Q4. The Exalted Christ

[browe73]

I DID NOT UNDERSTAND THIS QUESTION. BUT I THINK IT MEANS THAT WE WILL ALL SEE JESUS FACE TO FACE IN HEAVEN.

PLEASE HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND IT. MY EMAIL IS: bryanrowe1973@aol.com

[innocent]

This is different because they are two different scenarios. One is showing an earthly man in the midst of unbelieving people with so much persecution; trying to teach and reveal the truth through the word and his life of humilty. While the other revealed a glorified Christ, the son of God in His majesty.

This vision is meant to evoke the feeling that Christ is King, with heavenly kingdom yet He descended so low to save man.

The understanding of Jesus is important to a balanced faith because it encourages us to stand firm and to understand the degree of humility required for the Christian faith.

[Skroehr]

Q4. The vision of Christ among the lampstands (1:12-20) is much different than the Carpenter-Teacher who walked the roads of Galilee and Judea. Why?

Because the times are more dire. Now that his divinity is proven, he is also speaking from a place of power that was hard for contemporaries to see in his earthly life as the son of man. He wants to offer redemption and a chance for correction to the churches.

What overall emotions is this vision of Jesus among the lampstands designed to evoke in the reader? Why is this understanding of Jesus important to a balanced faith?

Reverence, and repentance. Introspection.

[Barbara1]

To me hearing about Jesus in Galilee as ateacher gives me a knowlege of how much He loved us. I mean He came here knowing what He would have to go through, to find out for Himself how we would be persecuted for Him,so that when He was ressurected He could fell our pain. As for Him standing amoungst the lampstands, Ican fell His presence all around me protecting me.

The overall emotions of Jesus standing amoung the lampstands evoke a feeling of love ,understanding, and power over evil.

This understanding of Jesus is important because it let's people see as a human as well as their Savior.

[mommyoliver]

Q4. The vision of Christ among the lampstands (1:12-20) is much different than the Carpenter-Teacher who walked the roads of Galilee and Judea. Why? What overall emotions is this vision of Jesus among the lampstands designed to evoke in the reader? Why is this understanding of Jesus important to a balanced faith?

I AM NOT REALLY SURE ABOUT THIS ONE BUT I WOULD THINK THAT THIS ONE (JESUS AMONG LAMPSTANDS) SEEMS MORE LIKE A GOD THEN A TEACHER. HE IS WARNING US OF WHAT IS TO HAPPEN IN OUR FUTURE IF WE FAIL AT OUR DUTIES IN OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE. WE ALL KNOW OF THE LOVING JESUS WHO PERFORMED MANY MIRACLES AND HEALED ALOT OF PEOPLE.,BUT IN THIS CHAPTER OF THE BOOK YOU WILL SEE ALOT MORE OF THE EVIL TRYING TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE WORLD.

[Katzen]

1. The vision of Christ among the lampstands is different, because Jesus has risen to His glory.

2. The emotion this evokes in the reader is complete and total awe.

3. This is important to a balanced faith, because we must understand that He did indeed walk this earth as a man and experienced everything we do, but He is SO much more! He is our God!

[johjoy]

As the carpenter-teacher, Jesus shows us that He is accessible and that we can follow Him because he became like man. If we saw Him as we see Him in Revelations 1, we might think, "how could I even imagine trying to be like Christ, trying to be like God." Therefore, God transforms himself into form of man so that He can show us the way to go in a way that we can understand and believe we can walk this path. It is also so we can see this example -- lowliness, servitude, humility, love and faith in action from a human being.

The exalted Christ in Revelations 1 reminds us that although God humbled himself becoming man as Jesus Christ, He is still God. Don't get confused! And, there is only ONE God. - to be worshipped, magnified and adored. We should have awe, wonder, appreciation, and humility toward Him. (emotions)

This study has helped me to see the complexity and multi-faceted nature of the God we serve more clearly. We are to follow the ways of the humble Lord (the carpenter-teacher) and yet to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (the exalted One). This is central to a balanced faith.

It just occured to me that this last vision of Christ is one that many don't see and understand and why some have problems understanding Christ is God.

[ellymht]

Jesus stands above us like a light. He is the beacon that we look to. When He came as man, he was brought low in order to save us. He was simple, unassuming. Isaiah talks about us "...esteeming Him not..." and that he would be nothing special to look at. What a drastic difference we read about in Daniel and so many other places that describes Christ in majestic language and images. I think this balance is so important to our understanding of what Christ actually did for us; He put aside Himself for us to be redeemed and now, He sits in glory once again. I am extremely awed and humbled that He would do that for me.

[chenista]

Jesus as a lampstands seals the truth of scriptures once and for all. There is no question about his divinity or his excellence. He is exalted on high. In his walk on the roads of Galilee and Judea he faced similar obstacles and circumstances as other fellow "humans". In Revelations, there are no obstacles, no other proof that can or will be offered - he is the ultimate Alpha and Omega! It is settled - He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and the only truth.

Evoking visions - that of greatness, of truth, it takes my breath away. It is glory of all glory. I am honored to be His servant.

Understanding this gives us humility, the same humility Jesus shared on His walk. It also gives us hope. Faith comes from hearing and hearing from the Word. He is the Word, He is our Faith, He is our hope and we, undeserving of His greatness and glory, are made perfect only through His sacrifice.

I am in awe!

C Straubel

[alisicia]

REVELATION

Chapter 4

"John's First Vision in Heaven"

The book of Revelation means to reveal. This book is to unveil the events that are to occur at the close of this earth age, that take us into the Millennium kingdom and beyond. Even to the eternal kingdom, when we will be present with all three offices of the Godhead.

There are many doctrines that have slipped into today's body of Christian believers. This fourth chapter gets into one of the most damaging of all of the false teachings. That is, because it is totally misleading. Unfortunately it is taught in most Protestant churches; By teachers, evangelist, and so forth; as they try to make the first two verses of the fourth chapter fit into their "rapture doctrine".

In studying the Bible in the original text; Both the Hebrew and the Greek languages have the quality in each language where both the subject and the object of the sentences are fixed. Man simply cannot change that; so that a person with average common sense can read and understand the subject and the object, and know exactly what God is talking about. Then if some person tries to add something into the sentence, when it is not part of the subject, or object; discount it. Listen to your Heavenly Father, and not to those verbal distortions.

The common thought in many studies of the book of Revelation, uses this fourth chapter of Revelation to show as evidence that the church will be gone during this great tribulation. They say "the rapture" has taken place and the church is not present on earth during the great tribulation.

However, the "church" has no article in these first two verses of Revelation Four. The Church will not be mentioned again until Chapter Twenty Two.

Revelation 4:1 "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; Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter."

"After this", is after the vision of the seven churches have been instructed; in which two of those churches were on the right track, and of the other five churches Jesus was displeased with. Two churches had the doctrines of Christ in them, and they knew who the "Kenites" are, and where they came. They knew the Kenites were of the synagogue of Satan and claimed to be Jews, when in fact they were lying and not Jews at all.

Jesus said, if you understand what the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia understood, and followed it, it is worth a crown of life to you.

This chapter starts out, "After this [after the messages to the churches] I looked, behold a door was opened in heaven:" This door is not on earth where the seven churches are, but in heaven. John is being carried from the Isle of Patmos to a specific time, or "earth dispensation" in the heavenlies. The key to understanding when this time period was, go to Revelation 1:10. "I was in the spirit on the Lord's day:" This is not in reference to a Saturday or Sunday. This is a record given by Jesus to John of events that will happen just before, or following that day. "That day" is the day of the sounding of the seventh trumpet when Jesus Christ returns.

John has already addressed the churches on the earth; then he looked up, and this door to heaven has opened. Now we can see through John's spiritual eyes and pen, what events are taking place there on the "day of the Lord", only the location of this event is in heaven.

"The first voice which I heard..." Who is this "I" in verse one? Of course it's John, the one writing this. Have you ever heard John referred to as "the Church"? Absolutely not. There is no church in heaven; not at this point. However, there will be, for heaven is where ever God is, and at the appointed time He is coming here to earth. Then there will be one church, one gathering place where the called-out ones shall meet.

"...I heard as it were of a trumpet"; [This is the last trumpet] "...talking with me,". The voice here is not speaking to the church, but it is directed to John. "Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be here after." That refers to the "day" that is after our subject, "The Lords Day". "I will shew thee [John, singular]", transporting John and John only, in the spirit to this certain place in heaven.

There is no church in this verse going anyplace. There is only John being taken to heaven in the spirit, and hearing a voice like a trumpet calling him up. John was taken from 90 A.D. to a time beyond this year, 1994; for we are living in the final generation. The whole purpose for John writing this entire book of Revelation is to warn the people of this generation of the great deception the Antichrist, and his system would bring upon the earth before Jesus Christ's return. We are living in the generation of the "parable of the fig tree" and that is why Jesus told us to learn it, so that we would not be deceived.

This fourth chapter then tells us what is going to happen after this generation on the "Day of the Lord" in heaven.

Revelation 4:2 "And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne."

Again, this is John that is in the spirit and observing our Heavenly Father sitting upon His throne.

Revelation 4:3 "And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald."

We know the "jasper stone" is green, and the "sardine stone" is red; So what is being said here?

A priest's breast plate has twelve stones in it. The jasper stone and the sardine stones are the last and the first stones on his breast plate. Why then does John see the last stone first, and then the first stone last? It's the last to pass through this earth age, that are to be the first to see with their eyes these events that transpire. Whereby they can see and understand our Father's will and wish.

Any time a light shines through a prism you can see a rainbow of colors. The rainbow is the description of the radiance of the Glory of God. This is brought to light in Revelation 10:1, that time when the rainbow is worn as a crown of glory, when Jesus Christ's return to earth. It represents the full spectrum; the full pattern of the Godhead.

Revelation 4:4 "And round about the throne were four and twenty seats [thrones]: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold."

There is no way to document this, except in comparison of other Scripture, and the assumption is that God will put certain people in higher esteem than others in His kingdom. It's possible that these twenty four elders were the twelve patriarchs, or heads of the tribes of Israel, for in the seventh chapter the importance of these patriarchs will become clearer. The other twelve, being the Apostles. If we leave Judas out, we must remember, however, upon repentance all sinful acts are forgiven, and blotted out. Remember that Judas the Apostle did give the money back and repented in sorrow. So here we have twenty four elders sitting clothed in "white raiment."

In the study of the third chapter we saw that "white raiment" are the religious acts of the saints; [Revelation 3:18], and upon their heads were their crowns of life. That is what these crowns of life symbolizes.

Revelation 4:5 "And out of the throne proceeded lightning and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God."

What are these seven spirits? God had seven angels over the seven churches, when the seven churches were being spoken to; however, we will cover these seven spirits in detail in the next two chapters.

Revelation 4:6 "And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts [living creatures] full of eyes before and behind."

The "throne of God" is pure. This "sea of glass" represents purity; with no flaws. The beast is a good way to classify something that man has no reference to. The word for "beast" in the Greek is "zoon", or "zoa", which means "living ones". The "zoa" are the cherubims of Genesis 3:24. In Ezekiel 1:5-14, they are the protective cherubims of God's throne. Basically these four creatures do not have free will, for their duty is solely to protect and to guard.

Revelation 4:7 "And the first beast [creature] was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle."

As you think of these four beasts that John is seeing in his vision, think also of the zoa, or cherubims of Ezekiel 1:10. In Numbers 2:2 we see that each night when the different tribes camped, they set their standards, or banners before themselves. That standard meant something, and represented that tribe with the banner set before them.

The standard of the United States is the "Stars and Stripes". These beast-like figures are the standards of the four beasts. When the Israelites camped, the flag with the Lion was always before Judah to the east. On the south was the tribe with the "man's face" on the flag, Reuben; for he was the firstborn. To the west was the "ox", representing Ephraim, and Dan's banner was on the north side with "the eagle".

God's order to the tribes was that they put those banners in their place of encampment, and this is what the book of Numbers is all about. These four tribes were the protectors of the whole camp of Israel, all the tribes. They were the protectors of the nation and the throne, and God was their only King. In fact in eternity, the "zoa" are never mentioned. They are mentioned only to John here, and this is the last time we will read of them.

Revelation 4:8 "And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him: and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."

With these eyes they could understand clearly. It wasn't necessary for them to rest, because these "zoa" were created such as they were by God. This is their duty; they is to have a continual watch. And as they keep their watch, they are continually give praise to our Heavenly Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

"Which was", calls attention that Christ the Son was in the first earth age, prior to the destruction of Genesis 1:1-2. "Which is"; He is the Son of God that was born, lived, and died in this earth age. "And yet to come", is that time coming very shortly when Jesus will return at the seventh trump to establish His kingdom on earth.

Revelation 4:9 "And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,"

Christ is the source of our power that allows us to live forever and ever.

Revelation 4:10 "The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,"

The power that is in their crowns, their authority, and all that they have are cast before the throne of God in humility, showing that all power and authority that exists comes from the Father.

Revelation 4:11 "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

This is what these voices of the four beasts, and the twenty four elders said. They recognized that all glory is of God, and belongs to Him. Our God is the God of the Universe, for it is God that created all things. When God created mankind, our sole purpose of existence at any age or time, is for His pleasure.

When we see people use God's name in cursing, think of how it must hurt him, but it also shows how much He must love His creation [man], for He gave his own Son to redeem man from his sins. God allowed a way for all men to come back to Him through the blood of His Son, shed on the cross, and man's humble repentance.

In ignorance we sin, and in love God forgives us through His son's name, who gave His all for us. He left His place in glory to be born of the Virgin Mary. He grew from a baby to manhood, and saw the same temptation you and I see. Then Jesus went to the cross gladly to fulfill Scripture, and complete His Fathers plan; and the plan of redemption was finished on the cross.

That great love is offered to anyone who can look up from where ever he or she is, and call out for our Savior's forgiveness. It's a gift friend. If that isn't enough, our Savior Jesus Christ will elevate you before the creator, and blot out all of the sins you have ever committed, and make them as if they were never committed, before the Father, and give you a real and lasting peace. then He sent His Holy Spirit to be with each of us, to comfort us during our times of trouble.

My friend, that is why Jesus Christ and the Heavenly Father deserve our love and praise; and that is why John saw in heaven this enormous praise given to Jesus Christ. If you don't understand this then you are spiritually out of touch, and need to humbly yourself and seek Him in prayer, and in His Word. All things were, and are created for God's pleasure, and that includes you and I.

If you fall outside that realm of trying to give God pleasure, it is you that will suffer for your neglect. God is very real, and when you praise God and worship Him, He will bless you.

The Shepherds Chapel

[johnd]

Q4. The vision of Christ among the lampstands (1:12-20) is much different than the Carpenter-Teacher who walked the roads of Galilee and Judea. Why? What overall emotions is this vision of Jesus among the lampstands designed to evoke in the reader? Why is this understanding of Jesus important to a balanced faith?

a. The Carpenter-Teacher who walked the roads of Galilee and Judea was God in the flesh. The vision of Christ among the lampstands is our Lord in all His glory following His life, death, ressurection and being taken back to heaven.

b. This vision of Jesus gives the reader a feeling of awe and an aura of sheer power.

c. This understanding of Jesus gives us a balance because on one hand we see Jesus the humble man serving us with his ministry. On the other hand we see the full glory of Our omnipotent God. We therefore have an approachable God who has a human understanding of our problems and can be approached on a personal basis. We must also treat our Lord with respect and realise that we are His servants and that we should obey His commands.

[sister]

a. The Carpenter-Teacher who walked the roads of Galilee and Judea was God in the flesh. The vision of Christ among the lampstands is our Lord in all His glory following His life, death, ressurection and being taken back to heaven.

b. This vision of Jesus gives the reader a feeling of awe and an aura of sheer power.

c. This understanding of Jesus gives us a balance because on one hand we see Jesus the humble man serving us with his ministry. On the other hand we see the full glory of Our omnipotent God. We therefore have an approachable God who has a human understanding of our problems and can be approached on a personal basis. We must also treat our Lord with respect and realise that we are His servants and that we should obey His commands.

Jesus walked the earth as we do. Jesus overcame the world.

Emotions are evoked of glory, honor, and awe.

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come.

[Lisa Rupert]

Q4. The vision of Christ among the lampstands (1:12-20) is much different than the Carpenter-Teacher who walked the roads of Galilee and Judea. Why? What overall emotions is this vision of Jesus among the lampstands designed to evoke in the reader? Why is this understanding of Jesus important to a balanced faith?

Jesus came to fulfill the father's will on earth. He became a man, to understand man, to teach man, and to give his life as the sacrificial lamb. Jesus came to show us that he is the one and only way, without him we can have no relationship with the father. It is through him only that we can bond with our father. Jesus paid the ultimate price to save us from sin. He is the first, the last, and the living one. He is the light that guides the way. He is the most holy, the most exalted one. We owe him praise for all that he is and for all that he did and for all that he will do. For he is the one true Lord. He is The Shepherd, he is The Word.

[Bluestar]

Awe!

The vision of Christ among the lampstands shows his awesome, divine, exalted side, to balance his human, down-to-earth side.

It evokes: Awe! Fear! Comfort, from the familiar passages and symbols. Reassurance, that God is in control. Joy that He is among us. Love, that He loves us enough to appear to John: he did not abandon us to our own devices.

Thank you, God.

[lupie]

as we read through the four gospels and follow the life of our lord Jesus his pains suffering and temptations the same as you or i face in this world. to know that he was with out sin, makes me feel so unworthy. and to see him in revelation midst the lamp stands as lord of lords and kings of kings the risen lord and he loves even me

[charlenereeves]

Q4. The vision of Christ among the lampstands (1:12-20) is much different than the Carpenter-Teacher who walked the roads of Galilee and Judea. Why? What overall emotions is this vision of Jesus among the lampstands designed to evoke in the reader? Why is this understanding of Jesus important to a balanced faith?

If I didn't understand my relationship with Jesus it would involk fear and terror, but with experience of Jesus love and Grace I can see Jesus as justifier and angry something like the time in the Temple-none of the sellers were there to worship God only self. I think this will be the same Jesus when at the end of the world Jesus will show his love for the saved while at the same time giving the unsaved a chance for repentence or eternal hell which they make that decision through free will.

[Craig]

Jesus is revealing His majesty, might and awesome power in this passage of scripture. I think this vision of Jesus is meant to create respect and awe for Jesus in the believer. It is important to see Jesus Christ as He is. Not only is He is the Lamb of God, but He is the mighty judge and King of Kings over this universe and creation. Jesus not only warrants our love, but our devotion, respect, loyalty and praise.

[cheastarr]

Jesus came the first time to save His followers from the penalty of our sins. He came in the form of a man, living the kind of life humans live, suffering the same things we do, from physical things such as hunger and pain, to the attacks of satan, yet He was without any sin. Iin Revelations, He is shown as He is in His honor and glory as God almighty! He comes as a conqueror--in majesty and might--the King of kings and Lord of lords! And I can but fall on my face before Him in awe of His majesty and His Holiness! Praise His holy Name!

[korsgren]

Q4. The vision of Christ among the lampstands (1:12-20) is much different than the Carpenter-Teacher who walked the roads of Galilee and Judea. Why? What overall emotions is this vision of Jesus among the lampstands designed to evoke in the reader? Why is this understanding of Jesus important to a balanced faith?

I think its important that Jesus doesn

[Robin Wahls]

Q4. The vision of Christ among the lampstands (1:12-20) is much different than the Carpenter-Teacher who walked the roads of Galilee and Judea. Why? What overall emotions is this vision of Jesus among the lampstands designed to evoke in the reader? Why is this understanding of Jesus important to a balanced faith?

When I picture this in my head, I see the lampstand revolving around Christ who is in the center, feet planted firmly her on earth giving us a strong foundation, head in heaven, our mediator, our champion. Jesus as the carpenter/teacher was a humble human,commanding no preferential treatment asking only that we listen and believe. He represents both ends of the scale. Awe, love, respect,and more. Though He is the Alpha and the Omega, God loves us enough to humble Himself and come to us as a lowly carpenter, a commoner, to suffer on the cross to absolve us of all sin.

[JustJeff]

It seems that the Christ of Revelations is the Spiritual Bodied Christ as flesh cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.

This fulfills the scriptures in 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 John 3:2, key to our hope that like Jesus, this flesh will perish and we will be given a new body that will not die and is perfected.

[dharm]

While He was on earth a lot of people saw Jesus as just a man, but after the resurrection He became divine. Just trying to imagine Jesus as the diety that He is just leaves me speechless. Without this understanding, Jesus is just a man. So understanding His diety is very important and gives me a blessed assurance of heaven.

[Veda]

Hi,

This is my second study. It's very interesting to read all the comments. I am fascinated by this book. Blessings from Switzerland.

[Bro Steven]

When Jesus came to the earth he came as the lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world and what is written about him in Revelation 1:12-20 shows him in all of his glory and power sitting on the right hand of God the Father waiting to call us home.

We are like John was falling before The Lamb of God worshiping him when we see him coming is all of his glory.

If we say we know Jesus then we not only know his love but also his judgement against a unholy people to a holy God To understand a loving God we also have to know about his judgement and what make him upset with us, this is important because we see the judgement he has against sin and I dont want any part of that.

[Linda Spilman]

Q.4 The resurrection. Walking the roads of Galilee and Judea was part of God's plan. Christ is in the midst of the lampstands due to the resurrection.

Love and Awe (fear)

Jesus paid the supreme sacrifice for my sin. I try to understand this type of love and to worship with a heart of gratitude. Jesus is an Awesome Saviour - one I respect and fear. Jesus' death gives me direct access to God - no more Holy of Holies. For me to (try to) live a life of obedience requires these two emotions, love and awe.