Revelation

Today's questions:

What are the 7 spirits of God?

Comments:
Bizarre image of lamb slain---makes clear the cost of Christ's purchase.  John "weeps and weeps" that no one can open the scroll.  Do I have that kind of godly sorrow?

So much corruption in the churches--nothing new under the sun.  Our churches struggle and this should not be a surprise to me as it was here in Revelation so long ago.  It's obviously a continuing problem.

Strong image of the poverty of wealth.

Reoccurring images--lampstands, door---that there is a door in Heaven---intriguing.  Christ calls himself a door in the gospels, but there is an actual door.

One who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars, similar to the description in Rev_1:4. Here Christ said He holds them, speaking of the Holy Spirit in relation to Himself (Isa_11:2-5; cf. Rev_5:6). As in Rev_1:20 the seven stars, representing the pastors of the churches, were also in His hands (cf. Rev_2:1).

"Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown."  Revelation 3:11

 The thought is not simply that of coming soon but coming suddenly or quickly (cf. Rev_1:1; Rev_2:16).-BKC

"You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead." -Revelation 3:1

16:5, 6   At this point, the angel of the waters defends the justice of God's judgments. Men are only receiving the just recompense of their own sinful deeds. They had shed blood in abundance; now they are rewarded with blood to drink instead of water. It is their just due. -BBC

Blood for blood---the punishment fits the crime.

16:13, 14   John sees three frog-like spirits issuing from the mouth of the dragon, ... the beast and ... the false prophet, Satan's counterfeit trinity. These are demonic spirits, performing miracles to deceive the world's rulers, and to lure them to a climactic battle on the great day of God Almighty. -BBC

Counterfeit trinity....

8:1   Chapter 18 consists primarily of a funeral song, celebrating the fall of Babylon. As mentioned, this refers to the harlot church which is not only a vast religious system but perhaps the greatest commercial establishment in the world. It apparently controls the world market. -BBC

1 John 5

"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith." 1 John 5:4

Next we learn the secret of victory over the world. The world system is a monstrous scheme of temptation, always trying to drag us away from God and from what is eternal, and seeking to occupy us with what is temporary and sensual. People of the world are completely taken up with the things of time and sense. They have become the victims of passing things.

Only the man who is born of God really overcomes the world, because by faith he is able to rise above the perishing things of this world and to see things in their true, eternal perspective. Thus the one who really overcomes the world is not the great scientist or philosopher or psychologist, but the simple believer who realizes that the things which are seen are temporary and that the things which are not seen are eternal. A sight of the glory of God in the face of Jesus dims the glory of this world. -BBC

Fear

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
We love because he first loved us.  1 John 4:18-19


"The words fear has to do with punishment are literally, “fear has punishment.” Fear carries with it a kind of torment that is its own punishment.-BKC

Proverbs 29

Pro 29:17  Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.

"29:19  This verse seems to describe the obstinate, intractable attitude of many a servant. Oral orders are not always enough. They may understand the master's instructions but they don't always carry them out. They just remain silent and sullen. Jesus said, "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?" (Luk_6:46).-BBC

Pro 29:25  The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe. 

Pro 29:26  Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the LORD that a man gets justice. 

Proverbs 26

Proverbs 26:28

A lying tongue hates its victims, a flattering mouth works ruin.

Proverbs 25

"God delights in concealing things; scientists delight in discovering things." Proverbs 25:1

What I remember:

A trustworthy friend is like a drink of cool water during a hot harvest.
A person who cannot control their temper is like a broken down city without walls.
The right words at the right time are like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
If your enemy is hungry feed him, thirsty, give him something to drink---like heaping coals on his head (quoted in Romans by Paul)
A soft answer breaketh the bones.
Kings do not reveal all that they know.

*********************************  The rest:

As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.  Proverbs 25:3
Remove dross from silver, remove corruption from authority and kingship will be God honoring
Do not put yourself forward or assume the best seat, but let someone else acknowledge you and put you in the honorable position.

Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like someone who takes off a coat on a cold day or vinegar on baking soda.  Proverbs 25:20

Quotations

“God’s love for poor sinners is very wonderful, but God’s
patience with ill-natured saints is a deeper mystery.”
- Henry Drumond

“A human being’s strongest instinct is to self-preservation; grace’s highest call is to self-sacrifice.”  - Paul Frost