Amen, Faithful, True Witness, Head of God's Creation

Monday 2020.11.23

Reading from Revelations Chapter 2 and 3

"The Amen, the Faithful, the True Witness, the Head of God's Creation."

The many Titles of the Lord Iesou the Anointed One as recorded in the letters to the Seven Churches:

• He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. (Rev 2:1, Ephesus)
• The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life. (Rev 2:8, Smyrna)
• He who has the sharp two-edged sword. (Rev 2:12, Pergamum)
• The Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like burnished brass. (Rev 2:18, Thyatira)
• He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars. (Rev 3:1, Sardis)
• He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and that shuts and no one opens. (Rev3:7, Philadelphia)
• The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Head of God`s creation. (Rev 3:14, Laodicea)

Titles of God, Titles of Iesous

Monday 2020.11.16

Reading from Revelations Chapter 1

The Titles of God and of the Lord Iesou: a contrast and a comparison

In Rev 1:8, we read that:

The Lord God is 

- the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End (the start and the finish of Creation)

- who is, who was and who is to come (eternal)

- the Almighty (no one is greater than Him)

In Rev 1:17b, 18, we read

The Lord Iesou is

- the first and the last (of God's Creation) (N.B. Iesou is not the Beginning and the End)

- the Living One (he was raised by God from the dead on the third day) 

- alive forevermore (never to die again) (N.B. Iesou is not the one who is, who was, who is to come)

The Lord Iesou has

- the keys of Death and of Hades (given authority over death by God, see Matthew 28:18, "All authority") (N.B. Iesou is not the Almighty)

Revelations 1:8 WEB

8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Revelations 1:13, 17b, 18 WEB

13 And in the midst of the lampstands was one like a son of man, clothed with a robe reaching down to his feet, and with a golden sash around his chest.

. . . 

17 . . . "Don`t be afraid. I am the first and the last,

18 and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. I have the keys of Death and of Hades.

A Benediction and A Doxology

Monday 2020.11.16

Reading from Revelations Chapter 1

A Benediction and A Doxology.

(1) A benediction for the disciples

John blesses the readers with this benediction:

- Grace to you.

- And Peace:

- - From God, who is , who was, who is to come

- - From the Seven Spirits before the Throne of God

- - From Iesou the Anointed, the faithful witness, firstborn of the dead, ruler of the kings of the earth.

Revelations 1:4 - 5 WEB

4 Grace to you and peace, from God, who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne;

5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. 

(2) A doxology to the Lord Iesou the Anointed One:

- Iesou the Anointed, 

- - the faithful witness

- - the firstborn of the dead

- - the ruler of the kings of the earth

- To Iesou, 

- - who loves us,

- - and washed us from our sins by his blood

- - and made us to be a kingdom,

- - priests to his God and Father,

- To Iesou be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Such a doxology is rare in the New Testament.

Revelations 1:5 - 6 WEB

5 Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood;

6 and he made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Did tragedy befall them because they had done evil?

Sunday 2020.11.15

Reading from Luke Chapter 13 ASV

Did tragedy befall these people because they had done evil? 

No. If you don't repent, you shall ALL likewise perish . . .

Luke 13: 1-15 ASV

1 Now there were some present at that very season who told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

2 And he answered and said unto them, Think ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they have suffered these things?

3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish.

4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, think ye that they were offenders above all the men that dwell in Jerusalem?

5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.