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Posted on CCPC's website 2022
Again. This study is verse by verse, IMAGE by Image, IDEA by Idea, and concept by concept. Which means it is a Marathon.
We are using sources that John the Apostle and those mentioned as the recipients of the letter, the Seven Churches and other First Century Christians, the majority of which were Jews, would / should / could have been familiar with. We will also reference newer translations and versions of the book, beginning with the 1560 Geneva Bible (the bulk source for the 1611 KJV, which we also use) all the way up to much more current publications, and examinations of the text from various scholars, as well as beginning the analysis of the text from the Greek.
It should be said here, as we are beginning with the Greek, we are going in remembering that John was writing in an 'apocalyptic' style. It seems many translations have forgotten that and 'moderated' the language.
1
“and I looked...”, there is no break in the action, John immediately sees something else to write about, “idou To Arnion” (behold The Lamb) was standing upon “oros Sion” (Mount Zion, one of the seven hills on which Jerusalem was built, southwest of Mount Moriah the Temple Mount. Has also been used to refer to historical Israel, as well as the Jewish people by extension).
And with Him was another appearance of 144,000 people who had the Name of His Father “gegrammenon” (written) on their foreheads. This may or may not be related to the other 144,000, or instead be the people mentioned in 3 : 12, or perhaps a different group all together because the word is 'written' not 'branded' or 'sealed'. (they are identified later)
2
Then John hears a “phonen / phone” (language - voice), and as with everything else in Revelation, it is loud, the phonen (sound) of “hydaton pollon” (waters many) and “brontes megales” (thunder loud).
Then he restates it, the voices were like “kitharodon kitharizonton” (the root word is 'kithara' lyre or harp, and one who plays and sings). So you have a powerful voice that sounds like music.
3
And “adousin” (they (the voice) sing) “hos oden kainen” (as a chant or song new) before the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders. And no one was able to learn the song except the 144,000 who were “egorasmenoi” (purchased / redeemed) from the Earth.
4 and 5
But this 144,000 is not a curtain call by the first group. And the 1611 may have some translation issues.
It is they who have not “meta gynaikon ouk emolynthesan” (with women been defiled); (semicolon), for they are “parthenoi” (maidens, or 'unmarried daughters'), (comma) these “akolouthountes” (following) the “Arnio” (Lamb) “hopou an hypage” (wherever He shall go).
Yes, it is the line from “Mary had a little lamb”, but in reverse.
These have been “egorasthesan” (bought, same root as 3) out from humanity the “aparche” (firstfruits) to God and the Lamb.
And in the mouth of none of them was found “pseudos” (falsehood, includes false religion). They are “amomoi” (unblemished / faultless) “enopion” (in the presence of) the Throne of GOD.
First fruits is a reference to the sacrifice to GOD going all the way back to Genesis 4, and to the command in Exodus 23, Leviticus 2: 12, and so on. In the New Testament we see the firstfruits of the spirit in Romans 8: 23 and mentioned in Romans 16 as well.
It is also clear that this group is NOT the 144,000 of Israel.
The 1611 uses the word 'guile', for pseudos. The meaning of that term in period language would be better rendered as 'duplicity', which fits.
6 and 7
John sees another angel “petomenon mesouranemati” (flying in the middle of heaven) having “euangelion aionion euangelisai ” (glad tidings (good news) perpetual / eternal to announce) to those “kathemenous” (residing) on the Earth and upon every “ethnos phylen glossan laon ” (nation, race, language, people, )...
... “legon” (calling out) in a “phone megale” (voice loud), “Phobethete ton Theon, kai dote auto doxan” (fear GOD and give HIM glory), because the “hora tes kriseos” (hour of judgment) of Him.
And worship / pay homage to the ONE that made heaven, the land, and the sea, “pegas hydaton” (springs of fresh water)
8
John starts counting angels again.
And “allos angelos” (another angel), “deuteros ekolouthesen” (a second followed), saying “Epesen” (fallen) “Babylon” (the word is the same, can also mean tyranny) the “megale” (great), who the “oinou tou thymou” (wine of wrath) for the “porneias” (harlotry / idolatry) of her, “pepotiken” (she has caused) the Gentiles to drink.
9 through 11
And, third angel says “Ei tis proskynei” (if anyone worships) the “therion” (beast) and “eikona autou” (likeness / image) and “lambanei charagma” (gets the mark) on the “metopou” (forehead) or “cheira” (hand)...
The next line from the Greek:
“... will drink the wine of the anger of GOD” “kekerasmenou akratou” (mixed without diluting (pure)) “poterio tes orges autou” (cup of the wrath of Him) and “basanisthesetai” (examined under torture /torment) with “pyri” (fire) and “theio” (sulphr/ 'brimstone') and the “angelon hagion” (angels holy) and before the “Arniou” (Lamb).
And the “kapnos tou basanismou auton” (smoke of the torture of them) for “aionas aionon anabainei” (ages of ages goes up) and they have no “anapausin” (respite / refreshment / ceasing) day or night, those that worship the beast, the image, or receive the mark.
12
The NIV says it nicely:
“This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.”
This indicates once again that there Will Be those that Believe alive on the planet right in the middle of all of the listed festivities in Revelation. We are over halfway through the book, and some member of The Church are still here!
13
A unidentified voice from heaven tells him to write: “Makarioi” (fortunate / 'to be envied') the dead “Kyrio” (Lord (refers to both GOD and Jesus with one word)) “apothneskontes” (dying (from all causes, not just martyrdom)) from now on. 'Yes' says “Pneuma” (Breath (of life) / Spirit) so they “anapaesontai” (will have respite) from their “kopon” (labors) and their “erga” (acts / toils) will “akolouthei” (accompany) them.
14
And again, there is no break, John looks and ...
“idou” (behold) a “nephele leuke” (cloud white) and on the cloud is “kathemenon” ((One) is enthroned) “homoion huion anthropou” (like The Son of Man), having on His head a “chrysoun” (golden) crown, “drepanon oxy” (sickle or reaping /gathering hook (a type of hand sickle, not a scythe) sharp).
15
And another angel comes out of the “naou” (temple / shrine) “krazon en phone megale” (shrieking in voice loud) to the One on the cloud, put forth your sickle and “therison” (harvest) for the time has come and because the harvest is “exeranthe” (ripe).
This verse in the 1611 does not state that the temple the angel was in was in heaven, the NIV adds that detail. In this verse the Greek does not support the specific mailing address of the building. Yet.
16
And “ebalen” (cast) the One on the cloud his sickle “epi ten gen” (upon the land) and “etheristhe” (was harvested) the earth.
17
And another angel came out of the temple “en to ourano” (in heaven), he already has his own sharp sickle.
And now we know where the temple was.
18
And another angel came out of the “thysiasteriou” (altar), having “exousian” (mastery / influence) over “pyros” (fire in all forms), he shouts loudly to the angel with the sickle to put forth his sickle and “trygeson” (gather fruit) “tous botryas tes ampelou” (the clusters from the vines) of the earth, because “ekmasan hai staphylai autes” (because have fully ripened the grapes of it).
Next is a fascinating set of verses. For one thing, at this point we do not know who the 'grapes' are, only that they are not believers, and given what happens to them, well, it's not good. They might be followers of the beast, or just non-believers, or some other group, we don't know.
19 and 20
The angel puts forth his gathering hook and “etrygesen ten ampelon” (collected the vintage from the vine) of the earth, and “ebalen” (dropped) them into the “lenon tou thymou tou Theou” (wine press of the wrath of GOD) “tou megan” (the great (is modifying all the above)).
And “epatethe” (trampled) wine press “exothen tes poleos” (outside the city), and “exelthen haima” (flowed blood) out of the press “achri ton chalinon ton hippon” (up to the bridles of the horses) “apo stadion” (the distance of 'stadia' / 185 meters / 607 feet / 1611 'furlongs') 1600 (approximately 300 kilometers / 200 miles).
End 14
Greek Lyres. http://crab.rutgers.edu/~pbutler/greeklyre.html
A page that discusses the First Fruits offering https://get.tithe.ly/blog/first-fruit
Sources used throughout entire study:
Bible Hub Interlinear pages:
https://biblehub.com/interlinear/revelation/1.htm
the Geneva Bible downloadable https://archive.org/details/TheGenevaBible1560
the 1611 KJV https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1611-Bible/
NOTE: The Bible Study Lesson presented above is posted as a reference document to begin a conversation of the topic. And that's it. Please accept it at such.
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