Archive for Trinity

Independence Day, July 4th, 2023

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Culture, Freedom in Christ, Jubilee, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 4, 2023 by paulthepoke

Leviticus 25:10 And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan.

Our foundation as a country in the United States draws its concept of freedom and liberty from Leviticus 25:10. The verse is written on the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Abolitionists during the Civil War turned to the Liberty Bell and the verse from Leviticus 25 as a reason to end slavery. Cultures and societies can change when people take God’s word to heart and decide to follow His statutes.

The State House bell became a herald of liberty in the 19th century. “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thereof,” the bell’s inscription, provided a rallying cry for abolitionists wishing to end slavery. The Anti-Slavery Record, an abolitionist publication, first referred to the bell as the Liberty Bell in 1835, but that name was not widely adopted until years later. Millions of Americans became familiar with the bell in popular culture through George Lippard’s 1847 fictional story “Ring, Grandfather, Ring”, when the bell came to symbolize pride in a new nation. Beginning in the late 1800s, the Liberty Bell traveled across the country for display at expositions and fairs, stopping in towns small and large along the way. For a nation recovering from wounds of the Civil War, the bell served to remind Americans of a time when they fought together for independence. Movements from Women’s Suffrage to Civil Rights embraced the Liberty Bell for both protest and celebration. Pennsylvania suffragists commissioned a replica of the Liberty Bell. Their “Justice Bell” traveled across Pennsylvania in 1915 to encourage support for women’s voting rights legislation. It then sat chained in silence until the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. Now a worldwide symbol, the bell’s message of liberty remains just as relevant and powerful today: “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thereof”

https://www.nps.gov/inde/learn/historyculture/stories-libertybell.htm

Can you believe it? The ideas of freedom and liberty come from the Old Testament Mosaic Law!

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This passage and context in Leviticus 25 are loaded with prophetic implications regarding Christ’s first and second coming. Click on the link below if interested in the prophecy related to the concept of Jubilee.

https://paulthepoke.com/category/jubilee/

Isaiah 61:1-2 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn…

The concepts of freedom and liberty are captured by the prophet Isaiah as it is reflected in the Mosaic Law and the Jubilee. All three persons of the Trinity are involved in this communication. The “Me” is the Son. The Spirit is upon Him (the Son). The Father is represented by the title Lord GOD or Adonai Yahweh in the original Hebrew.

Jesus read and spoke these words in the synagogue of His home town Nazareth (Luke 4:16). Jesus is reading from Isaiah 61:1-2a. He reads verse 1 completely.

Jesus then stops reading in the middle of Isaiah 61:2. By reading these words, He was claiming to be the Messiah. In other words, “Here I am!!” Jesus is also arguably proclaiming a Jubilee year. This has significant prophetic implications in regards to the timing of His second coming.

Take a look at Isaiah 61:2. To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD (Jesus stops here.) and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn…

The stoppage of reading in the verse has lasted close to 2,000 years. At His first coming, Jesus was a suffering servant who died for our sins. His sacrificial death on the cross freed humanity from the bondage of sin.

Christ did not come in vengeance and judgment the first time, hence the pause. And we wait for the remainder of Isaiah 61:2b-11. It describes the future conditions of the nation Israel under the leadership of the Messiah, Jesus.

Jesus returns the second time in wrath and judgment to set the stage for an everlasting peace…

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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Knowing Truth From Lies

Posted in #PaulthePoke with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 13, 2022 by paulthepoke

Scripture: 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude

Memory Verse: 3 John 1:4, I have no greater joy than this, to hear my children walking in the truth.

Key Theme: These four epistles offer concepts of contrasts. Ultimately, what is the truth and what is a lie?

God is the source of truth. All three persons of the Trinity are truth as a source. May God be found true (Romans 3:4). The Spirit is stated as truth in 1 John 5:7. Jesus proclaimed He is the truth in John 14:6. Jesus is the representation of the Father (Hebrews 1:3).

Truth can be learned from many sources. Some of these include the apostles. The apostles saw, touched, and heard the truth in Jesus for themselves (1 John 1:1-3). Truth can be learned from members of the church. A positive example would be Demetrius who received a good testimony from the truth itself (3 John 1:12). Truth can be learned from the spirits. But it is important to test the spirits to determine if they are from God (1 John 4:1). A teacher of the church can teach the truth for the building up of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12). Practically, the truth can be learned by reading the Word, our Bible.

There are consequences when choosing or rejecting the truth. Choices lead to practicing righteousness or sin (1 John 3:7-10). There is the choice of light (God) or darkness (lies), (1 John 1:5-6).

How do we handle the issue of sin? Are sins confessed or is personal sin denied? Confession of sins can lead to forgiveness and cleansing. Denying sin results in making Christ a liar (1 John 1:8-10). There are considerations of obedience and practice in regards to God’s commandments. Application of teaching determines whether or not one has God (2 John 1:6-9). Choose good over evil (3 John 1:11). The choice to love leads to life. He who does not love abides in death (1 John 3:14). Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer (1 John 3:15). It is important to practice what one believes. Ultimately, your eternity hinges on whether or not you believe the truth that Jesus died for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3).

Jesus tells us in John 8:44 that truth is not found in Satan. He is the father of lies. It is his nature to lie. It is his desire to lie. Satan does not stand for the truth. He is a liar. Satan is a sinner from the beginning (1 John 3:8). Satan has many instruments at his disposal to dispatch lies. The antichrist of the future is noted in 1 John 2:18. Even now the spirit of the antichrist is at work (1 John 4:3). In Revelation 13 the beast from the earth or the false prophet dispenses lies. He calls for the worship of the antichrist. False spirits are called to be tested in 1 John 4:1. False prophets (1 John 4:1) are at work in the world. Satan also has demons at his disposal. He is the ruler of demons (Matthew 12:24). Members of the church are noted. Characteristics of these men are described in Jude 1:12, 13, and 16. A specific example of a man in the church would be Diotrephes. He rejected the authority of the apostles and was singled out with condemnation (3 John 1:9-10). Satan also has the world at his disposal. The whole world lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19).

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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Freedom in the Old Testament

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Freedom in Christ, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 16, 2022 by paulthepoke

The knowledge of freedom has its beginning in the Mosaic Law in Leviticus 25.

Leviticus 25:10 You shall thus consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim a release through the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, and each of you shall return to his own property, and each of you shall return to his family.

The context of the verse quoted is a description of the jubilee year. Release the inhabitants and freedom for all the slaves. Imagine that. Freedom, liberty are expressed in the context of the Old Testament Mosaic Law.

National Park Services

Our foundation as a country in the United States draws its concept of freedom and liberty from Leviticus 25:10. The verse is written on the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Abolitionists during the Civil War turned to the Liberty Bell and the verse from Leviticus 25 as a reason to end slavery. Cultures and societies can change when people take God’s word to heart and decide to follow His statutes.

This passage and context in Leviticus 25 are loaded with prophetic implications regarding His second coming. Click on the link below if interested in the prophecy related to the concept of Jubilee.

https://paulthepoke.com/category/jubilee/

See the YouTube video link below for audio/video of this post along with further commentary.

Isaiah 61:1-2 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn…

The concept of freedom is captured by the prophet Isaiah as it is reflected in the Mosaic Law and the Jubilee. All three persons of the Trinity are involved in this communication. The “Me” is the Son. The Spirit is upon Him (the Son). The Father is represented by the title Lord GOD or Adonai Yahweh in the original Hebrew.

Jesus read and spoke these words in the synagogue of His home town Nazareth (Luke 4:16). Jesus is reading from Isaiah 61:1-2a. He reads verse 1 completely.

Jesus then stops reading in the middle of Isaiah 61:2. By reading these words, He was claiming to be the Messiah. In other words, “Here I am!!” Jesus is also arguably proclaiming a Jubilee year. This author would argue the year 30 AD. This event appears to be at the onset of His ministry. We can have lots of debate about the date at another time. This has significant prophetic implications in regards to the timing of His second coming.

Take a look at Isaiah 61:2. To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD (Jesus stops here.) and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn…

The stoppage of reading in the verse has lasted close to 2,000 years. At His first coming, Jesus was a suffering servant who died for our sins. His sacrificial death on the cross freed humanity from the bondage of sin.

Christ did not come in vengeance and judgment the first time, hence the pause. And we wait for the remainder of Isaiah 61:2b-11. It describes the future conditions of the nation Israel under the leadership of the Messiah, Jesus. He returns the second time in wrath to set the stage for an everlasting peace.

It is not only humanity who is freed from the bondage of sin. It also the creation.

Romans 8:19-21 For the eagerly awaiting creation waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

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Revelation’s Four Living Creatures

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Angels, Revelation with tags , , , , , , on November 17, 2019 by paulthepoke

Revelation 4:6b-8 And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

Welcome to the throne room of Heaven. These are Revelation’s four creatures. They have an up close and personal view of the throne itself. These are not the four creatures mentioned in Ezekiel 1. See the details of these four faced beings below.

https://paulthepoke.com/2019/11/10/four-living-creatures/

An individual being is located on each of the four side of the throne. John observes twice that each entity is loaded with eyes all of over their bodies.

Revelation 4:6b …full of eyes in front and behind…

Revelation 4:8a,c And the four living creatures… are full of eyes all around and within…

Each creature has six wings.

Revelation 4:8a,b And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings…

Each being is distinct in its appearance. They are described as being similar to or resembling a corresponding animal. The body of the third creature is not described but its face is.

Revelation 4:7 …the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.

Their message is consistent and non stop. God is holy.

Revelation 4:8b “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

Some believe the three calls for “holy” is a reference to the Trinity and recognition that each member (Father, Son, and Spirit) is indeed God.

Holy or ἅγιος/hagios in the Greek is defined as sacred, set apart, or different, distinguished, distinct unlike anything else.

The Hebrew word for holy is qodesh.

God’s holiness is foundational. God’s holiness separates Him from sin. Holiness is the most mentioned attribute of God in Scripture.

Psalm 47:8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.

Psalm 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

Psalm 9:7 But the LORD sits enthroned forever; He has established his throne for justice…

Psalm 97:2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

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These four creatures will introduce the four horsemen of the Apocalypse in Revelation 6. The lion like creature will call for the first white horse and its rider. The ox like creature will call for the red horse and rider. The man faced being will call for the black horse and rider. The eagle like creature will call for the pale horse and rider. They all make the same proclamation, “Come!“

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And these four creatures proclaim the eternal nature of God.

Revelation 4:8b …who was and is and is to come!

Revelation 4:9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever…

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Straight Talk… The Trinity, Baptism and Resurrection, Featuring Rodna Epley

Posted in Gospel, Rodna Epley with tags , , , , , , , , , , on September 19, 2018 by paulthepoke

Rodna LightIn Matthew’s telling of Jesus’ baptism something amazing happened when Jesus was submerged into the water. Scripture tells that He “came up immediately from the water” as if what they saw was miraculous. It should have taken the normal time to come up after being dunked with the baptizer helping, but in Jesus’ case something supernatural raised Him up, making people take note of it and make record of it. It wasn’t normal. In fact, the heavens opened at the same time, the Spirit of God descended in the form of a dove and the voice of the Father spoke. Have you ever been curious as to what raised Jesus up out of the water so quickly that people wanted to record it? Scripture tells us. Here’s the story as recorded in Matthew 3:13-17…

JesusBaptism

Matthew 3:13-14 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”

Matthew 3:15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.

Matthew 3:16-17 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

The baptism was more than symbolic of His death because everything Jesus did was prophetic. In fact, the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit the Prophecy.

Revelation 19:10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

His baptism was not only a “fulfillment of all righteousness” but it set the prophetic timer on His own death and resurrection. His own words were to later set the alarm clock to be raised from the dead 3 days after He was crucified when He declared…

John 2:19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

resurrection-2

But, at His baptism in the Jordan River, 3 years prior to His death, the One’s who were present at His baptism were the same One’s present at Jesus’ death and resurrection. 

Scripture tells us who and what that was…

  1. The glory of the Father raised Jesus from the dead. “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)
  2. The Spirit of God raised Jesus from the dead. “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:11)
  3. The Power of God raised Jesus from the dead. “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 1:19-20)
  4. Jesus’ own prophetic words raised Jesus from the dead. “Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19) and “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” (John 10:17-18)

So that which raised Christ from the dead is that which raised Him up out of the water: The glory of the Father, the Spirit of God, the Power of God, and Jesus’ own prophetic words. In the case of His baptism, those words were most likely “Let it be so for now, for it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

But don’t miss the fact that the baptism and death and resurrection were all initiated by the Father of glory. Through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, we as Sons of the Kingdom are restored to our Father and restored to His glory.

I just think it’s so interesting how all of the Trinity was present and participated at both events, and that the Father bestowed all glory and honor upon His Son. It’s also extremely important to understand and know that Jesus gave us the same glory the Father gave Him before the world was so that we could all become one as the Bride of Christ (John 17:5,22,23) following in His pattern. Just wow! Consider the implications of all that…

God is a Genius isn’t He?! Have a blessed day saints! <3

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Straight Talk… Understanding the Trinity, Rodna Epley

Posted in Rodna Epley with tags , , , , , , , on July 25, 2018 by paulthepoke

Rodna LightScripture reveals each member of the Trinity to a New Covenant believer in this same order. Jesus (Wisdom), the Holy Spirit (Revelation), then the Father (Knowledge of the Glory).

God is “One” because of His glory. It’s all the same glory. In the glory we too become one with Him.

John 17:5,22,23 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

The glory is the very image that we are being transformed.

2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

trinity

Trying to understand the Trinity apart from the glory is impossible. But knowledge of the Father, who is the Glory, makes understanding easy. So revelation of the Trinity comes in this way: wisdom, revelation, knowledge of Him.

John 4:23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him…

 

So the Father searches (the world over?) for someone who will worship Him in spirit and truth, then draws that person to Jesus, revealing His Son to the hearer. Jesus said the Father is the only One who knows the Son. In Matthew 16:17b when it was revealed to Peter that Jesus was the Christ, Son of the living God, Jesus responded with, “…flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”

So although the Father is always at work in the revelation of Himself to His creation, the knowledge of Him isn’t automatically revealed or understood. Jesus is revealed first, the Word, Wisdom from above. The Holy Spirit is revealed next…

John 16:13,14 when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me.

A personal relationship with the Holy Spirit begins.

 

The Father is the last to be revealed.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Matthew 11:27 …Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.

 

Jesus is the One who chooses when to reveal the Father. Revelation of the Father is having knowledge of the Glory. So God has chosen to reveal Himself to His creation using this same order: Wisdom, Revelation, Knowledge of the Glory.

Ephesians 1:15-20 Therefore I…do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places…

 

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Straight Talk…God’s Glory & Resurrection, Rodna Epley

Posted in Gospel, Resurrection, Rodna Epley, Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , , , on February 7, 2018 by paulthepoke

RodnaThe power of God is in His glory. Romans 6:4 tells us that it was the glory of the Father that raised Jesus from the dead!

Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

What’s really cool is that in John 2:19 Jesus set Heaven’s alarm clock for this to happen when Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

This wasn’t just prophetic as we know the word prophetic. Jesus’ words went into the future and set the timer for Him to be raised from the dead by the Father’s glory!

Jesus was operating in His Father’s glory, the same glory He gave us in John 17:5,22, which is activated by the spoken Word! Wow! His Word amazes me! The fact that we too are supposed to operate in this same glory is even more mind blowing.

John 17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

John 17:22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one…

resurrection-2

– So Jesus raised Himself from the dead by His own spoken prophetic word.

John 2:19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

 
– The Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead.

Romans 8:11 If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

 
– And the glory of the Father raised Jesus from the dead!

Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

The THREE raised Jesus from the dead as ONE!

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Revelation: Sardis, One Spirit

Posted in Prophecy, Resurrection with tags , , , , , , , , on June 17, 2017 by paulthepoke

Revelation 3:1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: 

Who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars? Well, that would be Jesus. We know this from the letter to the church at Ephesus from Revelation 2:1. Jesus is giving us a reminder and a review plus some additional information. The review is regarding the seven stars.

Revelation 2:1a “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand…

The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand…What are stars? The answer is given in Revelation 1:20b …the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches… Stars are angels of the churches.

 

The new information is regarding the seven Spirits of God.

In the New Testament, the Greek word for “Spirit” is πνεῦμα/pneuma. Per Strong’s Concordance, pneuma is defined in this context as: the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son; sometimes referred to in a way which emphasizes his personality and character as the Holy Spirit; sometimes referred to in a way which emphasizes his work and power as the Spirit of Truth; never referred to as a depersonalized force.

This is not Star Wars. The Spirit is not the Force…The Spirit is a person of the Trinity.

Four times in the book of Revelation, the seven Spirits of God are referenced. See Revelation 1:4, 3:1, 4:5, and 5:6.

Scripture informs the seven Spirits of God are before the throne in Revelation 1:4 and 4:5.

Revelation 4:5b defines the issue of the seven Spirits of God. Lamps equal seven Spirits.

Revelation 4:5b And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;

Revelation 5:6 reveals more information regarding the seven Spirits of God.

Revelation 5:6 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.

 

The number “seven (7)” in the Bible indicates completeness, fullness, and perfection. This is not in reference to seven individual Spirits. The Bible is clear. The grammar and syntax in the verse below in reference to the “Spirit” are singular. There is one Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

Other verses indicate the singular nature of the Spirit. Another example is noted below.

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

There is one Holy Spirit of God.

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Millennial Kingdom: A Just and Truthful Leader

Posted in Isaiah, Millennial Kingdom, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on August 21, 2016 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 9:7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.

A focus of this verse is the eternal nature of the rule of Jesus, the Messiah. His rule will increase continually in abundance and it will never end.

There will be peace or shalom in the Hebrew. As described by Strong’s Concordance, this is the idea of peace: completeness, soundness, welfare; safety; health, prosperity; quiet, tranquility, contentment; absence of war; friendship of human relationships; with God especially in covenant relationship.

There will be an abundance of peace with unlimited growth.

Isaiah 11:5 Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins, and faithfulness the belt about His waist.

This would be an example where our translators have opted for political correctness. The Hebrew word for loins and waist can also be translated as testicles. This Leader owns “a pair” and He will demonstrate it when it comes to doing things the right way.

The belt is equated with righteousness and truth. This is the case in Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth… and having put on the breastplate of righteousness…The Apostle Paul is quoting Isaiah 11:5 and 59:17.

Jeremiah 23:5 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land.

Jesus will not be flying around and holding pep rallies. He is not going to give speeches on policy and hollow promises. The Messiah will be a man of action.

…act wisely…He will be the agent of change and cause. He will have insight. He will be prudent. He will be a wise teacher. Success and prosperity will be the result.

…do justice…Jesus will act as a judge. He will decide cases and execute judgment with perfection against the laws. See Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. It will be absolutely fair.

…do righteousness…The Lord will do what is morally and ethically right. This is the same word that describes the leader from the line of David, a righteous Branch. Truth will be on display.

Isaiah 42:1-2 “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry out or raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the street.”

Jesus is not going to scream and yell at us like politicians (plural) of the 2016 American Elections. He will not be seeking attention to Himself. Look at me! Look at me! Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk…

He will take care of business and just simply do it.

1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

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Heaven’s Throne Room

Posted in Isaiah with tags , , , , , , , , , on October 21, 2012 by paulthepoke

Expanding on Isaiah 6:1, what does the throne room of Heaven look like? There are other references to the physical description of the Heavenly throne in Scripture. The majority of the physical description noted is about God Himself. One of the references is in the Old Testament and one of the references is in the New Testament.

The first example is from Revelation. The apostle John who is imprisoned on Patmos is the author and he is the one in the Spirit.

Revelation 4:2-3 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.

The two stones of jasper and sardius are of interest as they describe God. Jasper is defined as a precious stone of various colors (purple, blue, green, white, clear, and brass in color). Sardius is a precious stone that is fleshly colored.

The color of the throne room is a green, gem like emerald. The rainbow encompasses the throne.

Verse 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 

Imagine the visual and acoustic environment this would create. Lightning and thunder are emanating from the throne.  Lamps representing the Spirit of God are blazing with fire in front of the throne. The number seven is symbolic of completeness, fullness, perfection.

Verse 6a and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal… 

The Old Testament description is provided by the prophet Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 1:26-28 Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man. Then I noticed from the appearance of His loins and upward something like glowing metal that looked like fire all around within it, and from the appearance of His loins and downward I saw something like fire; and there was a radiance around Him. As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.

The throne is compared to lapis luzuli. What is that? It is translated as a sapphire stone in some cases. Sapphires can come in many colors. The most common color is blue.

The Ezekiel passage discusses the physical appearance of God. He looks like a man. God told us in the Genesis creation account that humanity was made in His image. Ezekiel confirms this with his observation. God looks like a man.

The physical description of God is consistent with fire. Fire is a symbol of judgment and purification.

Genesis 9:9-17, God establishes a covenant and a promise with man and all living creatures. Notice, man’s actions affect the living environment around him. The rainbow is a reminder and a symbol of God’s mercy. Specifically, Genesis 9:15 indicates… and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh.

The Triune God is present in the throne room in Heaven. The Father is seated on the throne. The Spirit is present as lampstands. The Son is the One who will open the scrolls later in the scene in Revelation 5. 

The symbols and description of God in the throne room depict: strength, power, beauty, judgment, preciousness, and mercy.

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