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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