The Augsburg Confession - Gregory L. Jackson and Norma Boeckler - 12 Years Ago

 

The Augsburg Confession Paperback – May 7, 2014

by Dr. Gregory L. Jackson (Author), Norma A. Boeckler (Author)

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars   (3)

---

Save $0.39

* Includes 10 unique, original illustrations by Norma Boeckler. Many people misunderstand confessions of faith, as if confessions were in opposition to the Scriptures. The Bible is the revealed Word of God, inerrant and infallible, while a confession is man’s witness about God’s revelation. Therefore, the Scriptures are God’s unique message to man – irreplaceable. For that reason, The Holy Bible judges all books. Nevertheless, confessions are valuable and instructive. They are man’s testimony about the meaning of God’s Word. They are concise and precise. When there are conflicts about the meaning of the Scriptures, confessions help people compare areas of agreement and disagreement. Paul commended this activity when he wrote, “For there must be also heresies among you that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” 1 Corinthians 11:19 KJV. Luther compared this to identifying the wormy flour and separating it from the good flour. Bakers know that wormy flour must be removed immediately from the tons of flour around it, before everything is corrupted and ruined with bugs. We recognize confessions of faith as that same process.

The Gospel Emphasis on St. John's Revelation

Pope John was the last pope to provide the greatest decoration for his own glorification.

Jesus knew what would befall Him, and His cross and resurrection permeate everything in the Word of God.

St. John's Revelation can draw people into obsessions about the dramatic language of the final book. A good way to appreciate the final book is to study the overwhelming Gospel element within. 

ELCA veterans should say, "Words are not enough." No really!

KJV Revelation 1:

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. 

Crown is often mentioned as a reference Stephan (crown).

3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

 The Lamb of God and 144,000

The repetitive reader will see that Revelation, as the last book of the Bible, reaches back to Genesis 1 and associates throughout with the great passages of the Old and New Testaments. 

Revelation 14:1-5, All Saints Day in Zion

Alas, Alas That Great City Babylon, That Mighty City! For in One Hour Is Thy Judgment Come

 

The smoke of her burning...

Revelation 18:10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

16 And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

+++

    I have read and often repeated the sections of Babylon falling, which is also a common statement about the city. The more I read, the more I think of New York City, the opulence, lethal drugs, corruption, gigantic wealth and tall spires crumbling.

    Many have said or suggested that America - even more than the rest of the world - is the mirror of this passage. St. John's Revelation is the summary of the entire Bible, leading to the 

final ending, the ultimate.

    The Son of God is central to the Bible (except among the apostates), starting with Genesis 1:1. Revelation is the Gospel poured into Revelation throughout the entire Old and New Testaments. People would like to emphasize the grotesque in the final book, but they are more likely to avoid the Gospel, which is primary and the final expression of the Scriptures.

    If one is puzzled or bewildered in Revelation, filter out the Gospel passages and their harmony with the rest of the Scriptures.

Morning Awakens

 Morning awakens. I decided to walk the long corridors and be careful on the stairs. Caregivers were already going downstairs for meds, just as the workmen were going upstairs on their ladders - wiring. 

Someone wrote me about Psalm 91, and I read it out loud this morning, lit by the morning sun. The other person may have read the psalm many times or we may have both recited it at the same time.

The Word of God is unusually pointed in the Psalms. Some psalms are very short, lifelong memories. Others are passed over because the message is so dense at the moment. "Is that the one? I will check on it later."

Psalm 91 

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. King James Version (KJV)

Save the sunset too.