Revelation 5:9 ( KJV) Focus on the Lamb

Revelation 5:9 ( KJV)

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

 

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

 

I freely confess I do not understand all that I am reading here. I believe the four and twenty elders to be representative of believers through the ages. I am not sure who the four beasts are, whether they represent some portion of the faithful or not. Explanations range from “this is an unfortunate translation”[1] to “the writer must not have intended to connect the four beasts to the new song.”

 

There is one thing I am certain of: the focus of the song is not the singers, but the Lamb to whom and about whom they sing.

 

Confusion and uncertainty vanish when we keep our attention on Jesus. 

 

#WorthyIsTheLamb #FocusOnJesus  #RevelationStudy #ChristOurRedeemer #KingsAndPriests

Focus on the Lamb: Confusion Fades in the Light of Christ

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[1] I am sure that is not the case.

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Revelation 5:9 ( KJV) Focus on the Lamb

Leviticus 1:2 (KJV) “If You Will”

Leviticus 1:2 (KJV)

If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. 

 

Notice two terms within this passage: “if” and “his own voluntary will.” Men have twisted the character of God to make Him out to be ruthless, demanding, and, especially in the Old Testament, unloving. Modern atheists, having convinced themselves there is no God, trying to prove they have no fear of God, and wishing to sway others to be as they are, brashly call the God of the Old Testament a monster. This is simply because they read into the Bible their own interpretations and ignore passages teaching otherwise.

 

“If” is a conditional clause—whether of a possible or impossible situation.

 

“If any man of you bring” an offering unto the Lord.

A man might or might not. That was up to him. It was not required.

 

“Of his own voluntary will”

No one should try to force him. God did not force him. Government should not force him. Religion should not force him.

 

Much damage has been done by the not-so-well-intended marriage of church and state. Religion, convinced that people would be better off if they obeyed God, used government to force religion on people. Government, willing to have the support of religious institutions, threw their resources into religious causes. The result was the suffering and deaths of millions of people whose consciences longed to worship God as He teaches in the Bible.

 

“Of his own voluntary will”

A man must worship God according to his own conscience, or he is not worshiping God at all.

 

But notice, this does not mean that God approves of any and all worship. The original meaning of the Hebrew word translated “if” means to bind or glue two things together. If a man will worship God, the rest of the chapter (and, for that matter, the rest of the Bible) describes the worship God accepts.

 

Worship God if you will. But if you will, worship God according to His Word.

 

#BiblicalWorship #VoluntaryFaith #LeviticusLessons #GodsWord #WorshipInTruth

“If You Will”: Worship on God’s Terms

 

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To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6400 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
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Leviticus 1:2 (KJV) “If You Will”

Revelation 4:1 (KJV) The Rapture and the First Voice

Revelation 4:1 (KJV)

After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 

 

I recognize that I have a preconception about this text, but in this case, I am convinced it is valid.

 

The Revelation, having described the writer’s encounter with Christ and obeyed His instructions to write to the seven churches in Asia, now transports John in a vision to future events. I am convinced God gives to John a representation of what will happen when this church age is finished.

 

It has been rightly observed that, though religion is found after chapter 3, Christ’s church is not. Revelation 4:1 is a picture of the rapture of all believers into heaven.

 

Notice that when the door in heaven opens, the first voice John hears is “as it were a trumpet.” This connects directly to 1 Thessalonians 4[1] and 1 Corinthians 15,[2] where the trumpet signals the rapture—the call of believers into heaven.

 

And it’s the first voice.

 

When God brings this church age to a close, the first thing to happen—the first command He gives, the first action He takes—is the gathering of believers to Himself. Then comes the tribulation on earth.

 

Don’t listen to anyone who tries to convince you otherwise.

 

#RaptureTruth #BiblicalProphecy #ChurchAge #RevelationStudy #EndTimesFaith

The Rapture and the First Voice: A Biblical Perspective

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[1] 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (KJV)

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

[2] 1 Corinthians 15:52 (KJV)

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

• Are you ready for the first voice? When the trumpet sounds, will you be listening?
• How you’re preparing for Christ’s return?

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To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6400 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Revelation 4:1 (KJV) The Rapture and the First Voice

Exodus 39:3 (KJV) Biblical Craftsmanship vs. Modern Archaeology

Exodus 39:3 (KJV)

And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work.

 

Not long ago, I read an article about a recent archaeological discovery involving a young girl. This discovery, they claimed, is changing the way we understand the technology and culture of the time period. It’s fascinating to me that we can dig up a 5,000-year-old coffin and suddenly revise our understanding of history, yet when a student of the Bible describes the technology, skills, and “cunning” of Israel in the wilderness, it is dismissed as superstition.

 

Scientists name the period when Israel wandered in the wilderness[1] the Bronze Age—a time when, according to them, people were transitioning from using stone tools to bronze. They were developing skills in metallurgy but were not yet advanced enough to use iron.

 

Considering that, I am amazed at the skill demonstrated in the book of Exodus. The detail, craftsmanship, and “cunning” described in their colors, clothing, and creativity is nothing short of extraordinary. In fact, the Bible describes it as a gift from God.

 

I doubt modern science will ever give God credit for His workmanship among men. However, it seems to me that the more we uncover about the historical past, the more it confirms what the Bible has said all along.

 

#BiblicalArchaeology #BibleTruth #ExodusCraftsmanship #GodsWorkmanship #BronzeAgeFaith

Biblical Craftsmanship vs. Modern Archaeology: A Testament to God’s Skill

 

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[1] Though many of these scientists do not believe such an event ever occurred.

• Does the Bible’s description of Israel’s craftsmanship in the wilderness amaze you?
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To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6400 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
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Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

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Exodus 39:3 (KJV) Biblical Craftsmanship vs. Modern Archaeology

Revelation 2:3 (KJV) The Long Haul

Revelation 2:3 (KJV)

And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

 

There are some overlapping themes between Revelation 2:2 and verse 3. Of this repetition, Barnes writes, “There it rather refers to the trouble which they had experienced on account of the pretensions of false apostles, and the patient, persevering, and enduring spirit which they had shown in that form of trial; here the expression is more general, denoting a patient spirit in regard to all forms of trial.”

 

It is often easier to endure the strain of an intense but pointed trial than it is to bear up under the weight of daily cares. The thing is, we don’t always face the enemy’s spear pointed directly at us. More often, the enemy is slinging stones and arrows everywhere. Satan hates the world God created. He hates mankind in general. He hates the saved. He hates the lost. He hates those who serve God with their whole heart and soul, but he also hates those who serve him with every fiber of their being.

 

Occasionally, we face a trial targeted specifically at us. Though difficult, those moments are temporary. What is more likely to break us is the weight of time—constant struggle, year after year, with what might seem like little or no progress. Laboring for the Lord while seeing what appears to be declining results can wear us down more effectively than the momentary barrage of attacks.

 

One of the great reasons to be a constant and faithful student of the Bible is that it reminds us of the end. Progress in the work of God is not measured by the small piece we can see. It is in the finished product that God assures us of ultimate victory.

 

#FaithfulEndurance  #SpiritualStrength #PatienceInTrials #VictoryInChrist

The Long Haul: Standing Strong Through the Daily Struggles

• When will you commit to trusting God fully in your trials?
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To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6400 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Revelation 2:3 (KJV) The Long Haul

Revelation 1:3 (KJV) The Key to True Happiness

Revelation 1:3 (KJV)

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

 

We tend to think of a blessing as favor with God, but the word literally means happy.

·       The first is a sort of prize for what we do.

·       The latter is a state of being—what we are.

·     The first is manipulative, an attempt to make God give us something.

·      The latter is an instruction from God, telling us how to obtain true happiness.

 

This instruction is clear: those who read, hear, and keep these words are happier than those who do not. 

I make no apology for viewing the Bible as a whole and applying this instruction not only to Revelation but to Scripture as a whole. 

I testify today that the study of, preaching of, hearing of, and living out the words of the Bible have made me a far more blessed and happier person than I was before—or than I would have been otherwise.

 

I am not perfect. I have made plenty of mistakes and regret them. My life has not been without problems or difficulties. I bear the marks in my body and soul from the hardships of life—even after becoming a Christian. But I have observed that those same scars, or ones similar to them, can also be found on and in those who have chosen a different path.

Money cannot prevent these hardships. Heritage cannot prevent them. Parentage cannot prevent them. Success cannot prevent them. Philosophy cannot prevent them.

 

Some who have chosen a different life may appear happy—until, that is, they reach their final years. Then thoughts of death and eternity arise as unavoidable.

The Christian, however, chooses to think about these things long before they become unavoidable. The Christian finds happiness in this life through the teachings of God’s Word, and he finds peace as he approaches the place where eternity looks him in the face.

 

I believe the Bible.

 

I testify that those who read, hear, and keep the words of this prophecy are the happiest and most blessed people on earth.

 

#BibleTruth #BlessedAndHappy #GodsWord #ChristianFaith #RevelationInsights

The Key to True Happiness: Blessings Through the Bible

 

• Are you ready to experience the blessings and happiness that come from God’s Word?
• Where do you plan to start reading in Scripture this week? Share your choice in the comments!

👉 Join our community in studying God’s Word and strengthening your faith.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6400 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Revelation 1:3 (KJV) The Key to True Happiness