revelation-1:20,revelation-2:5-12,revelation-2:18

Altar of Incense The Golden Altar of Incense. Exodus 30.1-9. Verse 1. "And thou shalt make an altar to burn [burn as incense] incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make IT." THERE were two altars, the brazen altar of burnt offering and the golden altar of incense. They are both typical of the Per... Read More

THE LAMPSTAND "And thou shalt make a lampstand of pure gold." (Ex. 25. 31). THE golden lampstand, with its seven lamps and centre shaft, is the type of ministry according to God in the power of the Holy Ghost, in its various branches of testimony, having Christ for its centre, source, and subject. I... Read More

The diary of David Brainerd, early missionary to the American Indians, tells of the price paid for revival in terms like these: “wrestling earnestly in prayer,” “pleading for souls,” “interceding fervently,” days of “fasting and prayer,” “an agony of prayer.” So fierce was the battle that at times D... Read More

Church (1577)(ekklesia from ek = out + klesis = a calling, verb = kaleo = to call) literally means called out (but see note by Louw-Nida below) and as commonly used in the Greco-Roman vernacular referred to citizens who were called out from their homes to be publicly assembled or gathered to discuss... Read More

Darkness (4653) (skotia from skotos = darkness) means literal darkness in some NT uses (Jn 6:17, 20:1), but more often (14/16x) is used figuratively to refer to spiritual darkness. In every NT figurative use, darkness is contrasted with light in all but one passage (1Jn 2:11). As noted below "Darkne... Read More

Filthiness (4507) (rhuparia from rhuparós = dirty, filthy) literally means dirt or filth (used to describe dirty garments), but is clearly used metaphorically by James to denote moral uncleanness or impurity. Sordid avarice. State of moral corruption (vulgarity). Plutarch used rhuparia (like our wor... Read More

Kingdom (932) (basileia from basileus = a sovereign, king, monarch) denotes sovereignty, royal power, dominion. Basileia can also refer to the territory or people over whom a king rules (See "Three Basic Meanings" below). At the outset it should be noted that the Kingdom of Heaven/God is both simple... Read More

Mystery (3466) (musterion from mustes = one initiated [as into the Greco-Roman "mystery" religions] from mueo = to close or shut) in the NT is a truth never previously known, and a truth which human intellect could never discover, but one which has now been made known by divine revelation. Musteri... Read More

"Write the things which you have SEEN, and the things which ARE, and the things which shall be HEREAFTER. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks is this—the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches; and the seven candlesticks which yo... Read More

DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS 1. The Preparation for the Passover, 7–13 Where did Luke get his account of the Lord’s supper? (1 Cor. 11:23–26.) From whom did Paul get it? (1 Cor. 11:23.) Upon what day did the scenes of this lesson occur? (Lev. 23:5, 6; Ex. 12:18.) Did Jesus eat the Passover with the discip... Read More