Queen's Road Cell

12. What happens when the Lamb opens the seventh seal (8:1-5)?   How would you feel In John's place, seeing this?   The silence stops the praises of the angels and the redeemed. This highlights the drama and suspense for what is to come - God's judgment (Zep 1:7-10, Zec 2:13). It is not an awkward pause of something gone wrong. John would be full of expectancy and awe (even fear). Once we know the capacity of God to act, His silence becomes even more signiicant. Silence in worship (Heb 2:20) is legitimate. We are content to hear him and to stop speaking ourselves. We are struck dumb before him, contented in His presence (Ps 131:2) The heavenly alter unites the roles of sacrifice (6:3) and offering (8:3) (cf. Ex 27:1-8, 30:1-10).    13. When the seventh seal is opened, there is first silence, then prayer. How do you interpret the heavenly response to the saints' prayers (8:5)? John has a vision of the heavenly altar and judgment in response to the pray...

 9. What happens in ... 7:1-8 The 144000 are sealed  7:9-17 The great multitude worships    The 144000 have been identified with Believing Jews, perhaps saved out of the great tribulation (while Gentile believers have been raptured before the tribulation) All believers during the tribulation All believers for all time   144000 = 12x 12 for completeness, 10x10x10 to represent the presence of God, like the new Jerusalem and the Holy of Holies.    Note that the lists of the tribes of Israel differ markedly throughout the Bible. The tribes of Dan and Ephraim are omitted here whereas Joseph is mentioned together with his son Manasseh. The promoaion of tribes descended from Bilhah and ZIlpah (Gad, Asher, Napthali) suggest those once excluded from privilegare are now included. The southern tribes begin and end the list with the symmetrical "were sealed".   John first 'heard' the number of the sealed (v.7) then he sees (v.9) The 'great multitu...

 1. What happens when the Lamb opens each of the first six seals? 1 A white horse 2 A red horse 3 A black horse 4 A pale horse 5 The martyrs under the altar demand justice 6 A great earthquake, sun is darkened, moon red, stars fall, sky vanishes, mountains and islands removed. Earthly peoples know that the wrath of God and the Lamb has come on them.   2. From the descriptions in 6:2-8, what do you think each of  the four horsemen represents? white = militarism, conquest, ambition. possibly leading to the other 3, or false religion Unlikely to be Christ and the conquering gospel, because of  - parallels with seals and trumpets - similarity to the other 3 riders - holding of a bow, not a sword   red = war and violence black = famine and inflated (8-10x normal) grain prices, but limited. Perhaps the rich will not suffer. pale [' chloros ') = Death and Hades, given power over 1/4 of the earth. The riders are "given" and "permitted" - they remain under God's ...

  The award-winning Last Supper pic   The award-winning K drama energy pic                                     The non-award winning 'bearing one another's burdens' pic    The non-award winning Ho-ly hole-y kiss/washing feet pic  The 'bye-bye dragonfruit pic

Seven horns and seven eyes (5:6): perfect power and knowledge Harp . . . incense (5:8). Normal features of Hebrew worship (Psalm 33:2, 141:2) to the Lamb   Why does John weep? (5:4)   Not from frustrated curiosity, but because he understands that without the revelation and accomplishment of God's purposes, life is meaningless. There is no judgment, and there is no salvation.   5. For what is the Lamb praised and worshiped (5:9-10,12-13)? He was 'slain' By His death he has: redeemed people for God from  every tribe and language and people and nation - the salvation is universal in scope made them a kingdom and priests to God (Ex 19:6). We reign under the King and have access to God. they shall reign on the earth - creation itself will be redeemed The Lamb is worthy 'to receive'. There is distinction from God (" between the throne and the four living creatures ") yet identification with God (Rev 7:17) 6. How has He triumphed (5:5)? How has He purchased men f...

 1. Chapters 4 and 5 are essentially an introduction to the action in chapters 6 through 20. Basically, what happens in 4:1-5:14? John's vision of heaven and the throne of God The Lamb and the scroll    For Thought and Discussion: Thrones, especially God's throne, are mentioned forty-five times in  Revelation. Why do you think they appear so often? What do they have to do with the book's message? Thrones are for rulers. God rules as sovereign. We share His authority. That there are other thrones tells us that there are other authorities. For Thought and Discussion:  a. What does the association between God and thunderstorms suggest to you about God? Uncontrollable, unpredictable powerful, dangerous -fearsome. b. Research the storm Imagery In the Old Testament, beginning with Exodus 19:16-19. God protects from storms (Ps 57:1, 148:1; Is 4:6, 25:4, 54:11 God controls storms (Ps 107:29. 149:8; Zec 10:1. Mt 8:24/Mk 4:35/Lk 8:22) God manifests Himself in the storm...