10/14/23 ~ Overcomers in the Book of Life

 

How does one get into the Lamb's "book of life" if not by professing Jesus as their Lord & Savior and inviting Him into their heart? But these scriptures imply that one's name can be removed.

"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels." {Revelation 3:5 KJV}

"And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book." {Revelation 22:19 KJV}

OSAS (once saved, always saved) is a lie - I say this because there are many that 'profess Jesus' but do not know Him and seek no relationship with Him. They are steeped in their sins, by choice.

ISTS (if saved, then saved) is truth - a personal relationship between each person and God, without anyone else's opinion. In other words, it's NOT for me to say whether you are saved, or not, that's between you and God.

Believers must overcome, just as Jesus did ...

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." {Revelation 3:21 KJV}

Be overcomers.

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." {John 16:33 KJV}

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" {1 John 5:4-5 KJV}

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. ... He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. ... He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it]. ... And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:" {Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26 KJV}

"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. ... Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name. ... To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." {Revelation 3:5, 12, 21 KJV}

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." {Revelation 12:11 KJV}

"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." {Revelation 21:7 KJV}

You overcome the world by your faith in Jesus - not yourself, not your fellow man; and with the Lord's help, not solely of your own 'power'. If you have faith that Jesus is the Son of God then lean on Him - He will help you overcome the challenges of this world and get you to the finish line and into eternity with Him.

Jesus' own words warn us to stay on His path and not turn from His ways ... 

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." {Matthew 7:21 KJV}

"And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." {Matthew 18:3 KJV}

"And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." {Revelation 21:27 KJV}

I'm just trying to warn you! If you're on the world's path and not the Lord's path - turn back to Him now, before it's too late ... time is much shorter than you think. 

 

NOTE: There is NO difference between the words "Lamb's book of life" and "book of life". They are only mentioned in the New Testament (KJV) and are therefore the same "book" and meaning.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=%22book+of+life%22&t=KJV#s=s_primary_0_1

08/10/23 ~ Revisiting Revelation: Seals, Trumpets, Vials

 

Here's what I have thought for the past few years now:
* The Seals are the "times of the Gentiles" - 2000 years
* The Trumpets are the first 3-1/2 years of the tribulation
* The Vials are the last 3-1/2 years of the tribulation & Jacob's (Israel's) trouble

I believe that at least the first five seals have been open since Jesus' day: false christs, false prophets, etc (white horse rider); wars and rumors of wars (red horse rider); famines, lack, etc, (black horse rider), and all of the above lead to disease, sickness, death and hades (green horse rider). These are the same horse riders as God's "four sore judgments" seen in Ezekiel 14:21 and many other places where it mentions: "the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence", also seen in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 17 & Luke 21. Those are the first four seals already open since the Lord's arrival at the throne of His Father in Heaven.

I also believe the fifth seal has been opened and many martyrs, likely thousands or millions, have died for Jesus' name since 30AD, 2000 years worth, FAR MORE than could possibly die for Him in a mere 3-1/2 or 7 years yet to come.

Next to be broken is the sixth seal - the rapture is in Revelation 7:9-17.

Then, the seventh seal leads directly into the seven trumpet judgments.

And then, the seventh trumpet leads directly into the seven vial judgments.

I'm watching for that sixth seal rapture.

We know the seals, trumpets and vials (bowls) are in CHRONOLOGICAL order if we pay attention to the little words of: "and", "and then", etc. And the THREE WOES keep the trumpets and the vials in CHRONOLOGICAL order as well.

BTW, there is no where in Revelation 4 that indicates a resurrection of the masses of dead in Christ to date, nor of the rapture of the masses (both the resurrected dead and the living that will be changed) at His appearing.

Now, some may say, why has only the first five seals been opened and not all of them? To that I also ask a question ... why did Jesus only read PART of Isaiah 61:1-2 and not all? Answer - because it wasn't time yet. He did indeed "proclaim" the "acceptable year of the Lord", but this part was not part of His 3-1/2 year ministry (27AD - 30AD) ... "the day of vengeance of our God", which didn't begin until 40 years after His death/resurrection in 30AD being the destruction of the 2nd Temple and Israel's dispursement into the nations in 70AD. {Luke 4:16-21 KJV}

My view doesn't leave out a single year, nor a single event, from Jesus' day until ours. Next up He'll break the sixth seal, and we'll be heading home. Here's to hoping that'll be sooner than later!

"For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?" {Ezekiel 14:21 KJV}

https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/rev/6/1/s_1173005

The First Seal--Rider on White Horse
Rev 6:1-2
And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

The Second Seal--War
Rev 6:3-4
And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

The Third Seal--Famine
Rev 6:5-6
And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

The Fourth Seal--Death
Rev 6:7-8
And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

--

The Fifth Seal--Martyrs
Rev 6:9-11
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. {remember 2Peter 3:8}

--

The Sixth Seal--Terror
{FIRST MENTION - FOREWARNING - OF THE "WRATH OF THE LAMB"}
Rev 6:12-17
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

--

An Interlude
{AKA: BUT FIRST - BEFORE THE "WRATH OF THE LAMB"}
Rev 7:1-8
And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

The 144,000
{These are still on earth, as they are mentioned 2x more hereafter for a total of THREE MENTIONS well into mid-tribulation from Rev 7:4 through to Rev 14:1 and Rev 14:3}

And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

--

Think ... Town Crier ... you cannot read the contents of a scroll until you've broken all of its seals.

--

A Multitude from the Tribulation
{^^^ INCORRECTLY LABELED ... THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES BELOW ARE REFERRING TO THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD IN CHRIST ...AND... THE LIVING WHO ARE CHANGED IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE ... AT THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH MANY AND "GREAT" "TRIBULATIONS", BUT NOT REFERRING TO THE 'SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION' THAT COMES AFTER THE RAPTURE. IT DOESN'T SAY "THE GREAT TRIBULATION", IT SAYS THEY CAME OUT OF "GREAT TRIBULATION". Look up the words used for "great" and "tribulation", in Greek they are: "megas" (G3173) and "thlipsis" (G2347), note the scriptures in which these words are used and the various meanings, all relating to life's trials and tribulations that we all must endure and overcome.}
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3173/kjv/tr/0-1/
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2347/kjv/tr/0-1/

Rev 7:9-17
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

--

AFTER THE INTERLUDE ABOVE, THAT BEING THE RAPTURE ... THEN AND ONLY THEN DOES THE SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION (Trumpets and Vials Judgements) BEGIN! WE ARE NOT HERE FOR ANY PART OF THE SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION, NOR ARE WE HERE FOR ANY PART OF THE "WRATH OF THE LAMB" (Trumpet Judgments), NOR ARE WE HERE FOR ANY PART OF THE "WRATH OF GOD" (Vial Judgments)!

--

Summary

vvv THE SEVEN SEALS OF THE SCROLL IN REVELATION ARE vvv
* The "times of the Gentiles" (2000 earth years = 2 heavenly days, 2Peter 3:8)
... and then, the rapture ...

"After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight." {Hosea 6:2 KJV}

Again I say, think ... Town Crier ... you cannot read the contents of a scroll until you've broken all of its seals.

vvv THE CONTENTS OF THE SCROLL AFTER ALL SEALS ARE BROKEN vvv
* The Trumpet judgments are the "wrath of the Lamb" (3-1/2 years)
* The Vial judgments are the "wrath of God" (3-1/2 years)

 

040823 ~ The 3 Harvests of God Almighty

No, I don't have all the answers but here is what I believe based on my studies ...


.:: FIRST HARVEST ::.
This one has already occurred, these were resurrected after Jesus' resurrection - on the third day after His death/burial. Jesus is the first of the firstfruits and "the many" are the wave offering.

"Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God." {Matthew 27:50-54 KJV}


.:: SECOND HARVEST ::.
This is the resurrection of the dead in Christ followed by the change to immortality of the living in Christ and the rapture of the church! These are the "winnowed" barley harvest. This happens just before the "wrath of the Lamb" (the 7 trumpet judgments).

"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and [about] the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, [be] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." {Revelation 7:9-17 KJV}

There is NO SIGN of a resurrection nor rapture in Revelation 4 ... NONE. We are at the fifth seal NOW, the martyrs have been ongoing since Jesus' death/resurrection, as has earthquakes, famines, pestilences, wars & rumors of wars, et al {Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17 & Luke 21}.


.:: THIRD HARVEST ::.
WOW - ?how did I miss this? - chapter breaks, that's how! I've known of Rev 14:14-16 being the "tribulation saints" for a couple of years now, but, until today, I didn't realize that carried into Rev 15! This happens just before the "wrath of God" (the 7 bowl/vial judgments). This is the "wheat harvest" (tribulation saints), they have endured the "tribulum" (first half of the tribulation period) and are taken up to Him before the "grapes of wrath" begins (last half of the tribulation period - great tribulation - Jacob's trouble).

"And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud [one] sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped." {Revelation 14:14-16 KJV}
***CONTINUED***
"And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, [and] over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous [are] thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true [are] thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for [thou] only [art] holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest. And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled." {Revelation 15:1-8 KJV}


.:: AFTER THE "GRAPES OF WRATH" ::.
There are no other harvests that I can find in the bible aside from the three as shown above. At the end of the tribulation, which most Christians believe is a seven year period, Jesus will return to rule and reign in Jerusalem for 1,000 years, and His resurrected immortal followers will help Him to rule worldwide. Those that make it through the tribulation, alive, will be the ones to repopulate the earth.

Maranatha to our Bridegroom King, Jesus/YeshuaH!

See also ... https://thelambswife.blogspot.com/2020/06/062920-revelation-explained.html ... and further links at the bottom of that page ;o}