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1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 The Encouragement of Jesus’ Return

7/22/2016

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Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed! Revelation 16:15 Photo by Lani Campbell
Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed! Revelation 16:15 Photo by Lani Campbell
​1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Our world is becoming ever increasingly chaotic and violent. The violence, the wickedness, and the chaos are nothing new but now it is being broadcast across televisions, tablets, computers, and phones almost as it happens. We are bombarded with horrific images and sickening stories of terrible and heartbreaking events all day and every day. It seems each day we wake up to a new tragedy and by the time night falls we’ve heard about another catastrophe.
For many of us the dreadful condition of this world makes us look to the hope of Jesus Christ. We hold onto Him and our future of eternity with Him in New Jerusalem. And for many people, whether they understand the end times or only know the distorted myths of the end times we believe that The Day of the Lord is near. The church in Thessalonica believed that Jesus was coming back any day. That is for the most part a great attitude for us to have. We should be ready and living as if he is coming back any minute, because we don’t know the time, we only know the seasons and the signs.  While the Thessalonians should have been living with the expectation of Jesus’ return, Paul wanted to clarify some things for them. So he wrote to them to elucidate the truth about Jesus second coming. Verses 13-15 reads,
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
 
Paul uses the word asleep to refer to those who have physically died. This language though confusing to us now, was clear to the people in the church of that day, it was early Christianese and described that for the Christian physical death is a temporary state similar to falling asleep. We will wake up one day and we will rise with Christ to eternal life. All of those of us who are still alive, won’t miss out either, we’ll be right behind our brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, and ancestors going to spend eternity united with one another and Christ in the paradise of New Jerusalem. As we all rise up together, Jesus will descend to meet us in the air. Can you picture it? Try as I might, I don’t think my imagination can capture anything close to what it will be like. Verses 16-18 describe it,
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
At the voice of an archangel and the blast of the shofar Christ will descend and the dead in Christ will rise first, all those we love and miss, all those we never knew, all those we’ve heard about and would love to know will rise first and then we will be caught up with them in the clouds. We’ll meet the Lord together and from then on we will be perfectly united with Him. Truly I cannot even fathom what it will be like, but I know it will be wonderful. There is a reason we have named this event the rapture. Who could imagine a more blissful, ecstatic, joyful happening?
When we are tired, when we suffer, when we don’t know why we keep going on this earth, we are to encourage each other with the description of this day. That means we have to love and trust each other enough to share when we are hurting, suffering, and tired. I know so many of you are exhausted and not sure how you will go on even one more day. I know so many of you are hurting and need some hope. My beloved brothers and sisters, consider this day. We may still be alive when Jesus comes to take us home, or we may have passed on by then. But it is coming. It is not a fairytale. It is not something any man made up to make himself rich. In fact the men who wrote these scriptures all were imprisoned and tortured for writing them. Many were martyred for declaring these words to be true. They wrote what the Holy Spirit told them to write and they were glad to lay down their lives for the sake of the Gospel. That is how we know this is real. Different men in different locations all were told the same things. The many visions they were given coincide with one another. That is how we know it’s true.
When is He coming? Will it be today? Tomorrow? Next year? In three years? Or in three thousand years? Jesus said He would come back but He didn’t say when. In John 14:1-3 Jesus encouraged the disciples with this promise,
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
 
He told them how to get there by following Him. John 14:6-7 reads,
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
 
But He could not say when. Matthew 24:36 reads,
But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
 
Matthew 24 does give us many signs to help know when the time is coming close and I suggest you read it. When you do, it may sound a lot like the world we live in today. Don’t let that frighten you. Don’t let it make you believe every false prophet who stands up. Let it inspire more research so you will be more aware of the signs, the times, and the events, so you will be ready and can help get others ready as well. This is what Paul had to say about it in 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5 verses 1-3.
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
 
This gives a very scary and dark scenario but the Christian has nothing to be afraid of. We want to be aware for those who are not saved that their fate is not only dark it is terrifying. But while The Day of the Lord will terrible for the lost it will be heaven, literal Heaven for believers. For the lost the day will come on so suddenly they won’t know up from down. For Christians we are aware of what’s happening, we have the signs, we are aware of what season we are in. Like a pregnant woman going into labor should not be shocked that her pregnancy has reached its end, so we should not be surprised that our days on earth have reached their terminus. Verses 4-8 encourages believers to be aware and ready.
But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
 
A pregnant woman prepares. She makes a place for her baby to sleep. She packs a bag for the birthing center and talks with professionals about her birth plan. She makes sure every knows what to do when the time comes. Though she does not know the exact day or hour, she has an idea of the week and she is ready in case it is earlier than she thought. So we don’t know exactly when Jesus is coming but we stay prepared, ready, and alert.
What does it mean to be ready? We are practicing righteousness, we are exercising faith and love. We are walking in salvation. In Matthew 25 Jesus tells a couple of parables. One is known as the Ten Virgins. They are brides waiting for their bridegroom to come and take them to the wedding feast. Some stay awake with their lamps ready, wicks trimmed, bowls full of oil, and lit. Some fall asleep and run short of oil, while they are gone buying more, the Bridegroom comes and they miss Him (Matthew 25:1-12). That story is about being dressed properly in salvation and walking in the fullness of the Holy Spirit (the oil and light of the lamp).
Later in Matthew 25 Jesus talks about the final judgement and explains to us what it is we ought to be doing do be ready for Him. Matthew 25:31-46 in The Message reads,
31-33 “When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.
34-36 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’

37-40 “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’
41-43 “Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because--
I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’

44 “Then those ‘goats’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn’t help?’
45 “He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’
46 “Then those ‘goats’ will be herded to their eternal doom, but the ‘sheep’ to their eternal reward.”
 
The Lord has great plans for us both on this earth and on the New Earth. His plans for us now involve feeding His sheep. But His plans for us then involve something totally different! Luke 12:35-40 reads,
“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
 
Read verses 37-38 again,
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 
 
Can you imagine it? Jesus doing that for us? Of course you can if you know who Jesus is. He did it for the Disciples before His last Passover with them as He taught them what love really is. John 13:3-5 reads,
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
 
We have so much joy awaiting us. Jesus will comfort us, He will wipe away every tear, there will be no more death, and no more grieving (Revelation21:14). We are intended, designed, and ordained for eternal union with the Lord. Verses 9-11 read,
For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
 
So I will leave you with that today. Be awake, be ready. Be about your Father’s business. Encourage one another and one another up, just as you are doing. 
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Revelation 22:6-21 Prophecy and The Grand Invitation

1/10/2016

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The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. Revelation 22:17
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. Revelation 22:17
Revelation 22:6-21
This book is intimidating to some. It seems mysterious and dark to some, exciting to others, and terrifying to others. But it is important we read and heed this book of prophecy. Depending upon our viewpoint we either wait hopefully, apprehensively, fearfully, or apathetically for its fulfillment. But as with all of God’s prophecy, it is meant to warn us, prepare us, call us, teach us and encourage us. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, 2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Corinthians 14:3). The central goal of prophecy is recorded in Amos 3:7-8.
“For the Lord God does nothing
    without revealing his secret
    to his servants the prophets.
8 The lion has roared;
    who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken;
    who can but prophesy?”

It is a revelation of the will of God. He wants us to know. He tells us quite clearly what His plans are. This book is not meant to make us cower, it is meant to prepare us for what is coming and embolden us to action. Too many people have not read or heard the words of the Revelation for themselves. They have a fantastic and horror-filled Hollywood vision of what the book includes. Even people who have read it have chosen to ignore the Holy Spirit and assign twisted and strange meanings to Jesus’ Revelation. Believer, you and I have read this book together. We have not skipped one verse, one word, or letter. I have done my best to not interpret or discern anything without God’s Holy Spirit. I have done my best to back everything with scripture. We do not have to be shocked at the state of the world as Jesus’ coming gets closer. We do not have to tremble in fear of the unknown. God has made it known and we have read it.
The final verses of this book invite us to take note of what we read, to put it into action, and to take part in the work of the Saints in these last days. Verses 6-7 read,
“And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”
7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
This is what Revelation is about, this is what all the prophecies that came before it are about, and this is what all the scriptures are about; Jesus is coming soon. We are not only to note, hear, or read the words of the prophecy of this book, we are to keep them. The word keep is the Greek word threw (tay-reh'-o) it means to hold fast, protect, and to undergo in a militant manner. Verses 8-9 read,
“I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
John had been warned a couple of times previously not to worship the angels giving him the messages but the overwhelming emotion of everything he had received must have made him want to fall down and worship the messenger and the message. Isn’t this the case today? How many people do you know who seem to worship the Book of Revelation, all end-time prophecy, or the people who teach on the subjects? It is not the prophet or the prophecy we worship. We are told to worship God. But we can’t go the other direction and ignore the words either. Remember we are to actively keep the words here. People will and do go right on living their lives and ignore prophecy, but that is not our directive.
The angel calls John and his brothers, prophets. Who are John’s brothers? Believers, they are you and me. Under the Old Testament God chose a few men and women, poured out His Spirit on them and assigned them to be prophets. But today we are all prophets. Not everyone has the gift of prophecy, but everyone can prophesy (1 Corinthians 12:27-31). And today more and more people are being gifted with prophecy. Joel 2:28-29 says it this way,
“And it shall come to pass afterward,
    that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
    your old men shall dream dreams,
    and your young men shall see visions.
29 Even on the male and female servants
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit.”

So then that makes us responsible for the words of Revelation, the Scriptures, and the words God speaks to us. Verses 10-11 say,
“And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”
We are to take prophecy seriously. We have to know God to hear and recognize His voice (John 10:27). We have to discern what is from the Lord and what is false (1 John 4:1). And 1 Thessalonians 5:17-21 tells us,
“pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.”
Jesus reminds us what the prophecies of this book are about in verses 12-16.
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
Certainly there are people who fear this book. There are numerous horror movies, TV shows, documentaries, and even so-called Christian films which all distort, falsify, and exaggerate the prophecy of the end-times, Jesus’ return, and Judgement Day. They drum up fear and emotion and use the book to propagandize for personal goals. But we are not called to fear this book. Jesus is the Bright Morning Star, the Alpha and Omega and our Savior. What do we have to fear if we have Jesus? We do not have to be afraid of the events described in Revelation. We are prepared for them. We must remain aware, warn others, and let others know they are invited to the wedding feast. Verse 17 says,
“The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”
The Spirit says, “Come.” We the Bride say, “Come.” Those who hear the invitation say, “Come.” Those who seek God say, ‘Come.” What do we come to? We come to eternal life, where who we seek is found. We are thirsty and the living water is waiting for us. It is free, Jesus already paid for it. What an amazing invitation!!! And when we receive that invitation, we are to become an invitation to others. Do your life, your attitude, and your words lovingly say, “Come” or do they send another message?
Once again, we are warned to take the prophecy of Revelation seriously. It is not a fairy tale or a scary story. It is the truth. Adding our interpretation based on anything or anyone other than the Word and the Spirit has deadly consequences for us and those who hear the words we spread. Leaving the parts we do not like out of it has the same results. Verses 18-21 read,
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”
The Spirit says, “Come” to you and to others. Bride of Christ, do you say, “Come?” Jesus is coming and soon He will say, “Come up here.” Are you ready?
 
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Revelation 22:1-6 The River of Life and The Tree of Life

1/9/2016

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Revelation 22:1-6 The River of Life and The Tree of Life
Revelation 22:1-6
The last part of John’s vision of New Jerusalem showed him The River of Life and the Tree of Life. Verse 1 reads,
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb”
John doesn’t say the water is crystal clear but bright as crystal. It shines. It is more than mere water, it is the water of life and it flows from its source the throne of God and the Lamb. The water of life is the water Jesus gives to those who seek Him, who are thirsty to know Him, who are parched with need of Him. The water of life utterly sates that desperate need and gives eternal life. Jesus explained the water of life, the water only He can give to the Samaritan woman in John 4:13-14.
“Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
The water of life does not simply slake our thirst eternally it flows out of each of us and gives eternal life. Eternal life does not refer only to our lives after the resurrection it refers to our lives now and from the moment we were sealed and filled with The Holy Spirit. Eternal life is life lived with our eyes on the invisible things, the heavenly things, the Kingdom of God. It is active, faithful, and missional. It affects other people. A spring of water flowing out like that is not meant solely for the individual it flows from, it is meant to give it others, so they too can drink from it and be satisfied and they too can have a spring of living water welling from them.
Our spirit-filled life in Jesus Christ, our eternal life begins now and it is abundant and active. It does not watch life from a pew, it lives. Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Believer, you may think you do not have anything to offer but that is a lie! You have a never ending river of life flowing out of you. You have the Holy Spirit, the gifts He gave you and the Gospel of Truth. You need nothing else.
John saw more in His vision. Verse 2 reads,
“through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”
The Tree of Life is there right next to the river of water of life. Until the time of New Jerusalem the Tree of Life has been hidden and guarded. Genesis 2:8-10 describes it.
“And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10 A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers.”
Adam and Eve lived in that beautiful place and God gave them only one restriction. They could not eat the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:16-17). But, they did and in order to protect them from eating from the Tree of Life and living forever in their cursed state, the Lord removed them from the garden and assigned a cherubim with a flaming sword to guard the garden and the tree (Genesis 3:22-23).
That is the tree that is in New Jerusalem; the tree with twelve kinds of fruit with leaves that heal the nations, the tree so big it lines both sides of The River of Life. The Tree of Life or its eternal life giving character is described in Proverbs in a few ways. Wisdom is a tree of life (Proverbs 3:18). The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life (Proverbs 11:30).  Fulfilled desire is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12). Gentleness, especially of speech is a tree of life (Proverbs 15:30). These are life giving ways of living. When we are wise, good, generous, or gentle, we are glorifying Christ and giving life to those around who enjoy the fruit of the Spirit we express. The character we express as we live is the way we glorify (look, act, and become like) Christ. Galatians 5:22-23 reminds us what the qualities of The Spirit of God are.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
The Tree of Life is the source of Life. Its fruit causes the person who enjoys it to live forever, there is healing in its leaves. It is a real representation of Jesus, the Author of life with healing in His wings (Acts 3:15, Malachi 4:2). Jesus came to give us life and give it abundantly (John 10:10). He is the healer, not only of the body but of the spirit and soul as well. Isaiah 61:1-3 reads,
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
    and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion--
    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.”

Just as we are indwelled with springs of water that flow out of us as the Holy Spirit fills us and flows out of us, so too are we called oaks of righteousness like Jesus our Tree of Life. He brings good news to the poor, binds up the brokenhearted, proclaims liberty to the captives, comforts those who mourn, and gives beauty instead of ashes. Glorifying Him with the living water of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control means we are bringing good news, binding broken hearts, comforting and proclaiming freedom as Jesus does. We are to love as Jesus loves. In John 15:12 Jesus said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
Believer, you have a spring of living water flowing out of you, you have abundant life. Share it.
 
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Revelation 21 The New Earth and New Jerusalem

1/8/2016

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And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.  Revelation 21:22-23
​Revelation 21
I love this chapter. It is exciting because it describes our hope so beautifully. It is God’s greatest desire come to pass. It is my greatest desire come to pass. It is not a fairy tale nor a promise which will not be kept. It is as certain as history because it is God’s promise and His will. It is already done and we can look forward to it with confidence.
Immediately after Satan is thrown into the Lake of Fire for eternity, never able to do his work again, John sees the next part of his vision. Verses 1-4 read,
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”
New Jerusalem is adorned, dressed and prepared for her husband as a gift from God. Just take a moment and consider that. Jesus is our husband. We are His bride, we are New Jerusalem. We are the city of God. And our union will be perfect. God’s dwelling place will be with us. Isn’t that how it should be, a husband with His bride? Just as He dwells with us, as He inhabits the city, we will be His people and He will be our God. This has been God’s desire from the beginning. He said it this way in Leviticus 26:11-12,
“I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you.12 And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.”
The Law was not given to push people away from God nor to make reaching Him impossible, it was given in order to make a way for a relationship with Him. One of my favorite verses is Hosea 6:6, as anyone who reads these devotionals can attest. It reads,
“For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
    the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”

Jesus is cited twice in Matthew quoting this scripture (Matthew 9:13 and 12:7). God loves us, He wants a relationship with us. He doesn’t need us, He doesn’t require anything from us (Acts 17:24-27).
When we are finally there in perfect relationship with God it will be absolutely wonderful, wholly good, and utterly joyous. Verse 4 reads,
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
We will not need pain to appreciate comfort, grief to understand joy, nor death to value life. We will not be flawed as we are now. We will be completely and perfectly transformed (1 Corinthians 15:52). Verses 5-8 read,
“And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Believer, you and I can go through this life with courage. We can face any tribulation that comes our way because of our great hope. We know our future and we know the destiny of the enemy. It is done! The Lord’s plan has never changed. He began it with creation and He will complete it with New Jerusalem. We can conquer sin and the enemy because we have Jesus and because of Jesus we have eternal life. We can conquer because Jesus already did.
John describes the city of New Jerusalem amazingly. Treasure such as gold, gems, and pearls will mean nothing to us for their worth, but New Jerusalem will be decked with and embellished with them for their meaning and beauty. God is not limited by finances or imagination. Verses 9-21 say,
“Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement. 18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.”
12,000 stadia is equal to about 1,400 miles. The magnificent city is about 1,400 miles tall, long, and wide, a cube stretching halfway across the country and reaching the edge of the stratosphere. The twelve types of precious gems that gild the walls are jasper, sapphire, agate, emerald, onyx, carnelian, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, and amethyst, represent the Apostles and their spiritual descendants, while the pearl gates represent the twelve tribes of Israel. The streets are made with gold so pure it like clear glass. It sounds so beautiful I can’t begin to picture it.
But the best part of the city is what it does not need. Verses 22-27 read,
“And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.”
There is no need for the gates to close or lock because it is impenetrable to anything ungodly.
There is no temple because God is the temple and He is there dwelling with us. There is no need for intermediary rooms, sacrifices, or relics. God is there. There is no need for sources of light like the sun or moon because The Father’s glory lights it, Jesus is the lamp, and His Spirit is the never ending oil. What is the Father’s glory, or rather who is the Father’s glory? That is us! We carry His glory and we will be kings and queens carrying that glory, that radiance with us. There will be no need to keep a lampstand lit in the temple. Whatever was once symbolic of Heaven and heavenly things will be there for real.
Believer, remember we will go through some terrible times in this life, but we can do it with Christ, because we know that or perfect union with Him is real and it awaits us.
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Revelation 20 Satan Bound, The Thousand Years, Satan Defeated, and the Judgement

1/7/2016

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Picture
Revelation 20
After the battle at Armageddon when the antichrist and the false prophet are conquered and thrown into the Lake of Fire something even more extraordinary happens. Verses 1-3 record it.
“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.”
For a millennia Satan will be locked away, unable to deceive, accuse, steal, destroy, or kill. The adversary will be chained up in the bottomless pit for all that time. It is probably the same bottomless pit from Revelation 9:1-11 from which darkness, smoke, and locusts came at the fifth trumpet blast. Satan is bound there and the people on the earth are free and in peace. But who is left on earth? Verses 4-6 read,
“Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”
The believers who were martyred for Jesus’ sake and those who had gone through the seven years of the beast without worshipping him or receiving his mark. They rise from the dead in the first resurrection and reign with Christ. That could very well be some of us! The signs and the times are pointing to the events of Revelation happening soon. Perhaps you and I are called to suffer through that horrible Tribulation and will be given the blessing of sharing in the first resurrection. We have to be aware and ready for it.
But remember verse 3 told us that Satan will have to be released for a little while. After that thousand years, he will be. Verses 7-10 describe it.
“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
Gog and Magog are the names given to the nations at the four corners of the earth. I am not sure who the people of these nations are. Are they followers of Christ who wandered away from the Holy City? Are they demons? Are they remnants and descendants of unbelievers from the time of the beasts? Are they the unbelievers from the time of the beasts brought back for Satan’s battle? I do not know and I will not venture a guess, though I will pray and research.
In the book of Ezekiel Gog was an evil prince and Magog the land where he ruled (Ezekiel 38:1-3). But the prophecy about Gog and Magog looks a lot like what will happen when Satan is released from the bottomless pit. Ezekiel 38:4-12 reads,
“And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. 5 Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes—many peoples are with you.
7 “Be ready and keep ready, you and all your hosts that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them. 8 After many days you will be mustered. In the latter years you will go against the land that is restored from war, the land whose people were gathered from many peoples upon the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual waste. Its people were brought out from the peoples and now dwell securely, all of them. 9 You will advance, coming on like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes, and many peoples with you.
10 “Thus says the Lord God: On that day, thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil scheme 11 and say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will fall upon the quiet people who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having no bars or gates,’ 12 to seize spoil and carry off plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places that are now inhabited, and the people who were gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell at the center of the earth. “
To me that sounds like Satan leading vast armies from these nations against the gathered people of God. And in Ezekiel The Lord tells Gog and Magog that they will be destroyed and that all the nations will know He is LORD. So whoever the inhabitants of those far off nations are, they are not our concern. We are not told to evangelize or warn them. Whoever they are they have no hope of salvation. They may as well be dead, walking zombies, and slaves to Satan. Regardless, the awesome end of it is that Satan is thrown into the lake of fire, forever. He will no longer be able to deceive, steal, kill, or destroy. He will be in the Lake of Fire forever, not as the king of Hell, not as the prince of the power of the air, but as one of the tormented just like those who will join him there because they believed his beautiful lies.
When Satan is once and for all thrown into the Lake of Fire. The Judgement comes or rather the sentencing comes. Verses 11-15 read,
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
There will be one basis for judgement, either one’s name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life or it is not. Those who confessed that Jesus is Lord and believed in His Resurrection will have their names written in the Book of Life (Romans 10:9). Those whose names are not there will be thrown into the Lake of Fire with their prince Satan. Jesus described this final judgement in Matthew 25:31-46,
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Hell is described in Scripture. While we rejoice that Satan, the antichrist, and the false prophet will suffer there forever, we have to remember the countless hordes who will follow behind them. Jesus described it in Mark 9:48 as the place “where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.” In Matthew 13:42 He explained it as “the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” We have been commissioned for a job, we have assignments for our Lord Jesus Christ and for the Kingdom of God. We have to use our love manifested through our gifts for building up the church (1 Corinthians 14), and for making disciples of the nations and baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit (Matthew 28:16-20).
The time is coming soon! We have to be doers of the Word, not preachers or hearers only. We must take seriously the commands to put on the wedding garments (to be saved and living our faith by good works, Revelation 3:18) and to have our oil lamps filled (to be filled with the Holy Spirit and glorifying Christ, Matthew 25:1-12). What is your assignment? How are you using your gifts to fulfill the commissions you were given by The Lord?
 
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Revelation 19:11-21 Jesus on the White Horse: A Description of God

1/6/2016

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Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. Revelation 19:11
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. Revelation 19:11
Revelation 19:11-21
As John watched Heaven celebrate, He saw the Bridegroom Jesus appear in all His splendor to complete His vengeance for His bride. Verses 11-16 describe Him.
“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”
The time for justice has come. The white horse represents the Lord’s justice, righteousness, and power in action. Jesus is called Faithful and True. God’s names are His attributes and aspects of who He is. He is the source of every one of His attributes. God is Love and Love comes from God (1John 4:7-8). God is Faithful and True and faith comes from Him (Romans 10:17). Jesus is Faithful and True because He has remained steadfastly committed to us, His bride. He has never wavered in His deep and perfect love for us. In John’s vision, the moment we wait for has happened and Jesus goes out on His horse to complete it. He does not leave things half done, ever. Who better to judge the earth than Faithful and True? He has always been our Warrior King, Faithful and True. In Exodus 15:1-3 Moses sings a song of praise to the LORD for delivering Israel from Pharaoh and Egypt and his prophetic words speak of Jesus our Deliverer and Lord of Hosts.
“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
    the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
2 The Lord is my strength and my song,
    and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
    my father's God, and I will exalt him.
3 The LORD is a man of war;
    the LORD is his name.”

Look at Jesus’ awesome description. “His eyes are like a flame of fire.” He is passionate. He is the Truth, The Way, and The Life (John 14:6). He zealously and vehemently seeks justice and sees into the darkness to know the truth of a person’s heart (Luke 16:15). The description continues, “on his head are many diadems” Diadems are crowns, royal headbands that only a king or queen may wear. Jesus wears many of them because He is King of kings, King over the entire earth, the heavens, and everything in them. We will be given crowns when we come home to Him in the harvest. We will give them right back to Him in praise and worship, just as the twenty four elders did (Revelation 4:10). He wears them. He gives us power, authority, and honor by making us royalty and we give it all back to Him through life lived in worship and service to Him. “He has a name written that no one knows but himself.” The Lord has many names, He is Messiah, Emmanuel, Shephard, Faithful, Love, King of kings, Lord of lords, and Redeemer. He is Holy and Righteousness. We know Him by His names, but one name is unknown to us. It is known only to Him. Will that name be revealed to us one day? When we are united with the Bridegroom for eternity and are with Him completely in His presence, will He reveal it to us? I think yes. I think we will wait until the time of New Jerusalem and we will know Him perfectly.
“He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.” The Word of God is one of Jesus’ names and it means that He is God’s will manifested or brought to fruition. As Jesus is the Lord of hosts leading the vast angel armies in His wrath, He is fulfilling the warnings God has issued to His people over the eons and eras of history. His robes are dipped in blood, the blood of the people He judges in God’s wrath, the river of blood that reaches the horse’s bridle and flows 183 miles long (Revelation 14:8). The armies that follow Him are not touched by the evil and sin of the blood payment of the doomed. They are described in the garments of the bride, fine linen, white and pure. We will be there with him judging the nations and the angels who chose Satan. In 1 Corinthians 6:1-4 Paul explains to the church why they need to exercise the discernment and wisdom given to them by God.
“When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church?”
We are riding with Jesus in His heavenly army. The wedding feast is not pheasant under glass with pomegranates and figs it is the flesh of the kings, captains, and powerful men judged by God’s wrath. Verses 17-18 describe it.
“Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.”
When all the people have paid the price the time for the final battle will arrive. Verses 19-21 read,
“And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.”
Are you standing and singing halleluiah? Are you on your knees and face crying praise the Lord? I am praising God because He is Faithful and True. He keeps His word and though this event lies in our future, it is already done. It is finished. 
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Revelation 19:1-10 The Wedding Garments

1/5/2016

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“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God     the Almighty reigns.  Let us rejoice and exult     and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come,     and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself     with fine linen, bright and pure”-- for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. Revelation 19:6b-8
​Revelation 19 1:10
Yesterday we read about the fall of Babylon. Today we will find out how the saints react to her fall. Verses 1-5 read,
“After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2     for his judgments are true and just;
for he has judged the great prostitute
    who corrupted the earth with her immorality,
and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”[a]

3 Once more they cried out,
“Hallelujah!
The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”

4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!”5 And from the throne came a voice saying,
“Praise our God,
    all you his servants,
you who fear him,
    small and great.”

I have to be honest, when I first read this, I thought “how can they be so happy over the horror that came upon all those deceived people.” But then God showed me that the fate of Babylon is the fate I deserve. I sinned. I am a sinner. I deserve to pray the price for those sins, the way all of the citizens of Babylon the prostitute will. I am not worthy to be the bride. But Jesus is worthy. He took my sin and gave me His righteousness. He paid the price for me and gave me the right to be His bride. (If you do not know or understand what it means to be saved or if what I have written here makes no sense to you, please read the blog How to be Saved by Jesus, contact me, or speak to one of those “Bible thumpers” you know.) Every saint in Heaven could have been among the doomed in Babylon and so they rejoice over eternal life, they praise God for all He has done.
The prostitute Babylon was not very kind to Jesus’ bride. She made war, tortured, and killed the believers. She deceived the world to keep them following the path to destruction and away from Jesus. We who are covered by Jesus’ blood will be avenged. Those who spilled our blood, cheered over it, or did nothing to stop it will see their blood pour out of them at the Word of Jesus Christ. Those who rejected Christ will pay the price for their pride. So we will be able to celebrate the vengeance of the LORD. Verses 6-8 continue the song of praise in Heaven.
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
    the Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and exult
    and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
    and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to clothe herself
    with fine linen, bright and pure”--

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”
I have read so very often of the garments of the saints. Lately, I hear people reminding me to be ready and wear the wedding garments. Sometimes we believers can repeat words to the point that they lose their profoundness. I do not want that to happen. I want to understand the garments and the state of preparedness for Jesus’ coming, for the harvest and for the wedding feast we will enjoy. So let’s look into the garments of fine linen, bright and pure.
The bride is dressed radically differently from the prostitute. Babylon was depicted wearing “fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls” (Revelation 18:16). She dresses in clothes only the wealthy can afford, in beautiful colors and she adorns herself in jewels. No doubt she is enticing and beautiful in her finery. She appears majestic in purple and scarlet. She is covered in treasures of the earth. The purple represents a royalty, a self-implemented title. Purple clothing was very expensive to make and historically it is the color of monarchs. When the Roman soldiers mocked Jesus, they clothed Him in purple (Mark 15:16-20). Scarlet or crimson represents her sin and immorality, just as the fine linen of the saints represents righteous deeds. Scarlet is a banner of the beast (Revelation17:3). Isaiah 1:16-20 reads,
“Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
    remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
17     learn to do good;
seek justice,
    correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
    plead the widow's cause.

18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
    they shall become like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
    you shall eat the good of the land;
20 but if you refuse and rebel,
    you shall be eaten by the sword;
    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Many of us like to think that our wedding clothes are our salvation. That when we accept Jesus as Christ we get a beautiful white linen robe and that’s that. Sin made our robes scarlet. Jesus blood washed them white as snow. But our deeds in the Holy Spirit are what make them shine. Our deeds are how we glorify Christ, love others, and show the world who we belong to. Our righteous deeds or good works are the banner of Christ. Good works are the proof of faith. James 2:14-26 says it this way,
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”
We have to put on those garments, those wedding clothes. Jesus saves us. With Salvation we are given the Holy Spirit who transforms us. We have to let Him do it. We have to be willing. We put on the new self and throw off the old. Ephesians 4:19-24 says,
“They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ! — 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”
The fine linen white and pure looks like Jesus’ robes (Matthew 17:2). Repeating the “sinner’s prayer” doesn’t automatically make us look like Jesus, it is not sitting in a pew, it is following Him and walking in The Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Being prepared, by wearing the garments means that we are filled with the Spirit, bearing His fruit, and doing His good works. Glorifying Jesus means looking and walking like Him. And we are told to be prepared for a reason. John was told to write this down for a purpose. Verses 9-10 read,
“And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
We are invited to the Marriage Supper and it is splendid. But not just anyone can come. Jesus told a parable about the wedding feast. The king prepared a great feast but the original invitees ignored the request to attend. So he invited others regardless of who they were. But one guest was not dressed appropriately for the occasion. Matthew 22:11-14 describe what happened.
“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”
It is auspicious to be invited, but to attend we have to wear the appropriate clothes, robes washed in Jesus’ blood and shining brightly with good works which are the spiritual result of faith.
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Revelation 18 The Fall of Babylon

1/4/2016

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​Revelation 18
Yesterday we read about the prostitute, Babylon the Great, the city which represents the earth’s evil. It is a city (or nation or nations) of great prosperity. A place where people live to satisfy the flesh through lavish living and sexual immorality. It is a hedonistic city that sounds like much of the world we live in today. Today we will read about her fall which is one of the effects of the seventh plague, the seventh bowl of God’s wrath (Revelation 16:17-21). We have already been told how she fell but now we hear why she fell as it is proclaimed in Heaven. Verses 1-3 read,
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
    She has become a dwelling place for demons,
a haunt for every unclean spirit,
    a haunt for every unclean bird,
    a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
3 For all nations have drunk
    the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality,
and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her,
    and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”

The city where once people lived opulent lives fed by thriving commerce and insatiable appetites will become a place where no one lives. It will be a ghost town where unclean birds and creatures scavenge the dead, where idols lay broken and useless and demons freely roam in the remnants of evil. She will be used up, her resources sucked dry by the beast and the kings who follow him. All the hatred she directed at the saints will be repaid to her. Jeremiah 51:34-37 describes Babylon’s demise this way,
“Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me;
    he has crushed me;
he has made me an empty vessel;
    he has swallowed me like a monster;
he has filled his stomach with my delicacies;
    he has rinsed me out.
35 The violence done to me and to my kinsmen be upon Babylon,”
    let the inhabitant of Zion say.
“My blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea,”
    let Jerusalem say.
36 Therefore thus says the Lord:
“Behold, I will plead your cause
    and take vengeance for you.
I will dry up her sea
    and make her fountain dry,
37 and Babylon shall become a heap of ruins,
    the haunt of jackals,
a horror and a hissing,
    without inhabitant.”

What awaits her citizens is horrible. But every one of us has been warned. Some chose to repent and become believers, but most were too stubborn, arrogant, and prideful to yield to The Lord, to the Truth of Jesus Christ. And they will get what they deserve. God will avenge the saints they murdered, He will receive recompense for their sins. Verses 4-8 read,
“Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,
“Come out of her, my people,
    lest you take part in her sins,
lest you share in her plagues;
5 for her sins are heaped high as heaven,
    and God has remembered her iniquities.
6 Pay her back as she herself has paid back others,
    and repay her double for her deeds;
    mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.
7 As she glorified herself and lived in luxury,
    so give her a like measure of torment and mourning,
since in her heart she says,
    ‘I sit as a queen,
I am no widow,
    and mourning I shall never see.’
8 For this reason her plagues will come in a single day,
    death and mourning and famine,
and she will be burned up with fire;
    for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”

The crux of her fall, what tips her over the edge toward her doom will be the saints she hated being called home to Jesus. When the saints leave and the Holy Spirit is not there anymore, she will not hear, see, or recognize God’s warnings or His wrath. And God’s wrath can freely be poured out so the bride will not be harmed alongside the prostitute. We will be gone and the vengeance of the Lord will be on her for her sins. What are her sins? What are the deeds she will receive double payback for?
She glorified herself. She exalted herself. She was filled with pride. Look around you and look at yourself. How is your pride? Are you a “can do” person? When you accomplish something, who gets the credit? Are you glorified for your strength, your goodness and your ability or is the Lord glorified? Pride is deadly. We can so easily become prideful and forget that apart from Christ we can do nothing and we have no righteousness of our own. Psalm 16:1-2 says it this way,
“Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from you.”

Pride causes us to take credit for what God has done. Babylon’s pride led her to a languid lifestyle. Verse 7 tells us, “she glorified herself and lived in luxury” She feels she deserves to “sit as a queen” even though she has done nothing to earn that rank. She is so full of self-importance believes she should never have to suffer. She refuses to mourn the losses she had already faced and repent.
There does come a time when people deserve to rest from their hard work and suffering and be taken care of by others (1 Timothy 5:3-16). The problem is, the people of Babylon all look for early retirement, they all look for wealth and set themselves up as royalty by living as if they are kings and queens. They look for money to support them and provide for them instead of God. They choose to let people serve them instead of using their hands to work. It is God who provides for us, including the work we do. Psalm 90:15-17 tells,
“Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants,
    and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
    and establish the work of our hands upon us;
    yes, establish the work of our hands!”

The fall of Babylon has worldwide impact. All those kings who used her as the prostitute will no longer be able to use her. All the wealth she floated and the promises she made will be gone. Verses 9-20 record the reactions,
“And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. 10 They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say,
“Alas! Alas! You great city,
    you mighty city, Babylon!
For in a single hour your judgment has come.”

11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, 12 cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, 13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.
14 “The fruit for which your soul longed
    has gone from you,
and all your delicacies and your splendors
    are lost to you,
    never to be found again!”

15 The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,
16 “Alas, alas, for the great city
    that was clothed in fine linen,
        in purple and scarlet,
    adorned with gold,
        with jewels, and with pearls!
17 For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste.”

And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off 18 and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning,
“What city was like the great city?”
19 And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out,
“Alas, alas, for the great city
    where all who had ships at sea
    grew rich by her wealth!
For in a single hour she has been laid waste.
20 Rejoice over her, O heaven,
    and you saints and apostles and prophets,
for God has given judgment for you against her!”

 
One day she stands arrogant and enticing, the next she is desolate. She cannot lead the world in sin or promise riches, she is gone. Her future is promised. If her citizens will listen they can recognize it, repent and put their citizenship in Heaven, their faith in Jesus, and their future in New Jerusalem. But the future that awaits Babylon is not only bleak, it is nonexistent. She will be utterly wiped from the earth. Verses 21-24 read,
“Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,
“So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence,
    and will be found no more;
22 and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters,
    will be heard in you no more,
and a craftsman of any craft
    will be found in you no more,
and the sound of the mill
    will be heard in you no more,
23 and the light of a lamp
    will shine in you no more,
and the voice of bridegroom and bride
    will be heard in you no more,
for your merchants were the great ones of the earth,
    and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints,
    and of all who have been slain on earth.”

There will be no more celebrating for Babylon, no more money making, and no more killing and hate of saints. She led the world to sin. She was prideful. She thought she was the greatest in the world. She hated the children of God. She did her best to stop people from believing in Jesus. And she will pay the price Jesus promised for that grievousness.  Matthew 18:1-6 reads,
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Reader, are you proud of your accomplishments? Does your life glorify the Lord or yourself? Is your pride leading people to follow you or is your humility leading people to follow Christ. Babylon’ sins are rampant and easy to fall into. The prostitute calls herself a queen and she will suffer eternal death for it. The bride lets Jesus make her a queen and she will enjoy eternal life for it.
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Revelation 17 The Prostitute, Babylon the Great

1/3/2016

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​Revelation 17
In chapters 17-19 of Revelation John sees a vision of Babylon the great personified as a prostitute and the punishment that befalls her.
Chapter 17 verses 1-6 describe her.
“Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” 3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 5 And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations.” 6 And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.
When I saw her, I marveled greatly.
She is sitting on the beast. She rides his power and is just as evil as he is. She is not a victim, she is a cohort. Her opulent clothes imply she is rich and corrupt in her wealth. She holds a golden cup full of abominations and impurities of her sexual immorality. She is full of sin, she is proud of her sin, and she leads others in sin as the mother of prostitutes and the earth’s abominations.  But it is her sexual immorality that she is most proud of and she is most marked by. Remember John is not describing one woman here, he is describing a city, a people united in abominations, iniquity, and sensuality. The name on her forehead, the place where people are sealed with the mark of the beast is “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations.” She is not drunk on wine, she is drunk on the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. The pleasure she receives from torturing and killing the saints is so much she is drunk on it.
Does that city describe any nations today? I believe it does. I believe it describes many of the people in the world today. It could easily describe America, who becomes more and more hedonistic day by day. America celebrates sexual immorality, sensuality, and money to the point that men are given awards for their sexual perversion. If we call transgenderism, homosexuality, polygamy, adultery, or fetishes perverted, we are called haters and we are marginalized. It will soon come to a point when we are not only called racists and discriminated against but where we will be beaten and even killed for speaking out against sin, Babylon, or the beast.
Citizen of Babylon are described in Philippians 3:18-19.
“For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.”
Believer, do you seek to satiate your flesh or do you seek to be the image of Christ? Philippians 3:20-21 describes the citizens of Heaven.
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
In verses 7-18 the angel explains the vision of the prostitute to John. He tells us if we have wisdom, we will be able to discern the meaning. In other words, when the time is right we who have the Holy Spirit will be able to recognize the prostitute, the beast, and her relationship to him.
“But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. 9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 10 they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. 11 As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
15 And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16 And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, 17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”
The beast is once again described in terms similar to Jesus. The beast was and is not and is about to rise. The Kings, Babylon and the world following her lead will see the beast as savior and god. They will worship him as such. But the beast and his kings will hate Babylon his prostitute, unlike Jesus who loves His bride. They will make the once rich prostitute desolate. They will strip her bare and devour her flesh. They will use her up. But her decadence, her selfish sensuality will have dominion over them. That is the way it is with people and prostitutes. There is no love between them just self-indulgent sin. The man uses the prostitute and the prostitute lets him. He is addicted to the sex and passion and she is addicted to the domination over him.
This too reminds me of America. The entire world hates America and yet longs for the selfish sensuality and opulence she is known for. Americans are considered arrogant lazy oafs but how many people across the world long to be as free, bold, and wealthy as Americans?
In this case it is not only the beast and the kings who are led by Babylon the Great and her great sin, but the whole world. The kings will willingly hand over all their power to the beast and his one great use of that power is hatred of and war on the saints.
We get to know this now, so that we can be aware, so that we can be prepared with full oil and trimmed wicks when it happens. We also get to be aware of how we are living now. Are we deceived by the false riches of the world? Do we eek the pleasure of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirit? Are we drunk with hatred? The love we think we experience in a sex act outside of the way God gave this beautiful gift to us, is not love, it is hate. A relationship of using one another and power over one another is not love and it does not mirror Jesus’ love for us. Believer, Beware. Are you a citizen of Babylon or a citizen of Heaven?
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Revelation 16 The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

1/2/2016

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Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was,     for you brought these judgments. Revelation 16:5
Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. Revelation 16:5
Revelation 16
As we have been reading in Revelation, the time of God’s wrath has arrived in John’s prophetic vision. This is no longer what we think of as The Great Tribulation, now the saints have been gathered to Heaven and God is pouring out His judgements on the people of the earth who refused Him. They are paying the price for their sin, because all sin has a price (Romans 8:23).  Verse 1 reads,
“Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”
The loud voice is the word of God who is the one filling the sanctuary where no one can enter until the plagues are poured out (Revelation 15:8). This wrath is from God Himself, it is the grape harvest when God will throw the grapes into the winepress of His wrath (Revelation 14:17-20). Verse 2 reads,
“So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.”
Whatever this plague is whether it is a horrific form of leprosy or something similar, it is directly and especially for those who not only rejected Christ but chose the beast over Him. As we’ve been reading these plagues, the Saint’s deliverance, and the pouring out of God’s wrath are all foreshadowed in the Exodus of Moses and Israel from Egypt and into the Wilderness and then Promised Land. In Numbers Chapter 12 we can read about Miriam and Aaron when they spoke out against Moses for marrying Zipporah. In that narrative God punished Miriam with a particularly bad kind of leprosy. Both Aaron and Moses begged for her healing and asked God not to let her die. They asked God to forgive her and lift her punishment. Numbers 12:11-15 records what happened,
“And Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, do not punish us because we have done foolishly and have sinned. 12 Let her not be as one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes out of his mother's womb.” 13 And Moses cried to the Lord, “O God, please heal her—please.” 14 But the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut outside the camp seven days, and after that she may be brought in again.” 15 So Miriam was shut outside the camp seven days, and the people did not set out on the march till Miriam was brought in again.”
Miriam had disregarded the special relationship God had with Moses. Moses was not just another prophet, God spoke to him face to face. He is a type of Christ, a symbol for Christ. When Miriam spoke against Moses and accused him of not speaking to God, she represented the spirit of rebellion and idolatry in Israel. It is that same spirit that made the people of Babylon the great reject Jesus and choose to worship the beast. The punishment they received just like Miriam’s punishment would not be repealed until the sin had been paid for.
The terrible and painful sores will probably make them seek comfort wherever they can. Maybe they will try bathing. Water especially sea water has numerous healing properties. (Read more here). But the next two bowls of God’s wrath will make that impossible. Verses 3-4 read,
“The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea.
4 The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood.”
The oceans are poisoned by the dead animals and the fresh water turn to blood. There is no water for bathing or healing. There is no water to drink. There is no water for any purpose. Is that punishment too extreme? The people being punished went unpunished far too long. They were warned. They tortured and killed the saints without consequence until now. They rejected Christ. The time for payment to come due has come. Verses 5-7 read,
“And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say,
“Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was,
    for you brought these judgments.
6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
    and you have given them blood to drink.
It is what they deserve!”

7 And I heard the altar saying,
“Yes, Lord God the Almighty,
    true and just are your judgments!”

The angel proclaimed God’s Justice and Judgement and the martyrs whose blood had been spilled echoed his praise. The people being punished may disagree, but God has been so patient waiting for them to accept the gift of salvation and the time finally had to come. He warned them. They can read the words in Revelation. They can hear the saved tell them the Gospel. They will go through each of the trumpets. If they do not listen and repent they will justly suffer the condemnation The Lord promised them. They are choosing their cup. Verses 8-11 read,
“The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.
10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish11 and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.”
Each bowl builds on the suffering of the previous one. Imagine a sunburn worse than any you have suffered without water to drink or water to cool your damaged skin. Imagine that burn on top of open painful sores. Imagine everything going dark and no light, torch, or lamp working in it while you suffer in pain and dydration. We can’t imagine the pain as bad as it will be. They will not cry  “Lord, forgive us, end this suffering!” Their rebellious and selfish natures will curse God instead. The sixth bowl increases the suffering by instilling some fear into the people. Verses 12-16 read,
“The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. 14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) 16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.”
Preparations for the battle between the Satan and Jesus are made. The river disappears to make way for the armies of the beast. Satan, the antichrist, and the false prophet all speak and order demons to bring the nations together for the battle. The demons that come out of them do not infer that they are demon possessed, it means that they have the power to command demons to do their will.
Verse 15 is Jesus speaking reminding the listeners that He comes like a thief. While Satan gathers his army, Jesus is gathering His and has been since the creation. The battle will be unlike anything we can imagine. The blood that comes from the battle will be that of every person who ever lived and died without Jesus’ redemption. It will be a river of blood 183 miles long and five feet deep (Revelation 14:20). The armies of the Dragon will not have a chance against God’s great power. Verses 17-21 describe it,
“The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 21 And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.”
The lightning, thunder and great earthquake are not the result of nature, but the effect of the battle. Heaven and Earth are being destroyed by the battle. God has not let the people die to escape punishment. Even with 100 pound hailstones hitting them they suffer instead of die. They cry out that it is too severe, but they don’t repent, they curse God.
I do not want this future for my loved ones. I do not want this future for anyone. Do you? What can we do? We can warn them. We can give them the chance to repent now. We can give them the Love of God. We can glorify Jesus. We can tell them the truth. If they do not listen, they will one day suffer as they deserve. If we do not tell them, they will one day suffer and it will be our fault. Ezekiel 3:18-21 says it like this,
“If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. 20 Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.”

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    September 27th 2015
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