TEXT: REVELATION 8: 6- 12 6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. (KJV)
Today I would like to deliver a message entitled “PLURAL PAPABLES.”
When we understand the parables in the Bible, what we should pay attention to is the purpose and point of this specific book of Bible. The Bible has definite purpose and characteristic that make it different from other books.
For example, we have a manual of personal computer. This is a book of which topics, themes, vocabularies and words are specific and are partial.
For example, we often see the vocabularies such as PC, keyboard, software and so on. But vocabularies such as “Genjimonogatari”(which is the Japanese historic tale), President Clinton, sandwiches and so on do not appear. Even if we see them, they do not come out many times repeatedly. The frequency is limited. For, a manual of personal computer is for the people who want to understand how to operate personal computers. The books have the readers and specific themes.
It is a common sense, and once we think of the character of the book we can almost guess its content.
Well, likewise, the Bible has definite readers and topics that are mentioned frequently.
1 CORINTHIANS 10: 11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (KJV)
It is written here that the Bible (here specifically refer to the passage of the wilderness) is written for us, Christians, who are facing the end of the world. Therefore, the Bible is written for Christians and for admonition to the people who are facing the end time.
Well, let us think of the themes that Christians should know, also topics and items that are often mentioned in Christian life.
They are churches, God,
Christ, the Holy Spirit, righteousness, sins, forgiveness of sins, brothers and
sisters, pastors, teachers, the Bible and so on. Once we list essential and
important topics for Christian life, they are not so many as one expects and are
quite limited.
Every Christian understands that these topics and themes are very important for the life of Christians. It is necessary for all Christians over denominations, regardless of which nationalities they are, whether they are Japanese or American. Well, God knows very well these themes and topics are important for Christians.
Well, God tells these items repeatedly in the parables. Especially, the topics of the Word, the Holy Spirit, and the Church are mentioned repetition after repetition in the Bible.
To the contrary, other than that, the topics which are not frequently happening in the Christian life are not mentioned so much (Except the code in the Bible).
The topics of the parables in the Bible are mentioned repeatedly within a limited rage, as the topics of a manual of personal computer are so. This is one of important aspects to understand the parables.
Well, I would like to talk about another aspect of the parables in the Bible. That is, the same theme is mentioned in various and plural parables in the Bible.
For example, Bible has mentioned many parables about Church.
Others are house, city, Temple (Tabernacle), woman, body, sea, mountain, ship and so on. Simply on Church alone, it has many aspects and the parables of the Church show each aspect of the Church.
House:
1 TIMOTHY 3: 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (KJV)
There are father, mother, brothers and sisters in the house. Likewise, there are spiritual father, mother, brothers and sister in the Church. A house is a parable of a church to emphasize these aspects and relations.
City:
2 CHRONICLES 32: 18 Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city. (KJV)
Many people gather in a city. And for example, the city like Jerusalem is walled so that it is not easy to enter and is clearly divided from outside territories. The Church should in fact be walled and clearly divided from outside world. A city is a parable of a church to emphasize this aspect.
Temple (Tabernacle):
A temple is a parable of a church which refers to the aspect of a place where people should worship God.
Therefore, when we look at the passages concerning temples, we will understand how God talks about the aspect of worship in churches.
2 CHRONICLES 6: 28- 30 28 If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillars; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be:
29 Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in his house (temple):
30 Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:) (KJV)
It is mentioned here that the prayers in the temple, that is, the Church are heard.
Well, these are parables of the Church. As the Church is the important theme in the Bible, we can see that the Bible speaks multiple parables about the Church in detail. Not limited to this, many parables about the Holy Spirit, Christians and so on are used.
Christian: sheep, ox, vine, olive tree, sand, rock, star, sun, moon and so on.
Nothing about “Genjimonogatari” (Japanese historic tale) or President Clinton is written on the manual of personal computer.
But the topics and subjects in relation to the way how to operate personal computer and keyboard and mouse are written very in detail in the manual. For, it is the book written for the people who want to operate the computers.
Likewise, Bible is for Christians and presents the topics necessary for Christians through plural parables very in detail.
Conclusion:
1. Bible is the specific book of limited topics and the contents of parables are also limited to the necessary subjects to Christians.
2. Plural parables are used as to one topic such as God, the Holy Spirit, the Church and son on.
If we understand the above matter, we can get nearer to proper interpretation about Revelation. Revelation is not independent from or unrelated to other books of the Bible, instead, it is on the same line of extension.
Many parables dealt in
the Gospels are concentrated on the topics and subjects about the Church, the
Bible, the Holy Spirit and so on that Christians have in their ordinary lives.
Therefore, the parables on Revelation also deal with the same kind of trends
and topics. Yes, many of the descriptions on Revelation are written in the form
of parables concerning the intimate subjects in the Christian lives.
Well, with these in mind, let us look at the text.
7 “The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth.”
Blood, hail and fire are metaphor of spirits.
The Holy Spirit who has brought up and led the Church will be driven out and devils will take the place in stead.
”and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.:
Trees have different varieties of its kind such as olive trees and vine trees. And they are a metaphor of Christians. So, it tells us that a third of Christians being burned up, “The third part of trees was burned up.”
8 “And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood.”
A mountain is the metaphor of a church. Trees are in the mountain and Christians belong to the Church. It is necessary to refer to the following word to understand the word a great mountain.
ZECHRIAH 4: 7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain. (KJV)
This mountain is referring to the days of John the Baptist regarding the mountain in the saying, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, every mountain and hill shall be brought low.” It is the Church of the false doctrines, that is, the mountain that distorts and obstructs the straight truth, the way to the life and the walk of the Person of “the way, the truth, and the life.” This mountain is ordered to “become a plain” before Zerubbabel who is the type of the anointed ones in the end time.
And it has relation to the following word, too.
MATTHEW 21: 21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea, it shall be done. (KJV)
It is told that regardless of how great the organization is or how great the false church is, they will be cast into the sea if it is commanded to be done. And, we will see this mountain will be cast into the sea in the day of Revelation. The text, “a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea,” refers to this matter precisely.
The day will come when the churches that dedicate themselves to false teachings like partial rapture theories and so on are cast into the sea.
“a great mountain burning with fire.”
Fire is not the fire of the Holy Spirit but by devils. The day will come when the false churches are burnt with fire as Sodom was.
“and the third part of the sea became blood.”
The sea like the river with water has relation to spirit. The church likened as the sea is originally filled with water, the Holy Spirit. Christians who are likened as fish live in this water, the Holy Spirit. But it will be turned to blood and work of devils.
9 “And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.”
Fish live in the sea as the living existence. The fish is the metaphor of Christians as the word of Jesus says, “I will make you fishers of men.” They have life in the Holy Spirit. But, in this time, when the water of the sea that makes them alive is tuned to blood, the devils, their spiritual lives will be lost.
“the third part of the ships were destroyed.”
The ships are metaphor of churches. There is a parable of ships and a helm. A helm is a metaphor of a teacher and ships churches.
10 “And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters.”
A star is a metaphor of a Christian. It is burning with fire and the fire is a metaphor of spirit. This shows devils are working.
“it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters.”
Water flows in the rivers and fountains of waters, too. Water is a metaphor of spirit. This signifies where the Holy Spirit is replaced by devils.
11 “And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.”
Let us look at the following word to understand wormwood.
JEREMIAH 9: 15 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink. (KJV)
God’s people should eat the Word, bread of life, and drink the Holy Spirit, the water of life, but they will eat wormwood and drink water of gall on the judgment day.
On this day a third part of water in the rivers, that is, the work of the Holy Spirit, will be like wormwood, and a third of Christians will lose the Holy Spirit of life so that the word, “many men died of the waters,” is fulfilled as a result.
12 “And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.”
The sun, the moon, the stars are all metaphor of Christians and the workers. They will be smitten and lose their light.
As they expel the Spirit of the Person who has come as the light of the world, the Holy Spirit, they will be eventually blind. The darkness that smote Egypt will cover them. As a result, they will lose light and become spiritual blind so that they will not be able to discern the Holy Spirit from devils. They will perish in the revivals.
Conclusion:
Therefore, this description on Revelation chapter 9 tells us about the Church, the Word, and the Holt Spirit and so on that ordinal Christians have relation to. As the Bible is written first of all for God’s people, certainly it mentions about such topics. There are some opinions, “Such same words should not be repeated,” but the Bible, especially on Revelation, is such a Book and tells such topics. The Bible tells subjects related to Christians repeatedly and same goes to the book of Revelation.
And another matter is that the same subject is repeatedly expressed in different ways and on parables.
It is mentioned in different expressions such as the sea of blood, burning stars and so on that the spirit of the Church is turned from the Holy Spirit to devils. This is similar to the description on Exodus. Egypt was smitten with ten plagues, but the contents are actually repeated by similar but different parables.
This is one of the characters of the Bible.
Though a different stories of ill-favoured and leanfleshed kine and thin ears were told in the days of Joseph, we know that these refer to totally the same thing, the famine of the end time in the different parables. This is one of the principles of the parables of the Bible.
Revelation is the same. Although many different stories seem to be told on the surface, they essentially talk about the same thing. The plural parables are used.
Let us do the will of the Lord in the end time.
End.