Let's talk about the awesome book of REVELATION!!!!

[AnandaHya]

Who? Again. This is a discussion forum. If people do not want to read others views then don't enter threads.

sorry I mistyped your name Elizabeth.

I did read your views and I offered you mine,

but anyway here is the citation and the rest of the article

Understanding Revelation

"How effective was it?

The message of Revelation exists today. It was copied and distributed throughout the known world as directed by God. While many Christians were slaughtered for their faithfulness, Christianity as a whole survived and flourished and is still alive and vibrant today and will, as we are taught in scripture, continue to the end of time. History teaches us that persecution of Christians was no by no means limited to the first century. For thousands of years, Christians have been slain for their faithfulness by those who would force their way of life on others. Even today in some of the Muslim countries a proclamation of faith in the one true and living God is the equivalent of a death sentence.

Many denominations today have their own understanding of Revelation and it becomes painfully obvious rather quickly that they do not all agree. The real meaning of the Revelation was purposefully symbolic and hard to understand when it was written and it's obviously hard today in view of all the many interpretations of it from numerous writers of all times, especially in modern times where we see the emergence of the millennial beliefs and teachings.

What we need to take away from this study is that the Revelation was a message of hope, perseverance and triumph, written to a specific group of people at a specific time in history. The Revelation, being intended for them, was successfully understood by them. It was written in such a way that Jewish Christians of the first century familiar with the Old and New Testament scriptures would be able to understand its meaning.

In Summary

So with that said, we are going to look at the Revelation through the eyes of the first readers. We are going to examine their lives and the conditions under which they lived. We are going to discover and learn what all the figurative language meant to them through a thorough study of the rest of scripture both Old Testament and New. We are, to the best of our ability, going to learn how to look at John's Apocalypse through their eyes and understand it how they did. If we are to understand it correctly today, we must realize that what it meant to them at the time it was written is what it must mean to us today."

David Hersey

here is the church website:
The church of Christ at Granby

and here is the audio sermons from the church on their take on Revelations:

church of Christ Study of Revelation

have fun.

 

[Consumed]

What I get from it is
Don't be lukewarm
Tremble and fear at the consequences at stake
Money and trade is the evil prominent used to bind
Who passes who won't
The promise to each entrant good or bad

That's the message I see and hear without being theological and scholarly.

 

[Elizabeth619]

sorry I mistyped your name Elizabeth.

I did read your views and I offered you mine,

but anyway here is the citation and the rest of the article

Understanding Revelation

"How effective was it?

The message of Revelation exists today. It was copied and distributed throughout the known world as directed by God. While many Christians were slaughtered for their faithfulness, Christianity as a whole survived and flourished and is still alive and vibrant today and will, as we are taught in scripture, continue to the end of time. History teaches us that persecution of Christians was no by no means limited to the first century. For thousands of years, Christians have been slain for their faithfulness by those who would force their way of life on others. Even today in some of the Muslim countries a proclamation of faith in the one true and living God is the equivalent of a death sentence.

Many denominations today have their own understanding of Revelation and it becomes painfully obvious rather quickly that they do not all agree. The real meaning of the Revelation was purposefully symbolic and hard to understand when it was written and it's obviously hard today in view of all the many interpretations of it from numerous writers of all times, especially in modern times where we see the emergence of the millennial beliefs and teachings.

What we need to take away from this study is that the Revelation was a message of hope, perseverance and triumph, written to a specific group of people at a specific time in history. The Revelation, being intended for them, was successfully understood by them. It was written in such a way that Jewish Christians of the first century familiar with the Old and New Testament scriptures would be able to understand its meaning.

In Summary

So with that said, we are going to look at the Revelation through the eyes of the first readers. We are going to examine their lives and the conditions under which they lived. We are going to discover and learn what all the figurative language meant to them through a thorough study of the rest of scripture both Old Testament and New. We are, to the best of our ability, going to learn how to look at John's Apocalypse through their eyes and understand it how they did. If we are to understand it correctly today, we must realize that what it meant to them at the time it was written is what it must mean to us today."

David Hersey

here is the church website:
The church of Christ at Granby

and here is the audio sermons from the church on their take on Revelations:

church of Christ Study of Revelation

have fun.

Thanks! You just took the work away from me. Appreciate it!


Don't worry about the typo. If I had a dollar for everytime I typed something wrong I would be a billionaire!

 

[Digital_Angel_316]

I suggest we / one could have a study on each major section of SEVENS:

* 7 Churches

Below is a quick summary of the Seven Churches. The idea here is not to start a study,
but to show one approach to breaking up and summarizing for further study and
discussion. A list such as the one below would be more complete with a one or two
paragraph worded summary. Feel free to comment. I won't post further.

1. The meaning of the name of the church – the name are actual
geographical places but the characteristics of each is reflect in her
name. Each church is also prophetic in terms of the dispensational
approach.

Ephesus - The desired one full purpose
Smyrna - Myrrh; Offering of Sacrifice
Pergamos - Much Married; Adulterous
Thyatira - Daughter, sacrifice of Labour (?)
Sardis - Remnant (?)
Philadelphia - Brotherly Love
Laodicea - Rule of the people, Judgement

2. The title of Jesus and the revelation of his character is pertinent to each church *.

Ephesus - Who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands
Smyrna - The First and the Last, who died and came back to life again.
Pergamos - Who has the sharp double-edged sword
Thyatira - Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
Sardis - Who holds seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
Philadelphia - Who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. One who opens the door which no one can shut
Laodicea - The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.

3. The commendation of the Church – Their strong points and merits;

Ephesus - Deeds, hard work, perseverance, endured hardship, did not tolerate wicked men
Smyrna - Through affliction and poverty did not leave faith
Pergamos - Held fast to My Name, kept the faith and did not renounce faith
Thyatira - Deeds, love and faith, service and perseverance
Sardis - None given
Philadelphia - Deeds, kept the word, did not deny my name
Laodicea - None given

4. The reproof and rebuke

Ephesus - Forsaken their first love
Smyrna - None given
Pergamos - Teaching of Balaam / Teaching of Nicolaitans
Thyatira - Tolerates Jezebel
Sardis - Dead
Philadelphia - None given
Laodicea - Neither hot nor cold and is lukewarm

5. The exhortation and counsel specific to the condition of the particular church;

Ephesus - Remember your first love / repent and do the things you did first
Smyrna - Be faithful to the point of death
Pergamos - Repent, otherwise I will come and fight against them
Thyatira - Hold on to what you have until I come
Sardis - Remember what you have received and heard; obey it and repent
Philadelphia - Hold on to what you have
Laodicea - Buy from me gold refined in fire so you can be rich; and white clothes to wear,
so you can cover your nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes so that you can see

6. The promise to the “overcomer”

Ephesus - I will give the right to eat from the tree of life which is in the paradise of God.
Smyrna - Will not be hurt at all by the second death.
Pergamos - I will give some of the hidden manna, I will also give him a white stone with a
new name written on it, known only to him who angels it.
Thyatira - I will give him the authority over the nations. I will give him the morning star.
Sardis - They will walk with me, dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the
book of life, but will confess him before my Father and his angels.
Philadelphia - I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave
it. I will write on him the name of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down from
heaven from my God; I will also write to him my new name.
Laodicea - I will grant him the right to sit with me on my throne.

7. The concluding phrase, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit saith to the churches." Which corresponds with the
dispensation of each parable.

Ephesus - Apostolic Period sowing of the seeds till 100 AD
Smyrna - Persecution Period Parable of the Weeds
Pergamos - State Church Period Parable of Mustard Seed
Thyatira - Period of Heresy Parable of the Leaven
Sardis - Reformation Period Parable of the Hidden Treasure
Philadelphia - Missionaary Period Parable of the Great Pearl
Laodicea - End time Apostate Church Period The Parable of the Drag Net

 

[Digital_Angel_316]

7. The concluding phrase, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit saith to the churches." Which corresponds with the
dispensation of each parable.

Ephesus - Apostolic Period sowing of the seeds till 100 AD
Smyrna - Persecution Period Parable of the Weeds
Pergamos - State Church Period Parable of Mustard Seed
Thyatira - Period of Heresy Parable of the Leaven
Sardis - Reformation Period Parable of the Hidden Treasure
Philadelphia - Missionaary Period Parable of the Great Pearl
Laodicea - End time Apostate Church Period The Parable of the Drag Net

* The linking in of the "Kingdom Parables" with the 7 churches is an interesting one.

* This outline showed just one time period, other outlines show time periods or "church
ages" for each church

* Some outlines add a link between 7 letters of Paul to the Seven Churches. Where 1 & 2
Corinthians is one letter/church, and 1 & 2 Thessalonians is counted as one letter/church.

 

[Ramon]

No one can understand Revelation without Revelation. LET HE WHO HAS EARS TO HEAR HEAR!!

And no revelation of the scriptures comes from private interpretation. God's will will be accomplished, no matter how people interpret. The question is, ''Are you ready for his return?''

 

[Digital_Angel_316]

sorry I mistyped your name Elizabeth.

I did read your views and I offered you mine,

but anyway here is the citation and the rest of the article

Understanding Revelation

"How effective was it?


What we need to take away from this study is that the Revelation was a message of hope, perseverance and triumph, written to a specific group of people at a specific time in history. The Revelation, being intended for them, was successfully understood by them. It was written in such a way that Jewish Christians of the first century familiar with the Old and New Testament scriptures would be able to understand its meaning.

here is the church website:
The church of Christ at Granby

and here is the audio sermons from the church on their take on Revelations:

church of Christ Study of Revelation

have fun.

What happens when the wheat won't separate from the Tares? Will wheat look like
tares? Will they all be burned up together? Time to separate -- time to "Come out of her
my people, be not partakers of her sins, and receivers of her plagues ..." Time to get out
of man's McReligion and Churchianity, and come to Jesus, come to THE WAY, come to the
EKKLESIA -- The Called Out Ones" ...

What is a "Christ"? does anyone know? ... Jesus said ... I am THE WAY ... for a reason.

There is a "Christ" and there is The Way. How can a "Christ" procreate into a system that
isn't? It's not real is why. The Church of Christ was founded at the same time, and in the
same place as the Mormons - Upstate New York, which is the National Headquarters for
the Church of Christ to this day. The United Church of Christ has gone further, and is now
a New York Church that is homosexual, and STILL procreates -- no Christ there.

 

[AnandaHya]

What happens when the wheat won't separate from the Tares? Will wheat look like
tares? Will they all be burned up together? Time to separate -- time to "Come out of her
my people, be not partakers of her sins, and receivers of her plagues ..." Time to get out
of man's McReligion and Churchianity, and come to Jesus, come to THE WAY, come to the
EKKLESIA -- The Called Out Ones" ...

What is a "Christ"? does anyone know? ... Jesus said ... I am THE WAY ... for a reason.

There is a "Christ" and there is The Way. How can a "Christ" procreate into a system that
isn't? It's not real is why. The Church of Christ was founded at the same time, and in the
same place as the Mormons - Upstate New York, which is the National Headquarters for
the Church of Christ to this day. The United Church of Christ has gone further, and is now
a New York Church that is homosexual, and STILL procreates -- no Christ there.

well unless you're an angel you don't have to worry about separating wheat from tares, its not your job.

do you know what our job is?

first is to reach maturity in obedience to Christ (i'm still working on that one personally)
and then it is to make disciples out of the nations.

anyway cause I can and I like scriptures here are the ones that come to mind:

2 Peter 1

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Matthew 28
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore[c] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.[d

Hi Elizabeth

I'm listening to the sermons and reading the rest of the articles on the site and will get back to you on the ideas contained in them. I should note though we have quite a few people who would not agree with the premillianism stance of the CoC.

 

[Digital_Angel_316]

well unless you're an angel you don't have to worry about separating wheat from tares, its not your job.

 

[AnandaHya]

lol do i really want to ask you if your believe you are your name are not? mmmmm....

 

[Digital_Angel_316]

well unless you're an angel you don't have to worry about separating wheat from tares, its not your job.

Jeremiah 51:33
For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon is like a
threshingfloor, it is time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall
come.

Joel 3:12-14
12Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I
sit to judge all the heathen round about. 13Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe:
come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the
valley of decision.

Matthew 9:36-38
36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because
they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37Then saith he
unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38Pray ye
therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

John 4:34-36
34Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his
work. 35Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say
unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he
that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

 

[Digital_Angel_316]

lol do i really want to ask you if your believe you are your name are not? mmmmm....

 

[Digital_Angel_316]

 

[Digital_Angel_316]

In researching for another thread relating to Seven Demons / Seven Deadly Sins, I came
across this interesting observation of the SEVEN CHURCHES:


When we begin to look at the seven churches described in the Book of Revelation, we
discover specific demonic strongholds that can be found at church. Let’s take a look at
these spirits.

1) Spirit of Religion (Revelation 2:4–5, 7)
2) Spirit of Intimidation (Revelation 2:10–11)
3) Spirit of Compromise (Revelation 2:12, 14–17)
4) Spirit of Jezebel (Control) (Revelation 2:18-20, 26)
5) Spirit of Traditionalism (Revelation 3:1–6)
6) Spirit of Inferiority (Revelation 3:7–8, 12)
7) Spirit of Pride (Revelation 3:14–17, 21)

Reference (Link): -->> Seven Demons That Attack the Church

Is there any interest in further studying the Seven Churches of Revelation? Will anyone
challenge the lists or tables, ask for verse citations, want to add more categories,
additional observations? Certainly these are not complete in and of themselves, just a
possible framework to start from.

 

[IsraEl999]

The book of Revelation is one of the most interesting yet can be the most confusing books in the bible. Why is this? Well, lil ole me is about to tell you why.
　
Revelation was written to an audience that would know what the message was and understand it the same as they did.
The first readers of John's Revelation were engaged in a life and death struggle against the forces of evil who were committed to their annihilation. Backing up and looking at this great book from a distance reveals that it is obviously a book of encouragement, perseverance and hope to an oppressed people. the general theme of the book is the bad guys lose and the good guys win. The book paints very vivid and horrific pictures of the fate that awaits the bad guys while likewise portrays the joy and happiness that rewards the good guys. Time and again, we are taken on a rollercoaster ride through the book with numerous scenes of God's wrath on His enemies and then His blessings and vengeful protection of his faithful children who are assured time and again that they will be victorious in the end and their enemies will suffer His eternal wrath.

The type of language used to write the Revelation is called "Apocalyptic". This word comes from the Greek word apokalupto (ap-ok-al-oop'-to), and simply means a "revealing" or to "reveal". This is where we get the word "Revelation". The book of Revelation is certainly not the only time God used this kind of language. The books of Daniel, Zechariah and others are instances where God used this kind of language in order to "reveal" what He wished to communicate. The words used in this kind of language have a symbolic meaning in the minds of the readers of the letter. For instance the word "Horn" is used in both Revelation and Daniel. To the Jews, the horn was an emblem of power (1 Kings 22:11). Samuel wrote, "and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed" (1 Samuel 2:10). David wrote, "But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn" (Psalms 92:10). The Jewish Christians who had converted from Judaism would be familiar with this and when they heard the word "horn" they would associate it with "strength and power" in their minds. So we see that the many words used as symbols in the Revelation have significant meanings to the people who would first read the letter. The symbolic meaning of the word "horn" would not be easily known to anybody who was not familiar with the Old Testament scriptures so those reading the letter would not be able to understand what it meant to the first readers of the letter. To you and I, a horn simply means the horn on some kind of animal like a rhinoceros or a water buffalo. So if we are to understand the Revelation, we must learn what the symbolic language contained therein meant to a particular group of the people who read the letter in the first century.

Why was this book written the way it was?
Language is symbolized in order to conceal it's meaning to all but to whom it is intended. The Christians at the time Revelation was written were undergoing severe persecution from their enemies. Just about everybody that was not a Christian was their enemy. Their enemies were viciously brutal and their lives hung in the balance on a daily basis. It was a crime against the laws of the government under which they lived to even be a Christian and the penalty for transgressing this law was often death.

In the book of Revelation, the Christians are told they will be victorious in the end and their enemies will be crushed in defeat. They are also told by God not to give in to their enemies and worship who they want them to worship, but to worship God and only God. The persecuting powers under which the Christians were living wanted them to give up the one true and living God and worship their false god. Along comes a letter from one of the most beloved leaders of the Christians telling them just the opposite and in addition to this, it spells out in detail the downfall, destruction and ultimate fate of their enemies. One must ask, what would have been the consequences faced by the Christians if this letter fell into the hands of the authorities and they could understand it? The persecution of the Christians would have become worse and all copies of the letter would have been denied to them. The authorities who were oppressing the Christians don't want them to have any hope. They wanted them to give in and worship who they wanted them to worship. John's message of hope, perseverance and victory would have been rounded up and destroyed before it was copied and distributed all across the known world. One could only imagine how horrible it would have been for a Christian to be found in possession of such a letter.

The Revelation had to be copied and distributed freely across the known world in order for it to be effective. In order for this to happen, it's meaning could not be easily understood by the oppressing authorities of the time. So with that in mind, the message of Revelation was "symbolized" or "signified" as we see it in the very first verse of the book so that its true message was revealed in such a way that it could only be understood by those to whom it was intended. How did God do this? By using language that meant things only a Christian with knowledge of and access to the rest of scripture could possibly know
Someone who was not a Christian, who had never studied the scriptures, whether old or new, would never understand the message of Revelation. To them it would be a meaningless mass of nonsensical writing that only confirmed in their minds that the Christians were a bunch of loony fanatics who followed after a mystical and hard to understand God that posed no real threat to them and their way of life. The Christians were given a message of hope, perseverance and ultimate victory over their enemies that only they could understand and that would not bring any added persecution to them because of it.


BTW, I pasted this from a church website. I find it to be correct in my eyes. Plus, it has better sentence structure than I would have if I wronte all this.

Good evening would you like to discuss The Book Of Revelation ?

 

[IsraEl999]

The Book of Revelation is the most misinterpreted book of the Bible . Many scholars of all ( Deominations ) have come , professing to know the real hidden meaning in the prophetical words of this text and many have attempted to explain their interpretation by way of the ( English ) translation of it , but < But You Can't Get The Meaning Of A Book In ( One Language By Interpreting It In Another Language > . So This Only Makes What Is Not Evident Even Further From What Is True . Because of their Egos , these scholars continue in their attempts to reveal and make clear the truth that they will never succeed in accomplishing . Their only accomplishment is in leading the sincere knowledge seeker off the path from the light into the darkness . A Word Of Warning To Anyone Who Feels That He / She May Be Competent Enough To Even Attempt To Interpret The Words Of Yahuwa can be found within the Book of Revelation .

( The Evangel , Revelation ) 22 Chapters Of The Prophet / Messiah Jesus 22 ; 18 - 19 [ Revealed 96 A.D. } , And I Quote ; For Surely I Bear Witness To All Who Hear The Words Of This Prophecy In This Scroll . If Anyone Adds Unto These Things , So Yahuwa Will Add Unto Him The Plagues Of The Things Written In This Book , And If Anyone Takes Away From The Words Of The Scroll Of This Prophecy , Yahuwa Will Drop His Share From The Scroll Of Life And From The Holy City , And From What Is Written In This Scroll .

Yahuwa has placed a seal thereof , to protect this book from those glory seekers who wish to misguide the unlearned . Yahuwa chooses whom He wills to receive divine Knowledge and Wisdom and only He can decide when this Wisdom will be disclosed .

 

[Digital_Angel_316]

The Book of Revelation is the most misinterpreted book of
the Bible . Many scholars of all ( Deominations ) have come , professing to know
the real hidden meaning ...

( The Evangel , Revelation ) 22 Chapters Of The Prophet / Messiah Jesus 22 ;
18 - 19 [ Revealed 96 A.D. } , And I Quote ; For Surely I Bear Witness To All
Who Hear The Words Of This Prophecy In This Scroll . If Anyone Adds Unto
These Things , So Yahuwa Will Add Unto Him The Plagues Of The Things
Written In This Book , And If Anyone Takes Away From The Words Of The
Scroll Of This Prophecy , Yahuwa Will Drop His Share From The Scroll Of Life
And From The Holy City , And From What Is Written In This Scroll .

Yahuwa has placed a seal thereof , to protect this book from those glory seekers
who wish to misguide the unlearned . Yahuwa chooses whom He wills to receive
divine Knowledge and Wisdom and only He can decide when this Wisdom will be
disclosed .

* In a very simplistic sense, the 'seal' is based on one of two things - 1) Ignorance, or 2)
Arrogance. 1) We can neither ignore or pretend or guess or give mere opinion. 2) We
cannot use scripture or an office or station to empower ourselves, either by pride or other
gain, but only for the glory of God, and in and for the sake of Jesus.

* Feel free to respond to any of the posts thus far, or to elaborate on the Study of the
Seven Churches of Revelation. Feel free to refer to the original language(s) and elaborate
on the references used in the scripture. Some Greek references are used below:

Missler says:

Epheses: ..... The Desired One
Smyrna: ...... Myrrh; Death
Pergamos: ... Mixed Marriage
Thyatira: ..... Semiramis
Sardis:.......... Remnant
Philadelphia: Brotherly Love
Laodicea:..... People Rule

But Strong's says:

Ephesus = "permitted" Blue Letter Bible - Lexicon...

Smyrna = "myrrh" (no mention of "death") Blue Letter Bible - Lexicon...

Pergamos = "height or elevation" Blue Letter Bible - Lexicon...

Thyatira = "odour of affliction" Blue Letter Bible - Lexicon...

Sardis = "red ones" Blue Letter Bible - Lexicon...

Philadelphia = "brotherly love" Blue Letter Bible - Lexicon...

Laodicea = "justice of the people" Blue Letter Bible - Lexicon...

 

[AnandaHya]

lol haha you know that the church of God and church of Christ have two radically different doctrines?

I'm half way through the revelations lecture series posted. its interesting. very practical.

does the church of christ believe in the existence of angels and demons?

 

[Elizabeth619]

lol haha you know that the church of God and church of Christ have two radically different doctrines?

I'm half way through the revelations lecture series posted. its interesting. very practical.

does the church of christ believe in the existence of angels and demons?

Uhhhhh, yeah we do.