-
revelation… outline
Revelation Outline (G Beale’s outline slightly amended and with annotations). (1:1 ) The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place… OT prophecy anticipated an End-Time (Dan 12:4) involve divine judgements, persecution for God’s people and ultimate salvation and blessing in the kingdom…
-
revelation 13… two feral beasts
1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And…
-
revelation 12… the woman, the dragon and the man-child
The first half of John’s description of the End (4-11) focuses primarily on on the triumph of the church through end-time judgements and opposition.. The second half (12-20) mainly focuses in the enemies of the church and their final fate in the context of the triumph of the Lamb and his church. Ch 11 closes…
-
john 14 (1)… faith and the father’s house
1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come…
-
revelation 11… the church protected and witnessing
In Revelation, God’s people are depicted by various fairly familiar symbols. We have already encountered the church as an army (the 144,000) and a worshipping victorious international multitude, now in Ch 11, in an interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpet, the church is imaged as a temple and worshippers and as a prophetic witness.…
-
God the Son… true God of true God
According to the church father Augustine anyone who denies the Trinity is in danger of losing their salvation, but anyone who tries to understand the Trinity is in danger of losing their mind. To safeguard my mind (and yours) my aim here is modest. I want to consider only one aspect of the trinity namely…
-
revelation. 10… the seventh trumpet and the little scroll
The Trumpets Concluded Rev 9 ends with the reader awaiting the seventh and final trumpet. Again the sixth in each series of seven brings us to the brink of the end which arrives in the seventh. The seventh is the arrival of the eschaton or day of the Lord. The trumpets are judgemental warnings, wake-up…
-
revelation 9… the trumpets continued
Revelation 9 13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!” 1 And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and…
-
genesis 3… your desire shall be to your husband
“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be [contrary] to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” 17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife. and have eaten of the tree. of which I commanded…
-
revelation 8 (2)… the seven trumpets
The Seven trumpets The second series of judgements begin. Judgements are not a reason to despair but a reason to repent; in a sinful world God’s salvation always comes through judgement. The seventh seal ushered in the End. The trumpets repeat the pattern of the seals; they are not necessarily chronological except that, like the…
-
revelation 8 (1)… the power of prayer
Revelation 8 The seventh seal. Silence in heaven. It is the silence of stunned awe as final judgement is unleashed. ‘1 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to…
-
revelation 1 (5)… a time frame
Revelation has known a variety of interpretative approaches over the years. These inevitably affect the time frame in which the middle section of the book is considered to be set (Ch 6-18). Different systems understand this time period differently. first, some general comments on time in Revelation Revelation is apocalyptic prophecy. It stands in conscious…
-
depression and assurance of salvation
Depression often generates troubling thoughts. One distressing thought it can raise in a Christian’s mind is, ‘Am I saved?’ It’s easy to doubt your salvation. How do we address these doubts. In this brief post I’m going to assume these doubts are arising from depression and not from major persistent high-handed sins. If these are…
-
revelation 7… the 144,00 and the great multitude.
Revelation is a visionary narrative of what John saw and heard. It is describing End-time events. However, it is not a simple chronological narrative. The backbone of the narrative is God’s judgements. God’s judgements, expressed in the seven seals, trumpets, thunders and bowls sweep the world at the end of history. They are an expression…
-
revelation 6… the seven seals
John is a prophet commissioned by Christ to reveal to the church the events that will bring history as we know it to a conclusion (1:1,2). These events were described as ‘near’ (v3). In Ch 4, 5 John is translated to the heavenly court to observe divine councils, a mark of a true prophet. The…
-
psalm 143… a prayer for help based on God’s mercy
1 Hear my prayer, O LORD;give ear to my pleas for mercy!In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!2 Enter not into judgment with your servant,for no one living is righteous before you.3 For the enemy has pursued my soul;he has crushed my life to the ground;he has made me sit in darkness like those…
-
revelation and dispensationalism
Revelation and Dispensationalism In these posts on Revelation I adopt a historic premillennial approach. Part of me is inclined to amillennialism because it permits all final judgements and blessings to flow immediately from the Second Coming which seems to articulate with many NT texts. However, in Rev 20, amillennialism faces a difficult, maybe insurmountable, uphill…
-
revelation 5… the lamb is worthy
1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one…
-
revelation 4… the throne
Revelation 4 To read Revelation Ch 4 is to be confronted with the throne. Ch 4 introduces a new vision and a new section of the book. Ch 4, 5 are the basis for all the chapters that follow. In chapter one, John saw a vision of Jesus as the sovereign Lord of the seven…
-
psalm 143… my spirit faints within me… you are my God
Psalm 143 is a psalm of David. Here as in many other psalms he no doubt voices the prayer of many of the godly in Israel. The psalm is the last of four similar psalms of lament (141-144). It has been classed among the penitential psalms since David acknowledges his sin (v1). However, there is…
-
revelation 1 (4)… the vision
The prologue over we now come now to the first of John’s visions. Appropriately, it is a vision of the glorified Christ in the midst of his churches. The vision takes place on the Lord’s day, the specifically Christian day and fitting for visions about the Lord and his church. Vv9-11 suffering, kingdom and endurance…
-
revelation 1 (3)… themes
In the two previous posts we reflected a little on both Revelation’s genre and people. The genre we noted is in great part apocalyptic accounting for the highly symbolic nature of the book. Its intended audience was the C1 church. specifically the seven churches to whom Jesus speaks. Like other NT books however it is…
-
revelation 1 (2)… the church
Revelation 1 John to the seven churches that are in Asia Minor (1:4) In the previous post we considered how the opening chapter of the book prepares us for the highly symbolic form of the book. We noted it shared features belonging to a literary genre popular at that time that we call apocalyptic. The…
-
revelation 1 (1)… genre
Revelation, the last book of our Bible, is a book we tend to find both fascinating and incomprehensible in equal measure. The features that draw us to it, its many images, sometimes bizarre, sometimes grotesque and sometimes sublime, also make it difficult to understand. What do they mean? What is their message? How do I…
-
psalm 24… who is the king of glory?
1 The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof,the world and those who dwell therein,2 for he has founded it upon the seasand established it upon the rivers.3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?And who shall stand in his holy place?4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,who does not…
-
psalm 23… the lord is my shepherd
Psalm 23 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.He leads me beside still waters.3 He restores my soul.He leads me in paths of righteousnessfor his name’s sake.4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil,for you…
-
psalm 137… remembering zion
1 By the waters of Babylon,there we sat down and wept,when we remembered Zion.2 On the willows therewe hung up our lyres.3 For there our captorsrequired of us songs,and our tormentors, mirth, saying,“Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”4 How shall we sing the LORD’s songin a foreign land?5 If I forget you, O…
-
imprecation
When we read the OT we come across imprecatory passages. Imprecations invoke God’s judgement upon the writer’s enemies. They cry for vengeance and call down curse, calamity, and destruction and sometimes in stomach churning ways. For example, in Psalm 137 the writer exclaims to the Babylonians, ‘ 9 Blessed shall he be who takes your…
-
psalm 8… how majestic is your name in all the earth
Psalm 8 1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I look at your heavens,…
-
psalm 118… the steadfast love of the lord
I1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;for his steadfast love endures forever!2 Let Israel say,“His steadfast love endures forever.3 Let the house of Aaron say,“His steadfast love endures forever.”4 Let those who fear the LORD say,“His steadfast love endures forever”5 Out of my distress I called on the LORD;the LORD answered…
-
psalm 84… seeking the lord
Geoff Grogan along with others believes this Psalm is a pilgrim song for use at the the three annual pilgrim feasts. Its writer as a son of Korah would have a Levitical background making him familiar with the temple although he seems to be away from it. Although the main focus of Psalm 84 is…
-
who is a son of abraham?
Genesis 1-11 is a tale that starts well and ends very badly. God creates the heavens and the earth for his own glory and the blessing of humanity that he makes in his image. However, it is not long before humanity rebels against its Maker. In fact it wants to take his place. From there…
-
a bruised reed
Isa 42:3,4 A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; Do you ever feel vulnerable? Do you have times when you. feel like a bruised reed? Perhaps the only thing more vulnerable than a reed blowing in the wind is a bruised reed. And the only thing…
-
john 11… jesus and lazarus
In the introduction to John we read of Jesus, ‘in him was life and that life was the light of men’. At various points in the gospel Jesus has claimed to be the source of life in earlier. In Ch 11 his claim is developed is revealed to be demonstrably true in his raising of…
-
isaiah, the preface… judah and jerusalem, (ch1-5)
Isaiah’s vision concerns ‘Judah and Jerusalem‘ (1:1). For while the glory of God himself in both judgement and salvation lies at the heart of the book, integrally associated with this glory in both aspects is the destiny of Israel and Jerusalem. Judah and Jerusalem matter to God. People and place are central to his creatorial…
-
christ …impeccable yet tempted
Dr D Blair Smith of Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary Charlotte has a good article on Christ’s impeccability which can be found here on the Gospel Coalition website. It is encouraging that impeccability (unable to sin) is defended in a climate where peccability (able to sin) thrives and (through continued Barthian…
-
interpreting ot prophecy…. literal and figurative
Interpreting OT prophecy…. In our schooldays we learned that there are different kinds of literature that employ different conventions. Only by recognising the form of literature, knowing its conventions and applying them as we read can we grasp the author’s intended meaning. If we are unfamiliar with the genre (kind of literature) and its conventions…
-
God is good
Ps 34: 8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! There are times when for health reasons I struggle emotionally. In these times I can find it difficult to read the Bible and pray. In fact, thinking itself can be tiring. Sometimes the most…
-
isaiah 65… a new heavens and new earth
17 For behold, I create new heavensand a new earth,and the former things shall not be rememberedor come into mind.18 But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I createfor behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,and her people to be a gladness.19 I will rejoice in Jerusalemand be glad in my people;no…
-
isaiah 55… attention all who thirst’
Which of us has not heard a gospel appeal based on Isaiah 55. Those of us of a certain vintage and background have certainly. And the preacher was not misguided for this chapter is just that – a gospel invitation from the Lord. It is the Lord who appeals. While the whole of the OT…
-
isaiah 54… jerusalem and her children
Anyone commenting (even on a blog) on the OT comes up against a number of difficulties. Firstly for many of us, and certainly for me, a generally poor grasp of the OT makes it difficult to comment with certainty. Secondly, distinguishing between fused immediate and distant horizons in fulfilment can be challenging. Thirdly, although the…
-
isaiah’s suffering servant… the fourth song 52:13-53:13 (2)
(A fairly long post. Thank you to all who persevere in reading it.) Ch 40 begins a new section in Isaiah’s prophecy. The first 39 chapters address pre-exilic Israel and although they contain some bright spots the tone is largely critical with many announcements of impending judgement. In the second half of the book Isaiah…
-
isaiah’s suffering servant… the fourth song 52:13-53:13 (1)
An introduction We have reached the fourth and final servant song. (at least those where he is designated servant). We have previously noticed the ambiguity of the servant in Isaiah. It is clear that Israel, the nation, is God’s servant, his chosen one (41:8-10). Yet Israel is a disobedient servant, a rebellious servant, blind and…
-
do not cast me off in my old age…psalm 71
Psalm 71 9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent. …18 So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, I have now reached my 65th year. I know many in their mid-sixties do not feel old. In…
-
isaiah 50:4-11… the servant who gives his back to those who strike him
Isaiah 50:4-11 The third servant song Kidner, commenting on the song writes: After the display of patient gentleness in the first ‘Song’ (42:1–9) and the acceptance of frustrating toil in the second (49:4, 7), here the Servant faces the active spite and fury of evil. It is only a step, the reader feels, to the…
-
isa 49…. the servant a polished arrow
Intro In previous posts we reflected on some of the themes in Isaiah 40-55. These chapters are addressed to Israel in exile. Isaiah prophesying many years earlier anticipates the Judah’s exile in Babylon and her return some 70 years later. God will raise up a Persian King, Cyrus (the Great), to overthrow Babylon, Israel’s captors.…
-
the bible’s big story
Below is an attempt to summarise the Bible’s ‘Big Story’ in a few paragraphs. Among the many waypoints it is difficult to know which to include and which to miss out. My summary will not satisfy everyone (it doesn’t really satisfy me). Perhaps you may find it useful to write your own summary. As a…
-
behold my servant… isaiah 42
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. 2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; 3 a bruised reed he will not break, and…
-
israel… the rebellious servant
The previous servant post reflected briefly on the two servants found in Isaiah 40-55, one named and one usually unnamed. Our contention was that while both servants evidently share some form of common identity – both are the Lord’s ‘chosen servant‘ and both are designated ‘Israel‘ – yet distinctions exist that sharply distinguish between them.…
-
unto us a child is born…
I don’t know about you but there are times I see the world as an increasingly hostile and threatening place. It can be threatening to non-Christians and is so for many in some deeply troubled places in the world. For Christians it is threatening too for it is at heart hostile to God. This has…
Cave Adullam
Exploring the Bible
Cave Adullam 