Fresh

Bread

Volume 33   Number 24 Jun 14, 2009

        The Apostle John declared in Revelation 1:10-11: I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last"... There is a trumpet blowing in this day, and it is the prophetic voice of God. The prophetic trumpet is sounding the word to "ARISE." There is a prophetic trumpet from Zion that is calling us higher.
        Revelation 4:1-2: After these things I looked, and behold a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here (remember Zion is calling you to a higher place), and I will show you things which must take place after this." Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
        It is also good to realize that we are called to be in the Spirit on the Lord's Day. We should understand that every day is to be the Lord's Day, and we are to be walking, living, and moving in the Spirit of the Lord, the Holy Spirit, and not moving in the flesh, or the mind, or traditions of men. We are called to be people of the Spirit.
        Revelation 19:5-9: Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!" And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife (His bride) has made herself ready."
        And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'" Here we see the wedding reception and guests being described.
        Now there is a different sound coming forth. It is the sound of many waters. This is speaking of multitudes of saints who are worshiping in the Spirit, actually singing in the Spirit, in the language of the Spirit. This takes us back to the river of God in Ezekiel.
        Revelation 21:1-7: And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
        And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
        Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son." Seven times in the Book of Revelation, this is addressed to those who overcome.
        Now we see a third group of people in Revelation 21:8: "But the cowardly (fearful, double-minded), unbelieving, abominable (those who profess to know God but deny him by their works), murderers (to minister death, to slay with the words of their mouth), sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters (a slave to the ideals his idol represents; stubbornness is as the sin of idolatry), and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." This is not the crowd you want to be hanging out with.
        Revelation 21:9-22: Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. And her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
        Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.
        And the city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs (1,500 miles). Its length, breadth, and height are equal. Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits (2,600 feet), according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. And the construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones (stones of color, transparency, luster, and brilliance):
        – the first foundation was Jasper (green, crystal, diamond)
        – the second was Sapphire (green-blue stone)
        – the third was Chalcedony (multicolored with green overtones)
        – the fourth foundation was Emerald (a bright green)
        – the fifth was Sardonyx (brown and white)
        – the sixth was Sardius (ruby red)
        – the seventh was Chrysolite (various yellowish minerals)
        – the eighth foundation was Beryl (sea green)
        – the ninth was Topaz (amber)
        – the tenth was Chrysoprase (golden green)
        – the eleventh was Jacinth (transparent red to brown "turquoise" or blue-green)
        – the twelfth was Amethyst (blue-violet or royal purple)
        Hebrews 12:22-24: But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God (Psalm 87:3), the heavenly Jerusalem (City of God 1,500 miles, Revelation 21:10), to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God and the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. This is the blood of Jesus.
        There are three people groups being discussed here. First is the BRIDE, who is the Lamb's wife, the Overcomers, those who live in Zion (Revelation 21:9).
        Second are the WEDDING GUESTS, those who can visit Zion but do not live there.
        Third is the LAKE-OF-FIRE CROWD. They have no part of Zion, heaven, or the presence of God (Revelation 21:8). If you follow the CROWD, then you are going to the lake. However, if you follow the CLOUD, then you are headed toward the Throne.
        The wedding invitation is being given, and Zion is calling. Revelation 22:17: And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.