Revelation from God`s view. Vision 3.

[Marilyn C]

Revelation from God`s view. Vision 3 The Mediator.

 

There are four visions of the Son of Man as He is known in the heavenly realm and each vision in turn carries through to completion one aspect of the fourfold ministry of Christ which He exercised when on earth. His Kinship was expressed in Matthew, His Heirship in Mark, His Mediatorship in Luke, and His Judgeship in John.

 

In Vision 1, Christ was revealed as the High Priest moving amongst the seven candlesticks. This is Christ, the Head, overseeing the maturing of the Body of Christ from the heavenly sanctuary. When the Body is complete it will go to its eternal setting in the third heaven with Christ.

 

Then in Vision 2, we see the enthronement of Christ in all His glory.  He is the Heir who

 becomes the executor of God`s entire estate, (the whole universe) who will deal with the usurper, Satan.

 

Now in Vision 3 I believe we see a further unveiling of Christ, as the Mediator. We are shown how Christ is mediating in the heavenly realms, in His angelic form, interceding for His people Israel, before executing the judgements upon the earth.

 

 

If you would like to discuss, then my question is - `Do the different parts of Rev. 8 - 13  (vision 3) fit in with Christ as the Mediator of the new Covenant?`

 

The Angel at the Golden Altar. 

The 7 Trumpets.

The Mighty Angel with the Scroll.

The Temple on Earth.

The 2 Witnesses.

The Temple in Heaven.

The Woman and Child.

The Dragon.

The 2 Beasts.

 

 

 Marilyn.

[Marilyn C]

[Marilyn C]

CHRIST THE MEDIATOR

 

`Christ came as High Priest of good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once and for all, having obtained eternal redemption......and for this reason HE IS THE MEDIATOR of the NEW COVENANT.` (Heb. 9: 11, 12 & 15)

Mediatorially, as Son of God and Son of Man, Christ is the only one qualified to act as Mediator between God and Man. He took on Himself the seed of Abraham that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, giving His life as the perfect sacrifice, to reconcile man back to God.  (Heb. 2: 17)

 

The Angel at the Golden Altar. (Rev. 8: 3 - 5)

 

Here we see the Lord represented as a heavenly angel, the High Priest, at the Golden altar. This is the Day of Atonement, the time for Israel`s National Deliverance.

 

`Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. And he was given much incense, that He should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which is before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel`s hand.` (Rev. 8: 3 & 4)

 

The Lord, the High priest has taken His blood into the Most Holy Place and with the pure incense of His Holy life, & fire from the altar, He is about to have it thrown to the earth.

 

 Christ Himself, declared that He desired to send fire to the earth. `I came to send fire on the earth, & how I wish it were already kindled!` (Luke 12: 49)

 

Then Christ, the High Priest takes God`s Holy fire & begins to execute God`s righteous judgments.                         

 

 `Then the angel took the censer; filled it with fire from the altar, & threw it to the earth.

  And there were noises, thundering, lightnings, & an earthquake.` (Rev. 8: 5)  

 

Thus we see the Lord as Mediator, not only interceding for Israel but also bringing vengeance upon God`s adversaries.

 

God `....will  avenge the blood of His servants, and render vengeance to His adversaries. He will provide atonement for His land and His people.` (Deut. 32: 43)

 

[Marilyn C]

The 7 Trumpets:

`Christ came as High Priest ......with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place .....having obtained eternal redemption......and for this reason HE IS THE MEDIATOR of the NEW COVENANT.` (Heb. 9: 11, 12 & 15)

Christ in His office as the Mediator of the New Covenant will bring national Deliverance to Israel, bringing judgments upon the rebellious. This is shown as 7 trumpet declarations followed by terrible calamities.  

Note, the blowing of trumpets was a priestly activity & thus we see Christ the High Priest controlling this from the heavenly sanctuary. It was only when Christ as the angel threw the fire to the earth that the 7 angels prepared to sound.

`Then the angel took the censer; filled it with fire from the altar, & threw it to earth.....So the 7 angels who had the 7 trumpets prepared themselves to sound.` (Rev. 8: 5 & 6)

 

There are 7 trumpets indicating that they will be the complete time period for God`s judgments, from the first one to the last when the kingdoms of the world become the Lord`s.

The first four trumpet calls are during the early part of the tribulation & affects a third of the earth, the sea, the water & the stars. This would bring about great hardship of famine, lack of fresh water, & great fear.
                                                                                                                                                    

The next three trumpets take place from the middle of the tribulation to the end. They are the 5th, 6th & 7th trumpets. These are so terrible that they are referred to as `woes.`
 

When the 7th trumpet sounds then the mystery of God is finished.  (Rev. 10: 7) It heralds a great earthquake, Armageddon, & the Lord`s return in power & glory.

 

Thus we see the Lord as Mediator bringing vengeance upon God`s adversaries.

God `....will  avenge the blood of His servants, and render vengeance to His adversaries. He will provide atonement for His land and His people.` (Deut. 32: 43)

 

[Marilyn C]

The Angel of the Covenant.

 `....there is one God & one mediator between God & men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all...`  (1 Tim. 2: 5 & 6)

The word mediator refers to one who stands in the midst of two parties who are out of accord with each other, with the intent of bringing harmony through reconciliation.

Mediate – Gk. word `mesites,` meaning go-between, reconciler, intercessor, mediator.

 

In Rev. 10,  I believe we see the Lord as the Angel of the Covenant , (the Mediator) who demonstrates His great power to subjugate the beasts that arise out of the `sea & land.` The Angel places His foot upon the land and the sea, and lifts up His hand and swears by Him who lives forever. Only He who is God could raise His hand & swear by Himself.

`The angel whom I saw standing on the sea & on the land raised His hand to heaven & swore by Him who lives forever & ever, who created heaven & the things that are in it, the earth ... & the sea.... that there should be delay no longer.` (Rev. 10: 6)

 

God told Moses that it is He who takes hold of judgment, He who avenges His enemies & He who provides atonement for His people Israel & seals it with an oath.

`Now see that I, even I am He,  And there is no God besides Me;.... for I raise My hand to heaven, & I say, “As I live forever,.....”` (Deut. 32: 39 & 40) 

 

 

[Marilyn C]

The Temple.

`...the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the Covenant, (the Mediator)...He will sit as a refiner ....` (Mal. 3: 1 & 3)

In Rev. 11, I believe we see the Lord coming to His temple, seeking those in Israel who are looking to God.

`Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.` (Rev. 11: 1)

 

The Two Witnesses.

These two men, Moses and Elijah, have been sent by God to bear witness to the Lord from the Law and Prophets. They were also the 2 men seen talking with the Lord on the Mount of transfiguration, at the empty tomb and then seeing His ascension into glory. Thus they are qualified to witness to the people of Israel, and the world of Christ and His soon coming.

 

The `Ark of the Covenant` is then seen opened in heaven. This, I believe, is a symbolic picture of Christ, the Voice of God, speaking forth the judgments and making war against His enemies.

`Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thundering, an earthquake, and great hail.` (Rev. 11: 19)

 

We are shown the actual event when Christ comes forth from heaven to deliver Israel, seek vengeance upon the rebellious nations & deal with Satan & his demonic angels.

`Now I saw heaven opened, & behold a white horse....& in righteousness He judges & makes war....Out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations.` (Rev. 19: 11 – 16)                                                                                                                             

[Marilyn C]

In Vision 3 I believe we are shown the work of the Lord as Mediator of the Covenant.

In the Hebrew Law of Redemption certain requirements were needed.

1.Avenging, or doing justice.  Thus we see the censor in the mediator`s hand bringing judgments, upon the rebellious, sending fire to the earth. (Rev. 8 & 9)

 2.Witnesses to the Redemptive price. Then we read that there are two witnesses who spoke to the Lord concerning His death, they also witnessed His resurrection, the empty tomb and His ascension. Scripture names them as 2 men, Moses and Elijah. (Rev. 11)

3.Kinship. A person who had been disposed of an estate could regain the possession and privileges through one near of kin. This is what we are seeing in Rev. 12.

Woman & Child.

In Rev. 12 we read of Christ`s scriptural identity as related to Israel. The pictorial representation is of a woman and 12 stars. This we know refers to Jacob and Rachael, the parents of the 12 tribes of Israel. The `Child` was Jesus born of the nation of Israel, and is their `kin.` Thus He fulfils this requirement by Hebrew law.  

God is very detailed in what He requires and it all is fulfilled in Christ.   

[Marilyn C]

Here is ANOTHER POINT in relation to the OP.

In Rev. 12 we are shown the 4 aspects of the enemy - the serpent, the devil, Satan and the dragon. These names reveal his motives, work and authority. He usurped authority over man and became the world`s ruler. Jesus as Mediator of the New Covenant overcomes the enemy in every area.

`...the great dragon....that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world;...` (Rev. 12: 9)

 

The Dragon - gives his power, his throne and great authority to the Global Government. (the beast. Rev. 13: 2) Christ is the WORD of God and He has all authority & power from the Father. (Eph. 1: 21) He overthrows the dragon -

`...His name is called the Word of God.....he has on His robe and on His thigh a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.`  (Rev. 19: 13 & 16)

 

The Serpent - he deceived Adam & Eve, who did their own will. (Gen. 3: 3 - 6) Christ only did the Father`s WILL. (John 6: 38)

 

The Devil - his works are - to rob, kill and destroy. (John 10: 10) Christ came to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3: 8) Christ did the WORKS of the Father - healing, setting free, comforting, releasing, miracles, giving life....(John 5: 20)

 

Satan - he desires worship. (Matt. 4: 10) Christ is the WISDOM of God and by becoming the sacrifice for all, is the one to whom all will worship.  (Rom. 14: 11)

 

 

`He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;...` (Rev. 20: 2)

 

[Marilyn C]

In Rev. 13, I believe we are shown the final Gentile Global Government who is given the dragon`s authority, power and throne.

`And the dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.` (Rev. 13; 2)

 

I see it that the World`s Federations, as seen by Daniel, (Dan. 7) have come together and are ruled over by a most terrifying beastly power. These Federations as -

The Lion, (& eagle) - The British Commonwealth and America.

The Bear - The Russian Federation.

The Leopard - The European Union.

`Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion.` (Rev. 13: 2)

 

The Terrifying beast - Islam. 

`I saw a beast ....(with) ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns.` (Rev. 13: 1)

`the fourth kingdom on the earth...shall devour the whole earth....The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom.` (Dan. 7: 23 & 24)

 

This beastly government is ruled over by two leaders - one holding Political power and the other the Economic and religious offices. These together with the dragon, represent a false trinity -

The Dragon - as the Father.

The Political Ruler - as Christ.

The Economic & Religious offices - as the Holy Spirit.

 

Only those who look to the Lamb, as their Mediator before God will be saved, while those who worship the demonic ruler set up by the Dragon, will go to eternal damnation.

`And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.` (Rev. 13: 8)

[Marilyn C]

Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant for Israel.
 

I believe, in Vision 3, (Rev. 8 - 13) we see that the Lord is revealed as Mediator of the New Covenant, in relation to Israel. The details of the ceremony at the altar show that it is the time of their atonement as a nation. The enemies are dealt with through a series of judgments that go on till the Lord returns with His angelic army, to deliver Israel, in power and great glory.

 

The final three and a half years are shown with -

-The Temple outer court trodden down, ( 42 months).

-The two witnesses, ( 1,260 days).

-Israel in the wilderness, (time, times and half a time).

-The Global leader, (anti-Christ) (42 months)

 

Every detail is in the Lord`s hands. The Lord is the victor and angelic voices declare, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.” (Rev. 11: 15)

What a victory! What a great Mediator who fulfils the covenant promised long ago to Israel that they would be the rulers of the nations of the world.

`The kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people, (Israel) the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.` (Dan. 7: 27)