Symbolic Use. There are several instances of symbolic use of the word “scroll” in the Bible. Ezekiel and Zechariah each saw a scroll with writing on both sides. Since only one side of a scroll was commonly used, writing on both sides may refer to the weightiness, extent, and seriousness of the judgments written in these scrolls. (Eze 2:9–3:3; Zec 5:1-4) In the vision of Revelation, the one on the throne held in his right hand a scroll having seven seals, preventing detection of what was written until God’s Lamb opened them. (Re 5:1, 12; 6:1, 12-14) Later in the vision John himself was presented a scroll and was commanded to eat it. It tasted sweet to John but made his belly bitter. Since the scroll was open and not sealed, it was something that was to be understood. It was “sweet” to John to get the message contained therein but apparently had bitter things for him to prophesy, as he was told to do. (Re 10:1-11) Ezekiel had a similar experience with the scroll presented to him in which there were “dirges and moaning and wailing.”—Eze 2:10.

In the apostle John’s vision in Revelation he saw a heavenly woman crying out “in her pains and in her agony to give birth.” The child born was “a son, a male, who is to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod.” In spite of the dragon’s efforts to devour it, “her child was caught away to God and to his throne.” (Re 12:1, 2, 4-6) The son’s being caught away by God would denote God’s acceptance of the child as his own, even as it was customary in ancient times to present a newborn child before its father for acceptance. (See BIRTH.) It would follow that the “woman” is God’s “wife,” the “Jerusalem above,” the “mother” of Christ and his spiritual brothers.—Ga 4:26; Heb 2:11, 12, 17.

God’s heavenly “woman” would, of course, be perfect, and the birth would be without literal pain. The labor pains would, therefore, symbolically indicate that the “woman” would realize that the birth was at hand; she would be in expectation of it shortly.—Re 12:2.

Who would this “son, a male,” be? He was to “shepherd all the nations with an iron rod.” This was foretold of God’s Messianic King, at Psalm 2:6-9. But John saw this vision long after Christ’s birth on earth and his death and resurrection. The vision would therefore appear to refer to the birth of the Messianic Kingdom in the hands of God’s Son Jesus Christ, who, on being raised from the dead, “sat down at the right hand of God, from then on awaiting until his enemies should be placed as a stool for his feet.”—Heb 10:12, 13; Ps 110:1; Re 12:10.

Re 10:1:  Jehovah the God of power can make one strong and even more powerful. For we see here the glorified Jesus Christ in another role as a “strong angel.”  Jesus received this from Jehovah has given “all authority . . . in heaven and on the earth,” according to Mt 28:18.  Yes all of Jesus miracles were done by Jehovah. (Acts 2:22 )

Re 10:3:  When Jehovah audibly proclaimed his purpose to glorify his own name in the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry, to many it sounded like thunder. (John 12:28-29) So it is reasonable to conclude that the ‘voices of the seven thunders’ are Jehovah’s own expression of his purposes. (Psalm 29:3; Re 4:5)

Re 10:4:  Jehovah has a appointed time when he wants certain messages to be release that is why Jehovah told John “Seal up …., anddo not write them down.’” That is why we have to wait for Jehovah to disclose his divine purposes for publication. Such revelations come only at Jehovah’s appointed time. (Lu 12:42; Da 12:8-9)

Re 10:6:  Jehovah God is the Source of all life and is the Creator and we exist because of his love for human and that why we should give him our exclusive devotion. Jehovah is the one who lives forever and has much wisdom that he can share with mankind. (Ex 20:11;Ne 9:6; Ps 146:6; Jas 1:5; Pr 2:6)

Re 10:7:  Jehovah the revealer of “sacred secret,” but only to those who are his own slaves. This sacred secret deal with promised made in Eden at Ge 3:15, which proved to be Jesus Christ and those who will rule with Jesus, which must be preach as good news. (Isa 54:1; Ga 4:26-28; Lu 8:10; Eph 3:3-9; Col 1:26, 27; Re 1:5, 6)

Re 11:1: The measure the temple sanctuary of God and the altar and those worshiping in it,” provided a guarantee that justice would be rendered on the basis of Jehovah’s perfect standards. Also it is a sign that nothing can prevent the fulfillment of Jehovah’s purposes regarding the temple arrangement.

Re 11:12:  Jehovah knows how to protect his faithful servants.  No matter what Christendom tries to harm Jehovah’s people after the year 1919 they were put out of her reach.  It was like Jehovah had said to them: “Come on up here,” and they had ascended to an elevated spiritual state where their enemies could see them but not touch them. (1Co 20:13)

Re 11:15:  Jehovah is “the king of eternity,” who will rule forever and forever. Jesus Messianic King, will thus fulfill Jehovah’s Word and vindicate his Father sovereignty and will subject himself too his God and Father so Jehovah may be all things to everyone. (1Co 15:28; 1Ti 1:17)

Re 11:16-17:  Jehovah is the one who deserved to be worship as shown by the 24 elder. Another reason to worship Jehovah is because he is God the Almighty and has the power to fulfill all his promises and no one can stop him.

Re 11:18:  Jehovah will not let mankind destroy the earth which is being destroy spiritually and physically with all the pollution that they are doing. If Jehovah was to allow it, there would be no way to fulfill his word at Gen 1:28 and would show Satan can undo Jehovah’s will or word.  So we can trust to fulfill his word according to Isa 55:11 and all the promises already fulfill.     

Re 12:16:  When Jehovah chooses to do so, he can influence governmental authorities to accomplish his will. Fittingly, therefore, Proverbs 21:1 states: “A king’s heart is like streams of water in Jehovah’s hand. He directs it wherever He pleases.” This should strengthen our faith in God. (Re 17:17)

Re 10:1-3:  1914 was time that Jesus was to stand up in a glorified Jesus Christ in another role as a “strong angel.” this rainbow on the angel’s head would identify him as a special peace messenger, Jehovah’s foretold “Prince of Peace” at Isa 9:6, 7.  As “the sun of righteousness,” Jesus shines forth for the benefit of those who fear Jehovah’s name. (Mal 4:2) 

Re 10:5-6: Another scripture that show that Jesus is not part of a trinity. For we see the glorified Jesus swears, not by himself, but by the highest Authority of all, Jehovah, the immortal Creator of the heavens and the earth. (Isa 45:12, 18) Jesus shows he recognized  a greater authority and that one is his Father the Almighty God Jehovah.  (John 20:17)

Re 10:9-10:  The messages that Jehovah wants deliver is sweet to those who are sighing on account of the detestable things they seen and it give us a better everlasting hope for future. This message is bitter because it contains expressions of Jehovah’s judgments which spell doom too all who do not listen.

Re 11:8-11:  Anointed ones were symbolically killed when they were thrown into prison for a comparatively shorter period of time, a symbolic three and a half days. In the eyes of the enemies of God’s people, their work had been killed, causing those opponents much joy. Yet Jehovah breathed life into them and the preaching work was intensified.

Re 11:13:  The scriptures help us to understand that the “seven thousand” and the “tenth of the city” in Revelation 11:13 are those who respond to the restored two witnesses and abandon the sinful great city. (1Ki 19:14, 18; Isa 6:13; Ro 11:1-5) Today the number has grown over 8.5 million because they have responded to the messages of truth.

Re 11:15:  Another scripture that show that Jesus is not part of a trinity. For we see Jehovah is represented by the words “Kingdom of our Lord” who has a Christ by the words “his Christ.” This show two separate individuals and one belong to the other. 

Re 12:4, 9, 17:  A warning not to under estimate Satan power to mislead us to doing wrong and ruining our relationship with Jehovah. For we see he drag a third of the stars or angels of heaven with him in his fall. We need Jehovah help and his organization to put a hard fight for Jehovah. (Gen. 6:1-4; Jude 6; 1Jo 5:19) 

Re 12:7-8:  Show that Satan and his demons still has access to the heavens where Jehovah reigns with his Son and the angels. This happen with the birth of heavenly Kingdom power began in 1914.  We know this because of all the sign Jesus left us to see at Mt 24:3-9 and; Lu 21:7-11.

Re 12:12:  There is now total peace and unity in heaven because everyone there is doing God’s will.  Yet for the earth Satan is furious because he has been thrown out of heaven, and he knows he will be destroyed very soon.  So he now causing trouble, pain, and suffering all over the earth.  That is why we need to stay close to Jehovah.

Re 12:15: “The earth,” elements within Satan’s owns system or the ruling powers in various lands, upheld freedom of worship. Starting in the 1940’s, those powers “swallowed up the river of persecution that the dragon disgorged from its mouth.”

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DIGGING FOR SPIRITUAL GEMS 

December 2-8

REVELATION 7-9

Re 7:1—What do the “four angels standing on the four corners of the earth” and “the four winds” represent? (re 115 ¶4)

4 No doubt, these four angels represent four angelic groups, whom Jehovah uses to hold back the execution of judgment until the appointed time. When the angels release those winds of divine wrath to whirl at one time from north, south, east, and west, the devastation will be tremendous. It will resemble, but on a stupendous scale, Jehovah’s use of the four winds to scatter the ancient Elamites, shattering and exterminating them. (Jeremiah 49:36-38) It will be a gigantic storm wind far more devastating than the “tempest” by which Jehovah annihilated the nation of Ammon. (Amos 1:13-15) No part of Satan’s organization on earth will be able to stand in the day of Jehovah’s fury, when he vindicates his sovereignty for all eternity to come.—Psalm 83:15, 18; Isaiah 29:5, 6.

Re 9:11—Who is “the angel of the abyss”? (it-1 12)

Abaddon, the angel of the abyss—who is he?

At Revelation 9:11, however, the word “Abaddon” is used as the name of “the angel of the abyss.” The corresponding Greek name Apollyon means “Destroyer.” In the 19th century there were efforts made to show that this text prophetically applied to individuals such as Emperor Vespasian, Muhammad, and even Napoleon, and the angel was generally regarded as “satanic.” It should be noted, however, that at Revelation 20:1-3 the angel having “the key of the abyss” is shown to be God’s representative from heaven, and rather than being “satanic,” he binds and hurls Satan into the abyss. Commenting on Revelation 9:11, The Interpreter’s Bible says: “Abaddon, however, is an angel not of Satan but of God, performing his work of destruction at God’s bidding.”

In the Hebrew scriptures just considered, it is evident that ʼavad·dohnʹ is paralleled with Sheol and death. At Revelation 1:18we find Christ Jesus stating: “I am living forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” His power with regard to the abyss is shown at Luke 8:31. That he has destroying power, including the power of destruction over Satan, is evident from Hebrews 2:14, which says that Jesus partook of blood and flesh in order that “through his death he might bring to nothing the one having the means to cause death, that is, the Devil.” At Revelation 19:11-16 he is clearly represented as God’s appointed Destroyer or Executioner.—See APOLLYON.

What does this week’s Bible reading teach me about Jehovah?

Re 7:1-3:  Jehovah has a set time to bring an end of all wickedness on the earth as we see here that the angles are holding back the winds of destruction until the sealing is completed. The living Jehovah call out “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until after we have sealed the slaves of our God in their foreheads.” May we be found doing the will of Jehovah. (1Th 5:3; 2Th 1:8-9; 2Pe 3:7; Pr 2:22)

Re 7:4:  Jehovah the great decision maker, who can read the hearts of mankind and see the love one shows for his name and loyalty they shown. That is why Jehovah has left the choosing of the anointed to himself, because they will have to rule over mankind with righteousness.  (Mk 10:40; Mt 10:23)

Re 7:11-12:  Jehovah is the only one shown in the heaven that should be worship because he is the creator and should also be praise and honor. We should give praise and thanksgiving and honor too Jehovah as we observe the fulfillment of Jehovah’s purpose, for this mean our deliverance is near. (Ex 20:5; Mt 4:10) 

Re 7:17:  Jehovah’s great love for mankind is demonstrated in this verse for he wants to take away all our anxieties, illness, fears, and even death. Jehovah care about us and after the Thousand Year Reign of Jesus he will fulfill his promise. (Re 21:3-4; Isa 25:8, 1Co 15:54-55)    

Re 8:3-4:  Jehovah the hearer of prayer no matter where one is in heaven or earth. We can be confident as long as our prayers are according to his will Jehovah, he answer our prayers but maybe not answer in the way we wanted. May we put our trust in Jehovah for he is our eternal Rock? Ps. 65:12, 141:2, 145:18; Isa 26:4; Acts 10:31)

What other spiritual gems have you discovered in this week’s Bible reading?

Re 7:4:  Not all good people go to heaven, for we see here it is only 144,000 are spoken as brought from the earth to be priests and king of Jehovah. Also they does not get to choose to be one of the anointed for it is Jehovah who does the choosing. (Re 14:1, 3, 5:9, 20:6; Mk 10:40; Mt 10:23)

Re 7:5-8:  This is speaking of spiritual Israel because the tribes of Ephraim and Dan are omitted most likely because of misconduct.  Also the nation of Israel as whole was abandon according to Jesus and they reject Jesus the Son of God. (Mt 21:49, 23:38; Lu 13:35; Jer 31:31-33; Heb 8:8-12)  

Re 7:9-10:  This great crowds should strengthen our faith that imperfect human can have salvation because of Jehovah and what his Son Jesus did for us by laying his life down for us. We must not ever let our faith dwindle because of our mistake, for Jehovah want all to live and can forgive in a large way. (Isa 55:7; Ps 103:12-13; 2Pe 3:9)

Re 7:10:  Another scripture that show that Jesus is not part of a trinity. For we see two separate individual we owe our salvation too. Jehovah who set into motion the way to get mankind into good relationship and his Son who was willing to give his life for us.  

Re 7:13-14:  The 24 elders represent the 144,000 in their heavenly glory, but only one of the elders reveals to John the identity of the great crowd. So the resurrection of anointed Christians must have begun sometime before 1935, because in that year the correct identity of the great crowd was made known to God’s anointed servants on earth. (Lu 22:28-30; Re. 4:4; 7:9)

Re 7:14-15:  The great crowd survived the great tribulation is because they are exercised faith in Jesus the ransom and are servicing Jehovah day and night because the preaching is being done around the world.   

Re 7:16:  This cannot be talk about literal hungry and thirsty since Christians in the first century did suffer literal hunger and thirst at times. (2Co 11:23-27; 1Co 4:11) Spiritual fulfillment for the great crowd and the anointed Christians, they enjoy bounteous spiritual provisions. (Isa 65:13)   

Re 8:5:  Jesus told his disciples: “I came to start a fire on the earth” at Lu 12:49. So this symbolic fire set the anointed Christians afire and began a worldwide preaching campaign that made God’s Kingdom a burning issue and truths about Jehovah and his will.

Re 8:6-12:  The sounding of the trumpets represents fearless proclamations of Jehovah’s judgments against Satan’s world by God’s people in cooperation with the angels. This began with the Cedar Point, Ohio, convention in 1922 and will lasts all the way down to the great tribulation.

Re 9:10. 19:  The authoritative Bible-based statements in the publications of “the faithful and discreet slave” contain a stinging message. (Matt. 24:45) This message corresponds to the locusts’ tails that have “stings like scorpions” and the horses of a cavalry, whose “tails are like serpents,” because these publications warn of the day of Jehovah’s vengeance. (Isa. 61:2) Let us be courageous and zealous in distributing them.

Re 9:20-21:  Many meek people who live in so-called non-Christian nations have responded well to the message we proclaim. Yet we are not expecting a mass conversion of people outside the realm of Christendom, who are referred to as “the rest of the people.”

Re 9:20:  Show that idols used in worship of God is not acceptable. That is why we are told at 1Co 10:14 to “flee from idolatry,” if we want our worship to be acceptable to Jehovah. We need to remember that idols can’t speak, hear, smell, walk and save anyone. (Ps 115 4-7, 135:15-19; 1Jo 5:21)  

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