The Strait and Narrow

Archive for the ‘Martyrdom’ Category

What would be the connection if any in the use of the KJV Strong’s H4430 matches the Hebrew מלך (melek (Aramaic)) “Royal” to how the same word “melek” is used as “King”.?

Daniel 7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings [melek] that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings [melek].

Daniel 6:7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal [melek] statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king [melek], he shall be cast into the den of lions.

In this instance ‘royal’ is the only place that melek is translated rather than king. Could this be important in how we are to understand or even interpert these ten horns which where translated as ten kings. Where the word melek was used and interperated as king or kings rather that royal.

As you can see the subject in Daniel 6 and verse 7 is of those people that where given to high places among the governing of that kingdom. These came together and consulted among themselves to establish a decree or a royal statute. Given the indication of their kingly [royal] positions. Even among these where the three Hebrews boys that where set over the province of Babylon. Chapter 3 tells us that ‘all of the rulers of the province” were gather together at this assembly.

So one way we might translate melek in Daniel 7:24 is as a ruler of the province, governors, counsellors, or presidents rather than king. If this be the case in there were ten so called kings out of that kingdom. Notice Daniel 7:24 spoke of ‘that kingdom’ showing that these ten had not their own kingdom, but rather was out of that kingdom. If we then correlate how Daniel 8 speaks of some of the stars and host of heaven being casted down to the ground this might give us some insight into these ten kingly persons. There made be a correlation with the three Hebrew boys becasue of their high place within the kingdom. We might be able to draw some parallels from them as to the three kings subdued. It may well be expressing the royal preisthood as being kings of which three was subdued.

So instead of thinking that there are ten kings which come out of this kingdom and which have no kingdom of themselves. That make my point even stronger for why call them a king when they have no kingdom.

Daniel seems to indicate that these are royalty rather than kingship. As the list of thoses that assembled together as presidents, governors, princes, counsellors and captains all was considered to be royalty.

But lets look even closer at how this is delivered. These ten ‘melek’ horns shall arise and another little horn shall arise after them and shall be different that the first horns while the little horn shall subdue three of the first horns.

Here and in other places Daniel used ‘prince’ as to indicate one of power in waiting of the kingship. (Dan. 3:2, 3:27, 6:7, 9:6, 9:25-26, 10:13, 10:20, &11:22) In these there are a couple that I would bring to our attention and they are Daniel 9:6 where Daniel mention of that they people didn’t hearkened unto the prophets which spake unto thy name to our kings and princes and our fathers…

Daniel 9:6 KJV Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.

This indicate that Daniel is speaking of the kings of Israel and those that await it as princes the other one is in Daniel 11:22 where Daniel mentions that the vile person in verse 21 would come into the kingdom and come like a flood and shall break them and the prince of the covenant.

Daniel 11:22 KJV And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.

Here again Daniel is referring to the royal priesthood of Isreal that Antiochus IV casted down and set up them whom he chose to set over the kingdom as high priest. Onias III the legitimate high priest was murdered so that one would take his place.

So the connection I would place is how Daniel spoke of the three Hebrew boys as rulers over the provinces and was counted among those that was among the royalty of the kingdom. This would place the thought that Daniel may have been indicating that the ten kings where more of ten princes that where in waiting of that kingdom.

This seems to be in line with the priest that are in the royal priesthood as princes. For the priest color are given to denote royalty the color purple. And we know that Antiochus did in fact subdue [ bring under control by physical force ] the priest and high priest of Israel.

I know this topic of First fruits has been discussed many times before, but I feel that many still may over look this aspect of the reference to the gathering of the faithful (Harvest). Revelation 14:1-5

In the vision under consideration the 144,000 are said to “follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.” They are given the great privilege of following Christ throughout all eternity because they chose to follow Him on earth, even in the face of persecution and death. This high honor is evidently not accorded all the redeemed, not all the redeemed will learn the song that they would be singing.

The 144,000 are declared to be “the first fruits unto God and the Lamb,” or “the first to be reaped for God and the Lamb.” The language indicates that this special company have been “selected” or “gathered” from “among” others for a special purpose, and are the first fruits of the harvest. The first fruits of the harvest are that part of it which matures first, and are always only a small part of the whole. The first fruits must be distinguished from the reaping of the harvest. The 144,000 are declared to be “the first fruits,” not the reaping of the full harvest.

Among the ancient Israelites the first fruits were the choice fruits of the harvest that first come to maturity, and these were carefully selected, marked gathered, and dedicated to a sacred purpose. The 144,000 are therefore selected from among other saints and dedicated for the special service of “God and the Lamb,” not only in this world, but also in the world to come. This seems to imply that the 144,000 do not represent the whole company of the Elect, but a specially sanctified number from among them. This seems to mean that the 144,000 represent not the whole, but only a portion of the great harvest to come, not only the first installment, but those marked by high spiritual service to God and the Lamb.

The offering of ‘first fruits’ under the Jewish law, in which the first portion of the harvest was dedicated to God, in token that the whole belonged to Him, and was recognized as His. Hence it always implies that something of the same kind will follow it , and in this sense it is often used in the New Testament. If ‘the first fruits is holy, so is the lump.’ . . . In like manner the mention of the hundred and forty and four thousand as ‘first fruits’ suggests the thought of something to follow.

 

Abel’s blood, not Abel himself, cried out to the Lord. Clearly this did not happen in a literal sense. Abel’s shed blood cried out from the ground to the Lord symbolically, for justice to be done, for his blood to be avenged, just like in Revelation 6:10.

Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

It is the Hebrew word nephesh that gives us the key:

Leviticus 17:11

Leviticus 17:11

Leviticus 17:11

Revelation 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the blood of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Revelation 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

Now verses 9 and 10 are coherent. It is the shed blood of the martyrs that is seen “under the altar”, not immortal bodiless souls. Just as Abel’s blood cries out symbolically for justice to the Lord, so does the blood of the martyrs “under the altar”. So, just what does “under the altar” mean, and where is this altar.

Now again, we have determined that Revelation 6:9 refers to the blood of Christian martyrs as being “under the altar”. This expression “under the altar” is explained by how sacrificial blood was used in the sanctuary. And knowing that there are two altars the altar of burnt offerings in the outer court, and the altar of incense in the first apartment of the sanctuary, or holy place.

Leviticus 4:7 And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

So how then would we interpret Revelation 20:4?

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Would it not be correct to translate “souls” as blood and would read as:

“souls of the beheaded”

4And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the blood of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Would that then change our view of those that were slain for their witness of Jesus that John saw their blood, that in of itself can’t refer to all christains from all generations, can it?