korsgren

We learn that the church is under persecution and that there is more to come. The souls are under the altar which indicates that they are in the very throne room of God, a sacrifice to Him. They are given great honomur. They were killed because of the word of God and the testimoney that they maintained. Threy ask for vengeance for theier blood, that they were killed unjustly. Is this a Christian prayer? Help! Well they were Christians and they prayed it and God did not reprimand them fo it He just told them to wait a little longer which seems to signify that they will get what they ask for in the end. But they must wait, leading to the next part of the question. More will be matyred which indicates that the witness and the preaching of the word must continue awhile longer also giving more people on whom God otherwise would exact revenge, chance to be saved. It reveal Gods heart to save, to forgive to give time for more to be saved at the same time as he is just and will one day exact judgement. Thats as far as I

It is the lamb that initiates the storm of destruction, Jesus himself. It appears to be directed on all of the earth, men, probably unbelievers although I don

Signicance that they are on the same standing, one is not higher that the other, they are one. From this we can see that they are in perfect relationship to each other no competion, the one lifts up the other and gives glorry to the other, they are in perfect union. We are invited into this perfect relationship in worship.

"But you are a chosen people aroyal priesthood a holy nation apeople belonging to God that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful ligth" 1 Pet.2v9 I must admit that I

He was slain, he was the perfect sacrifice, a lamb without blemish or defect. He purchased man f

Lots of good stuff already written. Again I have read this question reflecting upon it also as a worship leader and songwriter in my church. How can we ever do him justice!

Living in Sweden, I don

The churches are praised for: faithfulness, love, faith, good deeds, service, perserverance, holiness, patient endurance. They are criticised for: Unfaithfulness, abondoning thier first love, compromise, incomplte deeds, spiritual apathy, complacency, nominal religion. They are exhorted to: repent, remember, be faithful, not to fear suffering, hold on to the truth, hold on to what they have, endure, obey, e earnest, not to compromise, do good, love. All this is possible because of who Jesus is. He who walks among the lampstands, sees our eeds, is able to keep us from falling. He who is faithful holy and true, the first, the last, who died and who lives forvever. He who is the double edged sword the word that reveals sin and truth. He who holds creation and all its rulers in his hands, the faithful witness who holds the keys to heaven and hell. He who ultimately is in charge. If we fear him we need fear no one else. If we are set apart for him and truely love him, forsaking all others then he will work all for things for our God. He will save us now and ultimately reward us. Again I think it is alesson in holiness and the fear of the Lord, to wake up and be once more the holy people set aside to Gods glory. Or for those who are living this and suffering for it to take heart for though in this world we will have trouble Jesus has overcome the world and we can overcome with him. Knowing all this lets not forget to pray for the church and for the nations in this time.

I am continuing to think about holiness, being set apart for God, the fear of the Lord and our part in the new covenant. I think we

Thank you once again your answer has been a blessing to me! It is something that has been striking me more and more as I read revelation - holinesss - being set aside, a holy people concecrated to God.

I think a large part of the church has pulled back from addressing the issues och sexuality and purity and itself conformed to the reingning cultural norms. In the country whre I live it is even to the extent that much of the church itself condemns those who speak out in favour of Biblical values. I have really been thinking about how this is destructive for Christian faith and withness. Of course that the church is not united is a problem in itself but how do our sexual practises effect our witness? I have been reminded about holiness - being set apart. That God chose a people for himself and set them apart from other peoples. He made a covenant with them and promised to be thier God. A covenant that we became a part of truogh Jesus, the new covenant. That we too are made a holy people, a kingdom of priests to serve our God. In what way can the world see who God is through his people today? How are we holy to God set apart for his glory? How to we keep ourselves back from cheaper jewels because we know a greater treasure? Thats what I

That sounds like a good witness and I also think we really need to pray! Thanks!

I was moved by your answer mayb it was the humility in which you write. Yes I guess humility is important in getting back our first love. Thanks!

I think alocal congregation can lose its first love when other loves crowd it out, alonging for other things. Maybe we change our values, adjust to the life that became instead of the life we longed for. Maybe we get disappointed that what we expected didn

Thank you for your honesty and openness, I can recognise myself in what you say and was encouraged by it! Judkor

Thank you for your answer about Jesus being the reliable witness it really helped me. Judkor

I though about that with Jesus beingthe light on the lampstands too. It just struck me now when I read the passage that the churches are the lampstand, not the lamp. Jesus says to his disciples that they should let teir light shine so that all can see, put it on the lampstand so that everyone can see it. Maybe then the light is actually talking about thier tesstimoney, witness of Jesus. I see significance in Jesus being among the lampstands in two ways, relationship and authority, responsibility. It a picture of the exalted, triumfant jesus thant stands among the lampstands in authority over the church, the head, responsible for the church just as the church is accountable to Jesus.

I though about that with Jesus beingthe light on the lampstands too. It just struck me now when I read the passage that the churches are the lampstand, not the lamp. Jesus says to his disciples that they should let teir light shine so that all can see, put it on the lampstand so that everyone can see it. Maybe then the light is actually talking about thier tesstimoney, witness of Jesus. I see significance in Jesus being among the lampstands in two ways, relationship and authority, responsibility. It a picture of the exalted, triumfant jesus thant stands among the lampstands in authority over the church, the head, responsible for the church just as the church is accountable to Jesus.

I think its important that Jesus doesn

The countries I am most aware of at the moment are places in Northern Africa such as Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, these countries are also experiences a move of Godf where many muslims are converting having received revelation of Jesus. Inspite of the risk of life these new converts cannot stop witnessing about Jesus. Eastern Africa, Somlia, Ethiopia and Eritrea., Asia - Pakistan, India. Turkey - where three christian recently became the first modern matyrs in Smyrna - interstingly enough one of the churches in Revelation. The wife of one of the men who was cruelly tortured and killed after invited seemingly interested muslim men to Bibel study, spoke out forgiveness and prayed forthe torturers salvation. I think revelation is very relevant to the persecuted church and to us as we pray and interced for the nations and the fulfillment of the great comission. It seems that those who find God keeping them from fear in face of persecution are those who hold on and grasp the vision of Jesus revealed in revelation, the truth of Gods glory, power and kingdom now and to come.

I too wonder how we can tell when the father is speaking and when it is the son. The same and similar words are used to describe both speakers reavealing that they are understood as being equal to each other. The difference being that in the latter passages the speaker describes himself as having been dead but now is alive, wheras the speaker ascribed as the father says he has always existed.

I think that it is only as we grasp the greatness of our testimoney, who Jesus is, what is he made pssoible and what he does in our livet that we are able to stand up to persecution. As far as I understand from christian living in for example Algeria and Tunisia they cannot stop talking about Jesus because of who he is, even if it means persecution or death. AS we testigy, listen to testinoney and witness we are reminded of our faith and this gives us reason and hope to stand up to persecution. I am reminded of Hebrews 12 and the crowd of witnesses there. Those who have gone before and stand both as an example,a remonder and a corwd of supporters chearing us on, "come on, don