Revelation a book we find hardest to read, hard to understand ,Revelation a book misused by many a crackpot, and shied away from as hard work by many of us students of the bible.
I think this is enjoyed by the enemy, The enemy likes this because is explains who he is, and who jesus is, whats happening since he left us, and whats going to happen . Its taking us behind the scenes, and showing us the active God we worship hard at work on our behalf. The less we know about what Jesus and the enemy are up too the more he likes it. Its up to us to work to find out.
Written by the apostle john on the Greek island of patmos where he was imprisoned, and given to him by an angel. Its as close as the bible gets to the quran in that respect, this book isn’t divinely inspired its dictated, first by Jesus to an angel and then by the angel to John.
It is not however a standalone book that isn’t intertwined with the rest of our bible, in fact its more cross referenced than most.
that out of 404 verses in revelation there are 400 allusions to the Old Testament? Here was a man who was steeped in his Bible, and that was where his mind was. He quotes the Bible as often as he writes a sentence in this, packing in the scriptures. Twenty-four out of thirty-nine books in the Old Testament are referred to in this one book of Revelation.
In places it needs to be taken literally, in more places it is a book of symbols. Some say this is john being discrete in his prison cell. Trying not to be persecuted further for his faith in Jesus.
That persecution is very important when reading revelation. This is one key thing that we do not possess to open this book: most of us do not suffer persecution. When you suffer for the faith you will understand this book better. It was written for those who are going through it. For instance, when early Christians read this they would have no problem with seeing the Antichrist working through a totalitarian government. Its very clear when read like this that this book is for the persecuted wondering where is God.
The other thing the book of Revelation says come behind the curtains, come behind the scenes, and you will see what is going to happen to world powers. Want to know what heaven looks like, what Jesus is up to, where its all going, Revelation.
In todays reading its showing us behind the curtain, whats coming next,
The passage begins After this I looked, and there in heaven a door stood open! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’ 2 At once I was in the spirit,[a] and there in heaven stood a throne, with one seated on the throne.
or come see whats really happening behind the door. However there are bits we get confused by such as here I think are the animals.
Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with a face like a human face, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing.
so for us we just think this something really odd, but for jews at the time who heard the old testament every day of their lives they would have immediately recognised Ezekial describing angels , cherubim in fact.
Because in Ezekiel 10 we have four living creatures: a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle; we have a throne; we have fire; we have many eyes, and a rainbow — so clearly it is the same picture. “ And I quote When the cherubim moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the cherubim spread their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not leave their side. 17 When the cherubim stood still, they also stood still; and when the cherubim rose, they rose with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in them.
Makes perfect sense, Jesus favourite prophet spoke about it, revelations show us these things coming true and when.
So today’s homily is about the fear we have of revelation, don’t be afraid, get a good book that can help with the cross references, and find out whats to come, whats happening right now in heaven, what is God up to behind the curtain. Its Jesus words given to an angel and then given to John, so really important.~
Don’t fall for all the 666 stuff, and the crackpots, its perfectly understandable, a little densely worded, but if you get a good guide, its brilliant stuff, and the direct word of God
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