#26 Two Songs for Christmas

1. What stood out to me was the joy that you expressed at how our place in the book lines up with  Christmas.  I’m  looking forward to seeing another correlation between the Old and New Testament.
2. I’m standing in line at Kohls right now, so I  will watch and comment on the Song of Moses later.
3. My church is slowly recovering from almost closing the doors. This week I felt such a spiritual renewing and closeness with the other members. It’s been a long time since I’ve experienced this.

1. What stands out to you from the above and why?

 
You have so much snow already! We have only had a few inches so far. Missing it. 
 
I’m not sure I am following about the events of which you speak for this weeks study. I guess I will have to wait to see what we do 😉. 
 
 

2. What did or didn’t you like in the Song of Moses?

 
I thought the song was monotone, his voice. I hunk it made the point, to tell the story. It had some images that were old and then some modern ones too. I didn’t like that it showed the Washington Monument with the implication that the US was either the enemy (the words are talking about the enemy and what the enemy did) or the US was the savior….I didn’t get it either way! In fact I’m not sure I really got most of it!
 
 

3. How was your church service today, this final week of Advent? 

 Church was good. I danced Silent Night. My DIL came with us so that was nice. Our pastor preached on his series “From Greed to Grace” using the story of Scrooge to guide us along. It fit right along with our study here. Many references to Revelation. 

4. Read Revelation 15:1-4.
              A. What great sign does John see and why is it called the last sign? (verse 1)
 
 
He sees seven angels who are holding the last of God’s wrath (the plagues). Because it says it’s the last one?
 
              B. Describe the sea in verse 2. 
It is glass and it’s mixed with fire. I am picturing a pond where I can see fire underneath.
 
 
 C. Dr. Campbell explains that “the fire mixed with glass signifies God’s judgment on the wicked.” How did you see that played out in Exodus?
 
Maybe that the Red Sea was parted and the Egyptians/Pharaoh were swallowed?
 
 
D. In this vision, who is standing beside the conquered sea, and what two songs are they singing?
 
All the victorious people over the beast we’re singing the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb. 
I have not heard of these two songs before. Are they elsewhere in the Bible?
 
            

Tuesday
5. Turn to the verse last two paragraphs of Section 6 in Mystery Explained that begins with “Even as Moses and the people sang…” and read to the end. Share what you learn about these phrases from the song:
            A. O Lord the Almighty
This title is often found in Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.  Describes His sovereignty of the history of His people.  The redeemed are celebrating all of God’s sovereign activity from their heavenly vantage point.
           B. Just and true are your ways
This underlines the fact that God’s actions are rooted in His moral character and not just expressions of brute power.
           C. King of the nations
This emphasizes His sovereignty and the fact history ends with all kingdoms subject to Him.
           D. For you alone are holy
This is the reason for worshiping God.  The Hebrew word for holy derives from the idea of being set apart.  The holiness of God consists in the fact that His moral attributes are totally different from those of His fallen creation.  He deserves to be worshiped as the One totally different, set apart and above us in every possible respect.
           E. All nations
This doesn’t suggest every single person on earth will bow in worship.  It’s a figure of speech expressing the fact that there will be people from every nation who will do so.
          F. For your righteous acts have been revealed
Taken from Psalm 98:2.  It’s a testimony to the unity of God’s revelation in Scripture that John sees the heavenly saints praising God largely in the words of the Old Testament.  Verse 1 in Psalm 98 commences with a reference to the Song of Moses at the Red Sea
6. Did any of the above particularly stand out to you? If so, why?
“All nations” as I always thought it meant every single person… never looked at it as a figure of speech.

Tuesday: How Great is our God
5. Turn to the verse last two paragraphs of Section 6 in Mystery Explained that begins with “Even as Moses and the people sang…” and read to the end. Share what you learn about these phrases from the song:
            A. O Lord the Almighty
This is often found in Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi to describe God as the one who is sovereign over the history of his people.
           B. Just and true are your ways
God’s actions are rooted in his moral character.
           C. King of the nations
His sovereignty and the fact that history ends with all kingdoms subject to him.
           D. For you alone are holy
God is set apart and different in his moral attributes from those of his fallen creation.
           E. All nations
There will be people from every nation who will worship God
          F. For your righteous acts have been revealed
It is a testimony to the unity of God’s revelation in Scripture that john sees the heavenly saints praising God largely in the words of the OT.
6. Did any of the above particularly stand out to you? If so, why?
That God is Lord the Almighty and sovereign over the history of his people.
God is invested in my life as I am one of his people. Whatever has happened and will happen in the future, He has sovereign control over them all. There is no other being who I would want to have control over my life. Thank you, God, for calling me to yourself.
Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”
Colossians 1:16-17 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him, all things hold together.

4. Read Revelation 15:1-4.
              A. What great sign does John see and why is it called the last sign? (verse 1)                                                                                                                                                                 John saw seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last. In them the wrath of God is finished. 
              B. Describe the sea in verse 2.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           A sea of glass mixed with fire.  Those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding       harps of God.
 C. Dr. Campbell explains that “the fire mixed with glass signifies God’s judgment on the wicked.” How did you see that played out in Exodus? The Lord redeemed His people. Faith in God’s great power, gave Moses confidence to lead his people out of Egypt. God made a way for His people, but when Pharoah’s army pursued them, they were swallowed up by the sea. 
D. In this vision, who is standing beside the conquered sea, and what two songs are they singing? The saints who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, were standing beside the conquered sea singing The song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. The song of Moses celebrates Israel’s great deliverance from Egypt. The song of the Lamb celebrates the Risen Lord’s triumph over His enemies in bringing Spiritual deliverance for His followers.
             E. Read aloud the song in verses 3-4 and then give praise for what you learn about God. I praise God, for His is Almighty; He is Righteous and Just; I stand in awe of His Name and His Holiness. I glorify His Name alone. He alone is worthy. All nations will come and worship before Him. His righteous acts have been revealed. 
             F. Take one of these characteristics of our God and share how you have experienced this in a specific way.  I stand in awe of our God and how His is faithful in all of His promises. He is faithful to carry us through tribulations in our personal live. He is faithful to His Word.

Thursday 
9. Read Revelation 16:8-15
     A. What does the fourth angel pour out and what is the response?
He poured his bowl on the sun, allowing people to be scorched with fire.
They cursed the name of God, did not repent and give Him glory.
 
    B. What does the fifth angel pour out, what happens to the kingdom of the beast, and what is the response?
He poured his bowl on the throne of the beast  and its kingdom plunged into darkness.
‘They gnawed their tongues in anguish, cursed God for their pain and sores, and did not repent of their deeeds.
 
    C. What does the sixth angel pour out, what happens to the river, and why?
He poured his bowl on the Euphrates river.
Its water was dried up.
To prepare the way for the kings from the east.
 
    D. You may remember how the magicians performed similar signs in Exodus. How do you see this repeated here in verses 13-14 and who is behind the counterfeit?
When Moses made frogs come up on the land of Egypt, the magicians did the same thing…their secret arts made frogs come up on the land too.  In verses 13-14 out of the mouth of the dragon, beast and false prophet 3 unclean spirits like frogs come out.
The dragon is behind the counterfeit.
 
     E. Before the false prophet was called the beast of the earth. He is the third counterfeit member of the Trinity. From this description,  how does he convinced the kings of the earth to go to battle against one another?
By performing signs through demonic spirits.
 
      F. The “Great Day of the Lord” (vs 14) always means the Second Coming in Scripture, the return of Christ. What do you learn about that day from verse 15?
That He is coming like a thief.
We must stay awake and keep our garments on.  Not go about naked and seen exposed.  We’ll be blessed if we do.
 
Dr. Campbell writes that now earth dwellers are taking on the characteristics of their master, Satan. This is helpful to me in understanding the enormous cruelty throughout the ages of those like those who slaughtered the innocents in the time of the births of Moses and of Jesus, of Nero and those like him who martyred the early Christians, of the tremendous persecution against Jews or the Christians who helped them, of the Islamic terrorists who are so filled with hate, killing the innocent, beheading believers. It is the only way this makes sense to me, and also the absolute need for them to be wiped out forever and ever.
10. Read in Mystery Explained about the 4th, 5th, and 6th angel ending at THE SIXTH BOWL heading.
         A. What do you learn about the 4th bowl?
The plague this models from Exodus it appears is that in which thunder, hail and fire struck the earth, bringing judgement on Egypt’s economy.  As you said above, the blasphemy of unbelievers shows they have taken on the characteristics of their master.  These judgments have the effect of hardening hearts further, rather than driving them to repentance.
         B. The fifth?
The thrones represent the beast’s power over his dominion.  It’s based on the Exodus plague of darkness.  Darkness is figurative. There’s a breakdown in the functioning of the demonically-controlled systems of government in the world.  Economic judgement inflicts pain and fear on those who trust in money.  The mention of sores…suggest these plagues are characteristic of various stages of human history.   
         C. The sixth?
The first 5 bowl plagues describe human history throughout church history.  The 6th and 7th like those of the seals and trumpets speak specifically of the final judgement.  The drying up of the Euphrates is a last -days fulfillment of the prophetic words of Isaiah and Jeremiah.  God literally dried up the Euphrates to allow Cyrus, a king from the east to conquer Babylon and set Israel free.  God dries up water either to deliver, judge or both. Babylon is spiritual in nature. The Euphrates river in this passage is figuratively interpreted as “peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.  These are unbelievers throughout the world following the beast and its drying up represents the loss of their allegiance to spiritual Babylon.  The kings from the east are really kings of the whole world as described in verse 14.  They will gather in rebellion against Babylon.
 The phrase false prophet appears for the 1st time and refers to the deceptive function of the second beast.  It’s the demonic power behind all false religious movements.  Possible that this false prophet will not only be active in the world but also in the church,
There is so much more, so much to take in.

Wednesday: God’s Judgment from the Perspective of the 7 Bowls
As Dr. Campbell explains, the four “judgments” are four perspectives of the same events, just as the four gospels are four perspectives of the same events. They do not happen sequentially, but at the same time. The reason this is called the last is that it is the last vision John was given, and then all judgment is completed. (I’m thankful to be at be getting near the end of these hard visions, and also to have this final one preceded by the two songs!)
7. Read Revelation 16:1-7 aloud to yourself.
     A. What is the first bowl of God’s wrath and on whom is it poured out? (vs. 2)
Poured out on the land and ugly, festering sores broke out on the people with the mark of the beast
     B. What is the second bowl of God’s wrath and to what is the “red” compared? 
Poured out on the sea and the red is compared to the blood of a dead person.
    C. How is the third bowl like the 2nd and what is the response of the angel and the altar?
The 3rd bowl poured out on the rivers and the springs of water and was they became blood. The angel said just are God’s acts.
    D. Is the justice of God against those who martyred the saints or slaughtered the innocent bother you? Why or why not?
No, since the judgment fits the crime.
8. In Mystery Explained, under THE FIRST FIVE BOWLS read up to “the fourth angel” and share anything that stands out to you.
The festering sores are not necessarily physical boils-it can be any physical or psychological judgment causing pain or suffering.
The sea refers to the world’s economic system-downfall of the merchants who facilitates that commerce as well as consumers who benefit from it-pornography?
Maritime commerce Failures of economies and the suffering caused by it.
The third bowl drinking blood as a figurative expression for oppression
 
The word altar is mentioned and alludes to the prayers of the saints for justice being answered. 

8. In Mystery Explained, under THE FIRST FIVE BOWLS read up to “the fourth angel” and share anything that stands out to you.
 
 
I think it’s interesting that nearly the first and last book of the Bible describe plagues over the earth. 
I don’t understand how he gets an economic theme of the second bowl.
 
I think your comment in the posts, about a world plague is thought provoking, except that I’m not convinced it wasn’t man-made, whereas these plagues are God produced.

10. Read in Mystery Explained about the 4th, 5th, and 6th angel ending at THE SIXTH BOWL heading.
         A. What do you learn about the 4th bowl?
 
It’s all about fire. God’s anger in the OT is in relation to fire. It is mentioned in Jeremiah and Ezekiel. The blasphemy of the unbelievers is showing that they have become like the evil one. It continues the punishment of the unbelievers. It hardens their hearts more than helping them come to Christ. 
 
         B. The fifth?
 
This bowl refers to the demonically controlled governments of the world. It brings suffering to the economies and physiological health of the followers. It focuses on the love of money and it’s false security. Unbelievers cursed God and still would not believe. It is linked to the first bowl by the way of the sores.
 
         C. The sixth?
 
Again the unbelievers will not repent and believe. Their sins are idolatry, murder, sorcery, sexual immorality and thefts. 
 

Christmas Eve!
It’s the holiest of nights. Andrew Peterson, who gave us “Is He Worthy?” did a whole Christmas album on the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb, that I so recommend. Here’s a song from that so perfect for Christmas Eve:
I love this song from Andrew’s album!
11. In Mystery Explained, under THE SIXTH BOWL THE ENEMY GATHERS HIS FORCES, read up to the next bold headline that includes the word ARMAGEDDEN. Underline or highlight.
A. What do you learn about the false prophet and the frogs in his first paragraph up to “they are now further described”
First time mentioned in the book. It is the demonic power behind all false religious movements. They function within the covenant community either of Israel or of the church (shivering here)
Frogs represent unclean spirits. They signify God’s judgment on Heqt, the Egyptian goddess of resurrection, who was represented by the frog. Even though these frogs issued from the mouth of the enemy. They are used (and sent) by God to help bring about the downfall of the beast’s kingdom.
B. What battle is being prepared for and who are the kings of the earth?
The kings are the ungodly rulers and they will take counsel together against the Lord and His anointed. They will go together for the final war of history as prophesied by Ezekiel and Zechariah. It is “that” battle-at the end, the great battle of Chapters 16and 19- of the church age.
C. This battle will be fought by spiritual Babylon against spiritual Jerusalem. What does that mean?
Spiritual Babylon and not the literal Babylon which will never be rebuilt. Spiritual Jerusalem refers to the church, not the historical literal Jerusalem.
D. What does the exhortation to believers in verse 15 mean?
Believers are to stand firm in light of the certainty of their triumph.
Christmas!
12. Pray here for yourself and those God lays upon your heart.
Lord, that we may stand firm till the end and that we, and those whom we love to be not found “naked” and fall under your judgment. But rather be “clothed” with fine linen of righteousness. 19:8
13. What is your take-a-way and why?
As believers, we do not fall under the judgment of God; rather, we are preserved, suited for battle, held fast by the certainty of triumph through the Lamb of God. May we be ready for His second coming!