Commuter Bible NT

In our last episode the Son of Man appeared, seated on a cloud with a sickle in his hand. He harvested the earth with a single swing, and with a second swing he gathered the grapes for the winepress of God’s wrath. Today, the heavenly temple, also called the tabernacle of testimony, opens. Out of this temple, seven angels come forth to retrieve 7 golden bowls which are filled with God’s wrath. The first bowl produces painful sores for those who served the beast. The second bowl turns the sea to blood causing all life in the sea to die. The third bowl, likewise, turns the rivers and springs to blood. The fourth bowl intensifies the sun’s heat. The fifth bowl is poured on the throne of beast, plunging its kingdom into darkness. The sixth bowl dries up the Euphrates. The seventh bowl brings a number of natural disasters.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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The last few chapters have been focused on the dragon and the two beasts that arose from the sea and from the earth. In our last reading, we learned that the number of the beast is 666 and that this number or the beast’s name were to be marked on the right hand or on the forehead of everyone one earth. Today, the focus switches from the dragon to the Lamb who stands on Mount Zion with the 144,000. They have the Father’s name on their foreheads, and stand aloft, unharmed by the dragon or the two beasts. Three angels fly high overhead warning of judgment on Babylon and those who worship the beast and its image. The Son of Man appears, seated on a cloud with a sickle in his hand. He harvests the earth with a single swing, and soon thereafter the rest of the earth harvested for wrath. 

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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As the dragon stands on the shore, a beast comes out of the sea. It has ten horns and seven heads, each horn has a crown and each head has a blasphemous name. One head appears to have been fatally wounded, but has since been healed. The earth is enamored with the beast and worships the dragon, who gave the beast authority. The beast speaks blasphemies against God and wages war against the saints. Another beast comes up from the earth whose two horns are like that of a lamb, but whose voice is like that dragon. It exercises the authority of the beast on it’s behalf and makes everyone on earth receive a mark on their right hand or forehead.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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The book of Revelation is full of imagery and prophecy, which means that as we read there will be many confusing passages that Christians may disagree on and which I will not be able to cover at length here. Some see this next section as an overlap, sort of a call back to what has already been described at a different angle. The sign of the woman that gives birth to a child who will rule the nations is full of references to Psalm 2 which in turn is full messianic promises. The dragon is a reference to Satan, who sought to annihilate this promised child through Herod. The woman is later supernaturally sustained for 1260 days, which is the exact amount of time that the two witnesses were protected. Unable to harm the woman, the dragon wages war against those who keep the commands of God.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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Thus far in our reading of Revelation, the lamb has opened the seven seals on the scroll and seven angels have come forward to blow trumpets. At this point, only six of the seven trumpets have been blown. Today, a mighty angels appears with a small scroll, which John commanded to eat; it tastes as sweet as honey, but it makes his stomach bitter. Two unnamed witnesses appear and are given authority to prophesy and to declare plagues. When their time is complete, the beast will arise to kill them. Though they will lay slain in street for three and a half days, at which point the breath of God will enter them and they will rise to their feet. When the seventh trumpet is blown, the 24 elders declare that “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.”

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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The lamb has taken the scroll from the one seated on throne and has opened the first six of its seven seals. Today, the lamb opens the seventh seal. After a period of silence, seven angels with seven trumpets appear. With each successive trumpet blast a series natural disasters and plagues occur reminiscent of the plagues released upon Egypt in the time of Moses. After six of the seven trumpets have been blown, we are told that those who survived these plagues remain unrepentant of their works of lawlessness. As we read, keep in mind that the number seven often represents perfection or completion in Scripture.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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When we last read from Revelation, we were in the throne room of God and the Lamb approached to open the seals of a scroll. Today, the Lamb opens the seals. We see a pattern in the first four seals that includes the opening of a seal followed by one of the four living creatures saying “Come!” In each instance a horse and a rider appear, sometimes appearing in surreal forms. The fifth seal prompts distribution of white robes to those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God as they cry out for judgment and holy vengeance. The sixth seal prompts violent natural disasters. Later, John sees the sealed of Israel, 12,000 from each tribe. After this, the apostle sees a vast multitude from every tribe, nation, people, and language crying out in worship before throne.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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The letters to the seven churches have concluded, and in today’s episode the apostle John sees a vision of the throne room of heaven. The hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy” harkens back to this seen where 24 elders cast their crowns before the throne as a sign of humility and submission. To say that God is thrice-fold holy is to say that he is perfect in his holiness. The four living creatures bring to mind the angels seen in the visions of Ezekiel, representing God’s power and authority. One like a slaughtered lamb appears to take the scroll from the one seated on the throne, causing those who had gathered to bow before the lamb. A congregation of thousands upon thousands rise up to declare the praise of the one on the throne and of the lamb that was slain.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

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twitter.com/CommuterPod

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[email protected]

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

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John is receiving direct revelation from Jesus Christ concerning what he should write to seven churches of his day. In our last episode we covered the churches at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, and Thyatira. Today we’ll cover the churches of Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Sardis was known for being alive in Christ, but in reality they were dead. The Lord discerns between those who have kept their way pure and those who have defiled themselves. The church in Philadelphia is commended for enduring in faithfulness even though they has but little power; to them belong the promise of a new Jerusalem. The church in Laodicea is compared to the luke-warm water that was piped into the city: neither cold and refreshing nor hot and therapeutic. Their riches had deceived them into thinking they didn’t need to rely on the Lord.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

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[email protected]

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

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After the apostle John opens with an introduction to his vision, he begins to record the words of Jesus to the seven churches. In today’s reading we’ll cover the first four of the seven churches, including Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, and Thyatira. The Ephesian church is commended for not tolerating evil people, but rebuked for forgetting their love for the Lord. The church in Smyrna is encouraged, for even though they are poor, they are rich in Christ; they are further warned that their suffering will soon increase. The church at Pergamum live in a highly idolatrous city, and though they suffer for their faithfulness, there are some among them who are idolatrous. Finally, the church at Thyatira are commended for being loving, faithful, servants who endured much, but condemned for tolerating a sexual immoral woman who convinces others to join her in deviancy.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

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[email protected]

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

patreon.com/commuterbible

[email protected]