£XpLaiNing ReVeLaTion 15 1-8

        WeeKly BooK oF Revelation

                paraphrased study

1 - Then I (John) saw another sign [sémeion - sign, miracle, indication, mark, token] (letting things run their course is a definite signifier, signpost, summary of unbreakable truth, nicknamed rod/measure of iron, sign/signature) in heaven, great and wonderful (truth that life hAs to be “perfect” because God iS life, and “is perfect” Mt.5:58; sign/signature) seven angels with seven plagues [plégé - blow, stripe, wound, affliction, plague] which are the last (effects, pinpointing cause) for with them the wrath of God is finished. [Ps.90:3, 5-7 (the ‘wrath’) — “You return man to dust and say, ‘Return, O children of man!’ ..5 You sweep them away as with a flood, they are like a dream, like grass that springs up in the morning, 6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed, in the evening it fades and withers. 7 For we are brought to an end by your anger. By your wrath (cause & effect?) we are dismayed.” (Dust to dust, Ro.6:23 - the wages/result of “hamartia” - “missing the mark”.)]

     2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass as mingled with fire (life as we presently know it..? imperfect, an abyss of potential) and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and wonderful are your works [érgon - from ergō - to work, accomplish] O LORD God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! 4 Who will not fear/revere, O LORD, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” [Ro.3:4 “..as it has been written about God, "That You (God) may be justified in YOUR words, and will prevail in Your being judged."]

     5 After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tabernacle/tent of witness/testimony in the heavens was opened (this always makes me think of the split atom). 6 And out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven (final) plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. 7 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath (final results of “seven thunders”?) of God who lives forever and ever, 8 and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed. [[Teleó - to bring to an end, complete, fulfill; from télos - consummation, completion, this root (tel-) means "reaching the end (aim)." It is well-illustrated with the old pirate's telescope, unfolding (extending out) one stage at a time to function at full-strength/ultimately full scope]] - (Examples, 70 CE, smaller scope, history’s consummation, full scope. Jesus’ first so brief advent, smaller scope, and long, second advent, full scope).

                         ~*~

🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, facts, cross references, etc.

      (  ) - thots

See Intro - This Year’s Revelation Study

              All 📜🍞+🍷🕊️(+Logic)

Logic of things allowed to run their course..

The Kingdom of Peace

 ☀️🌷🦅 This morning I read Psalm 65, in the Contemporary English Version, and then I asked our father “is that a vision of how the kingdom will be?” Then I saw a red headed woodpecker, which I haven’t seen one for at least two years. Call me silly but I took that to be a yes.  Saw a hummingbird too.

     “The kingdom”. News folks can get their teeth into. Contributes to a good, solid pair of boots, standing on The Rock of Truth. The bible is a simple story.. of what it is God is doing and how. But most importantly why. And of what it is God is creating.. A sort of paradox being, how do you create genuinely able to think and reason beings (angelos and anthropos) aNd keep paradise/perfection intact? The ‘problem’ being thinking includes at least some power of choice.

     Logically, it seems to me, there are two opposite options(?) A Total Ant Farm, no thinking beings thus no choices other than God’s all knowing choices, ever. Or what is needed? Is Total Herd Immunity.. From straying which is to become imperfect - this world and lifetime as the all important contrast, a ‘parable’ of the decomposing ‘apple’ and the worm that does noT quit. As straying from God and His will can never work, because He is Life, and he “is perfect” Mt.5:48. So imperfect - hamartia - “missing the mark” translated sin, results in the exact opposite of Life. And is an abyss of potential.

    Which “perfect” is Great News indeed! Life hAs to be perfect. And the ‘end’ result of all this, can only be the utter, best one possible.

     “End” in the New Testament is translated from “tel/telos” which more closely means “end-aim”. And(!) I read in a commentary, some time ago, how that little word also portrays how prophecy, and I add the kingdom of peace, progresses. “Tel” being the root of “telescope”. That all is fulfilled in widening “scopes” until reaching full scope. Or, like widening ripples of a pond until teaching full pond. (Think the advents of the Lord.)

     When we realize lake of fire is not a ‘place’ but event, and is far from being anything neverending.. We can more clearly see the kingdom - of peace. Misunderstanding lake of fire is hiding a lot of Glory.

     Surely during the Lord’s long second advent, he will do the same works he did during his brief first one! A wider pond ripple.. Until he has indeed, “drawn all” (Jn.12:32). But this time with helpers, serving, called reigning. For surely(?) to do his works is to reign.

     I think right now, we are still at Rev.7:1,3 - and - 9,4. We are being “sealed” (heart and) mind. The importance of that “sealing up” being revealed in the parable of the ten bridesmaids - Mt.25:1-13. What is the door in the parable to?