Thoughts on the Bible Readings 1 Samuel 2, Isaiah 48, Revelation 5, 6 for June 23rd

1 Samuel 2 contains Hannah's wonderful prayer of thanksgiving showing what an amazing spiritual mind she had. Her vast understanding is seen in the extensive scriptural echoes it contains. Yahweh as Israel's rock takes our minds to Deuteronomy 32 verses4-7, 15-18, 30-31. Verses 5-8 are taken up by faithful Mary in her prayer of thanksgiving in Luke 1 verses 46-55. And verse 10 is cited by the devout priest Zacharias in Luke 1 verses 69-79. The remainder of 1 Samuel 2 enumerates the disgraceful behaviour of the priests, Eli's sons and why he had so reproached Hannah in the first chapter. Isaiah 48 describes Israel's reprobate condition and appeals to them to once more avert God's anger. This is to be done by remembering His gracious past provision for them in providing water from "the rock" and the continuing evidence of this in their deliverance from Babylon. Verses 1-11 speaks of God's refining fire which will purify His children by purging the dross from among them. Verses 1-2 reveals their privileged position as the people chosen by the LORD. In verses 4-8 they are reprimanded for their stubborn ways. Verses 9-11 tell of the Almighty's refining of the nation. Verses 12-13 is a call to the nation to listen to the LORD. Verses 14-16 outline the mighty power of Israel's Omnipotent Creator. The prophet speaking for His Sovereign demands the attention of Israel to the Almighty's requirements. Verses 17-19 describe the blessings that will come to a penitent people. Peace would flow out to them like a river. What a contrast to Israel's current circumstances. The first division of the prophecy concludes with the punctuating phrase 'there is no peace to the wicked'. This is repeated at the end of chapter 57 and the book's completion with the total obliteration of all the wicked in chapter 66. As a result of the door being opened in the new political heavens at the end of Revelation 4 John sees the Lamb enthroned in chapter 5. John sees in heaven the Lamb seated with a scroll in his hands and John wept because none could be found to open the seven sealed scroll. An angel instructs him to weep not for the Lamb has overcome, and the Lamb alone, from among the inhabitants of earth and heaven, can open that scroll. The scroll is the Word of God, one of the Lamb's titles as Revelation 19:13 tells us. The book ie the Revelation centres on the Lamb; but, in fact the whole Bible revolves around the Lord Jesus Christ and without him is meaningless, as Psalm 40 and Hebrews 10 tell us. Jesus Christ alone is righteous and without him salvation is impossible. The seals will, as the remainder of Revelation indicates, be revealed sequentially - the 7 seals will progress to 7 trumpets, and the 7 trumpets to the 7 vials (or bowls) of judgment; these to the 7 thunders, whose details remain secret. But the once slain Lamb of chapter 5 becomes a mighty conquering lion from the tribe of Judah from whose origins our Lord came (Micah 5 verses 1-2). Seated with the Lamb are his saints, the 24 elders. These elders praise, extol and worship the Lamb for his vanquishing of sin and death - firstly in himself and as a result of that, for them. In chapter 6 the seals are open one by one. Six seals are opened in chapter 6. The book is to be understood as a continuous historical account of the events that occurred in the lives of the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ from the time of the book's writing, 96 AD, until the end of Christ's kingdom, which will come soon. We are told in Revelation 1:1 that this is the basis of the book's interpretation. Seal 1 deals with the victory gained by the gospel message of Christ over paganism in the Roman world. The period of the first seal is between AD 96-183 during the Pax Romanus, or Rome's peace. Then comes the second seal - the second horse being red speaks of blood shedding, the end of peace in the Empire and was from AD 183, when Commodus rose to Emperor, until AD 211. This time is described in verses 3-4. In the third seal - ie the third horse - was from 212 AD until 235 AD when great famine spread through the Empire. This famine, is described in the third seal of verses 5-6. From AD 235-313 widespread violence and disorder was the lot of the Empire - revealed in the fourth deathly coloured horse. The fifth seal was from 303 AD until 311 AD when the followers of Jesus experienced intense physical persecution under the Emperor Diocletian Jupiter. That evil man destroyed as many Christians as he could, attempting to eradicate Christianity. This seal occupies verses 9-12. From 312 AD until 324 the Empire convulsed in self destruction and civil war until the accession of the first "Christian" Emperor, Constantine. But despite all of these trying times the believers in the Lord Jesus were being led by their Shepherd King towards the blessed Zion that we considered in our Zechariah 8 vision. Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team, produced by Christadelphianvideo.org See more Thoughts from the Christadelphian Dialy Bible Reading Planner (By R.Roberts) here... https://christadelphianvideo.org/thoughts-on-the-bible-readings-1-samuel-2-isaiah-48-revelation-5-6-for-june-23rd/?feed_id=94431&_unique_id=685798dbd6259