JXN Cloud Podcast

The first four angelic trumpets fly by pretty quick in Revelation, but things slow down when the fifth trumpet sounds. Suddenly there's an angel with a key to the Abyss and weird locusts and all kinds of things. Who's this angel? What are the locusts? In this episode we frame the angel as a bad guy, which is taken by many scholarly interpreters. In the next episode we'll address the possibility of it being a good guy.

In this episode we cover the first four angelic trumpets of Revelation 8, which seem to hearken back to the plagues of Egypt. But wait a minute—didn't we just finish the seven seals and judgment day was about to happen? Why is John suddenly starting us all over again? We address these questions and more in today's video. Join the conversation on our Discord: www.jxncloud.com/discord

Right after a half hour of silence and Heaven and right before we kick off the seven trumpets of Revelation, we come a cross a short narrative where an angel does the job of a priest and offers incense in Heaven as the prayers of the saints. How does this quick intermission bridge the gap between the seven scrolls and the seven trumpets? Join the conversation on our Discord: www.jxncloud.com/discord

When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was a half hour of silence in Heaven. But why? Scholars have proposed a variety of opinions, several of which fit this scenario quite well. And we address a few of them here in this video. Join the discussion on our Discord: www.jxncloud.com/discord

There are moments throughout the Bible where angels ask prophets questions about their visions and then go on to answer their own questions. This seems like an odd motif to come across time and time again. Why does this happen? We address that question and more in today's episode of JXN Cloud. Join the discussion at www.jxncloud.com/discord

In this episode of our Revelation series, we take a wide lens look at the theme of God saving all the nations throughout the Bible. And this wide lends journey leads us to a very important and intriguing discovery about the new creation. Join the conversation on our Discord: www.jxncloud.com/discord

In the first paragraph of Revelation 7, there's a lot going on: angels related to the wind and sun; seals being put on foreheads of 144,000 people; and more. We take a deeper look at these themes in today's video.

When many people think about Revelation and the apocalypse, they think of the rapture. But strangely enough, there's nothing (at least explicit) about a rapture in the book of Revelation. Since we're currently doing a series on Revelation and we will not naturally get into this conversation based on what we read in Revelation, we've decided to handle it here after our episode called, "The Wrath of the Lamb" where the conversation came up. Join us as we dive into the intriguing passages that created this confusion. Join the conversation on our Discord: www.jxncloud.com/discord

Once the sixth seal of Revelation is opened, the world seems to start falling apart as the "wrath of the lamb" begins. What should we do with this fairly terrifying passage and how does it connect to the five previous seals?

All throughout the Bible, God's people ask him about his justice. Sometimes it seems far off and other times it seems delayed. This can lead many to ask the question, "Does he not care about what's going on?" While the answer is, "Of course he does, for He is true justice," it helps to see that even our own Scriptures ask the question we often feel. This question is asked once again in Revelation 6 as the early church martyrs ask God how much longer they must wait for him to avenge their deaths, and the answer God gives is both intriguing and important to understanding the rest of the book of Revelation, God's character, and the Day of the Lord. Join the conversation on our Discord! www.jxncloud.com/discord

Next up in our cycle of horses is the pale horse of death, followed by Hades. In this episode we further dissect the themes, characters, and locations that come alongside the pale horse, while getting a little more distracted than usual by things in the room and by each other. Join the conversation on our Discord! www.jxncloud.com/discord

As the cycle of the four horsemen (which we've seen at play all throughout history) continue to play their cards, we see black horse rise up to benefit the rich and oppress the poor. Take a dive into this theme with us and then join the conversation on our Discord channel! www.jxncloud.com/discord

As we look further at what each of the four horses of Revelation 6 represent, we begin to see a demonic cycle of sorts at play. Yes, there is an ultimate red horse coming one day, but we've also already seen it (as well as the other horses of Revelation) at work throughout history. In this episode we further dissect the red horse and recognize its effects throughout the centuries. Join the conversation on our Discord Channel! www.jxncloud.com/discord

At the end of Revelation we catch a clear glimpse of Jesus riding a white horse. For that reason, many naturally assume that the rider of the white horse amongst the four horsemen in Revelation 6 must also be Jesus. But something feels quite off here, and that feels very intentional on John's part. Discuss this episode with us on our Discord! www.jxncloud.com/discord

John loves to hodgepodge Old Testament passages into Revelation and then give them a bit of a twist to capture his readers mind in a surprising way. In the case of the four horsemen, he borrows from the prophet Zechariah. But while Zechariah's horsemen share a few themes with John's, they're also entirely different. We talk more about that in today's episode of JXN Cloud. Discuss this episode with us on our Discord channel! www.jxncloud.com/discord

Throughout the New Testament we consistently come across the term "saints." This word, however, is more literally translated, "Holy Ones," which has a very different meaning in the Old Testament. And that meaning pops very clearly when this word is used in Revelation 5. Join us on the Discord for more conversation! www.jxncloud.com/discord Learn more about today's topic in Michael Heiser's book, The Unseen Realm.

In today's passage we come across a key lens through which we must interpret the rest of Revelation in. While so many default for the lion perspective of Jesus, the lamb is actually where John's focus continues to stay throughout the book. Join us on the Discord for more of this conversation! www.jxncloud.com/discord

Want to learn more? Check out these resources:The Biblical Cosmos by Robin A ParryThe Unseen Realm by Michael HeiserThe Lost World of Genesis One by John WaltonThe Bible Project Podcast, Ancient Cosmology series, episodes 250-258

In Revelation 5, God holds a scroll with seven seals on it that seemingly no one can open at first. But why a scroll and why seals? It's a simple concept, but because we don't use scrolls or seals very much these days, it might be helpful to discuss the topic a bit more. And that's exactly what we do in this episode of JXN Cloud. Join us on the Discord for more conversation! www.jxncloud.com/discord

The beings of Heaven have not always been obedient to God. But here amidst the 24 elders we find themes of God's omnipotence and more. Join us in what this beautiful image communicates and then let us know what you think in the comments below or on our Discord! www.jxncloud.com/discord

There are four super weird creatures around God's throne in Revelation, each one with a different face and a bunch of eyes. What are these beings and what is their significance in God's throne room? The answer is found in Ezekiel 1, which feels like one of the strangest passages in all of the prophetic books. But once you put all the pieces together, the four living creatures start to make a whole lot of sense. It takes awhile to put these pieces together, making this our longest JXN Cloud episode to date! But we think you'll find it interesting ;) Let us know what you think in the comments below or on our Discord! www.jxncloud.com/discord

The Bible is crammed full of all kinds of important numbers and John's favorite in particular is seven. Why then is there a Biblically obscure "twenty-four" elders in Heaven, and what exactly are those elders? In this episode we look at a few of the more popular and lesser known theories behind these elders and find a combination of answers to be the best answer. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below or on our Discord! www.jxncloud.com/discord

Why is there a crystal sea before God's throne in Heaven in the book of Revelation? The answer is found in an ancient understanding of the cosmos, which we moderns often miss due to our own conception of the universe. Learn more in today's episode and then join us to discuss it further on our Discord channel! www.jxncloud.com/discord

John reports a number of intriguing things that he sees in God's throne room: gems, rainbows, thrones, storms, a sea of glass, different kinds of strange beings, and more. While this all sound strange, we've seen these kinds of things before in the Bible. Let's dissect a few of these elements as we move into our next section of Revelation. And then, in our next few episodes, we'll return to some of these elements to get an even closer look at what's going on here. Join the conversation on our Discord! www.jxncloud.com/discord

In our final letter to the seven churches of Revelation, we uncover quite a few interesting "prophetic geographical statements" that Jesus makes to the people of Laodicea. Learn more and then join the conversation on our Discord! www.jxncloud.com/discord

When Jesus called the church at Sardis to "wake up" because he would come "like a thief," there were a whole lot of historical undertones they would have heard that we completely miss when we read Revelation today. In this episode we take a look at Sardis's history to understand the intensity of Jesus's words. Join the conversation on our Discord: www.jxncloud.com/discord

In the letter to Thyatira, we learn about a local figure called Jezebel, upon which most of their letter rests. Jesus seems to have little critique for those who have separated themselves from her, but for those who have been following her and her teaching, Jesus has a massive warning. Who is Jezebel and what was going on at Thyatira? We discuss that in this episode. Join the conversation on our Discord: www.jxncloud.com/discord

While the church in Pergamum was home to an early church martyr, not everyone there was strong in carrying out their faith. Some of them have been leading others into sin and Jesus calls them to immediate repentance. We discuss that and more in today's episode. Join the conversation on our Discord: www.jxncloud.com/discord

Of the seven churches of Revelation, Jesus writes the shortest letter to Smyrna. While Jesus has no critique to offer them (unlike most of the other churches) he does have an intense word of warning for them. Join the conversation on our Discord: www.jxncloud.com/discord

It seems like the church at Ephesus gets a glowing review from Jesus, except for one problem: they've abandoned the love they had at first. While that doesn't seem like the worst critique at first, it was crucial enough for Jesus to threaten taking away their lampstand! Why was that? We address this and more in the first letter to the seven churches of Revelation. Join the conversation on our Discord: www.jxncloud.com/discord

Jesus tells John in Revelation that he now has the keys of Death and Hades. As we read through the Bible in its entirety, this story becomes an important thread to understanding the cross, the gospel, and what Jesus actually did for humanity. Join the conversation on our Discord: www.jxncloud.com/discord

When John sees Jesus in Revelation, his face is shining like the sun. This strange description carries with it some Bible callbacks. It's also illuminated in an interesting light by some of the Jewish conceptions of John's time. Join us as we follow this rabbit trail to see what more the Bible might be getting at and how it even applies to us as Christians! Join the conversation on our Discord: www.jxncloud.com/discord

All throughout the gospels, Jesus's teachings are rather nonviolent. Not only does he disarm Peter of his weapon, but he teaches us to forgive and love our enemies. But then in Revelation Jesus returns with a sword in his mouth and we see the theme of violence all over the place. Is Jesus still nonviolent in Revelation? What do we make of his sword? These are important questions to ask from the get-go and the answers help us frame the later parts of Revelation correctly. Join the conversation on our Discord: www.jxncloud.com/discord

In Revelation, Jesus has John write to seven angels that appear to be appointed to seven churches. Is this just symbolism or are angels appointed to churches? What about guardian angels? Can they be assigned to humans? What does the Bible have to say? Those are the questions on the table in today's Revelation episode. Join the conversation on our Discord: www.jxncloud.com/discord

The way that John describes Jesus in Revelation sounds very familiar to a certain "man" Daniel described meeting, who shows up alongside two other angels, Gabriel and Michael. What is John implying? We take a look at that in today's episode of JXN Cloud. Join the conversation on our Discord: www.jxncloud.com/discord.

We first see the 7 golden lampstands in Revelation 1:12. What kind of Bible callbacks does this symbol represent and what does it mean for John in his vision? We cover that and more in today's episode of JXN Cloud. Join the discussion on our Discord! www.jxncloud.com/discord

When Jesus first speaks to John in Revelation, he sounds like a trumpet. Why is that? We find the answer in a mix of Bible references and cultural and theological messaging. Join the conversation on our Discord: www.jxncloud.com/discord

In Revelation 1:10 John mentions he was, "In the Spirit on the Lord's Day." What would John have considered "The Lord's Day" and why does that matter enough for him to mention? The answer is more impactful than you might think. Join the conversation on our Discord: www.jxncloud.com/discord

In Revelation 1:10, John says he was, "In the Spirit." What exactly does that mean? We look for possible answers by addressing the other crazy experiences Bible prophets had throughout the Bible.

Revelation's allusion to Jesus riding on the clouds has a long history back into ancient times. In this episode we follow the Bible's stream of thought, leaving us with a very powerful image—all while Olivia continues to interrupt us by singing "Days of Elijah." Join the conversation on our Discord! www.jxncloud.com/discord

Today we often act as though priests and pastors are the ones who need to usher us into sacred space to meet with God, but the Bible calls Christians a "royal priesthood." That's a huge statement, given that priests in the Bible were meditators between God and humanity. In this episode we give a condensed look at the huge topic of priesthood. This takes us into the stories of Adam and Eve, Moses and Aaron, Melchizedek, and ultimately Jesus and us. Join us for the journey and then hop into the discussion on our Discord channel! www.jxncloud.com/discord

In Revelation 1:5, John pulls from Psalm 89 to bestow three different titles upon Jesus. In the third title, John refers to Jesus as, "the ruler of the kings of earth." But the kings of this earth don't really seem to be operating as though they're under Jesus' rulership. So what does John mean when he says this and how does Revelation and the rest of the Bible picture the relationship between Jesus and politics? We try to bring some clarity to this mess of a topic in today's episode of JXN Cloud. Join the conversation on our Discord: www.jxncloud.com/discord

In Revelation 1:5, John pulls from Psalm 89 to bestow three different titles upon Jesus. The second title of, "the firstborn of the dead," sounds a bit trippy the first time you hear it. What is John communicating in this statement? Weren't there others in the Bible raised back to life before Jesus was? Join the conversation on our Discord channel! www.jxncloud.com/discord

Join the discussion on our Discord: www.jxncloud.com/discord

Discuss it further with us on our Discord! www.jxncloud.com/discord

Don't forget to join our Discord server and continue the conversation with us in our online church hub! https://discord.com/invite/Tdsfqrk

Don't forget to join our Discord server and continue the conversation with us in our online church hub! https://discord.com/invite/Tdsfqrk

This conversation can get technical and we've tried not to be too overbearing on all of that. If you want to go even deeper on the themes found here, check out episode 355 of Dr. Michael Heiser's, "Naked Bible Podcast," where he explains all of the overlapping themes between Jesus in Revelation and the Angel of the Lord throughout the Old Testament. https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/podcast/naked-bible-355-revelation-17-20/We also suggest checking out Heiser's book, "Angels: What the Bible Really Says About God's Heavenly Host." This will take you even deeper into some of the same information he gets into on that podcast episode. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GJWPXC3/Don't forget to join our Discord server and continue the conversation with us in our online church hub! https://discord.com/invite/Tdsfqrk