On Mount Zion

Rev. 14:1,4 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with Him... are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb...They sing the new song before the throne,.
There was a literal mount Zion in Jerusalem. Yet even in OT times, it held symbolic meaning of being with God. The earthly temple was located there.
Revelation points us to the heavenly Mount Zion. On this Mount Zion are God's people with Christ, for they are they that follow the Lamb where ever He leads. They sing their songs of praise and thanksgiving before the throne of God.

We don't have to wait till we are translated to follow Christ, and sing praises of thanksgiving before Him . God's people may do this here below. We will follow the Lamb of God in the courts above only if we follow Him here.

The big question asked -- Who will stand on Mount Zion. See the answer in Psalms 15 and 24 as well as in Revelation 14.

Psalm 15	Psalm 24	Revelation
15:1 A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?	24:3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?	6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
15:2 He that walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart.	24:4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart;	14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women (false doctrines); for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes.
15:3 He that does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbour, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbour.	24:4 He who has not lifted up his soul unto vanity.	14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile
15:4 In whose eyes a vile person is condemned; but he honours them that fear the LORD. He that keeps his solemn promise even when it's to his own hurt.	24:4 has not sworn deceitfully 24:6 they that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah	14:4 These were redeemed from among men, 14:5 for they are without fault before the throne of God 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
15:5 He that does not put out his money to usury, nor takes reward against the innocent. He that does this shall never be moved>	24:5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.	14:1 having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

God's Law in our Hearts.
What does it mean to have God's law in our hearts?
Is it just intellectual knowledge or is it something much more?

The Psalms are a powerful witness as to what it means to have God's law in our hearts!

Ps. 111:10 The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do [his commandments]: his praise endures for ever.
112:1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that fears the LORD,[color:#990000] who delights greatly in his commandments.
119:97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
119:163 I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.
119:164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.
119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
119:113 I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
119:35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
119:36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

37:30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of judgment.
37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.[/color]

When we see God's law as a law of love, goodness, righteousness, the only way to live in a perfect, happy, peaceful world, we will love God's law. After all it reveals His character,


Remember God's law is the law of Love:
LOVE the Lord thy God with all they heart, might and soul
LOVE thy neighbor

God's law is very much part of God's covenant promises.

Of Ephraim
Psalms 78:10 They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;
Ps.105:10 The law, to Israel [is] an everlasting covenant:

Jer. 31:33 But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Hebrews 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

In Revelation God's law plays a major role. It's the overcomers, who overcome by the blood of the Lamb who receive the promises, and are the saints that withstand the demands of the beastly union.

Part two of Psalms contribution to Revelation

We see that Revelation brings two opposite reactions in many ways.

One of those opposite reactions is intense fear or great joy and anticipation.

There is no question that Revelation depicts the end times as pretty intense and scary.
Luke 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
There are seven vials filled with the wrath of God, poured out without mixture.
Amos 5:20 Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?
And yes, for those who refused the refuge Jesus came to offer for "whomsoever will" it will be a terrible day of regret and anguish.
"When the voice of God turns the captivity of His people, there is a terrible awakening of those who have lost all in the great conflict of life" (GC 654) Begging "Mountains and rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne" (Revelation 6:16)

But for those who have come to Christ, the source of life, hope, love and righteousness, they need have no fear. For them His coming is the greatest anticipation and joy.

Ps. God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
46:2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
46:3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, and the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
46:4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
46:5 God is in the midst of them; she shall not be moved: God shall help right early.

Ps. 32:10 Many sorrows shall come to the wicked: but he that trusts in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all you that are upright in heart.

Ps. 91:1 He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
91:5 You shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day;
91:6 Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
91:9 Because you have made the LORD, which is our refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

Is. 25:9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

The Wrath of the Lamb

What is the wrath of the Lamb. God is love, Christ is love. Love has been poured out in unfathomable quantities upon the human race, to lift them out of the dark pit they have fallen, and give them eternal life. Unfathomable depths for the sake of men and women has been given," and angels marvel to behold in the recipients of so great love a mere surface gratitude. Angels marvel at man's shallow appreciation of the love of God. Heaven stands indignant at the neglect shown to the souls of men. Would we know how Christ regards it?"

The sufferings of every person are the sufferings of God's child, and those who cause sufferings upon their fellow man, and reach out no helping hand to their perishing fellow beings provoke His righteous anger. This is the wrath of the Lamb. To those who claim fellowship with Christ, yet cause others hurt and are indifferent to the needs of their fellow men, and repent not, will receive the wrath of the Lamb. He will declare in the great Judgment day, "I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity." Luke 13:27.
To have HIM turn His face away in a frown, and leave them in the destruction of evil, will be a terrible experience for the lost.

If we love Christ, responding to the love and patience and guidance of His love, we will keep His commandments, and those commandments are not arbitrary rules, they are summed up as
Loving the Lord with all our hearts, soul and mind, and loving our fellow humans as we want to be loved.
After all, it is the disregard of those Divine commands of love, that has caused this whole mess of sin in the first place. Christ's coming will put an end to sin and all it's misery.

This is good lesson on how God interacts with man and shows not only His love, but justice and how sin will come to an end..

Yes, the lesson gave examples which were written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

NOAH'S TIME
1. God's investigation. God saw that all their thoughts were evil continually, the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth. He found one man who still held fast his faith in God. Noah.

2. God warns. For 120 years Noah's voice and actions foretold a coming flood that would wipe out all this wickedness.

3. God provides a way of escape. In Noah's day it was a huge boat -- the ark that would safely carry all who would enter in safety.

4, God allows the wicked to demonstrate their rejection of mercy. There was a mighty last call. Animals led by the hand of angels marched into the ark. Noah gives his last plea. But though hugely moved, the people (except for Noah's family) choose to stay outside the ark of safety.

5, God executes judgment" There was a world wide flood, Wickedness destroyed, the faithful saved.

SODOM AND GOMORRAH
1. God investigates. " the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it.

2. God warns. Two angels in the form of men, go into Sodom. The wicked ones show just how wicked they are. Lot goes out to warn his relatives of coming destruction but they laugh him to scorn.

3, God provides a way of escape. Abraham pleading for the city -- if only 20, if only 10. Yes, if only 10 were righteous God would spare the city. But not even 10 were there, and even the four that escaped, literally pulled out by the angels, were not fully committed.

4. God allows the wicked to show their unrepentant wickedness, Those men were struck blind by the angels. Now shouldn't that have made them think? But they kept right on in their wicked quest "they wearied themselves to find the door. " still in pursuit of their evil desires.

5, God executes judgment" The fire came and wiped out the wickedness. Lot and his family were delivered .

THE END OF THE AGE
1. God investigates before Jesus comes to gather the saved and destroy everything upon the earth with the brightness of His coming.

2. God warns. The three angels message is to be carried to every nation, tribe and people.

3. God provides a way of escape. Our "ark of the covenant" is to be "in Christ"

4. God allows the wicked to show their unrepentant rebellion. It's once the wicked universally agree to extinguish, by death, all who serve God by keeping ALL His commandments in faith, that God steps in.
And before the final destruction at the end of the 1000 years every person will know what God did to save them, but they still march on Jerusalem hoping to overthrow GOD.

5, God executes judgment" Both at the second coming when the earth is emptied of all humans.
And at the third coming there will be a world encircling lake of fire, to cleanse the earth of all traces of sin, The redeemed are safe within the wall of the city with Jesus.

Ruth and Boaz

Ruth was a Moabite, a descendant of Lot.
Lot was Abraham's nephew, who was rescued from Sodom just before it was destroyed.
While living in the mountains on the eastern side of the Dead Sea (a sea now believed to cover the area of Sodom and Gomorrah)Lot's two sons were born to Lot's two daughters through a deceptive relationship: Moab and Ammon. Both these sons developed their own sizable nation. The city of Zoar (which means small or little), which was nestled by the southern tip of the Dead Sea, was the city Lot asked God to spare. Thus it was not destroyed in the big destruction. This city seems to be the beginning area of the Moabites. Lot and/or his descendent most likely soon took residence in the city. Either way, Scripture does reference the city of Zoar as a Moabite city (Jeremiah 48:34).
The Moabites would have been familiar with the religion of Abraham and His descendants Israel.

Their histories are quite intertwined, sometimes more agreeable, sometimes hostile, sometimes they were outright enemies.
It was the Moabites that turned to a "prophet of God" to try and curse the Israelites, when they arrived from Egypt.(Numbers 22:10)
The chief religion of the Moabites, however, was the pagan moon cult Chemosh. (Numbers 21:29)

What I find interesting is what we read in Daniel 11.
When the king of the north comes against the king of the south in the last battle, like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and enters into the countries, and shall overflow them and enter also into the glorious land, overthrowing many countries, three nations shall escape out of his hand (Daniel 11:41)

The three that escape are:
The two nations that descended from Lot -- Moab and Ammon
and the nation that descended from Esau -- Edom

All three had roots in the true faith, but wandered away.
All three lived in close proximity with Israel.

Makes me think there will be many more "Ruths" who will respond to truth and find the ultimate "Boaz", the Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and join the people of God, saying "Thy people shall be my people and thy God, my God."

But, the king of the south shall not escape, (it appears Ishmael's descendants will be over run)

We know people aren't saved by nations, but by individuals from every nations, kindred and tongue. Yet there is some symbolism here worth contemplating.


How did Ruth manage to "escape" the heathen influence of her nation? How did she, a Moabites become a link in Jesus', "son of man" linage?

She found truth when she joined the family and married her first husband. He died.
But later she found a Redeemer who not only loved her, but provided for her, and legally established her as his wife, thus restoring the lost inheritance in the symbolic "promised land".

All who "escape" the deceptive powers, will do so because they have found The Redeemer, Who loved them enough to give His life for them, Who provides for them all their spiritual needs, and Who legally establishes them as His people and restores the lost inheritance lost by Adam.

Esther for such a time as this

Previous to her time, Israel had been taken captive to Babylon for seventy years.
Then the Media Persians had conquered Babylon and set the Israelites free. Several decrees had been issued enabling them to return to Jerusalem and re-build and re-establish themselves in the promised land. But many were quite comfortable in the cultural lands of Babylon. Back in Judea there was work to be done to get oneself established there again. So they stayed to enjoy the culture and comforts of Babylon.

But things suddenly became very uncomfortable. Basically, a death decree was signed against them.

Many books have been written about this Bible story with many lessons and symbolic themes explored.

Yet, in connection with Revelation, what can we see?

Babylon is fallen, fallen, come out of her my people.
Yet people are comfortable in Babylonian culture. It's pleasant, a nice culture, a sense of security.

Women are often symbolic of a church. Did God raise a church, for such a time as this?
God raised a church to "prophecy again" (Rev. 10:13) after going through an experience that compelled them into deeper study of scripture. (Revelation 10:8-13), They discovered the three angel's message to come out of Babylon, and not take it's mark, for Babylon is heading for destruction. They were given the message to worship the Creator God for His hour of judgment has come. (Rev 14:6--9)
But it's comfortable in Babylon, it feels good, surely it isn't that bad in Babylon, is it?

But Babylon will turn hostile to God's commandment keeping, faithful people. Babylon will pass laws that all who do not receive the mark must die. (Rev. 13:15)
Is the church, that God raised to sound the alarm for a time like this, doing it's part, that many may leave Babylon and fully place themselves under the protection of the Creator/Savior/Redeemer.
When the day comes when that Babylonian law is to be executed God Himself will deliver His people.

Lesson 12
Daniel chapter two is a foundational key in understanding prophecy in both Daniel and Revelation.
It is the key that shows understanding these prophecies are not dealing with only local time periods, nor are they only depicting last days of earths history. These prophecies span time from the prophets day (apx 606 BC) right through the entire Christian age and on to the final restoration of all things.

In Daniel two presents the metal man that marches across time spanning time this entire time period. Symbols are explained in the chapter and following chapters -- we are not left to give them our own interpretation. Daniel himself writes the names of the first three, showing these are full scale kingdoms marching on the earth, in their sequential time frame in history.

Babylon the head
The head of gold -- is the ruling power during Daniel's time. (2:38) The Babylonian king is the head of gold. This links to Daniel seven and it's depictions of the same sequence of empires.
Daniel 7 this first kingdom is depicted as a lion. This lion is "made to stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it" God worked mightily with Babylon during Daniel's time, to get them to acknowledge the God of heaven who is KING above all earthly kings. Nebuchadnezzar seems to have learnt the truth, but his descendants did not. Babylon COULD have been a strong linage of God honoring people, but "his son, O Belshazzar, did not humbled his heart, though he knew all this; But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven;(Dan. 5:22-23) they defied God and Babylon became the head "metal man" stalking the earth in defiance of God, through successive empires.
However -- this golden head is the head of the whole image. Head is where the form of "wisdom" resides that is driving the whole metal man.
Babylon could have played a far different role in history, had they followed Nebuchadnezzar's lead in acknowledging the Creator God as the true ruler.
But now the image stands following the wisdom and motivations of ambitious man.
It stands as a whole marking man's attempts to control the earth on their own terms. Though it goes through several different powers, each trying to govern and control the world, yet there are really only two masters. It is the controversy between Christ and Satan. Whom will we serve?

Media Persia
Daniel 2:39 After which "there shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee"
What kingdom arose after Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon?
In Daniel seven, the lion is followed by a bear with two differing shoulders.
Daniel eight identifies this next kingdom. 8:20 "The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia."

Grecia
2:39 and another third kingdom of brass
Daniel 7:6 like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
Notice -- even though the leopard had four heads, it was still all part of one symbolic beast (the leopard).
In chapter this kingdom that breaks into four factions is depicted as a Goat.
Daniel 8:21 And the rough goat [that overthrew the Media/Persia Ram] is the king of Grecia... four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation.
This refers back to the leopard's four heads, which were all part of the symbolic leopard. This third power, the goat's kingdom has four divisions each with a head of its own, but its still Grecia.


So the Bible itself identifies the first three powers.
ROME

The fourth beast and the iron metal is not identified by name in Daniel. Rome was still a very localized identity over in Italy in 530 BC when Daniel was reaching the end of his life, but the Bible gives a host of clues that all point to Rome. Rome, in all it's brutal and strong power, then divided between ten barbarian tribes, with a strong human like horn coming up among them, speaking great blasphemous words against the Most High and seeking to change God's time and law. (Dan.7:23-25)

The iron (Rome) continues to the end, but not in it's original form. It is mixed with clay. Clay the human element of man presenting himself as God.(Dan 2:41-44)
The mingling of churchcraft and statecraft is represented by the iron and the clay. This union, believed to be necessary to strengthen the church and society, actually greatly weakens its real power. In the past it was seen as necessary to hold the divided pieces of Rome together. In the future it will again be initiated to hold a divided world together.
But they will not cleave, even though Rev. 17 shows a huge attempt to bring church and state together, with the church riding atop the beast, it will not cleave.

They will only be producing an "image of the beast" and to quell all resistance against it, force will be used. And the biggest difference between Daniel 3 and the Revelation 13th image is that the people want the image and think they are doing God's will by enforcing it.

WHY? why would the people want this image? (Rev. 13)

Rev. 13:14 He deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

Deception -- pretending to be "god" showing miraculous signs that the blasphemous work of the "beast" changing Gods times and laws is actually the light to a truth to end all their struggles.
The people, having cast aside the evidence of history and how things were set up to draw worship away from God while letting people think they were they were worshipping God by disobeying His direct command .

Sadly, though God has given strong warning, many people across Christendom want to tear down the historicist interpretation of these two prophetic books.
They understand a "tribulation" or trouble is ahead, but do they know what a central issue in that trouble is actually about? The message now in almost all the churches, including Adventism is centered on "God is Love". And true, God is Love, however "love" is a word that has been highly sensationalized. If we push aside the warning messages of how Babylon developed through the ages and how these deceptions grew and the realization as to how God's law was changed, people will easily be deceived-- how will anyone know that calling all to worship on Sunday isn't following God's love? The end time movement is to unite all Christians in worshipping "God" on Sunday? Return the nation back to God and the troubles will stop, they assume.

Take away the historicist interpretation of prophecy and the foundation of God's unchanging law is seriously undermined.



The point is that Daniel two sets the pattern to understand prophecy.

An interesting parallel is pointed out between Gen. 11:1-4, and Daniel

Gen. 10:10 And the beginning of (Nimrod's rebellious) kingdom was Babel, in the land of Shinar.
Gen,11:2-4 they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. And they said, Let us move forth and build us a city and a tower, whose top reaches unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

Daniel 1:2 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon... carried the vessels of the house of God into the land of Shinar to the house of his god.
Dan 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold,
Dan 3:7 all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Dan, 4:30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

"Nebuchadnezzar had indeed the same mentality as the builders of the tower of Babel. As Nebuchadnezzar brought the articles of the temple to his own temple, he was, in fact demonstrating the same intention to take God's place. He was taking all the honor and credit and worship to himself. Am not I the one who built Babylon for the honour my majesty?

Babylon didn't begin with Nebuchadnezzar, it began back there soon after the flood in Shinar. A worship system that honors the created and places the created, the glory and power of the human, above the perfect glory and far greater omniscient wisdom and power Creator.

Zechariah adds more to the significance of Shinar
Zechariah 5:5-11.
A woman personifying wickedness (spiritual wickedness) is sitting inside a measurement basket. A measuring basket denotes that her wickedness is measured. A lead lid is placed over the basket, obviously to try and contain it? Two other women with wings like storks (unclean spirits, not doves which would represent the Holy Spirit) carry her off to Shinar! To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established.
Rev 17 the woman has established herself as Babylon and represents the Babylonian perversion of Christianity. She will again be taken, this time with a mill stone and thrown into the sea. Rev. 18:21.

Why?
Rev. 18:5 her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities
Rev. 18:7 she has glorified herself, and lived deliciously,...she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.