THE BOOK OF REVELATION CONDENSED

I wanted to post a link to my website that provides a condensed, more easily understood version of my understanding of the book of Revelation.  The signs of the times are so apparent all around us.  I truly believe the coming of the LORD is at hand.  This is the version of Revelation that is in my book as available at Amazon for Kindle or in print (shown in sidebar).  I hope it encourages you in your study and/or motivates you to check out the scripture for yourself to determine your own understanding.  I'm always up for critique given in the spirit of wanting to learn and understand.  This is just my understanding to this point in time, subject to change according to further understanding as led by the Spirit's teaching.

https://www.momsbiblejournal.com/revelation-condensed

A Meditation on 1Peter 2:9

1Pet. 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 

Meanings from Greek; additional from Webster’s in parenthesis:

chosen – elect, favorite (adopt)

generation - kin, family, offspring, kind (The body of those who are of the same genealogical rank or remove from an ancestor)

royal – royal, kingly (under the patronage of royalty) 

priesthood – (order of men set apart for sacred offices)

holy – religious awe, sacred, an awful thing (set apart to the service or worship of God; spiritually whole, pure in heart, guiltless) 

nation – a race, as of the same habit; a tribe (A part, or division, of the people of the earth, distinguished from the rest by common descent, language, or institutions)

peculiar – an acquisition, purchased, possession, saving (One’s own; belonging solely or especially to an individual; not possessed by others; of private, personal, or characteristic possession and use; not owned in common or in participation.) 

people – (an aggregate of individuals forming a whole)  

I just felt the need to look up all these words to try to get the full impact of why Peter was inspired to describe the believers in a variety of composite wholes.  

1. At first glance it seems that the first unit describes our position in Jesus as adopted into the family.  We are all adopted at the same level, as brothers and sisters—not some as cousins, aunts, uncles, or grandchildren, etc.—we are brothers and sisters in Jesus.  
2. Our Father just happens to be the King of kings, and we are set apart to hold sacred offices, to act in special relationship to the King on behalf of ourselves and others—as priests.  
3. We are bound together as a nation through a common belief system, faith in God.  We are set apart to serve and worship God.  This service and worship will draw us together as a spiritual whole when performed from a pure (genuine, sincere, clean) heart.  We can worship and serve guiltless because our sins are covered by the shed blood of Jesus.  
4. We are a group of individuals purchased through the blood of Jesus for His possession.  He is a jealous God and expects our undivided commitment to Him.

     Exodus 34:14 “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God….”

It seems that we all enjoy the part of being a child of The King, and we often live as though we have no other responsibilities.  To whom much is given, much is required—and we have been given the greatest Gift and gifts.  Our hearts should be so overflowing with love and gratitude that we are ready to do whatever will please and bring glory to The King—Our Father.  We are to “shew forth” this love and gratitude and praise through how we live and what we say.  Because of His love for us, He provided for our salvation through His only Son, and called us out of the darkness (bondage to sin) and into His marvelous, wonderful light (freedom to live in love and joy in victory over sin). 

Wiersbe:  “Each of these four pictures emphasizes the importance of unity and harmony.  We belong to one family of God and share the same divine nature.  We are living stones in one building and priests serving in one temple.  We are citizens of the same heavenly homeland.  It is Jesus Christ who is the source and center of this unity.  If we center our attention and affection on Him, we will walk and work together; if we focus on ourselves, we will only cause division."

Some Thoughts from Hebrews 12:1

Heb. 12:1 ¶ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 

“Wherefore” – Based on what we just read

“compassed about…witnesses” – The writer is speaking in reference to the people of faith just talked about in chapter 11 and identifies them as witnesses.  Webster’s definition of a witness adds a lot of perspective:  “…testimony.…That which furnishes evidence or proof….One who is cognizant; a person who beholds, or otherwise has personal knowledge of, anything.”

Most significantly, their lives testify to us of the evidence of the power of faith in the life of an individual. To be surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses seems to make reference to a group of spectators watching a competition in context with the rest of the verse.  I know scripture refers to the angels not just as spectators, but as those ministering to us and engaged in spiritual warfare to help us.

2 Kings 6:15–17 “And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”

Daniel 10:12–13 “Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.”

1 Corinthians 4:9 “For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.”

Hebrews 1:13–14 “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”

When running a race, one can only do his best when free of extra weight or impediments.  In context, our race as believers is to finish the race or fight (from the Greek) of our life with faith.  This is in line with the message of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians.

1Corinthians 9:24-27  “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

And to Timothy:  1Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

Sin is obviously a great impediment to our success, and is compared to an extra weight that can be put aside.  It also jumped out that we are to “lay aside every weight AND the sin….”  Sin isn’t our only hindrance; sometimes the choices we make aren’t as distinct as between good and bad, but are often between good vs. better, with better obviously being less a hindrance.  Other “weights” that can hinder us if we allow them to are the trials and tribulations that are part of life on this earth.  If we keep our focus on the Lord, trusting that He is allowing these things for “good” (Romans 8:28), then we can continue to run without carrying the burden of worry that would cause us to stumble.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

It is interesting, however, to note that the writer makes note of the importance of running with patience as well.  The life of a believer is more to be compared to a marathon—not a sprint.  The Greek for patience states:  “cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy…patient continuance (waiting).”  In other words, it’s a reference to our attitude, our mindset as we run the designated course.  As I thought about that in connection with the verses in 1Corinthians, it made more sense.  Paul states that there is one winner in a race, and that we are to run to win.  Considering that we are all running on a different race course, we can all be winners.  And every true person of faith will be a winner.  How can I say this?  Because the fruition of true faith is the work of Christ in the individual.

Philemon 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ….”

I was about to move on to the next verse when I noticed that the race is before us.  We are not to be focused on what is in the past; we are to focus on what’s ahead.