Oh my ... some days go by so quickly and finding the bandwidth of energy and focus to develop thought provoking questions sometimes challenges the brain. But finally ... here are a series of questions based on this chapter.
The Lamb and the 144,000
Who is the Lamb standing on Mount Zion? Who is there with HIM?
Who are the 144,000? What do these have written on their foreheads? What are they doing? Who could learn the product of what these were doing?
The Messages of the Three Angels
Angel #1: Where does John see this one?? What is this angel proclaiming? To whom is the angel making these proclamations? Do you see the mercy of our compassionate LORD God in this provision??
Angel #2: What does this angel proclaim? Did you notice what Babylon's passion is?? How does that passion relate to our current generation as you consider the output from all the media streams? What commodity sells??
Angel #3: What dire warning does this angel proclaim? What will happen to those who choose the worship or the mark? Does the wrath ever end?
Message to the saints: who are the saints? And how can we today be preparing for this time if the LORD God chooses us to be in the midst of this moment in time? Does it frighten you as you consider you and your family having to "endure"? Do you believe that He is greater than our fear and that He can and will pour a constant flow of mercy and grace over us and in us so that we will be able to stand as warriors?
What did the voice from heaven command John to write?
The Harvest of the Earth
I am not going to lie as I read and ponder this section, my stomach clenches because those who are not sealed by the LIVING God through Jesus will be the moment of Judgment.
Who does John see coming on a cloud? What color is the cloud? Is this significant? If so, why? What is on his head, and what does this represent? What is his hand? Are you familiar with the appearance and purpose of this instrument? If not, I encourage you to watch this video to understand this harvesting tool's purpose and efficiency: Video: using sickle for harvest . What does the loud voice say to the one sitting on the cloud? Do you think this action he does will happen in an instant OR over time?
Then we have yet another angel who appears: from where does this angel come? What tool does this angel have? What is this angel instructed to do? What does the angel do with that which he harvests? What is this winepress? What flows from it? How high is a horse’s bridle? What is the distance for 1,600 stadia? For a visual of what is involved with a winepress described in these verses, consider watching this YouTube video:
Video: Old City Jerusalem Walk and Wine Press
Be sure to watch it to the end and then think what we are told in the scriptures here of the depth and length of what flows from the winepress #grisly