Revelation 11:1-13
I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
11 But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.
13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified
and gave glory to the God of heaven.
The Boy Jesus in the Temple, Painted by William Hole
Isaiah was the subject of many Bible Scholar studies. Perhaps Jesus as a boy pointed out the discrepancy of the Magi fully understanding Isaiah - and going to see the infant Jesus in Herod's Palace. Revelation is probably equally as understood, today. A mystery for Father God to unfold. Not the red herring for us to continually try to decipher and worry about.
God would teach John what to say, to grasp fully by unfolding events in his life, the way Revelation is Scripture and Scripture repeats. John was an eyewitness to Jesus ascending into Heaven.
John 21
24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
The rapture is a repeat of Jesus ascending. Intended to wake the unfaithful of earth to faith again in all things are possible with God.
Early Biblical history is important. We have the documents still. The Gospel of Luke explains in the first paragraph - with the shake up in the Roman Empire occurring 16 years after the Resurrection of Jesus, orderly accounts were being taken in several credible sources and Histories. The world was wondering and finding miracles still seen today.
A Historian, lawyer and married to a Christian wife - Tertullian disliked mysticism and wrote this was fact that John was boiled in oil and unharmed by Emperor Domitian intended the death of a man worshiping Jesus as God. Tertullian's book is The Prescription of Heretics. The precise written event - John was banished to Patmos after being plunged into boiling oil in Rome and suffering nothing from it. Tetullian wrote the whole audience of the Colosseum was converted to Christianity upon witnessing this miracle. This event would have occurred in the late 1st century.
When John saw the vision of The Book of Revelation 11th chapter, John had lived this himself. He was not asked to report something he could not understand on a whim of faith. God wanted him to feel comfortable explaining the Plan of God.
Rather makes you feel good about God as an Employer, doesn't it? John did NOT feel as if he was asked to breathe out magic mushrooms. These events he had seen with his own eyes and was assured God would repeat them again. And God had provided many witnesses to these events. The Bible even says God does not insist people insist on their own Visions. Mary, recall with me, "pondered these things in her heart." God is Not an accountant of "No, no, no, didn't quite precisely tell that perfectly." God is a a tender parent who makes sure Peter has second chances and thirds and fourths. God visits Gideon carefully to assure Gideon. Pharaoh dreamed his dream every night for a year. The baker was forgiven for forgetting Joseph for a few years.
The Prodigal Father is God. Moses was all that, but Moses needed help too. Because Moses made some huge mistakes as well.
God alone is God.
We are faced today with many things like the Authorship of Hebrews. The early Church recorded with certainty that Paul wrote this. Perhaps Paul enjoyed Luke's style writing the Book of Acts. It was during the time Latin was falling away and Church services were conducted in Latin that many Church Histories were improved by redoing History. The time when Michelangelo could write about two Popes, power and war. Jeremiah 23 tells us History is rewritten in terrible times. We should revel and celebrate in early Church history. Hebrews tells us in the body of the book that the companion of the author is Timothy - which agrees with early Church history - Hebrews is the work of Paul in the Holy Spirit. We live in a time where we grew up being told Pontius Pilate had no historical record of existing. And in our lifetime we find Caesar Augustus' census of Bethlehem is found. And the marker in stone of Pontius Pilate in several places and in obscure Roman historical governmental papyrus comes to light.
Remember Historical Early Church History. This serves us well when this upholds the Word of God.
Hebrews 13
20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Father God, Your mercies renew each day. Let us and the ones we love rest in the New Covenant of Your mercy, guidance and way. Equip us with every good thing to do Your will. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, Jesus, my rock and redeemer. To You be the Glory forever and ever. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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