Revelation- we are to read, understand and keep.
We will be blessed.
Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Rev 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
The Lamb- Christ, who alone is worthy to open the seals, opens one of the seals. As the seal was opened, John heard something like the noise of thunder. One of the four beasts (Remember-
Rev 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
Rev 4:7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Rev 4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, )
One of these beasts spoke and said- "Come and see."
John then saw-
Rev 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
A white horse- pure, righteous. A method of movement, of traveling. There was a rider upon this horse- a rider directs the horse they sit upon. The rider is in control of where the horse goes. This white horse rider had a bow. What is a bow used for? A bow is a part of a weapon- it can be used to hunt for food, it can also be used for protecting oneself, or others again dangers (human or animal). Not only does this rider of the white horse have a bow, there was also a crown upon this rider- a crown given to him, not a crown stolen. This rider had a symbol of power, of honor given to him by someone with the authority to bestow crowns. Upon this white horse the crowned rider with his bow went forth conquering… and to conquer.
If, as with the seven churches we've already studied a bit, these seven seals represent a bigger picture of things to come - from the time given to the end of time when Christ returns- then surely this rider must represent the first era of the church, and perhaps the church - the followers of Christ through all time.
The only righteousness any of us can live our lives with in whatever capacity, in whatever situation is the righteousness of Christ- not our own, we have none. Our righteousness is as a filthy rag, and only Christ's pure righteousness matters in our lives. The pure truth of Christ's righteousness was to go forth- the gospel was to be taken to all the world, carried by Christ's followers. Christ's followers given all they need to conquer deceivers, liars, false truths, false religions. This rider goes forth to conquer and is conquering. For the truth to prevail it had to continue to exist and continue to be shared and believed from generation to generation.
Rev 6:3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
John then saw the Lamb open the second seal and the second of the four beasts spoke- "Come and see." And so John, went where he was directed and looked- this is what he saw--
Rev 6:4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
This time the horse he saw was red, no longer white- not the same horse or rider. Things had changed. At first in history after the new gospel, the truths given to the church, were proclaimed they held a form of purity but that wasn't to last. History proves that into the truth being proclaimed under the name of Christ was perfect truth until deception mingled with truth, corrupting it so that the proclaimed Christ followers were no longer true followers but rather a truth perverted group who went under the name of Christ followers, but it was a lie. This rider went forth, the gospel continued on, and yet there was no longer true peace being given, but lies to the point of murdering each other. This rider had a great sword- a powerful sword that would cut down many. This rider had authority to wield the sword and history proves that as civil powers intruded upon the religious power they killed those that did not go along with their perversion of the pure truth.
Rev 6:5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
The third of the four beasts called to John, "Come and see." John went to him and looked- seeing… a black horse. A horse DARKER than the red horse. The corruption of the church complete in blotting out the purity being spread by the first church. In the hands of this rider were a pair of balances. No bow, no sword, this weapon was of a different sort.
Rev 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
A voice came from the middle of the four beasts and spoke as John witnessed the black horse and its balance carrying rider. Money for wheat, money for barley- don't hurt the oil or the wine. This period for Christ followers was so evil, so corrupted that the church that was supposed to be pure was the farthest it could get in all its practices. In controlling the ingredients for bread with monetary interests they made the written word of God obscure keeping it from the people, keeping the true bread from those that needed it to continue with the spreading of the gospel. The oil- the Holy Spirit and the wine- the knowledge of Christ blood shed was not hidden away- these truths kept a portion of God's true witness in existence as evil had its way among the masses.
Rev 6:7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
The Lamb opened the fourth of the seven seals and the voice of the fourth beast called to John, "Come and see." John went and looked--
Rev 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
This horse, didn't have a color- what kind of color is pale? It's not white, it's not a pale…color, such as a pale brown, it is simply pale. When we think of something be pale we think of it lacking the color it was perhaps intended to have. If I look pale to someone I may appear off color- even sickly. Having a fair complexion is not the same as a pale complexion- pale denotes off color especially if there is no color at all associated with the term. A pale yellow flower could be a gorgeous flower if it is meant to be that color, but a pale flower would simply indicate the flower isn't the rich color it was intended to be. This pale horse is a sickly horse, is it any wonder that the rider upon the horse was called Death, and that another followed Death and it was the Grave. Power was given to these in control of the corrupted church in this time- power over a fourth of the earth to kill by swords, hunger, with death of any means, and by beasts. Such power this church held, we know of only one church with the long corrupt history of which it is known to implement death for those not in line with their ways. Look at history! We are told to read, and to understand, to keep these things, the truth!
More on all of this tomorrow by the grace of God! May the Holy Spirit of truth enlighten us! May the scale on our eyes hiding truth to us because we prefer the soothing lies told to us fall from our vision and may we SEE only truth! Cunningly devised fables will be the ruin of so many! The fables are so cunningly made up they will be followed by all but the very elect, all but the few who can find the narrow way. We long to be numbered among those who are found to have faith when our Savior returns, we would be those with oil in our lamps and extra oil to add to our lamps when we are woken up from our spiritual sleep. Please, Lord we would be KNOWN by You! We do not want to be among those following a false Christ, thinking we are following You. We do not want to be deceived! Speak to our hearts, enlighten our minds only with Your truth! Let us hold fast to the faith without wavering! May YOU be all we need! Your righteousness ours as YOU live in us, us having the mind of You! Please, Lord we would be YOURS! Please! Please! We believe! Help THOU our unbelief! All through the glory, the honor, the praise and the thanksgiving of our God, our Father in heaven and our Lord, Jesus Christ! In the Holy Spirit!
Amen!
2Pe 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
2Pe 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
2Pe 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
We will be blessed.
Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Rev 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
The Lamb- Christ, who alone is worthy to open the seals, opens one of the seals. As the seal was opened, John heard something like the noise of thunder. One of the four beasts (Remember-
Rev 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
Rev 4:7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Rev 4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, )
One of these beasts spoke and said- "Come and see."
John then saw-
Rev 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
A white horse- pure, righteous. A method of movement, of traveling. There was a rider upon this horse- a rider directs the horse they sit upon. The rider is in control of where the horse goes. This white horse rider had a bow. What is a bow used for? A bow is a part of a weapon- it can be used to hunt for food, it can also be used for protecting oneself, or others again dangers (human or animal). Not only does this rider of the white horse have a bow, there was also a crown upon this rider- a crown given to him, not a crown stolen. This rider had a symbol of power, of honor given to him by someone with the authority to bestow crowns. Upon this white horse the crowned rider with his bow went forth conquering… and to conquer.
If, as with the seven churches we've already studied a bit, these seven seals represent a bigger picture of things to come - from the time given to the end of time when Christ returns- then surely this rider must represent the first era of the church, and perhaps the church - the followers of Christ through all time.
The only righteousness any of us can live our lives with in whatever capacity, in whatever situation is the righteousness of Christ- not our own, we have none. Our righteousness is as a filthy rag, and only Christ's pure righteousness matters in our lives. The pure truth of Christ's righteousness was to go forth- the gospel was to be taken to all the world, carried by Christ's followers. Christ's followers given all they need to conquer deceivers, liars, false truths, false religions. This rider goes forth to conquer and is conquering. For the truth to prevail it had to continue to exist and continue to be shared and believed from generation to generation.
Rev 6:3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
John then saw the Lamb open the second seal and the second of the four beasts spoke- "Come and see." And so John, went where he was directed and looked- this is what he saw--
Rev 6:4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
This time the horse he saw was red, no longer white- not the same horse or rider. Things had changed. At first in history after the new gospel, the truths given to the church, were proclaimed they held a form of purity but that wasn't to last. History proves that into the truth being proclaimed under the name of Christ was perfect truth until deception mingled with truth, corrupting it so that the proclaimed Christ followers were no longer true followers but rather a truth perverted group who went under the name of Christ followers, but it was a lie. This rider went forth, the gospel continued on, and yet there was no longer true peace being given, but lies to the point of murdering each other. This rider had a great sword- a powerful sword that would cut down many. This rider had authority to wield the sword and history proves that as civil powers intruded upon the religious power they killed those that did not go along with their perversion of the pure truth.
Rev 6:5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
The third of the four beasts called to John, "Come and see." John went to him and looked- seeing… a black horse. A horse DARKER than the red horse. The corruption of the church complete in blotting out the purity being spread by the first church. In the hands of this rider were a pair of balances. No bow, no sword, this weapon was of a different sort.
Rev 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
A voice came from the middle of the four beasts and spoke as John witnessed the black horse and its balance carrying rider. Money for wheat, money for barley- don't hurt the oil or the wine. This period for Christ followers was so evil, so corrupted that the church that was supposed to be pure was the farthest it could get in all its practices. In controlling the ingredients for bread with monetary interests they made the written word of God obscure keeping it from the people, keeping the true bread from those that needed it to continue with the spreading of the gospel. The oil- the Holy Spirit and the wine- the knowledge of Christ blood shed was not hidden away- these truths kept a portion of God's true witness in existence as evil had its way among the masses.
Rev 6:7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
The Lamb opened the fourth of the seven seals and the voice of the fourth beast called to John, "Come and see." John went and looked--
Rev 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
This horse, didn't have a color- what kind of color is pale? It's not white, it's not a pale…color, such as a pale brown, it is simply pale. When we think of something be pale we think of it lacking the color it was perhaps intended to have. If I look pale to someone I may appear off color- even sickly. Having a fair complexion is not the same as a pale complexion- pale denotes off color especially if there is no color at all associated with the term. A pale yellow flower could be a gorgeous flower if it is meant to be that color, but a pale flower would simply indicate the flower isn't the rich color it was intended to be. This pale horse is a sickly horse, is it any wonder that the rider upon the horse was called Death, and that another followed Death and it was the Grave. Power was given to these in control of the corrupted church in this time- power over a fourth of the earth to kill by swords, hunger, with death of any means, and by beasts. Such power this church held, we know of only one church with the long corrupt history of which it is known to implement death for those not in line with their ways. Look at history! We are told to read, and to understand, to keep these things, the truth!
More on all of this tomorrow by the grace of God! May the Holy Spirit of truth enlighten us! May the scale on our eyes hiding truth to us because we prefer the soothing lies told to us fall from our vision and may we SEE only truth! Cunningly devised fables will be the ruin of so many! The fables are so cunningly made up they will be followed by all but the very elect, all but the few who can find the narrow way. We long to be numbered among those who are found to have faith when our Savior returns, we would be those with oil in our lamps and extra oil to add to our lamps when we are woken up from our spiritual sleep. Please, Lord we would be KNOWN by You! We do not want to be among those following a false Christ, thinking we are following You. We do not want to be deceived! Speak to our hearts, enlighten our minds only with Your truth! Let us hold fast to the faith without wavering! May YOU be all we need! Your righteousness ours as YOU live in us, us having the mind of You! Please, Lord we would be YOURS! Please! Please! We believe! Help THOU our unbelief! All through the glory, the honor, the praise and the thanksgiving of our God, our Father in heaven and our Lord, Jesus Christ! In the Holy Spirit!
Amen!
2Pe 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
2Pe 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
2Pe 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.