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| Revelation's Revelation |
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I am attempting to do an in depth study of the book of Revelations, on my own, with the help of a book by Max Lucado. My husband asked me why I would want to do that to myself, and I told him that I have a desire to try to understand the book better. I have been wanting one of the small groups that we have at church, or perhaps even the Sunday School classes to do a study on it, but people seem to shy away from studying it in a group setting, I suppose because the meanings of the things written there can be difficult to decipher. And there are many different opinions on the meanings.
Right off the bat, Max asks a question...Why do you think the churches are symbolized as lampstands?
1:20As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
So I take this to mean that the seven churches are represented by the lampstands. Being a part of the church, means we have to share the message of Jesus with all we come in contact with. We have to show a dark world the light of Christ, as a lampstand would lighten up a dark room.
We recently had a light bulb burn out. It hangs in a fixture above the stairway going upstairs, and it is not an easy task to change it. My husband had to bring the extension ladder in to get to it. It has been out for a couple of months, and I have kind of grown used to the darkness...there is another light at the top of the stairs, so really it only darkens the stairway. But once we got the bulb replaced, boy did we ever notice the difference! It is so much nicer to be able to see better as we go up and down the stairs.
People who are not Christians, don't know what it is like to have a light shining in their dark world. Perhaps they knew, but it has burned out and they have forgotten how big a difference it makes to have light. They don't know until the light shines on them again, how lost they really were.
As Christians, we must shine our light. People are watching...they see what we do and they can tell when the light is real. I am hoping that Revelations will lead me to have more insight into what is to come, and draw me closer to God.
Anyone that has learned something from a study on Revelations, is more than welcome to share your experiences here. I would love to hear about it, as I try to decipher it myself. |
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| To add a comment to "Revelation's Revelation" |
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| January 06, 2009 |
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Well.........I would but it would be controversial, so if your interested in approaching the subject from more than one perspective then I would recommend More Than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation by William Hendriksen. Then folks who are completely sold on the currently popular interpretation can be upset with him and not me. :-) Best regards,
Craig |
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| January 06, 2009 |
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When I was a child, the Book of Revelations fascinated me..I read it and comprehended the basic gist. I even believed in post-millenial rapture based on my own reading as a child. I confess that I did not understand all the symbolism. I also confess I haven't read the Book of Revelation since then but now also am going to study it. I purchased a good series by Dr. David Jeremiah, senior pastor of Shadown Mountain Community Church in El Cajon California. The series of studies is called "Escape the Coming Night" (I bought them at second hand book store so that really helped my budget). There are four volumes to the study guide and I can't wait to learn more. God bless u for learning too. It seems there are many Christians that overlook this important book in the Bible so we can be a few less as we continue in the study. God bless you! |
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| January 06, 2009 |
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| iI'm reading it again and bought a study guide as I go through. Maybe we can share later, I'm just getting started. |
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| January 06, 2009 |
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| I HAVE READ AND SHARED MY INSIGHTS AND THOUGHT'S AND OPINIONS AND MY INTELLECTUAL SIDE TO IT AND I LOVE REVELATIONS IT IS AWESOME JUST LIKE JOYFUL SERVANT LIKED IT BUT I ALSO THINK SHE LOVED IT TOO AND HER AND ME FEEL THE SAME WAY THAT IS ALSO VERY FASCINATING TO ME AS WELL AMEN AND EARTHENVESSEL WHAT U SAID IS SO COOL AS WELL SO I HOPE WE GET TO SHARE ARE INTELLECTUAL INSIGHTS ON IT THAT WOULD BE SUPER DOOPER AMEN LOVE U ALL |
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| January 07, 2009 |
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| Rebekah, and everyone: Yes, we can share our insights. I'll just say that I tend to think that the Revelation is more about Jesus Christ and a heavely perspective of the last 2000 years than it is a brief period of time just before He comes to be glorified in his people. After all the admonition of John is: Revelation 1:3
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. Revelation 14:13
And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!" Revelation 16:15
("Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!") Revelation 19:9
And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God." Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. First resurrection? See Colossians 2:12 Revelation 22:7
"And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." Revelation 22:14
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. However you may interpret the prophesy (and no prophesy is for one's own interpretation) if it is all in the future then the preceding verses are meaningless. Blessings!
Craig |
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| January 07, 2009 |
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Earthen Vessel, I encourage you to share your thoughts, and I see that you did later on...I would like to try different studies just to see what all I can learn. Because there are so many different interpretations, I am interested in studying on this book a lot. I don't think just doing a study by one person will really give you a good understanding of the book. I am going to look for the book that you mentioned.
Joyful Servant, I will look to see if I can find your series of books as well. We have a second hand bookstore here and I might get lucky.
Remarkable Terry, I am just getting started too. Please feel free to come back and share anytime!
rebekah byrne, I think this book is a very important one, that we should all try to understand a little better. Thanks for your comments. |
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| January 08, 2009 |
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| Good word!!!!!! wemust be a light!!!! |
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| January 09, 2009 |
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| Great blog, Deb! |
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| January 09, 2009 |
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| New Day and Yahschild, Thank you! |
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| January 11, 2009 |
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| I studied the book of Revelation recently, the commentary I used was written by....oh drat, I can't remember. (and I'm too lazy to get up and look on my bookshelf! lol) The book is very encouraging to the persecuted church (this I believe was John's chief audience). There are indeed quite a few views on it, good to share amongst ourselves. |
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| January 11, 2009 |
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| Ok, Mike, the next time you walk past your bookshelf, get the author's name :) |
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| January 23, 2009 |
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Hi Deb, I order the book More than Conquerors as recommended by Earthen Vessel. It just came in and so I've started on it. It is really good so would recommend it highly. It was written many decades ago now by a great scholar. I've decided to start with this before I get into Dr. David Jeremiah's books. God bless you. If you want a copy but can't find it in a bookstore near you, you can order it here(and they will ship..it cost me less than $20. Cdn so it will cost you even less with the exchange difference) http://www.elshaddaisbooks.org/home_page |
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| January 24, 2009 |
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| Joyful Servant, thank you for the review. I went and checked it out and will be buying it. It sounds like a good study. |
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| January 24, 2009 |
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According to one of my best mentors. The words candlestick and lampstand are two in the same. A "Hebraism" for Church's. You can get cd's on the entire Book of Revelation if you want by Dr. Arnold Murry of "The Shepherd's Chapel" I don't know how many there are but they cost somewhere around $5.00 each.
Well worth the money. I have it recorded as I record the program every day. However, I am moving up near the New Hampshire boarder annd have all my recordings packed away. I have the address and phone number on my profile. At least I think I do. He has a Web Site www.theshpherdschapel.com You can list to one of his latest recording on the site. Dr. Murry is not some yo yo like the rest of these nuts who don't know a thing their saying. As , also said on my last blog. It is smart in you get a copy of The Companion Bible. It is the best work you will ever find. You don't want to teach God's Word incorrectly. There are other good study books by a publisher I gave the URL for that will help you greatly. I hope you take my advice. Check him out for yourself. The Chapel will tell you where you can see the program also, if you call them. You will be blessed, I'm sure. Best of luck on this undertaking. I takes a good deal of skill to understand it correctly. |
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| January 24, 2009 |
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| "Im really sorry. I gave the URL incorrectly. It's www.shepherdschapel.com I just tried it out and all the information you need is on this site. As to their phone number, etc God bless!! |
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| January 24, 2009 |
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| Oh WHY can't I remember!!!!! |
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| January 25, 2009 |
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golden2100, thank you for the recommendations. I am going to check out the shepherds chapel website now.
Mike, Didn't you say you have the book on your bookshelf? Then since you can't remember, get up and go look for it :) |
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