Addendum: The Cornerstone
(follow up to Nine Sabbath School Lessons in the Book of Revelation)
In John’s time the members of the church all had the Spirit of Prophecy. Each received the Holy Ghost without some measure…and with it they studied Sabbath School lessons, if you will, based on everything Christ had taught.
Our church in this time is to have the Spirit of Prophecy. Each one will receive the latter rain without some measure…and for us too, there are lessons to study—and much more detail than in former times, owing to the scroll having been unrolled much farther.
The Book of Revelation gives application to both time periods, but specifically the Book of Revelation was written for our time…and thus, in the future, it will be specifically applied to His church, from the first words of this book to the very last.
A modeling outline of nine Sabbath School lessons in the book of Revelation, part II:
(1 Peter 2:7 '...the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner...')
Head= (a) the head, (b) met: a corner stone, uniting two walls; head, ruler, lord.
Corner= (gonia, GK; see polygon) an angle, a corner
Chapter 2 and chapter 3: [This we can liken to the cornerstone or stone of offense being placed within the church, and the church must deal with this person, and what He reveals about their spiritual conditions. Each individual are even asked to ‘hear’ every message to all the churches for themselves. All the letters apply to us individually and collectively.] We, in the end time, can think of these two chapters as one Sabbath School lesson. It is about the Church’s visitation by Christ. In these two chapters, the church-collective is present, and we can visibly see this; Christ is also present and is the one instructing the class with 7 daily studies using these words: he that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit sayeth until the churches. In our day, all seven lessons are to be studied as one set. All the lessons here are applicable to one ‘ear’, one person. In its end time application it is not separated out into seven dispensations alone where each dispensation has just that particular problem or lack. All the conditions of sin and excellence apply simultaneously, as it were; for each condition was alive to some degree in every church in Asia. And so, now as well.
Chapter 4 in chapter 5: [The cornerstone again is here presented as the lamb: our salvation is built on nothing less. We see why we need not cry for a delay in justice concerning all the historical injustices of the world (in part what this sealed book represents.) We also see here the connection between those who worship within (the heavenly church) and the cornerstone: they know directly where they come from and what the cornerstone has done for them; they know they shall reign on the earth. ] The lesson here is about the offering and the reception of the sealed book in the presence of the heavenly church, and Christ is here again in the midst of the church—the heavenly church.
Chapter 6 and chapter 7: [ Here, once again we see the connection between our God, His son, and the last movements of the church upon the earth. This represents the stone cut out without hands, and this will be that marvelous thing done before our eyes. The final church group goes out conquering and to conquer; the cornerstone sits upon the lively stones, pictured as a rider on horse. The sealing is placed next to this scene as an appositive kind of view. The sealing readies the horse, settled and true, for the rider.] Here again the lesson delineates events which directly involve the church, her Christ and her God as they go out to overcome the world together. The 7th chapter highlights the sealing time which prepares the horse for the last promulgation of the gospel; and this happens just before the four winds are let loose at the time of trouble.
Chapter 8 and chapter 9: [The cornerstone, the foundation of the church, is this angel at the golden altar, namely Jesus Christ. He has the golden censer of the Most Holy place, signifying that these events which follow must take place during the final atonement.] This lesson shows what follows when the church receives the Holy Spirit whose outpouring fire purifies the mouth of the church (the remnant church of Rev. 14 is pictured as having no guile in their mouth. From the power of a clean mouth the gospel will go forth to the world. Here this period of time is full of rain to ripen the grain: the same image of horse and rider in the 6th chapter is augmented here as the church-militant rides out to warn the world through trumpets (Ten Days of Awe, see in addendum below). The present church on earth is given the Spirit of Prophecy; angels of our heavenly brethren are given seven trumpets to blow.
Chapter 10 and chapter 11: [Christ, the cornerstone, descends to be with His people; He carries the book opened. John, the church, if you will, eats the little book in the 17th verse, and is then given a reed; the two witnesses are heavenly components sent as agencies from God to work alongside the church.] Same repeating illustration: the church is shown receiving the little-book-open. This is the destination of this special book. At this point in the end time, we see the little book open being given to the church, that book contains the message that is to be given to the world by the church and the witnesses. This represents how the Philadelphia church keeps His word in the highest sense, and a heavenly door or heavenly movement is opened to that church (three angels flying in the midst of heaven).
Chapter 12 and chapter 13: [In the 13th chapter we see in more detail the four main factions of this war. We see the church, the leopard beast, the spiritualism of the dragon, and the merchant; all pursuing the saints: this is very close to the symbolism found in the 6th chapter: the devil, the beast, and the false prophet follow the rider on horse.] The composite beast’s wound is now healed (this is no longer the time of the prophetic 1260 days), and the beast combats the church over a thing called worship. This is again the picture of the white horse riding, and tells of the martyrdom that accompanies the church when it rides out conquering and to conquer in advance of the other three horses—the same scene augmented, but, yes, the cornerstone is still here. We see also that the wounds of God’s church are healed: the church is full of the Spirit of Prophecy: full of the spirit of Elijah. Again, this is the same lesson just underscored and told from a different angle, and with much more specificity.
Chapter 14 and chapter 15 and chapter 16: [They keep; they have; they accept the cornerstone, who is Jesus. All living stones are built up and rest on Him.] We see the church with Christ giving the three angels messages (the gospel going out is the riding of the white horse), and Babylon is now fallen and has become a cage of spiritualism. Within this scene the plague period is recapitulated which continues the work of the fourth horse and its rider.
Chapter 17 and chapter 18 and chapter 19: [Again the cornerstone of offense, rejected by the beast, the false prophet, and of course Lucifer himself. The results and consequences of their warring is that this cornerstone crushes them in judgments.] The judgment of the whore, etc.; this is her final Sabbath School lesson where she shall know that He is God whether she wants to study or not; the church lives through and sees her final lesson to its completion. The final lesson here is not just about the wrath of God in seven plagues, but also about an eternal judgment given to the heads of Satan’s army, after which they are cast into a lake of fire at His second coming.
Chapter 20 and chapter 21 and chapter 22: [Now is revealed the ultimate Revelation regarding the cornerstone. Now we see the rebuilding of the Temple by God at this time; the City and temple receives this cornerstone and is established on it for eternity.] This lesson is about heaven, the church within the city of God, and the final forever-judgment of books opened (Sabbath School, as it were). We see God’s church united in singing with the rest of the universal family. In this lesson we see that the unfallen brethren get a renewal: a rebuilding of their entire sinless estate, and this comes at the same time that the earth is made new. In this lesson we see for all who believe, some of the end-time heights of the Spirit of Prophecy: this is that beginning of the Eternity which is reserved for the saved communities of God. Save= heal; at this time the groaning creation is healed and made new.
Addendum: The Connections:
In chapter 2 and chapter 3 the connective relationship between the two chapters is quite easily seen, and should need no comment.
In chapter 4 and chapter 5 the relationship between the two chapters is quite apparent as well because of the connective phrase: ‘And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within’…
In chapter 6 and chapter 7 the relationship that binds the sixth and seventh chapters together is the opening of the seventh seal at the beginning of the eighth chapter (The seventh seal really belongs to the 6th chapter but encompasses the 7th chapter which is like an appositive interlude or an explanation about the empowerment of the church). It is quite obvious that the seventh seal belongs with chapter 6 and chapter 7, not chapter 8.
In chapter 8 and chapter 9 we have a sequential type of connecting device that ties the eighth chapter with that of the ninth chapter and continues the storyline of the seven trumpets.
In chapter 10 and chapter 11, although subtle, the relationship between these two chapters is quite strong if we follow its flow, paying particular attention to the word and which begins the 11th chapter.
In chapter 12 and chapter 13 the joining piece between these two chapters is the 17th verse of chapter 12, where the Dragon, after trying to kill the woman for 1260 years, is wroth with the woman still, and goes to make war with the remnant of her seed…The 13th chapter immediately identifies a beast whose deadly wound was healed. This indicates clearly that this scene occurs in a time that is after 1798. We also understand that after 1798 is when the remnant come on the scene of the end time. This is a fairly easy connection to see if we gather up, so that nothing is lost or if we strive to get the small things right. In review: the dragon goes somewhere to make war, the remnant come on the scene after the composite beast’s wound is healed, and the scene states that the dragon is ‘behind’ this beast. Nothing should be lost if we rightly divide and gather up….
In chapter 14, 15, and 16 the lesson study in these three chapters is that they all identify very prominently the details of the wrath of God, i.e., the plagues upon those who worship the beast and his image. The three angel’s messages are sent as the last dire warning to the entire world before the wrath of God appears. The giving of these three messages has grave importance for a world who, like Nineveh, does not truly know its right hand from its left; but they shall unmistakably be made acquainted with God at this time.
In chapters 17, 18, and 19 the subject of study (and restudy) in these three chapters is the judgment of Babylon, that whore who fights against God. In the 19th chapter and in the 20th verse we see the final judgment of this whore’s government in which it is taken and cast alive into a lake of fire.
In chapters 20, 21, and 22: heavenly things, heavenly events, 1000 years, the end of the old and the beginning of the renewed. Because real books are opened, we my think of this as Sabbath School review, or Sabbath School study; each description I think is equally applicable here.
Addendum: Days of Awe
The Feast of Trumpets was important for several reasons. First, it commemorated the end of the agricultural and festival year. Also, the Day of Atonement fell on the tenth day of this month, and the Festival of Booths began on the fifteenth day. The blowing of the trumpets on first day of the month heralded a solemn time of preparation for the Day of Atonement; this preparation time was called “Ten Days of Repentance” or the “Days of Awe.” The trumpet sound was an alarm of sorts and can be understood as a call to introspection and repentance. --https://www.gotquestions.org/Feast-of-Trumpets.html
Addendum: Supporting Thoughts
The chief cornerstone= 1 Cor. 3:11, ‘other foundation can no man lay that is laid, which is Christ Jesus…’ and Mark 12:11, ‘…it is marvelous in our eyes…’
Who lays the cornerstone? “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Psalm 127:1
When was it laid? Because we are in probationary time, I’d suggest we think of it as starting in Eden. In the garden Eve is given the ability to be the mother of all alive, and bear the cornerstone through the ‘lineage of her womanhood’. She waited and expected—and likely sorrowed over this one birth all her days. It was, for her, not to arrive for 4000 years. But also, it is revealed that the cornerstone was laid long, long before Eve even, in a ‘covenant between them both.’
1 Peter 1:20
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you….
What does it do? It is the chief angle of the building; this is that stone at the end of the world that is cut out without hands which becomes a mountain and consumes the earth…
Build= Thayer’s – of God building His sanctuary… Builders= toilers, laborers
Where is the chief cornerstone in the Book of Daniel?
Where is the chief cornerstone in the Book of Revelation?
Connecting the two Books and how these two books relate: This stone, which is cut out without hands, will be cut out in our life time; we are on this brink of the cornerstone’s highest resolve. Many of us will see it as marvelous in our lifetime, as it were. Thus when we look into every verse for this cornerstone, we build the truest foundation of our entire lives, and also perform our truest Sabbath School study. Thus wil will be our elevated joy to see the ‘cornerstone’ in every passage of scripture, and certainly this cornerstone must become the basis of our walk, or we walk soberly (stay awake, psalm 127:1b) but do so in vain.
Psalm 118:23
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
One book basically shows a prophetic historical chronology; the other a revelation, a giving of specific things which will occur at a given time—and a short time. When these things happen they will be rapid movements. In the Book of Revelation, all the books of the bible meet and end.
* * *
Our church in this time is to have the Spirit of Prophecy. Each one will receive the latter rain without some measure…and for us too, there are lessons to study—and much more detail than in former times, owing to the scroll having been unrolled much farther.
The Book of Revelation gives application to both time periods, but specifically the Book of Revelation was written for our time…and thus, in the future, it will be specifically applied to His church, from the first words of this book to the very last.
A modeling outline of nine Sabbath School lessons in the book of Revelation, part II:
(1 Peter 2:7 '...the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner...')
Head= (a) the head, (b) met: a corner stone, uniting two walls; head, ruler, lord.
Corner= (gonia, GK; see polygon) an angle, a corner
Chapter 2 and chapter 3: [This we can liken to the cornerstone or stone of offense being placed within the church, and the church must deal with this person, and what He reveals about their spiritual conditions. Each individual are even asked to ‘hear’ every message to all the churches for themselves. All the letters apply to us individually and collectively.] We, in the end time, can think of these two chapters as one Sabbath School lesson. It is about the Church’s visitation by Christ. In these two chapters, the church-collective is present, and we can visibly see this; Christ is also present and is the one instructing the class with 7 daily studies using these words: he that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit sayeth until the churches. In our day, all seven lessons are to be studied as one set. All the lessons here are applicable to one ‘ear’, one person. In its end time application it is not separated out into seven dispensations alone where each dispensation has just that particular problem or lack. All the conditions of sin and excellence apply simultaneously, as it were; for each condition was alive to some degree in every church in Asia. And so, now as well.
Chapter 4 in chapter 5: [The cornerstone again is here presented as the lamb: our salvation is built on nothing less. We see why we need not cry for a delay in justice concerning all the historical injustices of the world (in part what this sealed book represents.) We also see here the connection between those who worship within (the heavenly church) and the cornerstone: they know directly where they come from and what the cornerstone has done for them; they know they shall reign on the earth. ] The lesson here is about the offering and the reception of the sealed book in the presence of the heavenly church, and Christ is here again in the midst of the church—the heavenly church.
Chapter 6 and chapter 7: [ Here, once again we see the connection between our God, His son, and the last movements of the church upon the earth. This represents the stone cut out without hands, and this will be that marvelous thing done before our eyes. The final church group goes out conquering and to conquer; the cornerstone sits upon the lively stones, pictured as a rider on horse. The sealing is placed next to this scene as an appositive kind of view. The sealing readies the horse, settled and true, for the rider.] Here again the lesson delineates events which directly involve the church, her Christ and her God as they go out to overcome the world together. The 7th chapter highlights the sealing time which prepares the horse for the last promulgation of the gospel; and this happens just before the four winds are let loose at the time of trouble.
Chapter 8 and chapter 9: [The cornerstone, the foundation of the church, is this angel at the golden altar, namely Jesus Christ. He has the golden censer of the Most Holy place, signifying that these events which follow must take place during the final atonement.] This lesson shows what follows when the church receives the Holy Spirit whose outpouring fire purifies the mouth of the church (the remnant church of Rev. 14 is pictured as having no guile in their mouth. From the power of a clean mouth the gospel will go forth to the world. Here this period of time is full of rain to ripen the grain: the same image of horse and rider in the 6th chapter is augmented here as the church-militant rides out to warn the world through trumpets (Ten Days of Awe, see in addendum below). The present church on earth is given the Spirit of Prophecy; angels of our heavenly brethren are given seven trumpets to blow.
Chapter 10 and chapter 11: [Christ, the cornerstone, descends to be with His people; He carries the book opened. John, the church, if you will, eats the little book in the 17th verse, and is then given a reed; the two witnesses are heavenly components sent as agencies from God to work alongside the church.] Same repeating illustration: the church is shown receiving the little-book-open. This is the destination of this special book. At this point in the end time, we see the little book open being given to the church, that book contains the message that is to be given to the world by the church and the witnesses. This represents how the Philadelphia church keeps His word in the highest sense, and a heavenly door or heavenly movement is opened to that church (three angels flying in the midst of heaven).
Chapter 12 and chapter 13: [In the 13th chapter we see in more detail the four main factions of this war. We see the church, the leopard beast, the spiritualism of the dragon, and the merchant; all pursuing the saints: this is very close to the symbolism found in the 6th chapter: the devil, the beast, and the false prophet follow the rider on horse.] The composite beast’s wound is now healed (this is no longer the time of the prophetic 1260 days), and the beast combats the church over a thing called worship. This is again the picture of the white horse riding, and tells of the martyrdom that accompanies the church when it rides out conquering and to conquer in advance of the other three horses—the same scene augmented, but, yes, the cornerstone is still here. We see also that the wounds of God’s church are healed: the church is full of the Spirit of Prophecy: full of the spirit of Elijah. Again, this is the same lesson just underscored and told from a different angle, and with much more specificity.
Chapter 14 and chapter 15 and chapter 16: [They keep; they have; they accept the cornerstone, who is Jesus. All living stones are built up and rest on Him.] We see the church with Christ giving the three angels messages (the gospel going out is the riding of the white horse), and Babylon is now fallen and has become a cage of spiritualism. Within this scene the plague period is recapitulated which continues the work of the fourth horse and its rider.
Chapter 17 and chapter 18 and chapter 19: [Again the cornerstone of offense, rejected by the beast, the false prophet, and of course Lucifer himself. The results and consequences of their warring is that this cornerstone crushes them in judgments.] The judgment of the whore, etc.; this is her final Sabbath School lesson where she shall know that He is God whether she wants to study or not; the church lives through and sees her final lesson to its completion. The final lesson here is not just about the wrath of God in seven plagues, but also about an eternal judgment given to the heads of Satan’s army, after which they are cast into a lake of fire at His second coming.
Chapter 20 and chapter 21 and chapter 22: [Now is revealed the ultimate Revelation regarding the cornerstone. Now we see the rebuilding of the Temple by God at this time; the City and temple receives this cornerstone and is established on it for eternity.] This lesson is about heaven, the church within the city of God, and the final forever-judgment of books opened (Sabbath School, as it were). We see God’s church united in singing with the rest of the universal family. In this lesson we see that the unfallen brethren get a renewal: a rebuilding of their entire sinless estate, and this comes at the same time that the earth is made new. In this lesson we see for all who believe, some of the end-time heights of the Spirit of Prophecy: this is that beginning of the Eternity which is reserved for the saved communities of God. Save= heal; at this time the groaning creation is healed and made new.
Addendum: The Connections:
In chapter 2 and chapter 3 the connective relationship between the two chapters is quite easily seen, and should need no comment.
In chapter 4 and chapter 5 the relationship between the two chapters is quite apparent as well because of the connective phrase: ‘And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within’…
In chapter 6 and chapter 7 the relationship that binds the sixth and seventh chapters together is the opening of the seventh seal at the beginning of the eighth chapter (The seventh seal really belongs to the 6th chapter but encompasses the 7th chapter which is like an appositive interlude or an explanation about the empowerment of the church). It is quite obvious that the seventh seal belongs with chapter 6 and chapter 7, not chapter 8.
In chapter 8 and chapter 9 we have a sequential type of connecting device that ties the eighth chapter with that of the ninth chapter and continues the storyline of the seven trumpets.
In chapter 10 and chapter 11, although subtle, the relationship between these two chapters is quite strong if we follow its flow, paying particular attention to the word and which begins the 11th chapter.
In chapter 12 and chapter 13 the joining piece between these two chapters is the 17th verse of chapter 12, where the Dragon, after trying to kill the woman for 1260 years, is wroth with the woman still, and goes to make war with the remnant of her seed…The 13th chapter immediately identifies a beast whose deadly wound was healed. This indicates clearly that this scene occurs in a time that is after 1798. We also understand that after 1798 is when the remnant come on the scene of the end time. This is a fairly easy connection to see if we gather up, so that nothing is lost or if we strive to get the small things right. In review: the dragon goes somewhere to make war, the remnant come on the scene after the composite beast’s wound is healed, and the scene states that the dragon is ‘behind’ this beast. Nothing should be lost if we rightly divide and gather up….
In chapter 14, 15, and 16 the lesson study in these three chapters is that they all identify very prominently the details of the wrath of God, i.e., the plagues upon those who worship the beast and his image. The three angel’s messages are sent as the last dire warning to the entire world before the wrath of God appears. The giving of these three messages has grave importance for a world who, like Nineveh, does not truly know its right hand from its left; but they shall unmistakably be made acquainted with God at this time.
In chapters 17, 18, and 19 the subject of study (and restudy) in these three chapters is the judgment of Babylon, that whore who fights against God. In the 19th chapter and in the 20th verse we see the final judgment of this whore’s government in which it is taken and cast alive into a lake of fire.
In chapters 20, 21, and 22: heavenly things, heavenly events, 1000 years, the end of the old and the beginning of the renewed. Because real books are opened, we my think of this as Sabbath School review, or Sabbath School study; each description I think is equally applicable here.
Addendum: Days of Awe
The Feast of Trumpets was important for several reasons. First, it commemorated the end of the agricultural and festival year. Also, the Day of Atonement fell on the tenth day of this month, and the Festival of Booths began on the fifteenth day. The blowing of the trumpets on first day of the month heralded a solemn time of preparation for the Day of Atonement; this preparation time was called “Ten Days of Repentance” or the “Days of Awe.” The trumpet sound was an alarm of sorts and can be understood as a call to introspection and repentance. --https://www.gotquestions.org/Feast-of-Trumpets.html
Addendum: Supporting Thoughts
The chief cornerstone= 1 Cor. 3:11, ‘other foundation can no man lay that is laid, which is Christ Jesus…’ and Mark 12:11, ‘…it is marvelous in our eyes…’
Who lays the cornerstone? “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Psalm 127:1
When was it laid? Because we are in probationary time, I’d suggest we think of it as starting in Eden. In the garden Eve is given the ability to be the mother of all alive, and bear the cornerstone through the ‘lineage of her womanhood’. She waited and expected—and likely sorrowed over this one birth all her days. It was, for her, not to arrive for 4000 years. But also, it is revealed that the cornerstone was laid long, long before Eve even, in a ‘covenant between them both.’
1 Peter 1:20
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you….
What does it do? It is the chief angle of the building; this is that stone at the end of the world that is cut out without hands which becomes a mountain and consumes the earth…
Build= Thayer’s – of God building His sanctuary… Builders= toilers, laborers
Where is the chief cornerstone in the Book of Daniel?
Where is the chief cornerstone in the Book of Revelation?
Connecting the two Books and how these two books relate: This stone, which is cut out without hands, will be cut out in our life time; we are on this brink of the cornerstone’s highest resolve. Many of us will see it as marvelous in our lifetime, as it were. Thus when we look into every verse for this cornerstone, we build the truest foundation of our entire lives, and also perform our truest Sabbath School study. Thus wil will be our elevated joy to see the ‘cornerstone’ in every passage of scripture, and certainly this cornerstone must become the basis of our walk, or we walk soberly (stay awake, psalm 127:1b) but do so in vain.
Psalm 118:23
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
One book basically shows a prophetic historical chronology; the other a revelation, a giving of specific things which will occur at a given time—and a short time. When these things happen they will be rapid movements. In the Book of Revelation, all the books of the bible meet and end.
* * *