Tuesday, 30 May 2017

REVELATION 6

Revelation 6New International Version (NIV)

The Seals

6 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder,“Come!” 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one.Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.

5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds[a] of wheat for a day’s wages,[b] and six pounds[c] of barley for a day’s wages,[d] and do not damage the oil and the wine!”

7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters,[e] were killed just as they had been.

12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake.The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us[f] from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their[g]wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”

REVELATION 5

Revelation 5New International Version (NIV)

The Scroll and the Lamb

5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lionof the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits[a] of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood you purchased for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
    and they will reign[b] on the earth.”

11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”

13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”

14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Footnot

REVELATION 4

Revelation 4New International Version (NIV)

The Throne in Heaven

4 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a] of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,’[b]

who was, and is, and is to come.”

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created

and have their being.”

Footnotes:

REVELATION 3

The Dead Church

1“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,

‘These things says He who #Rev. 1:4, 16has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3#1 Tim. 6:20Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and #Rev. 3:19repent. #Matt. 24:42, 43; Luke 12:39Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you #1 Thess. 5:2; (2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 16:15)as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4You have #Acts 1:15a few names even in Sardis who have not #(Jude 23)defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me #Rev. 4:4; 6:11in white, for they are worthy. 5He who overcomes #(Rev. 19:8)shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not #Ex. 32:32; Ps. 69:28; Luke 10:20; (Rev. 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27)blot out his name from the #Phil. 4:3Book of Life; but #Matt. 10:32; Luke 12:8I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

6#Rev. 2:7“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Faithful Church

7“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

‘These things says #Acts 3:14He who is holy, #John 14:6; 1 John 5:20; Rev. 3:14; 19:11He who is true, #Is. 9:7; 22:22; Jer. 23:5“He who has the key of David, #(Matt. 16:19; Rev. 1:18)He who opens and no one shuts, and #Job 12:14shuts and no one opens”: 8#Rev. 3:1“I know your works. See, I have set before you #1 Cor. 16:9an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9Indeed I will make #Rev. 2:9those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed #Is. 45:14; 49:23; 60:14I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10Because you have kept My command to persevere, #2 Tim. 2:12; 2 Pet. 2:9I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon #Luke 2:1the whole world, to test those who dwell #Is. 24:17on the earth. 11Behold, #Phil. 4:5I am coming quickly! #Rev. 2:25Hold fast what you have, that no one may take #(Rev. 2:10)your crown.12He who overcomes, I will make him #1 Kin. 7:21; Jer. 1:18; Gal. 2:9a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall #Ps. 23:6go out no more. #(Rev. 14:1; 22:4)I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the #(Heb. 12:22)New Jerusalem, which #Rev. 21:2comes down out of heaven from My God. #(Rev. 2:17; 22:4)And I will write on him My new name.

13#Rev. 2:7“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Lukewarm Church

14“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

#Is. 65:16; 2 Cor. 1:20‘These things says the Amen, #Rev. 1:5; 3:7; 19:11the Faithful and True Witness, #(Col. 1:15)the Beginning of the creation of God: 15#Rev. 3:1“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17Because you say, #Hos. 12:8; Zech. 11:5; (Matt. 5:3); 1 Cor. 4:8‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18I counsel you #Is. 55:1; Matt. 13:44to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and #2 Cor. 5:3white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19#Job 5:17As many as I love, I rebuke and #Prov. 3:12; (2 Cor. 11:32); Heb. 12:6chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20Behold, #Song 5:2I stand at the door and knock. #Luke 12:36, 37; John 10:3If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, #(John 14:23)I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21To him who overcomes #Matt. 19:28; 2 Tim. 2:12; (Rev. 2:26; 20:4)I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.The Dead Church

1“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,

6#Rev. 2:7“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Faithful Church

7“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

13#Rev. 2:7“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Lukewarm Church

14“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

1“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,

6#Rev. 2:7“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Faithful Church

7“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

13#Rev. 2:7“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Lukewarm Church

14“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

22#Rev. 2:7

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”repent. 20Behold, #Song 5:2I stand at the door and knock. #Luke 12:36, 37; John 10:3If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, #(John 14:23)I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21To him who overcomes #Matt. 19:28; 2 Tim. 2:12; (Rev. 2:26; 20:4)I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.The Dead Church

1“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,

6#Rev. 2:7“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Faithful Church

7“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

13#Rev. 2:7“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Lukewarm Church

14“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

22#Rev. 2:7“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

22#Rev. 2:7“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”