OUR INHERITANCE

REVELATIONS 3:21_4:2

EPHESIANS 1:13-23  MATTHEW 6:33

WHAT ABOUT JESUS CHRIST?

READ REVELATIONS 1:1--8,12--17

As of 2010, the latest year for which figures are available, there are an estimated 2.2 billion Christians around the world. They represent a third of the world's population and are geographically widespread with the Americas boasting of the largest number and the highest proportion of Christians. The number of Christians worldwide has risen in the last century from an estimated 600 million in 1910 to over 2 million in 2010.

What about this Jesus who is called the Christ?

By world standards, Jesus would be a failure.  He died from a capital crime punishment--judged by a panel of judges. He lived for 33 years in poverty, working in a very low paying carpenter job, He taught for three years and gathered followers, but all left Him when authorities arrested Him.  He died between two thieves and was buried in a borrowed grave.

What were the distinctive things that raised Him from simply a failed 
local popular leader like many others.
TO THE LEADER TODAY WITH 2.2 M. AND THAT HAS HAD THIS GROWING FOLLOWING FOR 2000 YRS OF PERSECUTION?

What happened?  
What happened was what followed His death.  
What happened--happened after His resurrection and during His post-death-resurrection  ministry.

One person who knew Jesus well is John the Apostle\!
 (John the Apostle was one of Jesus's first followers) 
JOHN WITNESSED JESUS's LIFE FROM HIS START TO HIS ASCENSION!!

Read John 1:35-39

Close to 70 years later J , still following Jesus writes this

Read 1 JOHN 1:1-10


WHY DID JOHN WRITE THIS FOR YOU?

READ JOHN 20:30-31

JOHN THE APOSTLE's WRITINGS

CONSIDERING JESUS'S THE 3 YEARS TEACHING MINISTRY, JOHN THE APOSTLE WOULD HAVE KNOWN JESUS CHRIST BETT ER THAN ANY OF THE OTHER APOSTLES.

STARTING  we 

Revelations  chapter 1 -- chapter 4:2
 There are four visions in the book of revelations that are introduced by this phrase of being in the spirit .
 The first version starts in Revelations 1:10
 The second vision starts in Revelations 4:10
 The third vision starts in Revelations 17:3
 The fourth vision starts in Revelations 21:10

1 John, your brother, and a sharer with you in the sorrows and Kingship and patient endurance of Jesus, found myself in the island of Patmos, on account of the Word of God and the truth told us by Jesus.

		Revelation 1	Weymouth NT
10	In the Spirit I found myself present on the day of the Lord, and I heard behind me a loud voice which resembled the blast of a trumpet.	egenomhn en pneumati en th kuriakh hmera kai hkousa opisw mou fwnhn megalhn wV salpiggoV

The timeline of the writings of the Canon of the New Testament probably starts with the book of Hebrews, which was written in the best Greek of the New Testament (close to classical Greek.) While the writing of the Gospel accounts precede the other writings, the writings of Paul, the Apostle very likely, was time wise, written before.
The last writings of the New Testament would be John's writings, ending with the  of Revelatin.
is
John's writing has a very distinct writing style, as Paul's does.  John's grammar and syntax

The Roman Jewish war had to have much more influence  than normally taught.
The Roman Jewish War, which obviously had geopolitical changes in the region, created major local religious changes--the war destroyed the Jewish temple, and relocated the center of Christianity to Antioch, a major gentile city reported to be of 250, 000.

ACCORDING TO THE MACMILLAN BIBLE ATLAS

CHRISTIANS AND JEWS IN PALESTINE     AFTER THE FIRST REVOLT

A.D. 73 TO 131

Although the war of A.D. 66·70 was fierce both in Galilee and in Judea - and especially in Jerusalem and a few other places where the fighting was particularly severe - the Jewish population in general remained intact; many lands did, however, pass from Jewish to imperial possession.

 The evidence of the revolt of Bar-Kokhba  is in itself enough to show that Judea was still settled with Jews at the beginning of the second century. The persistence of Judaism in Galilee in later centuries shows the same trend. After the destruction of the Temple and the uprooting of the leading classes, some Jews did remain in Jerusalem. The reconstituted Sanhedrin at Jamnia (Jabneh) extended its authority over the nation.

The disasters of the Jewish War seem to have caused an estrangement between the Jews and the Judeo-Christians (THE BOOK OF ACTS SHOWS THE ESTRANGEMENT HAD STARTED MUCH EARLIER THAN THE WAR.) 

AD 131-135

Jerusalem suffered another Roman Jewish War called the "Bar Kokhba Revolt"

THERE REALLY IS A "LIVING HAPPILIY EVER AFTER."

WE, NATURALLY AND LOGICALLY, LOOK AND HOPE FOR A LIFE OF "LIVING HAPPILY FOREVER AFTER..."

Today we enjoy life as never before. We live longer in more comfort and ease of living. Scientific knowledge has provided man abilities unheard of just a century ago. Our knowledge about the working of our physical bodies and physical surroundings, both inner space and outer space, has increased exponentially. Scientific knowledge is enabled medicine to advance the age of man to much older ages. It's as if man was trying to create heaven. Typically, the nonphysical or the spiritual side is left out, at least in the ending. It used to be that fairytales always ended up with the phrase "... and they lived happily ever after", and most of the romantic types of stories always ended with a good feeling of the continuity of a good life continuing on.

But, we are not in heaven, far from it. Despite all of our comforts and conveniences, and wealth, it all ends in sorrow and in death. Like it or not, death is impartial as to how much we have we must live with the knowledge, it will happen, Know how God viewed this: you are already dead without Christ.

Biblical Christianity offers the Christian believer redemption in this life. The same person, John the apostle, who wrote Revelations, also wrote this: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, That Whoever Believes in Him Should Not Perish, but Have Everlasting Life.

For God Did Not Send theSon Into the World to Judge the World: but That the World Should Be Saved through Him.

He Who Believes in Him Is Not Judged. He Who Does Not Believe Has Been Judged Already, Because He Has Not Believed in the Name of the Only Begotten Of God.          John 3:16-18

 

About 20 years later sometime between 85 and 100 A.D., John the apostle also wrote a few letters. John wrote this in 1 John 1:5-10; 2:1:"for this is the message that we have heard from Him and announced to you that God is light and in Him there is no darkness all. If we say that we have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light, as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We say that we have not send, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."

I'm writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sends, we have an advocate with the father, Jesus Christ, the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only, but for those of the whole world." 1John 1:5-10; 2:1-2

The Apostle Paul wrote his letters, 25 years or more, before John wrote revelations.

In 58 AD. these statements, he wrote:

"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

"You were dead in your transgressions in the and circumcision of your flesh. He(Christ) made you alive together with him having given all of our transgressions having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us in which was hostile to us. And he is taken out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."

Colossians 3:13-14

Wouldn't it be great if we could just say they lived happily ever after -- meaning the absence of tragic circumstances ending in death-- like in the fairytales.  Our God tells us in Revelations us with no holds barred the way life really is, with churches needing to repent and the world going through a terrible calamity like the Great Tribultion,

but there really is a "lived happily everafter", at the end.

 The book of Revelation is usually thought of as a book of doom and gloom, and things that make us not want to read it. This is too bad, because there's a promise right at the start : "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it for the time is near.  Revelations 1:3

REMEMBER, AT THE END, THERE REALLY IS A "LIVING HAPPILIY EVER AFTER." 

APOCALYPSE--REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST--FINAL DAYS

Chapter 1

Introduction

¹ The revelation given by Jesus Christ, which God granted Him, that He might make known to His servants certain events which must shortly come to pass: and He sent His angel and communicated it to His servant John. ² This is the John who taught the truth concerning the Word of God and the truth told us by Jesus Christ— a faithful account of what he had seen.

10  I was in the Spirit...

HOW RELIABLE IS THIS REVELATION OF JOHN THE APOSTLE?

APOCALYSE ACTUALLY MEANS DISCLOSURE OF THAT PREVIOUSLY HIDDEN.

JESUS CHRIST IS REVEALED IN RELATION TO "THE THINGS PAST, THE THINGS WHICH ARE, THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE!"P

John's relation to Jesus was unique. Salome was the sister of Jesus' mother. John would be Jesus' cousin. (See Div. A. Pt. 1,6, p. 62, Salome). 

IF ANYBODY KNEW JESUS, IT WAS JOHN. 

JOHN KNEW JESUS PROBABLY CLOSER THAN ANYBODY. He was one of the first two disciples to be called (i. 35-40): one of the first Apostles named (Matt. iv. 18-22); one of the three privileged Apostles (Mark v. 37: Matt. xvii, I: xxvi 37): one of the four who drew forth our Lord's great prophetic discourse (Mark xiii. 3); and one of the two sent to prepare the Passover (Luke xxii. 8). He was 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' (xiii. 23; xix. 26; xx, 2; xxi, 7,20), and to whom                                                                                 Jesus, on the cross, committed the care of His mother to John (xix. 25-27).                 
       John watched Jesus dying on the cross.
       John was present when Jesus came to frightened Apostles' locked door room, following His resurrection. He was 'the disciple whom Jesus loved'
       John lived through the early persecutions and martyrdom of Paul and Peter, and other friends.

STILL JOHN WROTE AND PREACHED SALVATION BY TRUST IN JESUS. 

 'The supreme guaranty of their (the Gospels) trustworthiness, is found in the narratives themselves; for who in that (or any) account could imagine a figure so unique and perfect as that of Jesus, or invent the incomparable sayings and parables that proceeded from His lips! Much of Christ's teaching is high as heaven above the minds of men still.' When, therefore, writers say that the Evangelist 'put words into the mouth of Jesus; and this is frequently said, let us remember that they are giving some man credit for something of which no man has ever been capable. Dr. Reynolds has well said: 'It is inconceivable that the author of the Gospel invented, rather than recited, marvellous utterances of the Christ; that he appealed

 John lived in Ephesus before being banished to Patmos, and then returned there when a new Roman Emperor took over. 

Tradition has it that John moved there with Jesus's mother, Mary,  as the result of the first Jewish-Roman war in 67-70AD.

 ³ Blessed is he who reads and blessed are those who listen to the words of this prophecy and lay to heart what is written in it; for the time for its fulfillment is now close at hand. ⁴ John sends greetings to the seven Churches in the province of Asia. May grace be granted to you, and peace, from Him who is and was and evermore will be; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne; ⁵ and from Jesus Christ, the truthful witness, the first of the dead to be born to Life, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins with His own blood, ⁶ and has formed us into a Kingdom, to be priests to God, His Father—to Him be ascribed the glory and the power until the Ages of the Ages. Amen. ⁷ He is coming in the clouds, and every eye will see Him, and so will those who pierced Him; and all the nations of the earth will gaze on Him and mourn. Even so. Amen.

⁸ "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "He who is and was and evermore will be—the Ruler of all." ⁹ 

I John, your brother, and a sharer with you in the sorrows and Kingship and patient endurance of Jesus, found myself in the island of Patmos, on account of the Word of God and the truth told us by Jesus.

¹⁰ In the Spirit I found myself present on the day of the Lord, and I heard behind me a loud voice which resembled the blast of a trumpet. ¹¹ It said, "Write forthwith in a roll an account of what you see, and send it to the seven Churches—to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyateira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea." ¹² I turned to see who it was that was speaking to me; and then I saw seven golden lampstands,

¹³ and in the center of the lampstands some One resembling the Son of Man, clothed in a robe which reached to His feet, and with a girdle of gold across His breast. ¹⁴ His head and His hair were white, like white wool—as white as snow; and His eyes resembled a flame of fire. ¹⁵ His feet were like silver-bronze, when it is white-hot in a furnace; and His voice resembled the sound of many waters. ¹⁶ In His right hand He held seven stars, and a sharp, two-edged sword was seen coming from His mouth; and His glance resembled the sun when it is shining with its full strength.

 ¹⁷ When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if I were dead.

But He laid His right hand upon me and said, "Do not be afraid: I am the First and the Last, and the ever-living One. ¹⁸ I died; but I am now alive until the Ages of the Ages, and I have the keys of the gates of Death and of Hades! ¹⁹ Write down therefore the things you have just seen, and those which are now taking place, and those which are soon to follow: ²⁰ the secret meaning of the seven stars which you have seen in My right hand, and of the seven lampstands of gold. The seven stars are the ministers of the seven Churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven Churches.
Rev 1:1-20 (WEY)

 One thing that becomes immediately apparent, is the Lord's love for the church leaving each church to repent and come back. At the last, the church of Laodicea is called to repent with Jesus is knocking at the door calling the church to open the door, and to fellowship with Him. He wants to fellowship with you.

 However out of the seven churches mentioned here, five called on to repent and change. Only two churches are blessed and not called on to repent.

Obviously there are overlaps in the application of these letters . If one views them as a specific time.

Chapter 2

I.               The Letters to the Seven Churches 1:1-3:22

The first question that needs to be asked: who is included in these message

The word church is not mentioned again beyond these seven messages.  The messages were addressed to existing churches, but the messages go beyond those churches and their circumstances.  Revelations reveals Jesus Christ, but it also a book of prophecies--from the time John the Apostle wrote it until the end of ages.  So if there is no application to future church ages than there is no prophecies of the Bride of Christ.

1^ST  EPHESUS CHURCH

¹ "To the minister of the Church in Ephesus write as follows: " 'This is what He who holds the seven stars in the grasp of His right hand says—He who walks to and fro among the seven lampstands of gold.

² I know your doings and your toil and patient suffering. And

  I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, but have put to the test those who say that they themselves are Apostles but are not, and you have found them to be liars.

          ³ And you endure patiently and have borne burdens for My sake and have never grown                         weary.

⁴ Yet I have this against you—that you no longer love Me as you did at first.

⁴      Rev 2:4 (Stephanus)     1550AD

αλλ	Εχω
But	I have	Κατα σου οτι την αγαπην σου Against you because the devotion you	την πρωτην Αφηκας the first Left alone
αφηκας		Greek Strong's Number: 863Greek Word: ἀφίημι Transliteration: aphiēmi  Phonetic Pronunciation: af-ee'-ay-mee Root: from <G575> and hiemi (to send, an intens. form of eimi, to go) Cross Reference: TDNT - 1:509,88  Part of Speech: v Vine's Words: Alone, Cease, Forgive, Forgave, Forgiveness, Forsake, Leave, Left, Let (alone; go), Remission, Remit, Suffer, Utter, Yield Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: —Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary

   

 ⁵ Be mindful, therefore, of the height from which you have fallen.

        Rev 2:5 (Stephanus)

⁵ 

μνημονευε	Ουν	ποθεν	Εκπεπτωκας
Remember	therefore	whense	You have fallen (out of)
εκπεπτωκας	Greek Strong's Number: 1601 Greek Word: ἐκπίπτω Transliteration: ekpiptō Phonetic Pronunciation:ek-pip'-to Root: from <G1537> and <G4098> Cross Reference: TDNT - 6:167,846 Part of Speech: v  Vine's Words: Cast, Fall, Fallen, Falling, Fell, Nought Usage Notes:  English Words used in KJV: fall 7, fall off 2 , be cast 1, [Total 14]   from <G1537> (ek) and <G4098> (pipto); to drop away; specially be driven out of one's course; figurative to lose, become inefficient :- be cast, fail, fall (away, off), take none effect.   —Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary

The Heights They Fell From.

Repent at once, and act as you did at first, or else I will   s                                          surely come and remove your lampstand out of its place—      u                                                            unless you repent.                            

⁶ Yet this you have in your favor: you hate the doings of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. ⁷ "

'Let all who have ears give heed to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches. To him who overcomes I will give the privilege of eating the fruit of the Tree of Life, which is in the Paradise of God.'

  

 2^ND  SMYRNA CHURCH

⁸ "To the minister of the Church at Smyrna write as follows: " 'This is what the First and the Last says—He who died and has returned to life. ⁹ Your sufferings I know, and your poverty—but you are rich—and the evil name given you by those who say that they themselves are Jews, and are not, but are Satan's synagogue. ¹⁰ Dismiss your fears concerning all that you are about to suffer. I tell you that the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison that you may be put to the test, and for ten days you will have to endure persecution. Be faithful to the End, even if you have to die, and then I will give you the victor's Wreath of Life. ¹¹ " 'Let all who have ears give heed to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches. He who overcomes shall be in no way hurt by the Second Death.'

3^RD  PERGAMUM CHURCH

¹² "To the minister of the Church at Pergamum write as follows: " 'This is what He who has the sharp, two-edged sword says. I know where you dwell. ¹³ Satan's throne is there; and yet you are true to Me, and did not deny your faith in Me, even in the days of Antipas My witness and faithful friend, who was put to death among you, in the place where Satan dwells. ¹⁴ Yet I have a few things against you, because you have with you some that cling to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling-block in the way of the descendants of Israel—to eat what had been sacrificed to idols, and commit fornication. ¹⁵ So even you have some that cling in the same way to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. ¹⁶ Repent, at once; or else I will come to you quickly, and will make war upon them with the sword which is in My mouth. ¹⁷ " 'Let all who have ears give heed to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches. He who overcomes—to him I will give some of the hidden Manna, and a white stone; and—written upon the stone and known only to him who receives it— a new name.'

4^TH  THYATEIRA CHURCH

¹⁸ "To the minister of the Church at Thyateira write as follows: " 'This is what the Son of God says—He who has eyes like a flame of fire, and feet resembling silver-bronze. ¹⁹ I know your doings, your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance; and that of late you have toiled harder than you did at first. ²⁰ Yet I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and by her teaching leads astray My servants, so that they commit fornication and eat what has been sacrificed to idols. ²¹ I have given her time to repent, but she is determined not to repent of her fornication. ²² I tell you that I am about to cast her upon a bed of sickness, and I will severely afflict those who commit adultery with her, unless they repent of conduct such as hers. ²³ Her children too shall surely die; and all the Churches shall come to know that I am He who searches into men's inmost thoughts; and to each of you I will give a requital which shall be in accordance with what your conduct has been. ²⁴ But to you, the rest of you in Thyateira, all who do not hold this teaching and are not the people who have learnt the "deep things," as they call them (the deep things of Satan!) —to you I say that I lay no other burden on you. ²⁵ Only that which you already possess, cling to until I come. ²⁶ " 'And to him who overcomes and obeys My commands to the very end, I will give authority over the nations of the earth. ²⁷ And he shall be their shepherd, ruling them with a rod of iron, just as earthenware jars are broken to pieces; and his power over them shall be like that which I Myself have received from My Father; ²⁸ and I will give him the Morning Star. ²⁹ Let all who have ears give heed to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.'

Rev 2:1-29 (WEY)

5^TH  SARDIS CHURCH

Chapter 3

¹ "To the minister of the Church at Sardis write as follows: " 'This is what He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says. I know your doings—you are supposed to be alive, but in reality you are dead. ² Rouse yourself and keep awake, and strengthen those things which remain but have well-nigh perished; for I have found no doings of yours free from imperfection in the sight of My God. ³ Be mindful, therefore, of the lessons you have received and heard. Continually lay them to heart, and repent. If, however, you fail to rouse yourself and keep awake, I shall come upon you suddenly like a thief, and you will certainly not know the hour at which I shall come to judge you. ⁴ Yet you have in Sardis a few who have not soiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white; for they are worthy. ⁵ " 'In this way he who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments; and I will certainly not blot out his name from the Book of Life, but will acknowledge him in the presence of My Father and His angels. ⁶ Let all who have ears give heed to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.' ⁷

6^TH  PHILADELPHIA CHURCH

"To the minister of the Church at Philadelphia write as follows: " 'This is what the holy One and the true says—He who has the key of David—He who opens and no one shall shut, and shuts and no one shall open. ⁸ I know your doings. I have put an opened door in front of you, which no one can shut; because you have but a little power, and yet you have guarded My word and have not disowned Me. ⁹ I will cause some belonging to Satan's synagogue who say that they themselves are Jews, and are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall at your feet and know for certain that I have loved you. ¹⁰ Because in spite of suffering you have guarded My word, I in turn will guard you from that hour of trial which is soon coming upon the whole world, to put to the test the inhabitants of the earth. ¹¹ I am coming quickly: cling to that which you already possess, so that your wreath of victory be not taken away from you. ¹² " 'He who overcomes—I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of My God, and he shall never go out from it again. And I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which is to come down out of Heaven from My God, and My own new name. ¹³ Let all who have ears give heed to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.' ¹⁴ 

7^TH  LAODICEA CHURCH

"And to the minister of the Church at Laodicea write as follows: " 'This is what the Amen says—the true and faithful witness, the Beginning and Lord of God's Creation. ¹⁵ I know your doings—you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot! ¹⁶ Accordingly, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, before long I will vomit you out of My mouth. ¹⁷ You say, I am rich, and have wealth stored up, and I stand in need of nothing; and you do not know that if there is a wretched creature it is you — pitiable, poor, blind, naked. ¹⁸ Therefore I counsel you to buy of Me gold refined in the fire that you may become rich, and white robes to put on, so as to hide your shameful nakedness, and eye-salve to anoint your eyes with, so that you may be able to see. ¹⁹ All whom I hold dear, I reprove and chastise; therefore be in earnest and repent. ²⁰ I am now standing at the door and am knocking. If any one listens to My voice and opens the door, I will go in to be with him and will feast with him, and he shall feast with Me. ²¹ " 'To him who overcomes I will give the privilege of sitting down with Me on My throne, as I also have overcome and have sat down with My Father on His throne. ²² Let all who have ears give heed to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.' "

Rev 3:1-22 (WEY)

GOD BEGINS THE WORLD’S GREAT TRIBULATION

BEGINS THE WORLD’S GREAT TRIBULATION

:OPENING OF THE SEVEN-SEALED SCROLL  4:1-6-8:1

Chapter 4

A Vision of God on His Throne

¹ After all this I looked and saw a door in Heaven standing open, and the voice that I had previously heard, which resembled the blast of a trumpet, again spoke to me and said, "Come up here, and I will show you things which are to happen in the future." 
² Immediately I found myself in the Spirit, and saw a throne in Heaven, and some One sitting on the throne. ³ The appearance of Him who sat there was like jasper or sard; and encircling the throne was a rainbow, in appearance like an emerald. ⁴ Surrounding the throne there were also twenty-four other thrones, on which sat twenty-four Elders clothed in white robes, with victors' wreaths of gold upon their heads. ⁵ Out from the throne there came flashes of lightning, and voices, and peals of thunder, while in front of the throne seven blazing lamps were burning, which are the seven Spirits of God. ⁶ And in front of the throne there seemed to be a sea of glass, resembling crystal. And midway between the throne and the Elders, and surrounding the throne, were four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind.

 ⁷ The first living creature resembled a lion, the second an ox, the third had a face like that of a man, and the fourth resembled an eagle flying. ⁸ And each of the four living creatures had six wings, and in every direction, and within, are full of eyes; and day after day, and night after night, they never cease saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Ruler of all, who wast and art and evermore shalt be." ⁹ And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who is seated on the throne, and lives until the Ages of the Ages, ¹⁰ the twenty-four Elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives until the Ages of the Ages, and they cast their wreaths down in front of the throne, ¹¹ saying, "It is fitting, O our Lord and God, That we should ascribe unto Thee the glory and the honor and the power; For Thou didst create all things, And because it was Thy will they came into existence, and were created."

Rev 4:1-11 (WEY)

Chapter 5

The Breaking of the Seven Seals

JESUS THE CHRIST—THE MESSIAH IS WORTHY

(Breaking the “Seals” must prelude the “opening the book” or scroll, and the one doing this must be worthy of that distinction. The only one worthy of this is “the only begotten God--the First and the Last, and the ever-living One….” Who “¹⁸…died…now alive until the Ages of the Ages, and has the keys of the gates of Death and of Hades! John 1:18, Rev. 1: 


18    It is interesting that the triumphing Messiah is named the Lamb in these verses.)

¹  And I saw lying in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written on both sides and closely sealed with seven seals. ² And I saw a mighty angel who was exclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book and break its seals?" ³ But no one in Heaven, or on earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book or look into it. ⁴ And while I was weeping bitterly, because no one was found worthy to open the book or look into it, ⁵ one of the Elders said to me, "Do not weep. The Lion which belongs to the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed, and will open the book and break its seven seals." ⁶ Then, midway between the throne and the four living creatures, I saw a Lamb standing among the Elders. He looked as if He had been offered in sacrifice, and He had seven horns and seven eyes. The last-named are the seven Spirits of God, and have been sent far and wide into all the earth. ⁷ So He comes, and now He has taken the book out of the right hand of Him who is seated on the throne. ⁸ And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four Elders fell down before the Lamb, having each of them a harp and bringing golden bowls full of incense, which represent the prayers of God's people. ⁹ And now they sing a new song. "It is fitting," they say, "that Thou shouldst be the One to take the book And break its seals; Because Thou hast been offered in sacrifice, And hast purchased for God with Thine own blood Some out of every tribe and language and people and nation, ¹⁰ And hast formed them into a Kingdom to be priests to our God, And they reign over the earth." ¹¹ And I looked, and heard what seemed to be the voices of countless angels on every side of the throne, and of the living creatures and the Elders. Their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, ¹² and in loud voices they were singing, "It is fitting that the Lamb which has been offered in sacrifice should receive all power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." ¹³ And as for every created thing in Heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and everything that was in any of these, I heard them say, "To Him who is seated on the throne, And to the Lamb, Be ascribed all blessing and honor And glory and might, Until the Ages of the Ages!" ¹⁴ Then the four living creatures said "Amen," and the Elders fell down and worshipped.

Rev 5:1-14 (WEY)

Chapter 6

THE SEAL JUDGEMENTS

(Breaking the “Seals” must prelude the opening of the scroll--this prelude itself brings the consequence of judgement.

In this analogy, note the significant things about each rider. They come forward in response to a command.  The riders come in a sequence; the first seal is broken and then the second, etc. but they are connected.)

¹ And

When the Lamb broke one of the seven seals I saw it, and I heard one of the four living creatures say, as if in a voice of thunder, "Come." ² And I looked

and

a white horse appeared, and its rider carried a bow; and a victor's wreath was given to him; and he went out conquering and in order to conquer.

(The first rider does involve an actual person. He comes in appearance like the Messiah—he is often mistaken for Christ.

While “breaking a Seals” brings a judgement, the first rider acts as God’s instrument,  using man against man, as shown in many Old Testament judgements.  The Lord used Babylon to bring judgement on Judah, particularily Jerusalem.  In reality this was Babylon against Judah and actually the indirect judgement of God. Jer. 25:3-11.  Vv. 9 “Because you have not obeyed My words…I will send….”  The LXX reads: “…I send and I will take the family of the North and lead them upon this land.”

The context of Jerimiah involved Israel while scriptures in Revelations deals with judgement on the world, but                   . (Rev. 6:3, 8, “a crown…, authority…,power was given to its rider.…”

He carrys a bow, which is actually an oriental weapon rather than the sword of the Romans.  I believe it is significant that he is armed with a weapon, but the weapon is not used, because it doesn’t mention any arrows. Yet he conquers. The victor’s crown is given to him apparently as a recognition of his conquests. Significant about this crown is the Greek word  stephanos stephanos is used –not a diadem, which Christ will wear.

IS THIS JESUS CHRIST AND. HIS SECOND COMING?
No!  (See REVELATIONS 19:11-16 )

 This stepanos is a crown of laural leaves which is temporary.  While this rider will conquer, he comes at the wrong time. Christ doesn’t come at the beginning of the Tribulation, but at the end. See Rev. 19. True, the War of Armegedden follows after Christ comes, but that war is short and is followed by the Messianic Kingdom.  Here at the beginning, the “Wrath of God” is about to come on the world.

What is involved here, is a judgement—this is the Anti-christ, and the world will accept tthis person. He is a very attractive person, but also very deceptive making promises—covenants that are hollow. this is followed by a devasting war whether intended it or not  likely the consequence of the previous rider.

³ And

When the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come." ⁴ And another horse came out—

a fiery-red one; and power was given to its rider to take peace from the earth, and to cause men to kill one another; and a great sword was given to him.

Actually what is given to this rider is to make men kill one another.

Does this means the victory-crowned conqueror of the white horse changes to much more cruel and heartless methods?

WAR HAPPENS.

The Greek word used for “sword” macaira is a weapon

THE GREAT SWORD (macaira  megalh) Greek Strong's Number: 3173

Greek Word: μέγας Transliteration: megas Phonetic Pronunciation:meg'-as

Root: [including the prolonged forms, feminine megale, plural megaloi, etc., cf also <G3176>, <G3187>]  Cross Reference: TDNT - 4:529,573 Part of Speech: adj Vine's Words: Great, Greatest, High, Highly, Large, Loud  Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV:  great 150
loud 33  miscellaneous translations 12   [Total Count: 195]  Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.

Bauer, Arndt, Gingrich’s Greek-English Lexicon of N.T. and Christian Lit. : “megalh  (a) of any extension in space in all directions, (b) with all the concept of spaciness,…of intensity,…a strong wind…a bright light….”  

[including the prolonged forms, feminine megale, plural megaloi, etc.; compare also <G3176> (megistos), <G3187> (meizon)]; big (literal or figurative, in a very wide application) :- (+ fear) exceedingly, great (-est), high, large, loud, mighty, + (be) sore (afraid), strong, × to years

Greek Strong's Number: 3162  Greek Word: μάχαιρα  Transliteration: machaira  Phonetic Pronunciation:makh'-ahee-rah  Root: from a presumed derivative of <G3163>  Cross Reference: TDNT - 4:524,572  Part of Speech: n f   Vine's Words: Sword

 Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: sword 29  [Total Count: 29]

probably feminine of a presumed derivative of <G3163> (mache); a knife, i.e. dirk; figurative war, judicial punishment :- sword.

—Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary

⁵ When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come." I looked, and

a black horse appeared, its rider carrying a balance in his hand. ⁶ And I heard what seemed to be a voice speaking in the midst of the four living creatures, and saying, "A quart of wheat for a shilling, and three quarts of barley for a shilling; but do not injure either the oil or the wine."

⁷ When the Lamb broke the fourth seal I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come." ⁸ I looked

 and

a pale-colored horse appeared. Its rider's name was Death, and Hades came close behind him; and authority was given to them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword or with famine or pestilence or by means of the wild beasts of the earth.

⁹ When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw at the foot of the altar the souls of those whose lives had been sacrificed because of the word of God and of the testimony which they had given. ¹⁰ And now in loud voices they cried out, saying, "How long, O Sovereign Lord, the holy One and the true, dost Thou delay judgment and the taking of vengeance upon the inhabitants of the earth for our blood?" ¹¹ And there was given to each of them a long white robe, and they were bidden to wait patiently for a short time longer, until the full number of their fellow bondservants should also complete—namely of their brethren who were soon to be killed just as they had been.

¹² When the Lamb broke the sixth seal I looked,

 and

there was a great earthquake, and the sun became as dark as sackcloth,

and the whole disc of the moon became like blood. ¹³ The stars in the sky also fell to the earth, as when a fig-tree, upon being shaken by a gale of wind, casts its unripe figs to the ground. ¹⁴ The sky too passed away, as if a scroll were being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

¹⁵ The kings of the earth and the great men, the military chiefs, the wealthy and the powerful—all, whether slaves or free men—hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, ¹⁶ while they called to the mountains and the rocks, saying, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne and from the anger of the Lamb; ¹⁷ for the day of His anger—that great day—has come, and who is able to stand?"

UP TO THIS TIME THE WORLD SCENE ENDURES THE UNBRIDLED WRATH OF MAN AGAINST MAN.

Rev 6:1-17 (WEY)

Chapter 7

¹ After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, and holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind should blow over the earth or the sea or upon any tree. ² And I saw another angel coming from the east and carrying a seal belonging to the ever-living God. He called in a loud voice to the four angels whose work it was to injure the earth and the sea.

³ "Injure neither land nor sea nor trees," he said, "until we have sealed the bondservants of our God upon their foreheads." ⁴ When the sealing was finished, I heard how many were sealed out of the tribes of the descendants of Israel. They were 144,000. ⁵ Of the tribe of Judah, 12,000 were

sealed; Of the tribe of Reuben, 12,000; Of the tribe of Gad, 12,000; ⁶ Of the tribe of Asher, 12,000; Of the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000; Of the tribe of Manasseh, 12,000; ⁷ Of the tribe of Symeon, 12,000; Of the tribe of Levi, 12,000; Of the tribe of Issachar, 12,000; ⁸ Of the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000; Of the tribe of Joseph, 12,000; Of the tribe of Benjamin, 12,000.

⁹ After this I looked, and a vast host appeared which it was impossible for anyone to count, gathered out of every nation and from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in long white robes, and carrying palm-branches in their hands. ¹⁰ In loud voices they were exclaiming, "It is to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, that we owe our salvation!" ¹¹ All the angels were standing in a circle round the throne and round the Elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces in front of the throne and worshipped God. ¹² "Even so!" they cried: "The blessing and the glory and the wisdom and the thanks and the honor and the power and the might are to be ascribed to our God, until the Ages of the Ages! Even so!" ¹³ Then, addressing me, one of the Elders said, "Who are these people clothed in the long white robes? And where have they come from?" ¹⁴ "My lord, you know," I replied. "They are those," he said, "who have just passed through the great distress, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵ For this reason they stand before the very throne of God, and render Him service, day after day and night after night, in His sanctuary, and He who is sitting upon the throne will shelter them in His tent. ¹⁶ They will never again be hungry or thirsty, and never again will the sun or any scorching heat trouble them. ¹⁷ For the Lamb who is in front of the throne will be their Shepherd, and will guide them to watersprings of Life, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes."

Rev 7:1-17 (WEY)

:OPENING OF THE SEVEN-SEALED SCROLL  4:1-6-8:1

Chapter 4

A Vision of God on His Throne

¹ After all this I looked and saw a door in Heaven standing open, and the voice that I had previously heard, which resembled the blast of a trumpet, again spoke to me and said, "Come up here, and I will show you things which are to happen in the future." ² Immediately I found myself in the Spirit, and saw a throne in Heaven, and some One sitting on the throne. ³ The appearance of Him who sat there was like jasper or sard; and encircling the throne was a rainbow, in appearance like an emerald. ⁴ Surrounding the throne there were also twenty-four other thrones, on which sat twenty-four Elders clothed in white robes, with victors' wreaths of gold upon their heads. ⁵ Out from the throne there came flashes of lightning, and voices, and peals of thunder, while in front of the throne seven blazing lamps were burning, which are the seven Spirits of God. ⁶ And in front of the throne there seemed to be a sea of glass, resembling crystal. And midway between the throne and the Elders, and surrounding the throne, were four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind.

 ⁷ The first living creature resembled a lion, the second an ox, the third had a face like that of a man, and the fourth resembled an eagle flying. ⁸ And each of the four living creatures had six wings, and in every direction, and within, are full of eyes; and day after day, and night after night, they never cease saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Ruler of all, who wast and art and evermore shalt be." ⁹ And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who is seated on the throne, and lives until the Ages of the Ages, ¹⁰ the twenty-four Elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives until the Ages of the Ages, and they cast their wreaths down in front of the throne, ¹¹ saying, "It is fitting, O our Lord and God, That we should ascribe unto Thee the glory and the honor and the power; For Thou didst create all things, And because it was Thy will they came into existence, and were created."

Rev 4:1-11 (WEY)

Chapter 5

The Breaking of the Seven Seals

JESUS THE CHRIST—THE MESSIAH IS WORTHY

(Breaking the “Seals” must prelude the “opening the book” or scroll, and the one doing this must be worthy of that distinction. The only one worthy of this is “the only begotten God--the First and the Last, and the ever-living One….” Who “¹⁸…died…now alive until the Ages of the Ages, and has the keys of the gates of Death and of Hades! John 1:18, Rev. 1: 18    It is interesting that the triumphing Messiah is named the Lamb in these verses.)

¹  And I saw lying in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written on both sides and closely sealed with seven seals. ² And I saw a mighty angel who was exclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book and break its seals?" ³ But no one in Heaven, or on earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book or look into it. ⁴ And while I was weeping bitterly, because no one was found worthy to open the book or look into it, ⁵ one of the Elders said to me, "Do not weep. The Lion which belongs to the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed, and will open the book and break its seven seals." ⁶ Then, midway between the throne and the four living creatures, I saw a Lamb standing among the Elders. He looked as if He had been offered in sacrifice, and He had seven horns and seven eyes. The last-named are the seven Spirits of God, and have been sent far and wide into all the earth. ⁷ So He comes, and now He has taken the book out of the right hand of Him who is seated on the throne. ⁸ And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four Elders fell down before the Lamb, having each of them a harp and bringing golden bowls full of incense, which represent the prayers of God's people. ⁹ And now they sing a new song. "It is fitting," they say, "that Thou shouldst be the One to take the book And break its seals; Because Thou hast been offered in sacrifice, And hast purchased for God with Thine own blood Some out of every tribe and language and people and nation, ¹⁰ And hast formed them into a Kingdom to be priests to our God, And they reign over the earth." ¹¹ And I looked, and heard what seemed to be the voices of countless angels on every side of the throne, and of the living creatures and the Elders. Their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, ¹² and in loud voices they were singing, "It is fitting that the Lamb which has been offered in sacrifice should receive all power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." ¹³ And as for every created thing in Heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and everything that was in any of these, I heard them say, "To Him who is seated on the throne, And to the Lamb, Be ascribed all blessing and honor And glory and might, Until the Ages of the Ages!" ¹⁴ Then the four living creatures said "Amen," and the Elders fell down and worshipped.

Rev 5:1-14 (WEY)

Chapter 6

THE SEAL JUDGEMENTS

(Breaking the “Seals” must prelude the opening of the scroll--this prelude itself brings the consequence of judgement.

In this analogy, note the significant things about each rider. They come forward in response to a command.  The riders come in a sequence; the first seal is broken and then the second, etc. but they are connected.)

¹ And

When the Lamb broke one of the seven seals I saw it, and I heard one of the four living creatures say, as if in a voice of thunder, "Come." ² And I looked

and

a white horse appeared, and its rider carried a bow; and a victor's wreath was given to him; and he went out conquering and in order to conquer.

(The first rider does involve an actual person. He comes in appearance like the Messiah—he is often mistaken for Christ.

While “breaking a Seals” brings a judgement, the first rider acts as God’s instrument,  using man against man, as shown in many Old Testament judgements.  The Lord used Babylon to bring judgement on Judah, particularily Jerusalem.  In reality this was Babylon against Judah and actually the indirect judgement of God. Jer. 25:3-11.  Vv. 9 “Because you have not obeyed My words…I will send….”  The LXX reads: “…I send and I will take the family of the North and lead them upon this land.”

The context of Jerimiah involved Israel while scriptures in Revelations deals with judgement on the world, but                   . (Rev. 6:3, 8, “a crown…, authority…,power was given to its rider.…”

He carrys a bow, which is actually an oriental weapon rather than the sword of the Romans.  I believe it is significant that he is armed with a weapon, but the weapon is not used, because it doesn’t mention any arrows.

Yet he conquers. The victor’s crown is given to him apparently as a recognition of his conquests.

Significant about this crown is the Greek word  stephanos stephanos is used –not a diadem, which Christ will wear. This stepanos is a crown of laural leaves which is temporary.  

While this rider will conquer, he comes at the wrong time. Christ doesn’t come at the beginning of the Tribulation, but at the end. See Rev. 19. True, the War of Armegedden follows after Christ comes, but that war is short and is followed by the Messianic Kingdom.  Here at the beginning, the “Wrath of God” is about to come on the world.

What is involved here, is a judgement—this is the Anti-christ,

and the world will accept tthis person. He is a very attractive person, but also very deceptive making promises—covenants that are hollow. this is followed by a devasting war whether intended it or not  likely the consequence of the previous rider.

³ And

When the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come." ⁴ And another horse came out—

a fiery-red one; and power was given to its rider to take peace from the earth, and to cause men to kill one another; and a great sword was given to him.

Actually what is given to this rider is to make men kill one another.

Does this means the victory-crowned conqueror of the white horse changes to much more cruel and heartless methods?

WAR HAPPENS.

The Greek word used for “sword” macaira is a weapon

THE GREAT SWORD (macaira  megalh) Greek Strong's Number: 3173

Greek Word: μέγας Transliteration: megas Phonetic Pronunciation:meg'-as

Root: [including the prolonged forms, feminine megale, plural megaloi, etc., cf also <G3176>, <G3187>]  Cross Reference: TDNT - 4:529,573 Part of Speech: adj Vine's Words: Great, Greatest, High, Highly, Large, Loud  Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV:  great 150
loud 33  miscellaneous translations 12   [Total Count: 195]  Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.

Bauer, Arndt, Gingrich’s Greek-English Lexicon of N.T. and Christian Lit. : “megalh  (a) of any extension in space in all directions, (b) with all the concept of spaciness,…of intensity,…a strong wind…a bright light….”  

[including the prolonged forms, feminine megale, plural megaloi, etc.; compare also <G3176> (megistos), <G3187> (meizon)]; big (literal or figurative, in a very wide application) :- (+ fear) exceedingly, great (-est), high, large, loud, mighty, + (be) sore (afraid), strong, × to years

Greek Strong's Number: 3162  Greek Word: μάχαιρα  Transliteration: machaira  Phonetic Pronunciation:makh'-ahee-rah  Root: from a presumed derivative of <G3163>  Cross Reference: TDNT - 4:524,572  Part of Speech: n f   Vine's Words: Sword

 Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: sword 29  [Total Count: 29]

probably feminine of a presumed derivative of <G3163> (mache); a knife, i.e. dirk; figurative war, judicial punishment :- sword.

—Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary

I believe the writer John uses the words "great sword", because this is a weapon and it is great.
of anyextension in space in all directions ,    No experience of a explosive weapon existed--certainly not of an atomic explosion.  But the greek wqord carrys the idea of extension in space in all directions with all the concept of spaciness,…of intensity,…a strong wind…a bright light….”

⁵ When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come." I looked, and

a black horse appeared, its rider carrying a balance in his hand. ⁶ And I heard what seemed to be a voice speaking in the midst of the four living creatures, and saying, "A quart of wheat for a shilling, and three quarts of barley for a shilling; but do not injure either the oil or the wine."

⁷ When the Lamb broke the fourth seal I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come." ⁸ I looked

 and

a pale-colored horse appeared. Its rider's name was Death, and Hades came close behind him; and authority was given to them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword or with famine or pestilence or by means of the wild beasts of the earth.

⁹ When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw at the foot of the altar the souls of those whose lives had been sacrificed because of the word of God and of the testimony which they had given. ¹⁰ And now in loud voices they cried out, saying, "How long, O Sovereign Lord, the holy One and the true, dost Thou delay judgment and the taking of vengeance upon the inhabitants of the earth for our blood?" ¹¹ And there was given to each of them a long white robe, and they were bidden to wait patiently for a short time longer, until the full number of their fellow bondservants should also complete—namely of their brethren who were soon to be killed just as they had been.

¹² When the Lamb broke the sixth seal I looked,

 and

there was a great earthquake, and the sun became as dark as sackcloth,

and the whole disc of the moon became like blood. ¹³ The stars in the sky also fell to the earth, as when a fig-tree, upon being shaken by a gale of wind, casts its unripe figs to the ground. ¹⁴ The sky too passed away, as if a scroll were being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

¹⁵ The kings of the earth and the great men, the military chiefs, the wealthy and the powerful—all, whether slaves or free men—hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, ¹⁶ while they called to the mountains and the rocks, saying, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne and from the anger of the Lamb; ¹⁷ for the day of His anger—that great day—has come, and who is able to stand?"

UP TO THIS TIME THE WORLD SCENE ENDURES THE UNBRIDLED WRATH OF MAN AGAINST MAN.

Rev 6:1-17 (WEY)

Chapter 7

¹ After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, and holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind should blow over the earth or the sea or upon any tree. ² And I saw another angel coming from the east and carrying a seal belonging to the ever-living God. He called in a loud voice to the four angels whose work it was to injure the earth and the sea.

³ "Injure neither land nor sea nor trees," he said, "until we have sealed the bondservants of our God upon their foreheads." ⁴ When the sealing was finished, I heard how many were sealed out of the tribes of the descendants of Israel. They were 144,000. ⁵ Of the tribe of Judah, 12,000 were

sealed; Of the tribe of Reuben, 12,000; Of the tribe of Gad, 12,000; ⁶ Of the tribe of Asher, 12,000; Of the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000; Of the tribe of Manasseh, 12,000; ⁷ Of the tribe of Symeon, 12,000; Of the tribe of Levi, 12,000; Of the tribe of Issachar, 12,000; ⁸ Of the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000; Of the tribe of Joseph, 12,000; Of the tribe of Benjamin, 12,000.

⁹ After this I looked, and a vast host appeared which it was impossible for anyone to count, gathered out of every nation and from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in long white robes, and carrying palm-branches in their hands. ¹⁰ In loud voices they were exclaiming, "It is to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, that we owe our salvation!" ¹¹ All the angels were standing in a circle round the throne and round the Elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces in front of the throne and worshipped God. ¹² "Even so!" they cried: "The blessing and the glory and the wisdom and the thanks and the honor and the power and the might are to be ascribed to our God, until the Ages of the Ages! Even so!" ¹³ Then, addressing me, one of the Elders said, "Who are these people clothed in the long white robes? And where have they come from?" ¹⁴ "My lord, you know," I replied. "They are those," he said, "who have just passed through the great distress, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵ For this reason they stand before the very throne of God, and render Him service, day after day and night after night, in His sanctuary, and He who is sitting upon the throne will shelter them in His tent. ¹⁶ They will never again be hungry or thirsty, and never again will the sun or any scorching heat trouble them. ¹⁷ For the Lamb who is in front of the throne will be their Shepherd, and will guide them to watersprings of Life, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes."

Rev 7:1-17 (WEY)