Matthew records a story where Peter asked Jesus "How many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Seven times seemed extravagant to him since Jewish tradition suggested three times was adequate. In the opening chapters of Amos there is a series of condemnations on the various nations for three transgressions and for four. From this rabbis deduced that God's forgiveness extended to three offenses and that he punishes the sinner on the fourth. Rabbis did not believe a man could be more gracious than God they limited forgiveness to three times.
We like Peter have to recognize things may not be as we have always believed them to be.
In our recent classes on Dreaming about Heaven we were told certain things that would be characteristic of heaven; no sin, no pain, no anything bad. But in Revelation John wrote: "They cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
This passage portrays the saints waiting impatiently for vengeance? Maybe we do not understand what John was meaning.
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