Thursday, May 15, 2014

THE SEVENTH SEAL

Suggested Reading: Revelation 8 

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

This is the original artwork for the musical "The Scroll" by Bruce Stacey, which Crossroads featured in the Pavilions of Promise at three World Expos in Vancouver, Brisbane, and Seville. Notice the seven seals! (Revelation, chapters 5-8).

 

Key Verse: Revelation 8:6

So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

 

Jim and Kathy Cantelon write today’s 100 Words segment (originally published in Crossroads’ “Day Unto Day” devotional series)…

The seventh seal is opened and a half-hour silence follows (verse 1). As the silence ends, John sees “seven angels who stand before God” being given “seven trumpets” (verse 2). These seven angels haven’t been mentioned as yet, but they are probably some kind of personification of the “seven spirits” before the throne in 1:4. They are given seven trumpets and each angel in turn blows his trumpet.

But before they blow their trumpets another angel appears. One author calls him “the angel of worship”. He offers incense at the altar, and it ascends “with the prayers of the saints…before God” (verse 4).

Here is what Lynn Harold Hough says about these events:

“It is remarkable that in the midst of all the rushing movement of the book of Revelation there is always time to set each particular experience in rich and noble perspective. The hour of worship has its own rights amid all the heavenly events. Even God’s judgments are not apart from the saints. They include the prayers of the saints.” (Interpreter’s Bible Vol. 12 p. 426).

Then the trumpet disasters begin. First come hail and fire (verse 7). Then a burning mountain falls into the sea (verse 8 ) followed by a blazing star falling on the fresh waters (verse 10). The result is a badly scorched earth and polluted sea and land waters. Then a fourth trumpet reduces all day and night light in the heavens by a third (verse 12).

The chapter ends with an eagle warning about the disasters yet to follow (verse 13). There are still three trumpets to be blown.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray for the wisdom and strength I need in order to respond well to these warnings of coming judgment. In the light of these future events, may I serve You more fervently with my whole heart and mind. I ask for this working of Your Holy Spirit in me in the Name of the Person who lived life at 100% of His potential, Jesus Christ. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Jim and Kathy Cantelon spent seven years in Jerusalem planting a great congregation of Christians, and encouraging other such congregations throughout Israel. Some will be surprised to discover that there are several thousand Jewish Christians there. In some respects it is like the first century when all the early Christians were Jewish, and, of course, that included Jesus Himself (click here for the exciting ministry of Jerusalem’s King of Kings congregation). When the Cantelons returned to Canada, I immediately contacted Jim and invited him to join me as a host on the 100 Huntley Street telecast. Later Kathy became our producer for Eye to Eye, which featured Jim interviewing the “who’s who” of Canadian politics, literature, academia, etc. Currently their mission field is Africa (click here for a look inside “Vision Ledd”). Also for our Greater Toronto Area readers, why not visit the Stone Church in downtown Toronto where Jim is serving as interim Pastor (click here for Stone Church).

Revelation 7 makes interesting reading to a member of those who call themselves “Jehovah’s Witnesses.” They originally claimed that they were the 144,000. I would ask them at the door, “Of which tribe are you?” When they got to be more than 144,000 in number, they had a problem. They had experience manipulating their teachings before. They provide an example of the dangers that can arise when attempting to interpret the Bible in general, and Revelation in particular, without reference to the historical understanding of the early church leaders, as well as those who are in the mainstream of prophetic understanding today. In his excellent book, Blood Moons Rising, Dr. Mark Hitchcock (in his chapter called “The Dating Game”) writes, “Jehovah’s Witnesses founder Charles Taze Russell set 1874 as the date of Christ’s return. After that, their leaders continually earmarked various years: 1878, 1881, 1910, 1914, 1918, 1925,1975, and 1984. After nine wrong dates, they claim to have given up on predicting the time of Christ’s coming.” Dr. Hitchcock will be seen throughout June on the daily 100 Huntley Street telecasts. He is not only a professor and a Pastor, but he’s also a law school graduate. He has a way of asking the most penetrating questions. So-o-o please don’t draw any final conclusions, at least ’til the end of June after watching Dr. Hitchcock daily. 100 Huntley Street can be viewed on line 24/7 at www.100huntley.com.

Yours for remembering the Apostle Peter’s words, “No Scripture is of any private interpretation” (2 Peter 1:20),

David

P.S. A lot of trumpets are blown in today’s chapter. Below is a photo of when a shofar was blown at the beginning of “Heaven’s Rehearsal” 2008 in Toronto (click here for info on Heaven’s Rehearsal). A shofar is a musical instrument of ancient origin, made of a horn, traditionally that of a ram, used for Jewish religious purposes. Like the modern bugle, the shofar lacks pitch-altering devices. All pitch control is done by varying the player’s embouchure.

The Bible in Christ Church Jerusalem is written in Hebrew. In the background you can see the menorah, a seven-branched lamp stand used in the ancient Tabernacle in the desert and Temple in Jerusalem, a symbol of Judaism since ancient times and the emblem of the modern state of Israel.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

13 thoughts on “Thursday, May 15, 2014

  1. Thanks for such a thorough explanation, David Mainse. So much to absorb. We consider the current state of the earth, now–how many of the seals have already been broken? Yes, it is not up to us to interpret and far too many arguments amongst Christians and even friendships have been ruined because of that very thing.

    Let us rejoice in Christ Jesus and keep centered in and on Him. Blessings dear saints!

    • Thanks also for the link for Stone Church where Jim is the interim pastor. I will be in Toronto next Saturday and will stop in there. The sermons are on their website, which is excellent to have access to!

  2. Today’s scripture talks symbolically about cataclysmic events, saintly prayers and the seven angels. Because this pertains to us and our planet, there is the the propensity to question just how this would translate, especially when we have seen similar man made and natural disasters. Yet, no scripture is of any private interpretation. That is a good thing, because if we were to know the specifics of time and place, history would not unfold as God intended it to. So, we read, we wait, we prepare and most importantly, we pray. In His Hands, we too shall each commit our spirits. Life is truly a gift! May we all make the most of every day granted! Amen!

  3. Watched 100 Huntley St. yesterday and it was great to see the policeman professing his love of Jesus. Moira does a wonderful job of interviewing people.
    Love the symbol of the lampstand, menorah.
    May God protect us all this day. I pray for the families of the mining disaster in Turkey. I believe Turkey has a large Muslim population so not sure how I’m supposed to pray for them, especially the miners who have already gone to their resting place.
    Thanks again DM et al for today’s revelation.

  4. Every day is indeed a special gift from The Lord and let us all rejoice that we are His flock and He through His Spirit will guide us.

    Praise, honour and glory to The Risen Lord.

    Thank you once again Pastor David and the Cantelons for explaining our reading.

    Blessings to all.

  5. Mark 13:32
    “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

    Acts 1:7
    He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
    May The Lord have mercy on us all. Stay blessed my blogg family.
    Thank you sir, for the picture of the scroll, it is one of my favourite pictures so far! Only the Holy Spirit can inspire such an amazing piece

  6. Rev. David…thank you again for all you give and share on each “blog” each morning. And thank you Jim and Kathy Cantelon for your interpretations in each Chapter of Revelations.
    To know that the prayers of the Saints have been kept in heaven and included in all that is taking place, is encouraging.
    I thank You Lord God Almighty that You know all things and have all things under Your control and I can trust in You in all things and lean on You and not on my own understanding. I pray this in Your Mighty Holy Name. Amen!

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