Revelation 6:1-2
"6 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer."
(Jesus in heaven with a golden girdle about His breast.)
So begins the chapter about conquest of the four terrifying horsemen of the Apocalypse.
The rider in the black horse with scales in his hand spreads lack and famine on the earth.
Last of all, the rider on the pale horse: "...him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth."
"Beasts of the earth" here is a diminutive term in the Greek and refers to the tiniest of organisms which cause all manner of diseases: viruses, biological weapons, Ebola, S.A.R.S., incurable diseases like A.I.D.S.
Most of us have heard terrifying sermons of the awful judgments that will be rained down upon the inhabitants of the earth in the latter days. Many are implying that the church could be involved in these sufferings because she hasn't been faithful enough. They love to point out that there's the "judgment seat of Christ," not realizing that in the verse to which they are referring, the word "judgment" doesn't appear in the Greek text! It's the word, "béma." For more on this topic, follow this link: http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-judgment-seat-of-christ.html.
(How the enemy attacks us.)
You know what they're implying--again--right? Preachers say those things in a vain attempt to scare their people into living holy lives. I hope they find out sooner rather than later that this little tactic of theirs DOESN'T WORK. In fact, it does the very opposite.
But FEAR NOT, Church! I bring you good tidings of great joy! THERE IS NO MORE JUDGMENT OF ANY KIND. Even the "Bemá" seat of Christ is for rewards, NOT punishment, like medals handed out at the Olympics. In Ancient Greece they refered to the "judgment seat" where medals were awarded as the "bematós." The word "judgment" doesn't appear.
In Ancient Greece, winners of their Olympic Games came to the "béma" seat to receive a stephanos, or crown. It's the equivalent to our Olympic medal today.
(Reward handed out at the Béma seat.)
Check the Greek text of Romans 4:10, 2 Corinthians 5:8,10 on any interlinear site. Here's one: http://biblehub.com/interlinear/genesis/1.htm.
This is another of those translator issues again. A béma seat could be for judgment except for one little fly in the ointment: "There is therefore now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Believers are not under ANY condemnation of any kind forever because of the finished work of Christ. Rewards will be handed out for the things done while here on earth for the kingdom of Christ.
GOD'S PLAN.
Our God has a perfect protection plan to protect us from these four horseman. In Ezekiel's vision, he describes four living beings like this:
"10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had the FACE OF A MAN; each of the four had the FACE OF A LION on the right side, each of the four had the FACE OF AN OX on the left side, and each of the four had the FACE OF AN EAGLE.
See any similarities? They are the same four likenesses that John describes in the passage from Revelation 4. In Zechariah 6:1-6 he records seeing the four horses. The angel with whom he speaks calls these horsemen "the four winds." What does it all mean? In the history of ancient Israel God has left some clues for us. Let's go look.
He had them set up their camp in a particular order. The names, banners and set up in general speaks volumes when you know what to look for. God is showing us the best way to conduct our lives so as to be safe in these perilous times just prior to Jesus" return, particularly in light of the aforementioned horsemen.
Keil and Delitzsch, two very well-known Hebrew scholars, have translated the Greek New Testament into Hebrew for our Messianic brethren in Israel. This is what they say about the camp of the Israelites:
"10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had the FACE OF A MAN; each of the four had the FACE OF A LION on the right side, each of the four had the FACE OF AN OX on the left side, and each of the four had the FACE OF AN EAGLE.
(Living creature of Ezekiel's vision.)
See any similarities? They are the same four likenesses that John describes in the passage from Revelation 4. In Zechariah 6:1-6 he records seeing the four horses. The angel with whom he speaks calls these horsemen "the four winds." What does it all mean? In the history of ancient Israel God has left some clues for us. Let's go look.
He had them set up their camp in a particular order. The names, banners and set up in general speaks volumes when you know what to look for. God is showing us the best way to conduct our lives so as to be safe in these perilous times just prior to Jesus" return, particularly in light of the aforementioned horsemen.
(Camp configuration of the children of Israel.)
"According to Rabbinical tradition, the standard of Judah bore the figure of the Lion, that of Reuben the likeness of a Man's head, that of Ephraim the figure of an Ox and that of Dan the figure of an Eagle."
Wow! Cool! Reuben's banner was the one with the likeness of The Son! Reuben means, " See the Son," in Hebrew!
Now, if you were facing north, the tribe to your right on the east side would be Judah. Their banner was the Lion. In front of you on the North side would be Dan, whose banner was an eagle. To your left toward the West would be the tribe of Ephraim. On their banner was a picture of an Ox. And on the South side, behind you, would be the tribe of Reuben with the face of a Man on their banner. {see pictures}
In Ezekiel 1:10 we read, "As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a MAN; each of the four had the face of a LION on the right side, each of the four had the face of an OX on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an EAGLE."
Those are all in the same position as the banners for the tribes of Israel! They are the four faces of Jesus as shown by each of the four Gospels.
All the fullness of the godhead dwells in Jesus. A complete description of that fullness is found in the four gospels. Reading them over and over and over and over again will form in us the kingly qualities of Matthew, portrayed by the Lion. The lion is the king of beasts as Jesus IS the King of Kings! Mark's displays an Ox, the untiring laborer. Mark portrays Jesus as the One Who came to serve not to be served. The intelligence and human sentiments of Jesus are pictured in Luke where He is portrayed as the Perfect Man. Their banner displays the face of a man; and the keen sight and prophetic vision of the eagle is found in the gospel of John, represented by the banner with the eagle.
Matthew and Luke both contain genealogies of Jesus. Matthew's gospel, where Jesus is portrayed as the King of the Jews, certifies His legitimate claim to the throne. In fact, he has a double claim as both parents were direct descendants of King David, even though Joseph provided no seed. The genealogy here begins with Abraham to whom was first given the promise of kingship.
Luke's gospel, where Jesus is portrayed most often as the Son of Man, certifies by his record that Jesus is 100% man. That is why his record goes all the way back to Adam, the first man.
Wow! Cool! Reuben's banner was the one with the likeness of The Son! Reuben means, " See the Son," in Hebrew!
Now, if you were facing north, the tribe to your right on the east side would be Judah. Their banner was the Lion. In front of you on the North side would be Dan, whose banner was an eagle. To your left toward the West would be the tribe of Ephraim. On their banner was a picture of an Ox. And on the South side, behind you, would be the tribe of Reuben with the face of a Man on their banner. {see pictures}
(Attacks of the devil from the four directions thwarted by Jesus.)
In Ezekiel 1:10 we read, "As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a MAN; each of the four had the face of a LION on the right side, each of the four had the face of an OX on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an EAGLE."
Those are all in the same position as the banners for the tribes of Israel! They are the four faces of Jesus as shown by each of the four Gospels.
All the fullness of the godhead dwells in Jesus. A complete description of that fullness is found in the four gospels. Reading them over and over and over and over again will form in us the kingly qualities of Matthew, portrayed by the Lion. The lion is the king of beasts as Jesus IS the King of Kings! Mark's displays an Ox, the untiring laborer. Mark portrays Jesus as the One Who came to serve not to be served. The intelligence and human sentiments of Jesus are pictured in Luke where He is portrayed as the Perfect Man. Their banner displays the face of a man; and the keen sight and prophetic vision of the eagle is found in the gospel of John, represented by the banner with the eagle.
Matthew and Luke both contain genealogies of Jesus. Matthew's gospel, where Jesus is portrayed as the King of the Jews, certifies His legitimate claim to the throne. In fact, he has a double claim as both parents were direct descendants of King David, even though Joseph provided no seed. The genealogy here begins with Abraham to whom was first given the promise of kingship.
Luke's gospel, where Jesus is portrayed most often as the Son of Man, certifies by his record that Jesus is 100% man. That is why his record goes all the way back to Adam, the first man.
(For more on who was the rightful king of Israel at the time of Jesus' birth, (and it wasn't Herod) follow this link: http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2015/12/chimham-inn.html)
Back to Israel's encampment....Every tent was pitched facing toward the tabernacle to demonstrate that everything in our lives must point toward Jesus. When Israel camped like this in the desert, their backs were exposed to potential enemy attack, yet there is never any record that they ever were attacked. When we do the likewise, meaning we keep our focus on Jesus, God takes care of our back. You see, if we turn around with our back toward Jesus and try to handle our problems by ourselves or the problems of the world, who is staring us in the face? The devil, for whom we are NO match. Just turn around, Church! Let Jesus take care of Him! THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD!
When the enemy comes in from the North, what does he see? The face of a fierce Eagle and the attack is thwarted!
(Every tent faced toward the Tabernacle.)
Back to Israel's encampment....Every tent was pitched facing toward the tabernacle to demonstrate that everything in our lives must point toward Jesus. When Israel camped like this in the desert, their backs were exposed to potential enemy attack, yet there is never any record that they ever were attacked. When we do the likewise, meaning we keep our focus on Jesus, God takes care of our back. You see, if we turn around with our back toward Jesus and try to handle our problems by ourselves or the problems of the world, who is staring us in the face? The devil, for whom we are NO match. Just turn around, Church! Let Jesus take care of Him! THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD!
When the enemy comes in from the North, what does he see? The face of a fierce Eagle and the attack is thwarted!
If he comes in from the West, he is gored by THE OX. Defeated again!
If he tries to attack from the south, he sees the face of JESUS, The One Who crushed his head!
If he tries to attack from the East, he sees the face of THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH!!! Completely and utterly defeated!
If he tries to attack from the south, he sees the face of JESUS, The One Who crushed his head!
If he tries to attack from the East, he sees the face of THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH!!! Completely and utterly defeated!
We are safe; secure in the secret place of the Most High! This is truly what it means to be "hid with Christ in God." See the picture of the four living creatures? You and I cannot be seen because we are hidden in the midst of them!
It's the safest.....NO; it's the ONLY....way to live; To face our "tents" toward Jesus--The Tabernacle--and allowing the Glory of The Lord to be our rear guard.
That's God's protection plan!
So blessed with this blogs! Glory to Jesus alone!
ReplyDelete