In Revelation chapter 11, we meet two unnamed witnesses who are sent by God into the heart of the beast's kingdom to display God's power and judgment upon all those who continue to reject God. These two men are yet another sign of God's continual mercy upon the rebels on earth; and yet the story ends with their death and resurrection in the sight of the whole world (7-12). These events will be followed by a great earthquake in Jerusalem, which is then followed by the sounding of the seventh trumpet. The sound of this trumpet calls our attention back to heaven to witness the praise and worship service that once again continues around the throne of God. The seventh seal brought silence into heaven, while the seventh trumpet invites the worship of God back around the throne. The final trumpet anticipates the future reign and victory of Almighty God. This trumpet is not premature in nature, for all of heaven knows the end of the story before the end takes place. The difficulty for the resistance of heaven is to wait for consummation of the groom with His bride.
This trumpet is a future announcement of a sure victory (15). It is an acclamation of praise and worship that anticipates God's judgment upon wicked men (16-18). But this trumpet also assures the multitudes in heaven of God's continual faithfulness to His people (19). The seventh trumpet has a dual purpose in this book, it both announces the upcoming judgment and defeat of the enemies of God, but also it announces the victory and coronation of the Lord Jesus Christ. As a Christian, we are not promised a life of ease in this world, but we do have the promise and hope of a victorious end, no matter how difficult or burdensome our life has been on this side of Heaven. It is not prideful to say, "Greater is He who is in me than He who is in the world." No matter the outward circumstance of life, as God's children, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, we have a victorious future to look forward to - and this will always make our lives less stressful. Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Back to the Future (Part 12)
How many times have you eaten something that you thought you would really like only to spit it out because it "left a bad taste in your mouth"? Or, have you ever hesitated to eat something offered to you, but because you did not want to hurt their feelings, you ate, and it "blessed your palate"? When we come to Revelation chapter 10, John calls another time out to give the reader some more background information surrounding all the dramatic events that are being poured out upon the earth. In verses 8-11, God will instruct John to "take the book/scroll which is opened in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land (8)." The scroll seems to be the one that is being held by Jesus, the Victorious Lamb (5:7). Then John is instructed by God to eat the book. I don't think the command was to be seen as eating the book physically, but if that is what God meant, then who is John to disobey God?
To eat the book is symbolic. In order for John to better understand the message and events he was witnessing and later preaching, he must choose to take into his soul the very words of God, and literally have the Word of God fill him so that from the overflow he would know personally the urgency of the message and events that were coming to man. As John eats the book, two things happen: First, the results of God's Word are sweetness to his mouth, but secondly, the contents of the message end up making his stomach sick. The prophet Ezekiel had a similar encounter with God when he was commanded, "Speak the words you have eaten." (Ez. 3"1-4). The child of God must discipline themselves to daily take in God's Word, so that they can be refreshed spiritually by it's power. And yet, another aspect of God's Word is that it convicts, it bothers the conscience, it's message at times is painful to carry in the pit of our souls, and yet it is needed in our lives. For when we live according to God's word, then we are better able to speak both the positive and negative message to this lost world. Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.
To eat the book is symbolic. In order for John to better understand the message and events he was witnessing and later preaching, he must choose to take into his soul the very words of God, and literally have the Word of God fill him so that from the overflow he would know personally the urgency of the message and events that were coming to man. As John eats the book, two things happen: First, the results of God's Word are sweetness to his mouth, but secondly, the contents of the message end up making his stomach sick. The prophet Ezekiel had a similar encounter with God when he was commanded, "Speak the words you have eaten." (Ez. 3"1-4). The child of God must discipline themselves to daily take in God's Word, so that they can be refreshed spiritually by it's power. And yet, another aspect of God's Word is that it convicts, it bothers the conscience, it's message at times is painful to carry in the pit of our souls, and yet it is needed in our lives. For when we live according to God's word, then we are better able to speak both the positive and negative message to this lost world. Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Back to the Future (Part 11)
Revelation chapters 8 & 9 deal with the second round of judgments that come from God's throne upon the kingdom of Satan and his Antichrist. The intensity of the judgment has increased, and yet, no matter the suffering, the response of those still left on earth is complete defiance against Almighty God (9:20-21). Let me take a moment to focus on chapter 8 verses 1-5. When the seventh seal is broken (which leads to the seven trumpets) we read that there was silence in heaven for about 30 minutes. This is the only time we read in Scripture of heaven being absent of praise, worship, and rejoicing. Even though Scripture does not speak of this, I tend to believe that when Christ died on the cross for our sins, it was a time in which all of heaven stood silent, as they witnessed the King of kings, the Son of God suffering a brutal death under the hands of man; but oh the day that He rose from the dead - the celebration and praise around the throne has not ceased....until this particular time in history, the opening of the seventh seal.
We also read that after the last seal is open, and angel is given a golden censer filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And it is this censer that is thrown to the earth as a sign of up coming judgment upon the world. This censer represents all the prayers of the saints, especially verbalized in Revelation 6:10 - "O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" Well, they are given their answer with the opening of the seventh seal. God will answer the prayers of His children and will fulfill His promise, "Vengeance belongs to Him alone!" So for the true child of God, the judgment of the earth should motivate us to warn those among us who are lost, of this upcoming day of God's wrath. Also, it should encourage us to remember that no matter what the world does to God's children, God will always have the last word, and He will always defend His children at the right time. So wait on Him until the end, and be faithful to serve the Lord Almighty. It is when we hold tightly to His promises that we are ensured of a less stressed life. Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.
We also read that after the last seal is open, and angel is given a golden censer filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And it is this censer that is thrown to the earth as a sign of up coming judgment upon the world. This censer represents all the prayers of the saints, especially verbalized in Revelation 6:10 - "O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" Well, they are given their answer with the opening of the seventh seal. God will answer the prayers of His children and will fulfill His promise, "Vengeance belongs to Him alone!" So for the true child of God, the judgment of the earth should motivate us to warn those among us who are lost, of this upcoming day of God's wrath. Also, it should encourage us to remember that no matter what the world does to God's children, God will always have the last word, and He will always defend His children at the right time. So wait on Him until the end, and be faithful to serve the Lord Almighty. It is when we hold tightly to His promises that we are ensured of a less stressed life. Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Back to the Future (Part 10)
Revelation chapter 6 leaves us with a haunting question from the lips of those defiant against the judgment of God, "Who is able to stand?" This question implies several things, first that this judgment comes from a vengeful God who delights in the destruction of all humanity. And second, that this God is not a merciful God. And yet as you read this book, the opposite is clearly seen. Even in judgment, God gives humanity ample time to repent of their wickedness and chose to follow and obey Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. So it should not surprise us that when we read chapter 7, John will take a moment to answer the question proposed by the rebels, to revel the truth about the character of God. It is in this chapter that John will introduce us to two groups of people who have experienced God's mercy and are able to stand with the victorious Lamb in triumph.
The first group is described as being 144,000 witness, all made of of Jewish descent. We see that they have been chosen by God to be His witnesses on earth; a clear act of mercy on the part of God. They will testify of God's salvation, and also warn humanity of the wrath of God. It seems they will all suffer death for their work, but in death they will overcome the evil one. The second group of people are clearly all the Gentiles who will come to know Christ as Savior during the tribulation (9-17). They have died for the faith (14), and yet they stand with the Lamb as victorious warriors for the faith. You see, all humanity falls with in those two groups, Jew or Gentile. Paul states that the Gospel is for both Jew and Gentile (Rom. 1:16). And even in an environment of great judgment and suffering, many will still be given an opportunity to choose to align themselves with Christ by faith and obedience to God's way of salvation. Those who reject will have no footing to claim that this God was too unfair or too tough on them. Sin demands death, and for those who chose to live a life of sin, then the payment for that attitude must be death (Rom. 6:23). When you chose to side with Christ, you can always guarantee a less stressed life. Until next time, keep walking close with Christ.
The first group is described as being 144,000 witness, all made of of Jewish descent. We see that they have been chosen by God to be His witnesses on earth; a clear act of mercy on the part of God. They will testify of God's salvation, and also warn humanity of the wrath of God. It seems they will all suffer death for their work, but in death they will overcome the evil one. The second group of people are clearly all the Gentiles who will come to know Christ as Savior during the tribulation (9-17). They have died for the faith (14), and yet they stand with the Lamb as victorious warriors for the faith. You see, all humanity falls with in those two groups, Jew or Gentile. Paul states that the Gospel is for both Jew and Gentile (Rom. 1:16). And even in an environment of great judgment and suffering, many will still be given an opportunity to choose to align themselves with Christ by faith and obedience to God's way of salvation. Those who reject will have no footing to claim that this God was too unfair or too tough on them. Sin demands death, and for those who chose to live a life of sin, then the payment for that attitude must be death (Rom. 6:23). When you chose to side with Christ, you can always guarantee a less stressed life. Until next time, keep walking close with Christ.
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