Book of Life
This vision starts off mentioning the great white throne which symbolizes significant, pure and royalty. That we know, through our readings as Jesus. The dead were standing before the throne as books were opened. One book was the Book of Life. As it was opened and read from, those whose names did not appear in the book of life were cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15), which we have come to understand as hell/hades. Being in the book of life would be a good thing then, wouldn't it? If you don't want to be in that book then the other option is the lake of fire. We must remember when people say "why would God do this to people" the response can be "why would people ignore the warnings and overlook the repercussions?" It may seem like a dismissive response, but like a loving parent who disciplines their child for disobedience, God also had discipline for disobedience. The big difference is, this is eternal, since we are all going to die anyway.
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The Messages of the Three Angels
Three angels were seen in this vision. The first angel spoke to all the nations and brought forth an eternal gospel and said "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water." The second angel said "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality." The third and final angel followed and gave warning not to have the mark of the beast or recipients will feel God's wrath. The take away from all three angels is that there is an eternal gospel, people need to flee sexual immorality and do not be fooled by the beast nor receive its mark.
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Jars of Clay and the Eternal
I love how Paul sets the records straight again with renouncing disgraceful and underhanded ways. Remember, he is a leader. He has to be above reproach. Further, he states that he refused to practice cunning ways or tamper with God's word (2 Corinthians 4:2). Now, can you think of a church or church leader who has done this? Maybe a sect of Christianity? Secret meetings and twisting if scripture. I have seen it before and we will continue to see it as long as people are not submitting to the Almighty God and in the Spirit.
Paul tells the church that the gospel of Christ is a treasure. That treasure is stored in us as earthen vessels or jars of clay as some translations may have it. Either way, it shows that we are not to be proud and boastful. The greatest part of us is the gospel of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:7).
The final reminder in this chapter is a verse I fell in love with more than 10 years ago. It is 2 Corinthians 4:18. The verse focuses on the unseen and not the seen. It shifts our focus to the unseen and the eternal from the seen and temporary. Paul wanted the Corinthian church to understand what was truly important.
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