed, organization, and worship, and also the germs of nearly all the corruptions of Greek and Roman Christianity."

The spirit of this period perhaps reached its climax as we come to the days of Constantine, the first so-called Christian emperor, whose conversion to Christianity in A.D. 323 brought about a compromise between the church and the Roman Empire.

The Edict of Milan in A.D. 313, is said to have granted toleration to Christians and allowed conversions to Christianity. Kenneth S. Latourette declares that the acts immediately preceding and culminating in the Edict of Milan in 313 "still remain the most significant of the many milestones in the road by which the church and the state moved toward co-operation."

This modern scholar of church history further declares:

"Christianity, by bringing the church into existence, developed an institution which in part was a rival of the state. It created a society within the empire which, so many believed, threatened the very existence of the latter. The conflict was very marked in the century or more before Constantine. . . . When Constantine made his peace with the faith, however, it long looked as though the conflict had been resolved by the control of the church by the state. Yet, even in the days of the seeming subordination of the church to the government,

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ecclesiastics sought to influence the policies of the latter."

This state of things answers well to the declaration of the prophet that power was given to him that sat on the horse "to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword."

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Revelation 6:3,4  And when He had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.  And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

The first seal was opened and ONE of the beasts spoke to John about what was seen. When the second seal was opened THE SECOND beast spoke to John and told him… 'Come and see.'  Just like the first beast to John.  Only there was no sound of thunder this time.  When this seal, the second was opened by our Savior, there was a vision of another horse and this horse was red in color.  And as mentioned above the color change is a striking one.  Power was given to the one upon the horse. A power that could TAKE peace from the earth. A power that would INCITE killing.  A power of a GREAT SWORD.

We know that Christianity was corrupted very early on--

1Jn_2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

1Jn_2:22  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

1Jn_4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

2Jn_1:7  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

We know that Satan is eager to counterfeit all genuine truth. As soon as truth is uttered, Satan is right there to pervert it and he'll do so using all manner of deceptive ways. Keeping the lies as close to the truth at possible he works his evil into everything. The church of our Savior, the Christ followers that lived having seen the Savior kept the truth, but quickly many began to allow lies to seep in. 

The murder of many Christians happened, and this continued right on until the perverted truth took hold and the politics mingled with religion. And then Satan began to use another tactic. 

We know these seals, these seven seals in conjunction with the seven churches are depicting time periods, they are prophetically doing this and when these were first written none of these things had occurred!

History has unveiled a lot of prophecy to us, and by the grace of God may we see the truth in all of it!

All in the name of our SAVIOR, Jesus Christ our Lord, now and forever!  

Amen!

Breaking the Seals - #1

Excerpt from Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith

Revelation Chapter VI

Breaking the Seals on the Book of Prophecy

Verse 1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

The Lamb takes the book, and proceeds at once to open the seals. The attention of the apostle is called to the scenes that occur under each seal. The number seven has already been noticed as denoting completeness and perfection in the Scriptures. The seven seals represent events of a religious character, and contain the history of the church from the opening of the Christian Era to the second coming of Christ. When the seals are broken, and the record was brought to light, the scenes were presented before John, not by the reading of the description, but by a representation of what was described in the book being made to pass before his view in living characters, and in the place where the reality was to occur, namely, the earth.

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The perfect book, sealed with seven seals.

The only one worthy to open the book and to open the book the seals must be broken, is our Savior, the Lamb slain.

The Lamb opens one of the seals and a GREAT noise is heard, thunder! We've all heard thunder before and in very great storms that thunder can truly be deafening, and earth shaking, we can feel the rumble, the vibration given off by the great noise. John heard a noise but NOT necessarily thunder- he says AS IT WERE the noise of thunder. This noise that is similar to thunder occurs when that first seal was broken.

Right after the thunder like noise one of the four beasts tells John to COME AND SEE. 

Looking into the prophecy revealed under that first broken seal, John is allowed to see -  a white horse.  The white horse has a rider upon him. The rider on the white horse has a bow. The rider on the white horse holding a bow is then given a crown. After the rider of the white horse who is carrying a bow is given a crown he goes forth conquering and to conquer.

John is seeing this revelation and writing it down.

*******(excerpt)

The First Seal.--

The first symbol is a white horse, bearing a rider who carries a bow. A crown is given to him, and he goes forth conquering and to conquer, a fit emblem of the triumphs of the gospel in the first century of the Christian Era. The whiteness of the horse denotes the purity of faith in that age. The crown which was given to the rider, and his going forth as a conqueror to make still further conquests, signify the zeal and success with which the truth was promulgated by its earliest ministers. By what symbols could the work of Christianity better be represented when it went forth as an aggressive principle against the huge systems of error with which it had at first to contend? The rider upon this horse went forth--

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where? His commission was unlimited. The gospel was to all the world

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Remember the seven churches? Each church represented an era throughout time right down unto the end of the world as we know it and the return of the Savior to take us to heaven. Not only did those churches represent the eras throughout time, they also had messages for all throughout all the eras.  Special messages as well as overall messages.  We know what it means to learn lessons from others mistakes- so to speak. To say that a message for the first Christian era would have no bearing on those living in the last Christian era prior to the return of our Savior, would be to ignore the learning aspect.  Also, to say those living in the first era could learn nothing from prophesized lessons would be to encourage ignorance, spiritual blindness.  We can learn from the truth throughout all time if we trust in our Savior and allow the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to all that truth.

The seven seals on the scroll, seven seals that keep that scroll closed, must be opened and our Savior alone can open them.  The first seal if we liken it to the seven church eras, would represent the first era in Christianity.

As mentioned in the excerpt from Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith,  this rider on the white horse is a conquering rider.  And truly, the message of salvation flourished even as it was being attacked. The flames of Christianity were fanned by every persecution only causing it to grow larger and spread further. Nothing could destroy the message of salvation found only through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb slain.  And while nothing could destroy it, it wasn't for lack of trying. The message spread, the enlightenment grew.  The disciples took that message everywhere!  This is history! This is fact.  While the powers that lived upon the earth did all in their limited ability to kill the message along with the Messenger, they failed. The power of the Word of God was unstoppable.

A thought comes to mind about how so many unbelievers like to say that Christians are fools who believe in fairy tales, yet how do they  explain the undeniable power of this belief living on so steadfastly throughout time, and in many who none could truly consider fools? Oh, I'm sure they'll have their answers, but the truth is greater than their feeble attempts to scoff at something they are blinded to.  Those who are blind will be allowed to remain blind, those who would see will be allowed to see.  None are force fed the truth. People will harden their hearts because it gives them a false sense of power, as if they have control and decide their own path in life. There are a lot of things in life that reveal to us how little control we have, yet people will continue to grasp at every tiny straw that hints at their being in control because they perceive weakness in recognizing they have no true control.  Some go to great evil lengths to try and prove they and no other have control over them, but the more they try to prove this, the more they comprehend after all is said and done, how the control they thought they had was merely a lie, a self-deception. Every evil act committed in their quest to prove self-superiority was another's trial and tribulation that refined their victim in the fire. 

God's word some will claim is all a lie.

Yet, God's word is powerful, truly sharper than any two-edged sword that cuts to the very heart, the very spirit of man.

When blind eyes are opened, the truth is revealed.

The blind that wish to remain blind, will do so, never being given a glimpse of spiritual light, so truly they cannot, and will not, of their own design ever know the truth.

You are not forced to believe.

Christ's message prevailed beyond comprehension.  As people fought to have it destroyed it only grew stronger. Truly the first era of Christianity was an amazingly powerful force, the beginning of something that would never die out.

May God keep us in the truth of the original message of salvation in our Savior, Jesus Christ, now, and forever!

Amen.

One day all creatures will agree- worthy is the Lamb Slain!

Excerpt from Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith -

Revelation Chapter 5

Verse 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped Him that liveth for ever and ever.

A Clean Universe.--

In verse 13 we have a declaration thrown in out of its chronological order for the purpose of following out to its completion the previous statement or allusion. This occurs frequently in the Bible. In this instance the time is anticipated when the work of redemption is finished.

In verse 10 the four living creatures and four and twenty elders had declared, "We shall reign on the earth." Now the prophet's mind is carried forward to that event. He looks forward to the time when the number of the redeemed shall be made up, the

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universe be freed from sin and sinners, and a universal song of adoration go up to God and the Lamb.

It is futile to attempt to apply this to the church in its present state, or to any time in the past since sin entered the world, or even since Satan fell from his high position as an angel of light and love in heaven. For at the time of which John speaks, every creature in heaven and on earth without any exception was sending up its anthem of blessings to God.

But to speak only of this world since the fall, cursings instead of blessings have been breathed out against God and His throne from the great majority of our apostate race. So it will ever be while sin reigns.

We find, then, no place for this sense which John describes, unless we go forward to the time when the plan of redemption is completed, and the saints enter upon their promised reign on the earth.

To the Lamb, equally with the Father who sits upon the throne, praise is ascribed in this song of adoration. "Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever." Revelation 5: 13.

Coming back from the glorious scene anticipated in verse 13 to events taking place in the heavenly sanctuary before him, the prophets hears the four living creatures exclaim, Amen.

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Rev 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Rev 1:2  Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Things which MUST come to pass.

The Slain Lamb of God- the only One worthy to take the book with seven seals.

The Slain Lamb of God- ALL WILL proclaim His worthiness.

Remember this--

Luk 19:38  Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

Luk 19:39  And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

Luk 19:40  And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

Stones crying out?

What about this--

Isa 55:12  For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Mountains singing? Trees clapping their hands?

The point being, prophetically there will come a day when ALL CREATURES- all created things- will -

Say-  'Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.'

They will ALL agree that the LAMB slain and GOD deserve all blessing, all honor, all glory and all power!

John heard this prophetically, the truth that ULTIMATELY ALL created beings will believe!  This will happen when all sin is gone! This WILL happen! John could hear this prophetically and just as it is a reality that the heavenly sanctuary exists where our God and our Savior enact their plan of salvation all the way until we are made at one with them again, it is a reality that one day ALL will believe and ALL will agree that the LAMB is worthy!  This is TRUTH!

Rev 5:14  And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

What an incredible vision!

The WORTHY LAMB SLAIN!

By unanimous agreement among all God's created beings in heaven and upon earth, the LAMB SLAIN IS WORTHY! And as being the WORTHY ONE, He is due all blessing, all honor, all glory, and all power. Equal to His Father, worthy in all things!

A hundred million angels and more

Rev 5:11  And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

Rev 5:12  Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

Excerpt from Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith--

The Heavenly Sanctuary.--

How little conception we have of the magnitude and glory of the heavenly temple!

Into that temple John was introduced at the opening of Revelation 4, by the door which was open in heaven. Into the same temple, he is still looking in Revelation 5: 11, 12. Now he beholds the heavenly hosts. About the throne are those represented by the four living creatures. Next come the four and twenty elders. Then John views a multitude of the heavenly angels surrounding the whole. How many? How many would we suppose could convene within the heavenly temple? "Ten thousand times ten thousand!" exclaims the seer.

In this expression alone we have one hundred million!

Then, as if no numerical expression is adequate to embrace the countless throng, he further adds, "And thousands of thousands!" Well might the writer of Hebrews call this "an innumerable company of angels." Hebrews 12: 22.

(Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels)

These were in the sanctuary above.

Such was the company that John saw assembled at the place where the worship of a universe centers, and where the

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wondrous plan of human redemption is going forward to completion.

The central figure in this innumerable and holy throng was the Lamb of God, and the central act of His life which claimed their admiration was the shedding of His blood for the salvation of fallen man.

Every voice in all that heavenly host joined in the ascription which was raised, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing."

Fitting assemblage for such a place! Fitting song of adoration to be raised to Him who by the shedding of His blood became a ransom for many, and who as our great High Priest in the sanctuary above still pleads the merits of His sacrifice in our behalf. Here, before such an august assemblage, must our life record soon come up in final review. What shall fit us for the searching ordeal? What shall enable us to rise and stand at last with the sinless throng above? O infinite merit of the blood of Christ, which can cleanse us from all our pollutions, and make us meet to tread the holy hill of Zion! O infinite grace of God, which can prepare us to endure the glory, and give us boldness to enter into His presence, even with exceeding joy!

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Rev 5:11  And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

Rev 5:12  Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

Let's use our imaginations for a minute or so.

First we are seeing four creatures, twenty-four elders (humans), God the Father, the Lamb that was Slain, and now….ANGELS!  Innumerable angels around the throne, around the four creatures, the twenty-four elders, God and the Lamb Slain. 

Such a heavenly vision!

The angels saying with a LOUD VOICE-

WORTHY IS THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN TO RECEIVE POWER AND RICHES, AND WISDOM, AND STRENGTH, AND HONOR, AND GLORY, AND BLESSING.

Worthy is the Lamb that was Slain to receive ALL things!

We can't stop for a moment believing in the magnitude of Heaven and Heaven's inhabitants.

No, all our dead loved ones are not in their  bodily forms, or spirit forms speaking with intelligence etc, etc.  The dead know nothing, and if the dead know nothing then how can they be in heaven in any intelligent way? Only those who have been specifically raised from the dead are in heaven, such as the twenty-four elders. We know this happened--

Mat 27:52  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

Mat 27:53  And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

These *many-not all* saints that SLEPT came out of their graves, they didn't come down from their heavenly reward after our Savior's resurrection. They were brought up from their SLEEP. They were SLEEPING. 

Going back to the truth that we cannot dismiss the magnitude or heaven and its inhabitants we have to realize the majority of those inhabitants are angels.  These innumerable numbers of angels, God's angels, Christ's angels are all in agreement.

The Lamb of God, slain- is worthy to REDEEM the lost!

This is no DOUBT in anyone's mind, be they human, angel, or creature that Jesus is worthy!

This perfect book with the seven seals can only be opened by the One worthy! And Jesus alone is WORTHY!

The heavenly sanctuary is REAL and all the inhabitants in the heavenly sanctuary are REAL.  The prophecy is REAL! May we be blessed as we read and may we keep all we need to keep of the sayings within, all through our SAVIOR, through the Holy COMFORTOR sent to us, as we LEAN NOT unto our own understanding, but TRUST in the LORD with all our heart!

All through HIM! Now and forever!

Amen!

Kings and Priests, You and I

Excerpt from Daniel and Revelation - by Uriah Smith

Rev 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

The Song.--

It is called "a new song," new, probably, in respect to the occasion and the composition.

They were the first that could sing it, being the first that were redeemed.

They call themselves "kings and priests."

In what sense they are priests has already been noticed. They assist Christ in His priestly work. In the same sense doubtless they are also

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kings, for Christ is set down with His Father on His throne, and doubtless these as ministers of His have some part to act in connection with the government of heaven in its relation to this world.

The Anticipation.--

"We shall reign on the earth." Thus, notwithstanding they are redeemed and surround the throne of God and of the Lamb, where all is glory ineffable, their song contemplates a still higher state when the great work of redemption shall be completed, and they, with the whole redeemed family of God, shall reign on the earth, the promised inheritance and the eternal residence of the saints.

(Romans 4: 13, Galatians 3: 29; Psalm 37: 11; Matthew 5: 5; 2 Peter 3: 13; Isaiah 65: 17-25; Revelation 21: 1-5.)

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Rom 4:13  For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Gal 3:29  And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Psa 37:11  But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Mat 5:5  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness

Isa 65:17  For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

Isa 65:18  But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

Isa 65:19  And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

Isa 65:20  There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

Isa 65:21  And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

Isa 65:22  They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

Isa 65:23  They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.

Isa 65:24  And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Isa 65:25  The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Rev 21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Rev 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Rev 21:3  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Rev 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Rev 21:5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

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Rev 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

The four beasts, the twenty-four elders all sing a NEW song.

The Lamb that was slain, WORTHY to take the book, WORTHY to open the seals.  

He was SLAIN in order to REDEEM the four beasts, the twenty-four elders, and ALL who are CHRIST'S.

Worldwide salvation. There is no corner of the earth- no kindred, no tongue, no people, and no nation that will NOT have those among them who are saved by the Blood of the Lamb!

In saving us, our Savior gives us the promise of being king and priests- those who truly are HIS and HIS alone! 

We truly need to comprehend the reality of what we are to be given, what we are promised.

A new heaven, a new earth, an existence unlike anything we will ever have here and now. Our promise is one of the future, one that will fulfill these  prophecies.

Please, Savior, please Lamb of God, slain to redeem us, please help us to look to YOU, to lean not to our own understandings, but to trust in You with ALL our hearts knowing YOU and YOU alone can save us now and forever!

Amen!

The prayers of the saints

Excerpt from the book- Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith

Revelation Chapter 5

Verse 8 And when He had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

"Vials Full of Odors."--From this expression we form an idea of the employment of those redeemed one represented by

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the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders. They have golden vials, or vessels, full of odors--or, as the margin reads, incense--which are the prayers of saints. This is a work of ministry such as pertains to priests.

The reader will remember that in the ancient typical service the high priest had many assistants. When we consider that we are now looking into sanctuary in heaven, the conclusion at once follows that these redeemed ones are the assistants of our great High Priest above.

For this purpose they were doubtless redeemed.

What could be more appropriate than that our Lord should be assisted in His priestly work for the human race by noble members of that race whose holiness of life, and purity of character, had fitted them to raised up for that purpose?

We are aware that many entertain in a great aversion to the idea of there being anything real and tangible in heaven. But though the Revelation deals largely in figures, it does not deal in fictions.

There is reality in all the things described, and we gain an understanding of the reality when we get a correct interpretation of the figures. Thus, in this vision we know that the One upon the throne is god.

He is really there.

We know the Lamb symbolizes Christ.

He too is really there.

He ascended with a literal, tangible body, and who can say that He does not still retain it?

If, then, our great High Priest is a literal being, He must have a literal place in which to minister.

If the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders represent those whom Christ led up from the captivity of death at the time of His resurrection and ascension, why are they not just as literal beings while there in heaven as they were when they ascended?

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Reality.

So many would have us FICTIONALIZE God. So many would have us make Him stuff of mythologies, story book fodder. People will throw up in our faces that Zeus is a real god to people, that Diana and others are gods and goddesses and people throughout time have called them real and worshipped and sacrificed to them as if they were real. In the time of the Bible happenings people believed in these false gods. Over and over those false god were proven false.  Who doesn't remember this-- Elijah said to Ahab--

1Ki 18:24  And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

(Do you see what is being said here?  A challenge has been issued- call on your gods, the FALSE gods, and Elijah would call on the LORD he followed, and whichever answered would be GOD.)

1Ki 18:25  And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.

1Ki 18:26  And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

1Ki 18:27  And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

1Ki 18:28  And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.

1Ki 18:29  And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

(Their gods did NOT answer the challenge, they couldn't they were false gods!  Now I'm not saying evil spirits, of whom Satan is one, can't impersonate things and seemingly bring to life false gods, they can, they are false gods themselves in what they do. Satan himself can appear as an angel of light. All the evil spirits are NOT gods and will never be gods!)

1Ki 18:30  And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.

1Ki 18:31  And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:

1Ki 18:32  And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

1Ki 18:33  And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.

1Ki 18:34  And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.

1Ki 18:35  And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.

1Ki 18:36  And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

1Ki 18:37  Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

1Ki 18:38  Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

1Ki 18:39  And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

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The point I'm trying to make is, people want God to be a myth and treat Him as such. He is REAL. Our Savior became flesh and died in that flesh, was resurrected in that flesh and transformed in that flesh, taking on immortal, incorruptible flesh.  In this flesh, the same flesh all humans will inherit upon translation to heaven when Christ returns and raises those who died in Him and those who live in Him, our Savior has live in, in heaven.  In the sanctuary in heaven He is completing the work entrusted to Him, work that will bring an end to evil, and return to God all those who choose to love Him and accept the sacrifice of our Savior. 

Prophecy has come to pass, and prophecy will come to pass.  The prophecy of the return of Christ to find saints living in Him will come to pass and nothing can prevent this from happening.  Babylon ruled- as prophesized. Following Babylon, the Medes-and Persians ruled- as prophesized well in advance. Following the Medes and Persians, Greece ruled and then Pagan and Papal Rome ruled, and then there was a division as predicted. All of it was prophesized!  So why, tell me why the rest will NOT come to pass?  Time will never destroy prophecy.

2Pe_3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance

This is TRUTH!

We must believe that our SAVIOR is a REALITY in heaven.

And in heaven there are real servants of Christ, serving Him, just as here on earth we TRULY serve our Savior.

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The Savior took the BOOK and when He took the book from His Father, the four beasts, the 24 elders all fell down to worship Him!

These had this-

'…golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.'

The PRAYERS of the saints!

These are REAL!

And this is REAL…

Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints

We are to PRAY always and our prayers are not wasted breath but very important!

Please LORD teach us the importance of prayer, of praying always!

All through the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Now and forever.

AMEN.

Eye salve to see... a book to be opened

Rev 5:6  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

Rev 5:7  And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

Daniel and Revelation - by Uriah Smith-

"Seven Horns and Seven Eyes."--Horns are symbols of power and eyes typify wisdom. Seven is a number denoting completeness, or perfection. We are thus taught that perfect power and perfect wisdom in here in the Lamb.

"He Came and Took the Book."--Commentators have found an incongruity in the idea that the book was taken by the Lamb, and have had recourse to several expedients to avoid the difficulty. But is it not a well-established principle that any action which could be performed by the person or being represented by a symbol, may be attributed to the symbol? The Lamb, we know, is a symbol of Christ. We know there is nothing incongruous in Christ's taking a book, and when we read that the book was taken, we think of the action, not as performed by a lamb, but by the one of whom the lamb is a symbol.

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Rev 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

The WORTHY ONE took the book.

The WORTHY ONE is the ONLY ONE who can open this book.

The book was being held out for the taking but only the One worthy to open the book could take it, in any other's hands it would be pointless.

God the Father would have us KNOW what will come to pass, but only in a way that would protect generations and generations of people all the way to the end of the world as we know it. Books are sealed and protected, books are closed until their allotted time of comprehension.  Eyes are allowed to be blind, ears allowed to be deafened. On the other hand - eyes are allowed to be opened, and ears unstopped.  God is all in all and all things will unfold in His time. We can only hope and pray to have the eyesalve we so need to keep our eyes opened to all the truth that we NEED. We cannot decide what we need or when we need it, God alone can do that for us.

Our Savior - the LAMB SLAIN, the PERFECT Savior went to God the Father and took the PERFECT book because He alone was worthy of opening the perfect book to reveal God's truth to us.  We will know, and we will NOT have the excuse of ignorance to use. None of us will be able to say that God did not reveal the truth we would need to be prepared for the arrival of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

As all things come to pass, which they will because history has proved so much has already happened that was prophesized, there will be God's ELECT who will be His in the end.

More on this tomorrow… by God's WILL, through God's GRACE.

All in HIS LOVE.