REVELATION CHAPTER FOUR

Another thing that occurred in a conversation today was when I talked to someone aboht the state of Europe today. (This involves political themes, but I’m drawing a religious message.). There are foreigners committing savage crimes across the continent. It made me think of how fallen we are and how great many men used to seem to me. The world wars took the lives of the best men of European civilization and putative Christendom. But then I was reminded of how weak all men are before God. It was striking to think about how even some of the men from past generations I may want to emulate are so weak before God. God literally sustains all life for everyone at every second. It is crazy to me to think of God helping to determine the fate of all of those men, even while also acknowledging how it is fair and just. It also reminds me of the prophecies in Deuteronomy and Samuel which involved the eventual condemnation of Israel and the subjection of Israel to so many horrors and indignities and oppressions as a result of their lack of faith before God. Certainly Europe and America, to whom much was given, is suffering a fate similar. We did not do what God required of us. It’s also helpful for me to remember that in the Bible war never seemed to be good and always seemed to involve corruption, which lends insight to do many countless examples of corruption in the world wars involving high finance, genocide, war mongering, and diplomatic sabotage. So many of us were taken captive and became servants to sin. It was a true absurdity and horror show, but at least we know that we can trust God in all of it.

Revelation is one of my favorite books of the Bible. It’s so full and rich and expansive. It says so much about the world and God’s plans and gives great insight into how to understand the current application of OT prophecies.

here, this may be *A* definition of "in the spirit" - inwardly, of the heart - Romans 2:29. came across that one today and thought of this post. does anyone see any more? tho it isnt too clear to me, either. and perhaps i should not comment because i am usually somewhat beside my own body rather than in it the next 48hrs be like 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 [thinking emoji face] also i am thinking of the outward appearance, as there seem to be an inward (re...inwardly...heart) one also. 2Corinthians 10:7, John 7:24 also doors Psalms 141:3

Great explanation. The imagery from these verses has always been mysterious to me. Even the symbolism you explain is somewhat lost on my modern understanding. It is enough for me to understand that the verses convey the limitless power, presence , grandeur of God and His throne. John's picture of the power of God's throne is re-assuring as John proceeds to lay out the Revelation he was given of future events. This is God's plan for the World and He is in complete control. Nowhere does God's plan for the World as set forward in the Revelation talk about raptures and other like nonsense.

Great message/lesson! Blessed to share this as well, thank you Reg for this study.