Happy Resurrection Day / First Fruits / Easter 2012 (Videos) -

Matthew 28 (King James Version)

 ¹In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

 ²And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

 ³His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

 ⁴And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

 ⁵And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

 ⁶He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

 ⁷And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

 ⁸And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

 ⁹And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

 ¹⁰Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

 ¹¹Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.

 ¹²And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,

 ¹³Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.

 ¹⁴And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.

 ¹⁵So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

 ¹⁶Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

 ¹⁷And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

 ¹⁸And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

 ¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

 ²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The Resurrection of Jesus: An Historical 4 Gospel Account

 This being the week of Palm Sunday to First Fruits / Easter Sunday, I though it was appropriate to republish this 2009 post, as we turn our minds away from the ills of the world and toward Christ and the Life and World to come for those of us who believe into Jesus Christ as our LORD and Savior.

The original Festival of Easter Sunday is titled First Fruits in Leviticus 23,

1.  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:   Leviticus 23:10
2.  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.1 Corinthians 15:20

and the Early Church knew it both as a First Harvest Celebration and the Day of the LORD's Resurrection almost without question for the first 300 years, and then less and less for about the next 450 years of Christianity where it was essentially pushed out entirely with (or at least by the time of)  the second council of Nicea of 787. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/nicea2.asp 
    However, to pursue along those lines, well, that is (perhaps, and LORD willing) for another topic and posting for another day.   

In the meanwhile, regarding the Resurrection of Jesus: An Historical 4 Gospel Account:

The ff. is a Four Gospel Abridged Historical Account, faithfully translated from the Greek with word pictures: by me, Brianroy.  Thanks. 

Golgotha

“And coming toward and into a tract of land, upon which is called Golgotha in the Hebrew, the which is saying -- in interpretation -- ‘the skull cap area’. {1}

[My Comment: The insinuation is a yarmulke. The tomb of David, which was prominent in this land-tract, was like the skullcap upon the head of Jerusalem. In this area, only those kings of Israel that were considered worthy, had their bones interred. Nehemiah 3:16 (and other passages), tell us that there were multiple burial sites for the Kings of the Davidic line here: thus, the name “Golgotha” or “skull-cap”, being an idiom for an area dedicated to the “kings or the skull-caps of the nation of Israel”. Kings were therefore a type of yarmulke in their symbolism.

The tomb of David was a white sepulcher that eerily resembled a skull at certain times of the day. This was hated by the first priests. In effect, David was looked down upon by the first priests of the city as just an ancestral reference whose name, like the Almighty, could be invoked to frighten the common folk into compliance.]

And having crucified Him, sitting down, (the soldiers) guarded Him there. {2}

And the people stood wherever they were at, viewing attentively. {3}

[My Comment:  This last verse translated from Luke 23:35, testifies to the crowded conditions mentioned by Josephus and others, 3,000,000  plus were crammed into an area less than a few square miles. By comparison, Alexandria Egypt was a crowded city with less than a mile in width and four miles in length, being congested daily with just 500,000. The condition in Jerusalem was 6 - 7 times worse in a comparable area of about half that length for three times a year: twice being in excess of 7 days at a time. This feast of Unleavened Bread - the Passover - First Fruits, all part of the same 8 days (a week and one day) of  continuous Observance by ancient Israel's near entire population of men ages 20-60 in Jerusalem, was one of those occasions.   Just the fact that the Romans were able to push their crucifixion through the streets of Jerusalem was practically a feat in itself.]

And it was then the third hour [being 9 a.m.] when they crucified Him. {4} 

Then from sixth hour [being 12 p.m. -- noon] the light of day was removed entirely, for the darkness came into being (as night) upon and over all the the Land,  

 [of Israel, even upon the whole Earth]  

until the ninth hour  [until 3 p.m.],
for the sun was as black as the darkness. {5}

Then, in the ninth hour, Jesus emphatically cried out with a loud and commanding voice {6}  

…and the veil of the Temple was rent violently in two,
from top to bottom. {7}  

Then Jesus again emphatically cried out with a great
and commanding voice, releasing the wind, {8} 

bowing His head and having stopped breathing. {9}

[My Comment:  The night and morning previous, there was rainfall. The clouds had dissipated by the third hour, and there was no wind for six hours. Upon the death of Jesus, not only did His “Spirit” or pneuma depart from His body, but doubly applicable, the “wind” or pneuma was released, as though with a vengeance or authority, as well.]

And the earth trembled with an agitated shaking. {10}

[“ O YHVeH, put on them reverent fear and dread (like clothing) [upon a man],
(and like scrub) [upon a field]. Let the nations know intuitively that they
(are only) mortals. Selah.” (Psalm 9:20  - AWPR)]

And the centurion standing near, but across, out and off at the opposite of  Him, {11} 

 guarding Him, {12}

 saying,
‘Surely this righteous man was the son of GOD.’ {13}

Then the soldiers came, and …coming upon Jesus, when they saw and perceived that He was presently at this time dead, they did not break his legs -- as with an axe, in two. {14}

 But still another one of the soldiers with a lance, drove in deep, pierced the side of Him: and all at once (there) came out (of the wound) blood and water. {15}

[Pilate asks Joseph to bury Jesus]

Then after these things, {16}  

Joseph of Arimathea went in, up to, and alongside
Pilate. {17}

 And taking courage asked (what was to become) of the body of
Jesus. {18} 

Then…having called near the centurion, he (Pilate) interrogated him19…and fully knowing from the centurion, {20} 

Pilate asked Joseph of Arimathea, -- then being a concealed disciple of Jesus, through the terror and fright of the Jews -- in order that he might take up and carry away the body of Jesus. {21}

[My Comment:  The testimony of John in the Greek specifically and literally says that Pilate asked Joseph. The testimony of Peter through Mark infers a fearsome inquisitiveness to the effect of: ‘Now that this one has died, you’re not really going to leave the body up there are you? It’s already between the evenings, the preparation time of our observance of Holy Day.’ Therefore, it makes perfect sense for Pilate to turn to Joseph and ask the favor, and may be that he personally issued some money quietly for the linen for Jesus’ burial. Although Pilate’s wife may have wished Jesus ill, I sincerely believe that Pilate did not. However, to say Pilate gave Joseph money to make the linen purchase is simply a 50/50 speculation on my part, based on the reading of the Gospel text.]

And purchasing a linen fabric, and coming, {22} 

he took the body of Jesus. {23}


Then also came Nicodemus, bearing up and carrying a mixed blend of myrrh and aloes, about 100 (times) 12 ounces. {24} 

They together, they bore up the body of Jesus, and wrapped Him up in the linen sheeting, and bound it around and fastened it together with the spices, as is customary with Jewish burial. {25}

And in that same tract of land where He was crucified, there was a garden; and in the garden there was a new tomb out of rock, in which no one had ever been placed.
They then put Jesus there through the (time) of the Preparation of the Jews

[until the first three stars were about to appear in the sun setting sky],

because the tomb was near. {26}

And having rolled a very great stone to the door of the memorial cave, he left. Then, was there Mary the Magdalene and the other Mary sitting down before the presence of the grave.
Then upon the next day, the which is in the midst {27}

 of the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together up alongside and next to Pilate, saying ‘Lord, we do mindfully so recollect that one, the deceiver, said upon (His) life, ‘’After three days, I will be raised up (a new creation).’’ Set in motion and urge then (for) the grave to be made secure until the third day, lest at any time the disciples of Him come near by night, and by stealth steal Him, that they might say to the people, ‘’He is arisen from the dead’’; and the last deceit will thereby be worse than the first.

Then Pilate shone forth his words to them,

[having heretofore been suspicious of them, and having kept silent],

‘You now have and hold possession of a custodian guard. Go away and depart in secret, and secure it against (your) enemies and verify all with your sight and observance that it is so. They then, rushed and ran through with violence and made the grave secure against (their) enemies, setting the stone (with) the seal of authenticity (upon) the grave in the midst of the custodian guard. {28}

[My Comment:  Upon arrival, the Pharisees and First Priests have the stone removed, and verify the identity of Jesus, while in the midst (or presence) of the custodial guard. The centurion verifies definitively that indeed their testimony is true. That is, probably the entire council witnesses Jesus’ chest and head with their own eyes. The tomb is closed back up with the great rock, and then sealed with the signet of Pilate. The two Mary’s are chased off from the area; the site is secured to the

council’ satisfaction. The guard will consist of about 20 sentries and one centurion. They will be consistently checked up on at regular intervals without fail ranging from 4 - 8 hours by those who bring meals, and by the Centurion of the Watch who inspects each post in a circuit.  They may have more frequent shorter intervals than even this.  The Chiliarch must also receive regular interval reports by the Centurions of the Watch, and order any post not reporting in investigated immediately by others beside the Centurion of the Watch while bring the Centurion of the Watch on life threatening reprimand. At the first sign of trouble, there would have likely been a trumpet of some sort to sound an alarm, as the Romans used them like Bugles to send orders and announce virtually everything they were doing as a troop.]

Then, the evening watch of the Sabbaths, upon the first rays of light dawning into the one of the Sabbaths [First-fruits], Mary the Magdalene and the other Mary came towards, to gaze and closely look upon the grave. And behold!
A shaking came into being, very great! For (the) Angel of the LORD descending down out of Heaven, and coming up to and alongside (the location) rolled up back and (sending uphill and) away the stone, and sitting down up on top of it.


[My Comment:  The context of the rolling back of the stone appears to be that it was done so forcefully, that the great rock was out of its groove, and tossed a short way up and behind the tomb entrance, yet still over the cave’s perspective. This indicates that the rock was circular, and not squared, like a cork. As the Psalmist said, “But GOD will redeem My soul from the power of the grave, for He shall receive Me. Selah.” (Psalm 49:15 - KJV)]

And then the face of His was the beholding of lightning, and the weight of his glory as white as snow. Then from the intense and quaking fear of him, those guarding were shaken to their very core, and came into being as if they were dead.
From judging discreetly, the Angel then said to the women,

‘Don’t you be frightened out of your wits (also). For I see and know that you
seek Jesus, He having been crucified. He isn’t here, because He was raised up, just as He said. Come here. Look and see the place where the LORD lay down. {29}


Then weeping outside up alongside the tomb, Mary stood; and as she wept, she bent over beside and into the tomb, and beheld two angels sitting down: one up alongside the head, and one up alongside the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And say these to her, ‘Woman, why are you crying?’

She responds and says, ‘Because they took up and carried away my LORD,
and I don’t see or know where they placed Him.’
And saying these things, she turns about to where she was looking back, and looks at and gazes at Jesus [up close, and personal], standing (there), and still does not see and yet know that it is Jesus.

Jesus says to her,
‘Woman, why are you crying? Just who is it that you seek after
and strive to find?” {30}

This question is on the lips of Jesus to you.  Just who is it that you seek after and strive to find? 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

End Notes:

1 Matthew 27:33, Mark 15:22, Luke 23:33, John 19:17

2 Matthew 27:35, 36; Mark 15:24

3 Luke 23:35

4 Mark 15:24. Also, the symbolism of a conqueror who captures his enemy, and drags him through the streets, as in a noose, is prophesied as a result of the crucifixion in the Hebrew of Psalm 9:16.

“YHVeH is made known in the Judgment He has made and brought about:
in the work of the bend of His Hands [.i.e., in His wrists]
are the wicked ensnared
(as in a noose). A Meditation. Selah!” (Psalm 9:16, AWPR)

“And (one) shall say unto Him, ‘What are these wounds in thine hands?
Then He shall answer,
(Those) with which I was wounded (in) the house of my friends.” (Zechariah 14:6, KJV)

5 Matthew 27:45, Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44-45

6 Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34, Luke 23:7 The Greek emphasis given by Luke and Mark’s gospel is that the cry was great, and loud, and commanding; not just a query. It goes to experiencing the separation of which the unbeliever has in hell, and why Christ -- without sin -- experienced the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth aspect of sin upon the Cross. By confining Himself to Scripture, YHVeH the Son not only experienced man’s separation from GOD the Father, but was able to offer up the appropriate response to which we believers are called to respond with. We may call GOD into question for activities of withdrawal and ask why. We may not lawfully accuse Him or slander. Jesus simply noted the activity and then demandingly questioned, why? As seen in the Psalms, and as the Son of David, this response is perfectly acceptable with GOD.

7 Luke 23:45, Mark 15:38. Matthew 27:51 places the order of the temple veil, the earthquake, and resurrection in a collective utterance (i.e., vv. 51-53 are to be read as parenthetical).

8 Matthew 27:50

9 John 19:30, Mark 15:37, Luke 23:46

10 Matthew 27:51,54. The biblical writers had a habit of leaving natural events and weather out of their writings. Matthew, in the heart of the capitol, among thousands of hostile witnesses, in 55 A.D., freely speaks of the simultaneous earthquake, the solar anomaly, and the sudden wind that blew fiercely at the time of the crucifixion. When these events happened, it made the senses of the millions watching even more acute, so that when the centurion cried out, ‘Surely this was the son of GOD!’, and the more heard him and paid his words attention. There is no Talmudic teaching to argue or dispute the Gospels or their events from having occurred. If there was any objection, despite the persecutions of the Roman Catholic Church in their sphere of influence, those disputations of Christian history would have survived among the rabbinate. That rabbinical silence is, de facto, an affirmation of the Christian witness.

11 Mark 15:39 - ο παρεστηκως εξ εναντιας αυτου This tells us the positioning of the centurion and the soldiers in relation to the Cross. The soldiers had placed Jesus on one side of the stone fissure which leads up to David’s tomb, while they stood upon the other side. The fissure’s width had to be narrow and easily traversed by a running soldier (e.g. Mark 15:36). The area of crucifixion also had to be leveled out, yet steep round about it: easily defensible.

Only one centurion was needed to prevent access while his troop sat and rested. Why? Perhaps the site was a steep mound, like a high place, easily controllable, accessible by one narrow path no more than 4-5 feet wide. Though upon the Eastern Mount, the western slope of Olives, the Romans held a south-north positioning from Jesus near the Kidron - Hinom Valley Juncture. This will not entirely make sense until the fissure to Azal is excavated, and David’s tomb is found along that fissure. Once that site of David’s former tomb in Jerusalem is found, then the Gospel accounts will make perfect sense.

Having never seen what the Apostles saw, as it relates to Jerusalem’s topography in 30 A.D., accurate visualization is very difficult. Paul through Luke in Hebrews indicates the Romans were to the north, and Christ crucified closer to the south or Hinom gate, through which the blood of animals were to be burned without the camp.

12 Matthew 27:54

13 Mark 15:39, Luke 23:47, Matthew 27:54

14 John 19:32-33

15 John 19:34 The blood and water aspect shows that Jesus heart burst after dying of asphyxiation, and congestive heart failure. What little blood was left in His body was quickly separating. The Gospel of John is telling us that there was probably about a 20 minute interval between Jesus’ death and the piercing. This probably occurred when the soldiers receive the writ from Joseph of Arimathea, bearing Pilate’s order to give the body of Jesus to him, and get rid of the other two by usual means (cf. John 19:38). The spear would have punched through Jesus’ left side, and rode up under the ribcage, straight into the heart. The notion of a right side to left side spear punch is idiocy from those unlearned in small weapons combat. The testimony is to the effect that Jesus went limp leaning to His right. Had He been closer to the ground, a thrust from a six to eight inch blade -- with a quick counter clockwise twist before removal -- would have had the same effect as the lance.

However, the Psalms specifically list the “spears” of the bulls of Bashan “western or Roman” soldiers, as piercing Messiah. The left side must flow forth the Living Waters if Messiah is to sit at the Right Hand of the Father in order for the river of Life to proceed from BOTH the throne of the Father and the Lamb (e.g. Revelation 22:1).

16 John 19:38

17 Mark 15:43; Matthew 27:57-58; Luke 23:50,52

18 Mark 15:43

19 Mark 15:44

20 Mark 15:45

21 John 19:38

22 Mark 15:46

23 John 19:38

24 John 19:39

25 Mark 15:46, Matthew 27:59, Luke 23:53, John 19:40

26 John 19:41-42

27 Meta… here means “in the midst” of the Preparation, evening-morning. Based on the context: “the next morning” following the Passover sacrifice, even though it is still a holy day. The Passover has already been partaken of, so defilement with Pilate is not an issue. Whether they penalize themselves 7 days or not, the primary concern is to secure the body of Jesus before the disciples gain courage to do so.

Now that the Passover had been taken, the number of people had dwindled dramatically from the very hour of the 3pm sacrifice (Luke 23:48), so that by the next day, and well before the time of First fruits, less than a few thousand beside the Temple guard and Roman patrols would still be remaining in the hills about Jerusalem. Many hundreds of thousands would be leaving in a very short span of time, so that it might not be hard to tamper with the tomb upon the following evening. Therefore, it was imperative to open the tomb, verify the identity of the body, seal it, and guard it. By doing this very act, these first priests verified and sealed the authenticity of the coming Resurrection of Jesus as definitive fact, though unknowingly at the time.

28 Matthew 27:60-66

29 Matthew 28:1-6

30 John 20:11-15 The woman stooped down and was able to look inside the cave-tomb. The entrance was probably at least 3 feet high, with a groove of at least 1 ½ - 2 feet in depth, of sufficient width to allow a man to safely turn about in it without falling down. The platform and floor of the cave had to drop another 3-5 feet below the elevation where the woman was standing, and be back into the cave some 8-10 feet. In all likelihood, there were finger mausoleums -- which were also cut into the back of the cave, curving out of sight, even from the light of the angelic radiance. Because of its proximity to the tomb of King David, and its being on the Mount of Olives, this newly hewn out rock-cave tomb was a very expensive purchase and stone cutting project, and speaks of immense wealth. Whoever owned this cave was not only rich, he was almost like a government treasury unto himself. Perhaps more so than the rich young man of Matthew 20:16-22.

 

Revelation 22: in the King James (KJV) and Alternate (from the Greek) Word Pictures with Reiterations (AWPR) Versions

 

 

 

 

Revelation 22

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.    (KJV)
           (1)    And he caused me to see / And he showed me /

                    And he exhibited for the view and inspection of me

                     a pure - clean / clear  (overflowing) river

                     of (living) water of Life,

                     bright - shining - radiant - dazzlingly clear   in what manner or way as

                     cold crystalline sparklingly clear ice,

                     going out - coming forth    out from   the Throne of GOD and the Lamb.

                     (AWPR)
                      
 ²In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.    (KJV)
          (2)    In (the) midst /  Amongst    the plateias - broad way - street of it,

                   and of the (overflowing) river

                   here and there / on this side and on that side

                   a Tree / Wood of Life,

                   making - bringing forth - producing 12 Fruits,

                   one down in / from   [the Tree / Wood of Life]  during a month,

                   each one separately

                   yielding - obligatorily giving - fulfilling by expectation or necessity

                   the Fruit of it.    

                   And the leaves produced / yielded  of the Tree / Wood   [was used]
                   into / toward  the service / healing / (miraculous) cure  of the nations.
                   (AWPR)
                   
 ³And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:      (KJV)
          (3)   And  every accursed thing given up and over to destruction,

                  certainly not will be yet / still  -  certainly not will be any longer.

                  And the throne of GOD and of the Lamb will be in it,

                  and the slaves / servants of Him will work and serve

                  [as though hired ones / as though just]
                  for the reward of serving Him.      (AWPR)              


 ⁴And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.     (KJV)
          (4)   And they will look upon - see with the eyes - perceive

                  the face - countenance of Him,

                  and the Name of Him upon the foreheads of them.   (AWPR)


 ⁵And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.     (KJV)
          (5)    And night certainly not will be there in that place,

                   and certainly not they have - hold - possess

                   debt - necessity - want - need   of a lantern - portable lamp

                   and (the) shining light of (the) sun,

                   because (the) LORD GOD  will illuminate - give light - enlighten them,

                   and they will reign / rule as kings into the Ages of the Ages.

                   (AWPR)


 ⁶And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.     (KJV)
          (6)   And he said to me,

                  These intelligent words  of inward thoughts and feelings with their

                  intended meaning are worthy of belief  -  trustworthy  -  faithful

                  and True (Reality as it really is);

                  and (the) LORD GOD of the holy - consecrated - set apart  prophets

                  sent forth

                  [with a distinct mission or assignment]

                  the Angel of Him

               

                  to cause the slaves / servants of Him to see /

                  to show the slaves / servants of Him /

                  to exhibit and display to the slaves / servants of Him for their
                  view and inspection,

                  what by necessity and inevitability - avoidably must

                  occur - happen - come to pass    

                  in / with     haste - speed - quickly - suddenly.         (AWPR)

 ⁷Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.     (KJV)
          (7)   Behold, look and see;

                  I am coming forth     quickly - speedily with haste.

                

                 Blessed - having fulness and not being in need - fully satisfied

                 [above and apart from circumstances]
                 (are) the  (ones) keeping a watchful eye and observing

                 the words and the prophecy of this Scroll - Book.

                 (AWPR)


 ⁸And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.     (KJV)
          (8)   And I, John, (am) he

                  seeing / looking at / discerning and understanding / taking heed (of)

                  these things and attentively hearing (them);

                  and when I attentively heard

                  and saw / looked at / discussed and understood / took heed,

                  I fell down prostrate to worship - show obeisance to - adore and respect

                  up alongside and in front of / before

                  the feet of the angel causing me to see / showing me /

                  exhibiting for the view and inspection of me     these things.

                  (AWPR) 


 ⁹Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.     (KJV)
          (9)    And laying down definite words, he says to me.

                         'Behold and see, you may not;

                          for I am a  fellow slave / a fellow servant 

                          of you and of the womb unity / the brothers of you, the prophets;

                          and (of) those keeping an eye - watching - guarding over -

                          attentively observing

                          the intelligent reason and words - the sayings

                          of this Scroll - Book.

                          To GOD do worship show obeisance - adore and respect.

                           (AWPR)
                                        

 ¹⁰And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.     (KJV)
          (10)    And laying down definite words, speaks / says to me,

                     perhaps do not seal up and make secure

                     the words of the prophecy of this Scroll - Book;

                     because the right or opportune time - period of opportunity

                     is near / is close.

                     (AWPR)


 ¹¹He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.     (KJV)
          (11)    He acting unjustly / doing wrong - hurt - harm - damage,

                     let him act unjustly / do wrong - hurt - harm -damage   still;

                     and the dirty - filthy / morally defiled - morally polluted - morally

                     impure or filthy,

                     let (him) be dirty - filthy / morally defiled - morally polluted - morally

                     impure or filthy   still;

                     and the Righteous - Just - True,  

                     let (him) bear his Righteousness - Justification

                     [even through condemnation, judgment or punishment (or so 

                      it is defined in the Classical Greek]

                      still;

                      and the holy - consecrated - set apart,

                      let him be holy - consecrated - set apart   still.

                      (AWPR)


 ¹²And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.    (KJV)
          (12)    And behold, look and see;
                 
                    [the ff. intent appears to be "And when I come..."]

                     I am coming forth  quickly - speedily - with haste,

                     and My reward - payment of wages 

                     (is) with - amongst - in the midst of Me,

                     to by obligation and necessity  give / render to each

                     as the work - toil - labor - performance - gain of him is.

                     (AWPR)

 ¹³I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.     (KJV)
          (13)   I AM.

                    The Alpha and the Omega.

                     The Beginning  [the First Cause - Origin]
                      and the End  [ End destination / completion / final purpose].
                      (AWPR)


 ¹⁴Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.     (KJV)
          (14)   Blessed -  having fulness and not being in need - fully satisfied
                    [by being satisfied above and apart from one's circumstances]
                     (are)  those doing - making - forming - producing - causing to bring about

                     the Commandments of Him,

                     in order that the authority - permission - power (to do or not do) 

                     of them will be over  the Tree / Wood of Life,

                     and by the gates / doors of the City the may go in / enter in.

                     (AWPR)


 ¹⁵For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.     (KJV)
          (15)   Without [not within] / Outside then, 

                    (are) the dogs and the  Sorcerers / those who administer drugs

                   

                    [upon others or themselves, apparently with the intent of  
                     creating altered states, not just highs;  or to conjure up demons 

                     or magic / special powers --

                                          e.g, cf. Septuagint Greek of Isaiah 47:9,12]

                     and the fornicators / those having sexual relations outside

                     the marriage spouse relationship, and the murderers / unjust man-killers, 

                     and the servants / worshipers of idolatry,

                     and everyone / all  the ones loving as a dear friend

                     and making - forming - causing  - bringing about - producing

                     a lie - falsehood - deceit  - falsification - fiction.  

                     (AWPR)

 ¹⁶I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.     (KJV)
          (16)   I,  Jesus, sent - dispatched the angel of Me  

                   to bear witness - testimony - certification  (of) these things

                   upon / over   the Called Out ones / the Churches.

                   I AM.

                   The Root, 

                   and That Which Becomes / the Offspring / the Descendant,

                   of David.

                   The bright shining - radiant - dazzlingly clear and 

                   dawning - day breaking / (early) Morning Star.

                   (AWPR)
         

 ¹⁷And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.     (KJV)
          (17)   And the Spirit and the newly married bride 

                    lay down forth and utter the definite words and say, 

                         'COME.'   

                    [i.e., Come forth so as to make your public appearance here -- (you are invited)]

                    And he hearing attentively, let him say / speak, 'COME.'
                    [Come forth so as to make your public appearance here -- (you are invited)]

                   And he thirsting - being dry, let (him also) 'COME.'
                   [Come forth so as to make your public appearance here -- (you are invited)]

                    And he willing / having the will - intent - purpose - desire -

                    having decided and chosen (to do),

                    let him take and accept - lay hold of and receive

                    the (Living) Water of Life     freely - (as a gift gracefully given).
                    (AWPR)


 ¹⁸For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:     (KJV)
          (18)  For everyone attentively hearing, 

                  I witness - testify - certify 

                  together with the words of the prophecy of this Scroll - Book,

                       'If anyone add / put or lay upon - put or lay over 

                        up to and alongside these things,              

                        GOD will  add / put or lay upon - put or lay over upon him

                        the  strokes - blows - plagues / calamities

                        having been written - engraved - inscribed in this Scroll - Book:

                        (AWPR)


 ¹⁹And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.    (KJV)
          (19)       And if anyone take from - take off and remove away

                        from the words of (the) Scroll - Book of this prophecy, 

                        GOD will take from - take off and remove away

                        the side - part of him from (the) Scroll - Book of Life,

                        and out of the Holy - Set Apart - Consecrated City,

                        and of the things having been written - engraved - inscribed 

                        in this Scroll - Book.

                        (AWPR)

 ²⁰He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.     (KJV)
          (20)       (So) Says / Speaks the (one) witnessing - testifying - certifying 

                        these things.'

                        

                         'Yes certainly, 

                         I am coming forth (so as to make a public appearance)

                         quickly - speedily - with haste.  Amen.'

                         'Yes certainly, come LORD Jesus / come YHVeH Yeshua.'
                         (AWPR)
                           
 ²¹The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.      (KJV)
          (21)    The grace - rejoicing joy and unmerited favor

                      of the LORD of us, Jesus Christ, (be) with - in the midst of - amongst

                      all of you.  Amen.
                      (AWPR)

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 My Comment:

As you see with verses 18 and 19 above, taking up a translation of the Book of Revelation beyond being just a Bible Study aid and making it an Ecclesiastical Translation is a VERY SERIOUS matter. 

As long as the translator sticks to the words in the Greek text, and an accurate translation of the words into his language (without adding to or taking away from so as to alter the text and intent of the text itself) there is a flexibility.   In the mid second century, there was an arch-heretic named Marcion who was a merchant seaman and ship owner, who literally took a Scroll of the Gospel of Luke, cut with a knife words and verses of the text and super-imposed his own in their places.  He then spread his new gnostic version, similar in many ways to the cult of the Brooklyn based misnamed J... - witnesses, and diverted many tens of thousands into damnation.  In the first several centuries, Christianity made its greatest inroads of acceptance amongst farmers, and sailors; those who closest to a direct upon Creation, the Creator, and His sustenance for their entire existence.

It is for the reasons of warning given in these verses of 18 and 19 above, that I have elected to recommend that  those who wish to study Revelation with a Literal or King James or other accurate terse word by word translation (such as the LITV,    http://www.thewordnotes.com/litv/litv.htm

or other approved selections such as offered at Bible Gateway  http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/  -- the Message Bible NOT being one of them)  with a opening up of what native English speakers can glean out of the words of the Greek in their word picture format,  as they slowly read and absorb (some would say feed or drink of) the Koine Greek in which the texts were written and translated from.   The act of having a word picture and reiteration Bible Study Only translation, it seems to me, is a necessary bridge, in my opinion and belief; because most people are too busy over-emphasizing too many outside voices that seek to alter the meaning of the text and reading into the text more than they are getting out of it.  I have instead tried to help reverse the process, and have the process in which the text -- in the confines of a Bible Study application -- is seen with a greater depth and richness that is much closer to as it was known to have been understood by the ancients brethren who knew the Koine Greek when the same verses were slowly read to, or by them in antiquity.    I hope I have successfully conveyed the richness of the Greek word pictures and richness in the translation to you, the reader.

Thus ends the book of Revelation, most likely written in September of 53 A.D., and approved by Paul by the following April when he said goodbye to the elders of Ephesus while on a layover on his way to Jerusalem for the last time.   I hope you have been blessed, aided and assisted in your understanding of this Biblical Book.  Peace and Joy and Liberty to all the saints of the Church of Jesus Christ throughout the world and into eternity.  Shalom. 

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  Disclaimer:  The Alternate Word Pictures with Reiterations (AWPR) translation should be used as a Bible Study Aid only, and it is recommended that a direct literal translation or the King James Bible be used for regular and ecclesiastical purposes, and that the AWPR be used in association only as a Bible study aid so as to help the reader / user in their Bible Studying to clarify context and Scriptural Intent.     Thanks.  -- Brianroy