Laurel wreath of victory

[marie glen]

One of the darkest chapters in the history of mankind (at least to me) is the Roman death games.. We've all heard the stories, Christians fed to lions, slaves made to be gladiators and forced to fight to the death.. while a crowd of people watched it all as entertainment. Yes, it makes makes us nauseous to think of it. And I'm sorry for bringing it up, but I was very struck by something.. In a (Christian) novel I'm reading, a gladiator has beat a number of other gladiators and has now won his freedom, and is given a "laurel wreath of victory".

In Revelation chapter 6, as we know when the first four Seals of God are broken on the scroll which is the revelation vision, with each one a horse and rider come forth and begin their ride (progression). These of course are called the (notorious) four horsemen of the apocalypse (unveiling - imo, by the crashing and falling of man's empire(s).

The first rider rides on a white horse. I have for a long time felt this is Jesus and the Victorious Gospel which went forth riding into the age of the years of our Lord, A.D., "conquering and to conquer". Now some prophecy buffs believe - even though he's riding a "white horse" - that this cannot be Jesus for (in some translations) he wears a wreath or garland (or crown in others). And the wreath or garland was pagan.

But I believe that wreath or garland to be very fitting! Why? Because Jesus IS the victor. He has won every battle. He has defeated and is victorious over death. And for all. He rides supreme. Ultimate victor of all. And death lies defeated at His mighty feet.

I just wanted to share this random thought and impression. I felt it so strongly my heart was weeping..

(..interestingly, to me, anyway, it seems like each seal is described as a blend of two things, it's beginning and its full maturity.. chapter 6, main elements of the latter age?)

[rosered]

 :thumbsup:  Amen  Marie  :dsunny: :HeartThrob:

[eaglesway]

I would venture three things :o)

Its beginning, its present revelatory application in each generation that reads it, and its full maturity.

[marie glen]

   :thumbsup: :iagree:

[rosered]

AMEN !!!    :dsunny:  As  maturing in the LOVE OF GOD to the fulness of Christ union .. :HeartThrob:

EPH 4 Unity in the Body
...12to equip the saints for works of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.

14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming....   

Oh to tear down the strongholds of Babylon   2 Corn  10 


3For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh.


4The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world.


Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.


5We tear down arguments, and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ....  :HeartThrob:   :HeartThrob:

WOW!!    Thoughts  cause us to be imprisoned   within our own minds and hearts     ...  evil /bad  ,  earthly  thoughts that are   not lifting up the BODY OF CHRIST

[marie glen]

..here's another thing i've been thinking about.. i've always thought of Revelation chapters 12 and 13 as inserts.. But now, i'm realizing they are one insert! (dAh!?)

..it started with my wondering why the dragon in chapter 12, verse 3, which has seven heads and ten horns, why he has diadems on his heads, but in chapter 13, verse 1, which has seven heads and ten horns, has instead ten crowns on his horns. We can see by verse 2 that the dragon gives it the power, throne and authority.. (Also he has feet like a bear and a mouth like a lion)..

Then it seemed like the pieces fit together. Chapter 13 continuing from 12:17, when the dragon unable to wash the faith off the planet with the flood he let loose after the faith, because the earth had swallowed the flood (the flood of Babylon the Great's seductive enchantments? :Chinscratch: ) because the earth swallowed the flood (drought? Luke 23:28,31) the dragon went off to make war with the rest of the faith's offspring, the one who (by then??) has the testimony of Jesus and have the commandments of God. "And the nations were gathered to Armageddon.." Revelation 16:14,15,16.

So in Revelation chapter 12, you have the adversary at work is a fiery red dragon with seven crowned heads and ten horns.. But here, it seems (surely?) the ten crowned heads are what are actively at work.. Using Herod the Great he tried to devour the manchild (Son of man) as soon as He was born, that having failed and the manchild instead was caught up to God and His throne, the dragon (adversary) in rage pursued the faith and she fled.

Next verses, war broke out in the heavens and the dragon and one third stars he had dragged 'with his tail' fought and his angels fought -  Michael and his angels fought, and the dragon was no longer allowed access to the heavens.. Rejoice O heavens!

The dragon very angry persecutes (inqusitions?) the faith.. but the faith is given the two wings of an eagle to fly (sail?) to another place.. where she is kept safe from the face of the dragon for 3.5 measures of time.. after which, is when the dragon spews (vomits) out a flood after the woman (the faith) trying to wash her off the face of the earth, but the earth helps the woman and swallows the flood and the dragon goes off to make war with the rest of her offspring who have the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus.

["Jerusalem, Jerusalem, I would have gathered you as a hen gathers her chicks.. you will not see me again, until, you say, 'blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord'." Last verse Mt 23. ...Paul wrote, in Romans chapter 11, "if their falling away is riches to the nations" the good news going out to them "...what shall their gathering be but life from the dead?" (12 and 15) - i.e. the resurrection(?) which occurs as we know at Jesus' return and the beginning of His 2nd advent..]

And the beast with seven heads and ten horns with the crowns on the horns, and in the power, force and authority of the dragon, rose from the sea.. He blasphemes the holy land and the holy people..

Even though the chapters are consecutive.. I believe the beast rose before the earth swallows the flood, but becomes a much greater force afterwards.. [rev.9:3-5,10] ..Also that 13:13 occurs(ed) before. [Pinpointing the 2nd beast of chapter 13, the 'little' beast which will finally give breath/authority to the rebuilt 'big beast' (world beast?) which rose out of the sea.]

Well, enough babbling! I don't know what God our Father is doing.. and I don't know what will happen in the future.. but I do know this, He will tell His people..

Have you noticed this? (I hadn't really noticed it before.) Verse nine, of chapter 13 says " If anyone has an ear, let them hear."

oh, I forgot! Rev. 17:12 & 16 "the ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour with the beast... they will hate the harlot" with the golden cup in her hand " and will make her desolate".

Revelation 3:10 "..because you have kept my command to persevere, I will keep you from the hour of trial.." from the letter to the Philadelphians (brotherly love, as opposed to? "if the evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards" the deluded? I want to think these opposites are UR and ET but I'm not sure the line is that solid.. :dontknow: :icon_jokercolor: