alpha1
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Posts posted by alpha1
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Q3. (15:3-4) We see singing and praise in heaven before the throne a number of times in Revelation (4:8, 11; 5:9-10, 12-13; 7:12; 11:17-18; 15:3-4; 19:1-3). What do you learn about appropriate worship from studying these songs? Do you recognize any contemporary songs that seem similar to these?
Praising the Lord through music often seems to make the presence of the Holy Spirit more palpable.
Holy Holy Holy Rev. 4-8
All Glory, Laud and Honour Rev. 4:11, 5:12-13
Washed in the Blood of My Redeemer Rev. 5:9-10
The Lord's Prayer (sung) Rev. 7:12
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow (Doxology) Rev. 11:17-18
How Great Thou Art Rev. 15:3-4
Handel's Hallelujah Chorus Rev. 19:1-3
Plus: Joyful Joyful! We Adore Thee, Ode to Joy
and many more
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Q3. Revelation 12:11 could be considered a theme verse for the book. What does it mean? Who is overcome? In what sense do we have victory if we die in the process? What does the "blood of the Lamb" have to do with this? How does loving our lives prevent spiritual victory today? (See Luke 14:25-27; Matthew 10:37-39.)
Satan is overcome. Victory is achieved by our being welcomed by God's embrace. The "blood of the Lamb" is that spilled by Jesus when he died to remove our sins, so that we can be forgiven and accepted despite our flaws, weaknesses and transgressions. This forgiveness is not deserved, but given by the Grace of God.
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Q2. (12:1-17) The vision of the woman and the dragon are heavily symbolic, but comprehensible when you take care to understand. In your own words, what does this vision tell us about the cosmic battle in Jesus' day and in our own? What comfort should we disciples draw from this passage?
The battle between good and evil has raged in Heaven and on Earth since Genesis and continues today. The comfort we may draw is that, in the end, Jesus will win.
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Courageous, faithful
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Q3. Revelation 12:11 could be considered a theme verse for the book. What does it mean? Who is overcome? In what sense do we have victory if we die in the process? What does the "blood of the Lamb" have to do with this? How does loving our lives prevent spiritual victory today? (See Luke 14:25-27; Matthew 10:37-39.)
It is through the blood shed by Jesus that we can become forgiven and saved (i.e. spiritual victory today, or at any time), by the Grace of God.
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Q2. (12:1-17) The vision of the woman and the dragon are heavily symbolic, but comprehensible when you take care to understand. In your own words, what does this vision tell us about the cosmic battle in Jesus' day and in our own? What comfort should we disciples draw from this passage?
I think that the woman represents Mary, the mother of Jesus. I think the simple comfort we should draw from this, as from the whole book of Revelation, is a simple message: "Jesus wins!"
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Q1. (11:3-12 ) Interpreters disagree upon the identity of the Two Witnesses, but they are certainly strong and brave. What positive characteristics do you see in their actions that we should emulate in our day? What is their reward?
They were faithful and steadfast, continuing to proclaim the Truth, as should we. They did not fear the evil that grips the world.
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The realization that God and Jesus will win in the end, that evil will be banished forever is sweet.
It is human nature to reject what we do not understand, and has been for all time. Even in scientific circles, a new discovery, theory, etc. is usually rejected and ridiculed when first announced. It often takes years for a new idea to be accepted.
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Q4. (Revelation 7:9-18). From this passage what do we learn about the kind of people who make up the "great multitude" before the throne? Let's not debate whether they are the 144,000 or not. But what is their origin? What does their spirit within them cause them to do? What does the first verse of the song "Amazing Grace" have to do with 7:14?
The origin of the great multitude is all nations, languages and tribes. Their spirit causes them to worship and praise God.
First of "Amazing Grace"----------------------------------------- Rev. 7:14
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound-------------------------And he said,
That saved a wretch like me!----------------------------------"These are they who have come out of the great tribulation;
I once was lost, but now am found;----------------------------they have washed their robes and made them white
Was blind, but now I see.--------------------------------------- in the blood of the Lamb.
The "wretch like me" is one of those who have come out of the" great tribulation" and whose sins have been forgiven by the Grace of God, thanks to the blood shed by Jesus on the cross.
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We learn that God will not destroy the world and all its people without saving the righteous. The seal is meant to mark those who abhor the evil practices, and who are faithful to God and his commandments, and who repent of their failure to do so, and are still saved by God's grace because of Jesus' sacrifice on behalf of us all.
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The "souls" are with Jesus, as signified by their proximity to the alter. They were killed because they refused to renounce their Christianity. They want Justice (though even they may not understand what that might be). The white robe probably signifies purity and faithfulness. "Wait a linger longer" means that the end is some time in the future.
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Q1. (Revelation 6) Who initiates this great storm of destruction represented by the Seven Seals? Against whom is it directed? Is it just?
God (Jesus) initiates the storm of destruction against the world, but in particular those who ignore the teachings of Jesus. God is just, although we may not be able to fathom His justice.
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God the Father, Jesus the Son, (and the Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit) are one and the same. There is only ONE God, though He has different representations. We usually pray to God, and ask for His intercession in the Name of Jesus. Nevertheless, when we pray to one, we pray to them all (or to God, the only God).
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I interpret our reigning as representing God on earth, and serving others. We can act as priests by spreading the Gospel.
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Because He was slain, and with His blood He purchased the souls of men for God for men of all tribes and nations. It is noteworthy as Jesus was the only man who ever lived who was found worthy to open the seals on the scrolls.
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The lists already posted include all the items that I was able to discover (plus several more that I did not think of). The theme repeated in several different ways is Praise to and adoration/worship of our Lord. A key feature of the imagery is the sheer Joy of the worshippers.
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1. Holy, Holy, Holy
2. Joyful, Joyful, we adore Thee
3. Onward Christian Soldiers
4 . Amazing Grace
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Q5. Summarize the lessons of this chapter. What are the churches criticized for? What are they praised for? How should these observations shape the twenty-first century Church?
The churches are praised for their good deeds, and for their faithfulness in the face of persecution and adversity (where this applies). They are criticized for apathy, and even more so for allowing their moral standards and convictions to be compromised by the "accepted" practices of the societies in which they live. Our churches need to continually examine their behaviour. Revelation can provide insight into our weaknesses and give guidance as to how we might more faithfully follow the word and will of God/Jesus.
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Although it is easy to just sit back and do nothing, another factor is the sense of hopelessness. For example, we despair of the problems created by drug addiction, the crime and suffering it creates, the inability of law enforcement and judicial systems to make any effective progress in stemming the tide of the addiction among our outh. Or the problems of AIDS everywhere, but especially in Africa. We often think that as individuals, we cannot do anything significant to change the situation.
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Q3. Why do you think the religious compromise required by participating in heathen religious practices in the trade guilds was so spiritually destructive? What compromises do twenty-first century Christians struggle with? Let's not settle for trite legalisms about drinking and smoking. What are the real compromises that dilute vital Christianity?
Any time we succumb to the pressures to compromise our moral standards, our faith is weakened. The most insideous of these compromises are the very little things (e.g. the "white lie", keeping the extra change when a clerk makes an error in our favour, claiming a questionable deduction on our Income Tax Return, etc). These lead to guilt, which tends to separate us spiritually from God, and to rationalize bigger transgressions.
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The loosening of standards to conform to the prevailing morals of the culture is not limited to sexual standards. The pressures of today pose challenges to Christians. The media must accept some of the blame. It is only 50 years ago or less when the media at least tried to promote moral behaviour. Today, it seems that Christian ethics and morality are protrayed as "old fashioned", and not really relevant or even desirable. While many Christians do try to follow the morality of Jesus, too many of us fail to speak up when these values are flaunted. Those who do dare to do so are all too often subjected to ridicule and criticism.
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A local congregation loses its "first love" when its focus is on the administrative and bureaucracy rather than on prayer, worship, spreading the gospel, demonstrating love and compassion for each other and the community at large
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I interpret this as confirmation that Jesus is the head of the Church. God, through Jesus and the Holy Spirit, is the source of all good works, miracles and teaching in all denominations of Christianity.
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I am not really sure of the significance, in particular: "out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword". I have difficulty in understanding this image, though the remainder of the passage is clear enough to me.
Q4. Living in Babylon
in #6. Alas, Babylon! (Rev 14-18)
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Jesus set the standard for all Christians to be "in the world but not of the world". The are many modern Christians who seem to have the gift of being able to come close to living up to the standard (Mother Theresa is one know throughout the world). In our own community, we have Ministers who work with "Street People", drug addicts, prisoners, etc. giving unconditional love to those they serve. Not many of us are able to live such lives.
I think that the command "come out..." might apply to any of us who find the pressure to do something we know to be wrong to be so great that the only way to prevent our succumbing to that pressure may be to extricate ourselves from the situation. In some cases, this could mean quitting a job where the company/organization is corrupt or practising and encouraging unethical or immoral behaviour.