Thursday night my Honey got tickets for us to see the latest (and supposedly last in movie form) installment of Star Wars.
::::SPOILERS TO FOLLOW:::::
I loved it and yeah the whole Princess Leia saying that she remembered her Mother in Return of the Jedi thing bugged me from the time Anakin started foreshadowing Padme's death. I drove my man nuts apparently commenting on it throughout the movie, though I didn't realize I was because I was so involved in Lucas's playground!
I knew they HAD to wipe the memories of the droids, but I like that they kept R2s', he was great in the beginning of the movie by the way, loved when Obi-Wan kept trying to contact him...made me laugh.
Loved the Jedi moves at the beginning also. Leaping out of their ships Lasers ablazing was totally cool.
Loved Chewie picking up yoda
Not a huge fan of Hayden's (Anakin Skywalker) acting, but at least I believed that he could actually be Vader, which I had a difficult time imagining with the kid who played little Anni in The Phantom Menace.
Liked how he explained the "virgin birth" thing from The Phantom Menace. Makes sense to me that some evil Sith Lord learned to manipulate the force so he can cause birth. (Palpatine's master apparently was the guilty party, because from what I got it was Palp's inference that HE was the one to kill that great Sith lord while he slept.) (Well makes sense in Lucas's world).
Really liked seeing Anakin start having ideas of ruling the galaxy, but when he said it, I sorta cringed because it's such a cliche line...brought images of him rubbing hands together and laughing maniacally, like Andrew, Johnathon and Warren from Buffy did when basking in their dreams of ruling Sunnydale. BUT I still really loved the scene.
All in all, Lucas tied things together nicely I thought.
Wonder if coming generations will watch it 4, 5, & 6, then 1, 2, & 3 like we all did, or they will start with 1, 2, & 3? I know that's what Lucas thinks, but somehow I don't think it's quite as fun.
Monday, May 23, 2005
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
He had in His right hand seven stars....
He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. (Rev 1:16)
And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying *to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. (Rev 1:17)
I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. (Rev 1:18)
*Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. (Rev 1:19)
The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lamp stands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lamp stands *which you saw are the seven churches. (Rev 1:20)
Just a note: Throughout Revelations John reveals things which he saw happening here on earth and also in heaven. By the wording Christ uses in verse 19 we see that what he is about to say is for the present and for what was about to happen. I feel this wording means it is specifically for the next chapters where he speaks directly to the churches in Asia.
However we shouldn’t forget verse 11;
saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."
The entire book of revelations is for the seven churches and what they represent for the church now and always (and I will explain this further down), not just chapters 2 & 3.
____________________________
As we look at our next verses (16-20)we find Jesus is revealing himself in his authority as the risen Lord. He is no longer the human from Nazereth, he is The One who holds the seven stars (or messengers as we will see later) in his right hand, and from out of his mouth comes the word which pierces even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hbr 4:12). John said His countenance shown as the sun the shines in it’s strength, revealing that Christ is most definitely in his glorified state now as we will to be someday.
This state is so powerful we find that John’s human body, as it was then, couldn’t stand and he fell at Jesus’s feet as if dead (Rev 1: 17). There is a limit to what our human flesh can endure under such brightness radiating from something or someone. Yet Jesus reassures him and gives him relief from his fear, and soothes his agitated emotions with words of great comfort. (Rev. 18). Truly John doesn’t have to fear, for Christ once was dead, but now lives, and not only that he has absolute power over death and hell!
Continuing on, we find that in verse 19 He instructs John to “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;” revealing to us that what was to come next was a message concerning things which are (at the time of John) and things which shall be hereafer. The phrase “which shall be hereafter” is probably more accurately translated to mean “which are about to be after these things”. Here we find that some of the things John sees will be for now, and some will be for the future, but he is commanded to write down both.
In verse 20 Jesus reveals to us what the “seven stars” and the “seven candlesticks” represent; they are the seven churches and the angels of the seven churches.
What we must determine is what he actually means by seven churches and seven angels.
We know that John’s mission was to deliver a message to the seven churches in Asia. (Verse 11). Keep in mind that the number seven often represents divine completeness as a whole in the Bible. There were more than 7 churches in Asia at that time, (apparently Colossi was one which was left out), and the ones he chose to address were not even the best known churches in Asia at that time. Therefore we can assume that Christ’s message is not just to seven specific churches but also for those they symbolically represent to the universal church in time. (We can also assume this by the wording He used in verse 19: “Things that are and which shall be hereafter”.)
There are those that also believe that the seven churches prophetically represent 7 different time periods. (I will look at this issue later when I address what Jesus said to each of these churches.)
As I’ve noted before it is significant that Jesus is in the midst of the seven candlesticks or “churches”. He is still Lord of his church despite all her flaws and he is still among us constantly walking in the midst of us. A comforting thought indeed.
The seven stars Jesus tells us are the seven angels of the seven churches (verse 20). Commonly it is understood in this passage that the use of word “angels” do not necessarily represent the heavenly messengers (‘messengers’ being the direct translation of the word angel) but earthly ones. Because the command was for an earthly man (John) to give Christ’s message to earthly churches, it assumed the messengers were earthly too. Since we know much of revelations must be interpreted not just taken literally, many believe that these “angels” were symbolizing something also.
However there are those that feel these angels are actual heavenly beings who are the guardians over particular churches. When we look at Jesus’s words which he uses in verse 20 we see he does not use “like” or “as unto” in fact he seems quite literal when saying these stars ARE the angels of the churches. In addition every time the word "angel" appears in the book of Revelations outside these seven letters (and it occurs many times), in every case it refers to a heavenly being.
Personally I have no reason not to believe they are indeed actual heavenly messengers for just these reasons, in addition to the fact that early churches were not governed or lead by one individual, they were lead by a plurality of pastors and elders.
Either way it is not really necessary to get thrown off course by this. What’s most important is what he says to the churches.
Before we move on, I want to note that these angels in his right hand (be they earthly or heavenly) have been given a place of honor and authority. (The right hand in the bible often symbolizes this.) Not only that, there is no other safer place to be. So we can surmise the message he has given them to send in the next coming chapters is true and just, for He has complete authority over the deliverers of the messengers and he has given them his authority to deliver it.
And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying *to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. (Rev 1:17)
I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. (Rev 1:18)
*Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. (Rev 1:19)
The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lamp stands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lamp stands *which you saw are the seven churches. (Rev 1:20)
Just a note: Throughout Revelations John reveals things which he saw happening here on earth and also in heaven. By the wording Christ uses in verse 19 we see that what he is about to say is for the present and for what was about to happen. I feel this wording means it is specifically for the next chapters where he speaks directly to the churches in Asia.
However we shouldn’t forget verse 11;
saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."
The entire book of revelations is for the seven churches and what they represent for the church now and always (and I will explain this further down), not just chapters 2 & 3.
____________________________
As we look at our next verses (16-20)we find Jesus is revealing himself in his authority as the risen Lord. He is no longer the human from Nazereth, he is The One who holds the seven stars (or messengers as we will see later) in his right hand, and from out of his mouth comes the word which pierces even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hbr 4:12). John said His countenance shown as the sun the shines in it’s strength, revealing that Christ is most definitely in his glorified state now as we will to be someday.
This state is so powerful we find that John’s human body, as it was then, couldn’t stand and he fell at Jesus’s feet as if dead (Rev 1: 17). There is a limit to what our human flesh can endure under such brightness radiating from something or someone. Yet Jesus reassures him and gives him relief from his fear, and soothes his agitated emotions with words of great comfort. (Rev. 18). Truly John doesn’t have to fear, for Christ once was dead, but now lives, and not only that he has absolute power over death and hell!
Continuing on, we find that in verse 19 He instructs John to “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;” revealing to us that what was to come next was a message concerning things which are (at the time of John) and things which shall be hereafer. The phrase “which shall be hereafter” is probably more accurately translated to mean “which are about to be after these things”. Here we find that some of the things John sees will be for now, and some will be for the future, but he is commanded to write down both.
In verse 20 Jesus reveals to us what the “seven stars” and the “seven candlesticks” represent; they are the seven churches and the angels of the seven churches.
What we must determine is what he actually means by seven churches and seven angels.
We know that John’s mission was to deliver a message to the seven churches in Asia. (Verse 11). Keep in mind that the number seven often represents divine completeness as a whole in the Bible. There were more than 7 churches in Asia at that time, (apparently Colossi was one which was left out), and the ones he chose to address were not even the best known churches in Asia at that time. Therefore we can assume that Christ’s message is not just to seven specific churches but also for those they symbolically represent to the universal church in time. (We can also assume this by the wording He used in verse 19: “Things that are and which shall be hereafter”.)
There are those that also believe that the seven churches prophetically represent 7 different time periods. (I will look at this issue later when I address what Jesus said to each of these churches.)
As I’ve noted before it is significant that Jesus is in the midst of the seven candlesticks or “churches”. He is still Lord of his church despite all her flaws and he is still among us constantly walking in the midst of us. A comforting thought indeed.
The seven stars Jesus tells us are the seven angels of the seven churches (verse 20). Commonly it is understood in this passage that the use of word “angels” do not necessarily represent the heavenly messengers (‘messengers’ being the direct translation of the word angel) but earthly ones. Because the command was for an earthly man (John) to give Christ’s message to earthly churches, it assumed the messengers were earthly too. Since we know much of revelations must be interpreted not just taken literally, many believe that these “angels” were symbolizing something also.
However there are those that feel these angels are actual heavenly beings who are the guardians over particular churches. When we look at Jesus’s words which he uses in verse 20 we see he does not use “like” or “as unto” in fact he seems quite literal when saying these stars ARE the angels of the churches. In addition every time the word "angel" appears in the book of Revelations outside these seven letters (and it occurs many times), in every case it refers to a heavenly being.
Personally I have no reason not to believe they are indeed actual heavenly messengers for just these reasons, in addition to the fact that early churches were not governed or lead by one individual, they were lead by a plurality of pastors and elders.
Either way it is not really necessary to get thrown off course by this. What’s most important is what he says to the churches.
Before we move on, I want to note that these angels in his right hand (be they earthly or heavenly) have been given a place of honor and authority. (The right hand in the bible often symbolizes this.) Not only that, there is no other safer place to be. So we can surmise the message he has given them to send in the next coming chapters is true and just, for He has complete authority over the deliverers of the messengers and he has given them his authority to deliver it.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
So what do these symbols imply?
His head and [his] hairs [were] white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes [were] as a flame of fire;
And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.REV 1:14,15
As we continue looking at John’s description of Jesus, if anything illustrates my point on interpreting Revelations, these verses certainly do.
Notice how much of the descriptive words John is using have “as”, or “like unto” along with them. For example verse 15 does not say his feet WERE fine brass, it says his feet were “LIKE UNTO” fine brass. By these words I am forced to believe that we cannot just take what is written here literally.
So what do these symbols imply?
As we look at verse 14 (“His head and [his] hairs [were] white like wool, as white as snow…”) we do not find "like unto" or "as", so it very well could be that this part is literal, possibly even now his hair is white. However I feel the bigger interpretation is that his white hair is suggestive of holiness, righteousness, and the wisdom of God. White hair in the bible is something that allows the bearer to be worthy of honor, especially if it is gained in a righteous life. (Pro 16:31). Of course we know that there was none more righteous then Christ.
The next image we find is: “His eyes were as a flame of fire”. This is probably my favorite description of Jesus in the entire Bible. An old saying states that the "eyes are the windows of the soul". What must John have felt to feel the very heart and soul of Jesus coming through to him? It must have felt like fire burning him to his very core indeed!
The Greek word used for eyes in this verse(ophthalmos)is akin to opsis, "sight," and is probably from a root meaning "penetration, sharpness". Very poetically John was showing us that his gaze was so penetrating is felt like a fire that burned.
John stood before someone who knew his very thoughts, I’m sure someday when we ourselves stand before Jesus and his gaze rests on us it will feel like a fire is burning us too!
Perhaps the burning flame is the passion he has for us? On earth some are fortunate to see the gaze of one who loves them so passionately it feels like they were physcally touched by fire. How much more intense would that gaze feel coming from someone who loved us so much he scacrificed his life for us!
“And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace;”
The greek word for “brass” used in this verse, is also used to mean "white or shining copper or bronze”. It is from Greek, "chalcos," "brass," and Hebrew, "libbeen," "to whiten"; and so it is "brass" which in the furnace has reached a white heat.
Brass and copper is made and purified in the fire. In fact John says his feet were “as if they burned in a furnace”. Fire as we know speaks of the trials and tribulations we endure. Christ while on this earth endured much yet he passed through as he did when he was that fourth man in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3. Once again we see his worthiness to judge sin, because he has passed through the fires of tribulation and sacrifice, and yet was without sin. (Note: Israel's altar of sacrifice was made of brass (Exodus 27:1-6); it was called the "brazen altar").
He has been purified to stand strong.
It is also interesting to note Brass was used to make weapons of war in ancient times. In addition when someone was victorious over their enemies they often “put their foot on the enemies neck” as a symbol of their conquest. I feel this picture of Jesus's feet "like unto fine brass" is also indicative of his victorious strength over his enemies.
“his voice as the sound of many waters.”
We find similar language elsewhere in the Bible to describe his voice. In Eze 43:2 it says “his voice [was] like a noise of many waters”, in Dan 10:6 it says his voice is "like the voice of a multitude." , and in Rev 19:6 “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings,”. In Rev 1:15, along with these verses, we see the awesomeness of the sound of his voice. Just as the sound of great waterfalls or a great crowd of people are thunderous, so is his voice.
(As a sidebar, often “waters” in the Bible is used to speak figuratively of many peoples. Taken in this light it is easy to see that Christ's voice is well able to be heard and understood no matter what language you may speak. Therefore there is no excuse for us to “not” here his voice when he speaks!)
And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.REV 1:14,15
As we continue looking at John’s description of Jesus, if anything illustrates my point on interpreting Revelations, these verses certainly do.
Notice how much of the descriptive words John is using have “as”, or “like unto” along with them. For example verse 15 does not say his feet WERE fine brass, it says his feet were “LIKE UNTO” fine brass. By these words I am forced to believe that we cannot just take what is written here literally.
So what do these symbols imply?
As we look at verse 14 (“His head and [his] hairs [were] white like wool, as white as snow…”) we do not find "like unto" or "as", so it very well could be that this part is literal, possibly even now his hair is white. However I feel the bigger interpretation is that his white hair is suggestive of holiness, righteousness, and the wisdom of God. White hair in the bible is something that allows the bearer to be worthy of honor, especially if it is gained in a righteous life. (Pro 16:31). Of course we know that there was none more righteous then Christ.
The next image we find is: “His eyes were as a flame of fire”. This is probably my favorite description of Jesus in the entire Bible. An old saying states that the "eyes are the windows of the soul". What must John have felt to feel the very heart and soul of Jesus coming through to him? It must have felt like fire burning him to his very core indeed!
The Greek word used for eyes in this verse(ophthalmos)is akin to opsis, "sight," and is probably from a root meaning "penetration, sharpness". Very poetically John was showing us that his gaze was so penetrating is felt like a fire that burned.
John stood before someone who knew his very thoughts, I’m sure someday when we ourselves stand before Jesus and his gaze rests on us it will feel like a fire is burning us too!
Perhaps the burning flame is the passion he has for us? On earth some are fortunate to see the gaze of one who loves them so passionately it feels like they were physcally touched by fire. How much more intense would that gaze feel coming from someone who loved us so much he scacrificed his life for us!
“And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace;”
The greek word for “brass” used in this verse, is also used to mean "white or shining copper or bronze”. It is from Greek, "chalcos," "brass," and Hebrew, "libbeen," "to whiten"; and so it is "brass" which in the furnace has reached a white heat.
Brass and copper is made and purified in the fire. In fact John says his feet were “as if they burned in a furnace”. Fire as we know speaks of the trials and tribulations we endure. Christ while on this earth endured much yet he passed through as he did when he was that fourth man in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3. Once again we see his worthiness to judge sin, because he has passed through the fires of tribulation and sacrifice, and yet was without sin. (Note: Israel's altar of sacrifice was made of brass (Exodus 27:1-6); it was called the "brazen altar").
He has been purified to stand strong.
It is also interesting to note Brass was used to make weapons of war in ancient times. In addition when someone was victorious over their enemies they often “put their foot on the enemies neck” as a symbol of their conquest. I feel this picture of Jesus's feet "like unto fine brass" is also indicative of his victorious strength over his enemies.
“his voice as the sound of many waters.”
We find similar language elsewhere in the Bible to describe his voice. In Eze 43:2 it says “his voice [was] like a noise of many waters”, in Dan 10:6 it says his voice is "like the voice of a multitude." , and in Rev 19:6 “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings,”. In Rev 1:15, along with these verses, we see the awesomeness of the sound of his voice. Just as the sound of great waterfalls or a great crowd of people are thunderous, so is his voice.
(As a sidebar, often “waters” in the Bible is used to speak figuratively of many peoples. Taken in this light it is easy to see that Christ's voice is well able to be heard and understood no matter what language you may speak. Therefore there is no excuse for us to “not” here his voice when he speaks!)
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
I've been Tagged...
If I could be a scientist...
If I could be a farmer...
If I could be a musician...
If I could be a doctor...
If I could be a painter...
If I could be a gardener...
If I could be a missionary...
If I could be a chef...
If I could be an architect...
If I could be a linguist...
If I could be a psychologist...
If I could be a librarian...
If I could be an athlete...
If I could be a lawyer...
If I could be an innkeeper...
If I could be a professor...
If I could be a writer...
If I could be a backup dancer...
If I could be a llama-rider...
If I could be a bonnie pirate...
If I could be a midget stripper...
If I could be a proctologist...
If I could be a TV-Chat Show host...
If I could be an actor...
If I could be a judge...
If I could be a Jedi...
If I could be a mob boss...
If I could be a backup singer...
If I could be a CEO...
If I could be a movie reviewer....
If I could be a Jedi...I’d use my Jedi mind trick to make terrorist kidnappers and/or child molestors let me pass so I can rescue the victims then bring justice with my lightsaber through the perpetrators gullets.
If I could be a CEO...I’d sit in my corner office, while I make a former CEO sit in a cubicle surrounded by the people he/she considers worthless and tell them he’s/she's there because his/her degree means nothing, now show me you can interact with other human beings without being condescending.
If I could be a scientist...I’d study the cosmos, prove the theory of everything, then get someone to build me a machine to travel through dimensions, time, and space, and become the richest ruler of the universe. MWAHAHAHA!
If I could be a musician...I sit with my instrument (probably a Cello) in the middle of the stage of an empty Carnegie hall and play for just me and God. Just me, the spotlight,the acoustics of the building,and God. Then let the music fill the place until my soul is transported to heaven.
If I could be a writer...I’d write every story that dances in my head and make people cry, and laugh, and wish they could live in the universes I create.
I tag anyone reading this to pick five, post it on their blog, then tag five of their friends to do the same...or be fast and loose with the rules like I was!
If I could be a farmer...
If I could be a musician...
If I could be a doctor...
If I could be a painter...
If I could be a gardener...
If I could be a missionary...
If I could be a chef...
If I could be an architect...
If I could be a linguist...
If I could be a psychologist...
If I could be a librarian...
If I could be an athlete...
If I could be a lawyer...
If I could be an innkeeper...
If I could be a professor...
If I could be a writer...
If I could be a backup dancer...
If I could be a llama-rider...
If I could be a bonnie pirate...
If I could be a midget stripper...
If I could be a proctologist...
If I could be a TV-Chat Show host...
If I could be an actor...
If I could be a judge...
If I could be a Jedi...
If I could be a mob boss...
If I could be a backup singer...
If I could be a CEO...
If I could be a movie reviewer....
If I could be a Jedi...I’d use my Jedi mind trick to make terrorist kidnappers and/or child molestors let me pass so I can rescue the victims then bring justice with my lightsaber through the perpetrators gullets.
If I could be a CEO...I’d sit in my corner office, while I make a former CEO sit in a cubicle surrounded by the people he/she considers worthless and tell them he’s/she's there because his/her degree means nothing, now show me you can interact with other human beings without being condescending.
If I could be a scientist...I’d study the cosmos, prove the theory of everything, then get someone to build me a machine to travel through dimensions, time, and space, and become the richest ruler of the universe. MWAHAHAHA!
If I could be a musician...I sit with my instrument (probably a Cello) in the middle of the stage of an empty Carnegie hall and play for just me and God. Just me, the spotlight,the acoustics of the building,and God. Then let the music fill the place until my soul is transported to heaven.
If I could be a writer...I’d write every story that dances in my head and make people cry, and laugh, and wish they could live in the universes I create.
I tag anyone reading this to pick five, post it on their blog, then tag five of their friends to do the same...or be fast and loose with the rules like I was!
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