Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He...John 13:19. When Jesus explained to His apostles the gory details of His future crucifixion and being raised from the dead in order to fulfill prophecy of scripture, they didn't comprehend - believe. But after prophecy of scripture was fulfilled - they did believe.
And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe...John 14:29. Jesus was comforting His apostles just before His death...let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid...v. 27. Jesus was assuring them that He was only telling them in advance so that when prophecy of scripture is fulfilled they will believe. He knew they didn't understand His prophecy - He simply wanted them to believe after the prophecy is fulfilled.
But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them...and these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you...John 16:4. Jesus had been sharing with His apostles the persecution that will come upon them after He is risen from the grave - they must bear witness that He is the Messiah because they were with Him from the beginning of His earthly ministry. They will only understand His prophecy regarding their persecution when it is fulfilled - then they will remember what He prophesied.
After John was shown how six of the seals revealed the wrath of the lamb (Rev. 6:16-17) upon Israel for rejecting Jesus as their Messiah, the 7th seal revealed something different. When He opens the seventh seal, there was silence in Heaven for about half and hour...Rev. 8:1. What does this symbolism mean?
The number 7 means complete - perfection. Vengeance upon Israel is complete. Israel is longer a nation, the people are scattered into many nations - they are no longer a blip on the radar. God is not rejoicing over this judgment of His chosen people - there is deep sorrowful contemplation - expressed by silence in Heaven.
Under the 7th seal John saw seven angels with seven trumpets. They are announcing the judgment that is coming upon the whole world. As we study the symbolism of the judgments of the seven trumpet warnings, we will find God's judgment upon the sins of immorality and paganism practiced by His Church throughout the Christian era.
Any Jewish believer, like John, living at the time these visions were imparted, would easily understand the significance of trumpets in their culture. The Feast of the Trumpets was celebrated at the beginning of a New Year - Rosh Hashana...Lev. 23:23-25. From morning to evening trumpets were blown. This was immediately followed by the Day of Atonement, where godly sorrow for sins was expressed, seeking God's mercy. They wanted to stay spiritually prepared for any judgment that may come, so this was a time to make their hearts right with God.
The blast of the shofar - ram's horn - was used for many different reasons. It may be used to blast the following pronouncements:
1. to announce the beginning of the festivals
2. to muster the troops
3. to warn of danger in the city
4. to assemble the people in the midst of battle
5. for a coronation - crowning of a leader
6. to celebrate joy in the Lord
7. to announce victory over their enemy
We can see that in the Jewish culture, the use of a trumpet or shofar was a very important exercise in the earthly realm. But the trumpet is also a very important exercise in the spiritual realm. What scripture reveals a very important victory blast - a coronation - from a trumpet blown by an angel in the spiritual realm? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
No comments:
Post a Comment