Thoughts on the Bible Readings 1 Samuel 5, 6, Isaiah 51, Revelation 7, 8, 9 for June 24th

The readings in Samuel follow the journey of the ark whilst it is in Philistine possession until its return to the covenant people at the "forest of the woods" (Kirjath-jearim see Psalm 132). Firstly in Ashdod Yahweh's supremacy is shown over Dagon the fish god, by its symbolic prostration before Israel's God and finally it being shattered. Following this the inhabitants were plagued with tumours, called emerods, or haemorrhoids in the AV; these tumours seemingly being occasioned by a mice plague. Despairingly the ark is relocated to each of the five chief cities and the plagues of mice and tumours following the pattern. The Philistines were terrified that Israel's God would destroy them and so they devised a scheme to make a trespass offering of gold fashioned after their plagues and to send the ark home. They took two cows, which were still feeding their calves,  and contrary to the natural expectation wend their way to the house of Joshua in Beth-shemesh. Here curiosity overtook the foolish inhabitants who decided, contrary to God's laws, to gaze inside the ark and consequently 70 men died. Like the Philistines the ark was relocated to Kirjath-jearim where it remained for about 90 years before eventually being brought triumphantly by David to its resting place in Jerusalem.

The prophet counsels the nation to reconsider its roots - Abraham and Sarah who responded to God in faith and proceeded to live uprightly before Him resulting in immense blessings. Yahweh their Rock stabilised Zion's foundations and those who likewise follow the path of the righteous will see Eden bloom on earth again in Messiah's kingdom; which will extend to the ends of the earth. Verses 4-6 tell of their Sovereign's appeal for Israel to await the revealing of His righteousness. Verses 7-8 describe the LORD's call to His people that His Law may find a home in their hearts, just as the tables of the Law were rightly within the ark of the Covenant. But for those who lived as though God's Word was but stone tablets they would perish with all those who saw the Law as an inflexible and rigid code which they used to judge others: Hebrews 1 verses 9-13. Verses 9-11 speak of the redeemed rousing themselves to embrace the principles of Zion, the mother of all who are faithful. The Almighty Creator appeals to His children in verses 12-16 to acknowledge His omnipotence. Verses 17-20 asks His children to stir themselves up and arouse themselves from their despondent and downcast state. The nation must forget their past persecutions and embrace Yahweh their faithful husband. God will console His people and bring vengeance upon their foes. Verses 21-23 outline that the cup of affliction will pass from Zion to her adversaries. Let us lift our heads knowing that the redeemed will come to Zion with 'songs of everlasting joy'. And One who will bring this to pass cannot fail, for just as He created the foundations of the universe, so He establishes the foundation of each and every faithful believers.

In Revelation 7 we have described the sealing period of God's chosen people following Constantine's succeeding to the Roman throne. Believers were sealed by the Word of the LORD within their foreheads - minds, or thinking. The era of sealing commenced with the relative calm that followed the chaos of civil war within the Empire until Constantine's securing of his throne in 324 AD. When the sealing had been completed the restraining angels would unleash the four winds of judgment upon guilty Rome. From each of the 12 tribes 12,000 are sealed - clearly a symbolic number used in the apocalyptic symbolism. Each tribe is represented except Dan, which seems exempted because of its symbolising apostasy. Joseph had 2 portions as the firstborn and so both Ephraim and Manasseh are counted. The total representative number is 144,000 (identical to the virginal community, who are with the Lamb on Mount Zion Revelation 14 verse 1 and whose thinking is focused on that of their Father). In verses 9-17 those sealed ones have come through great trials (Acts 14 verse 22). And since they come out of every nation they are not literally from Israel, but they truly constitute, spiritually, the Israel of God. These faithful followers are clothed in the white robes of righteousness and immortality and carry the victory palms of deliverance in their hands. Like those of Revelation 14 they are led by the Lamb, who sustained, fed and redeemed his sheep who follow and trust their Lord. There was an incipient fulfilment of these words at the time of Constantine's rise to power in the Roman heavens. The ecclesiastical historian Eusebius tells us that the words of verses 10-12 were spoken at Constantine's inauguration. But in reality, the words belong to the Lord Jesus Christ and the commencement of his kingdom age. The Great Shepherd King, who has sustained and feed his people throughout their pilgrimage, now finally brings them into his rest. Gone are the trials belonging to the time of their mortality, as they now become part of the Father's glorified and consoled community (compare Revelation 21:1-4).The book of Revelation is structured so as to intersperse among the unfolding sequential historical events visions of comfort to encourage those who are experiencing the trials on their journey to the kingdom of God. Chapters 7, 10, 14-15, 19 and finally 21-22 serve this purpose throughout the prophecy - visions of future glory. Chapter 8 sees the unleashing of the judgments of the four wind angels from verse 8 onwards. Prior to this was a period of calm before the storm of tumultuous upheaval in the empire which lasted for 14 years from 324-328 AD. Half an hour in prophetic symbolism. The sounding of the 7 trumpeting angels Is recorded in chapters 8-11.  The sounding of the angels start with the opening of the seventh seal in 328 AD. How vital it is that the saints of this time, as is always the case, should be sustained by prayer represented as sweet incense before the Father (Psalm 141:2).The first trumpet began sounding in 328 AD and continued until 428 AD. It told of the Goths under the command of Alaric attacking the Empire. The second of the wind trumpets sounded from 428 AD until 477 AD and spoke of the Vandals under Genseric sacking Rome. Verses 10-12 tell of the barbarian ravaging of the third trumpet against Rome between 433-453 AD under the Huns commanded by Attila. The fourth and final wind trumpet was by the Goth, Odoacer, in AD 476 and spoke of the final overthrow of the western Roman Empire. Hereafter the seat of Rulership was transferred to the capital of the eastern Empire in Constantinople from 476 AD onwards until its destruction on May 29th 1453 AD. The agents of destruction in the east were the Islamic powers started by the false prophet, Mohammed. Chapter 9 speaks of the opening of the pit of the abyss which released the Mohammedans to scourge the triune God worshippers from the Eastern Orthodox Church. Mohammed assumed control over his Arabs in 632 AD. Verses 13-20 speak of the rise of the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire and its destructive attacking waves on Christian Europe and its eastern Roman capital of Constantinople. These attacks commenced on April 29th 1063 AD until their work was completed in 1453. Our Omnipotent Sovereign's fingers always direct and control the course of history just as our lives are safely held in those almighty, but tender and caring, Hands.