Back to the Future (Part 13)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Back to the Future (Part 9)

When you talk to the average person about the Bible, there is a good chance that the book of Revelation will be brought up. In all my discussions with people good or bad, usually if you ask a typical person on the street if they have a Bible they usually say, "Yes", and quickly that will be followed with the following statement, "I really like the book of Revelations." I usually agree with them, but not for the same reasons. I believe the majority of Americans are fascinated or even scared by this book because many see his book as the movie and TV shows "Star Wars" or "Star Trek". These shows and many others like them are very popular in a culture that loves to explore the unknowns that our future holds. But when I read this book, I try not to get get caught up in whether the Bible describes nuclear war, Apache helicopters, comets hitting the earth, or numbers engraved on people's foreheads. The theme of this book is simple, "Jesus wins, Satan loses...and the children of God rule and reign with Christ forever."

Revelation 6 is one of those chapters where we can get so caught up in trying to figure out who the four horsemen of the Apocalypse are that we miss the purpose for the events described. God's judgment is being poured out upon humanity because they have rejected Him as Savior and Lord. The war, famine, death and terror all play a rightful place in this drama brought on by man's rejection of God. Note, that even as these horrible events plague men during the tribulation of the earth, their reaction is total rebellion against the "One who sits on the throne." (6:16-17) Just like in the OT when the ten plagues were brought upon Egypt, so too on a much larger scale, the power of God is going to be unleashed upon humanity. God wants mankind to acknowledge His has the only true and living God, but like Pharaoh, they will not. The good news is that many will turn their hearts to Christ and be saved, yet they will suffer martyrdom for the faith (9-11). We should not read this book as a futuristic space age novel, but rather a glimpse of what awaits all men who continue to reject Christ as Lord. For the reality of hell is a place where people choose to go because they chose to reject a relationship with Christ, and their life on earth was lived in a way that made it clear to God that they did not want to do things His way, and so hell is that place - a place where God is not. So even as this world keeps turning more opposed to the God of the Bible, you can live a less stressed life knowing God will always be with you and keep you to the very end. Until next time, keep walking close with Christ.

Back to the Future (Part 8)

One place that many people run to lessen a stressful day is into the arms of music. Whether country, rock, pop, contemporary, 80's, classic, etc., music has been a safe place for many to find refuge from a difficult life or day. If you listen to the lyrics of most songs, you will hear that even the artist who either has written the words or sings the melody does so in order to voice an inward or outward stressful situation in which they find themselves dealing with. How many songs deal with a loss of a job, lover, friend, or even life? How many songs deal with poverty, abuse, loneliness, war, and dysfunctional people? Most of the music being sung on many radio stations reflect people who are hurting, worried, and simply stressed out.

The scene is not this way in heaven. The music in heaven will not deal with any loss or any pain. The melody of the angels will not focus on poverty, abuse, loneliness, and war. The choirs of heaven will not contemplate losing family, home, job, or favorite pet. The music and songs flowing through the New Heaven and the New Earth will all be praises to our Victorious King. We get a glimpse of this reality in heaven in Revelations 5:8-14. From the inner circle, to the other courts, to the whole earth, the theme, melody, and tone will be to praise the One who reigns forever. Jesus Christ will be the central message of every song sung. He will be the single reason that our problems, fears, and stresses are forever alleviated. He will be the theme of each chorus that will speak of peace, joy, love, and victory without a single stanza of regret, worry, and hopelessness. If heaven is this way, why can't the child of God feel the same way on this earth? He or she can, but only when they choose to walk with Christ and pursue God with all their heart. When He is the most center part of your life (as the throne room is the center of heaven), then worship will constantly flow from your lips, and this will lead to a less stressed life. Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.

Back to the Future (Part 7)

John has been given a glimpse of the throne room in heaven, and he sees all creatures great and small worshipping and praising the One who is sitting on the throne. When we come to the 5th chapter of Revelation, John is caught up with the joyful atmosphere when a problem arises in heaven - there is a book or scroll that no one is able to open. This scroll is very important, because it is a legal document, a deed or contract to the earth. The one who is able to open the seven seals is the trustworthy executor of this document, to put in place what has been predetermined by God the Father. We read that John begins to weep because no one is found worthy to open this document when given the opportunity. Why the great anguish on John's part? (Notice, all of heaven are not weeping but praising) Without the final judgment upon the earth. the church is left unprotected in the bitter hours of trial and judgment. There is no future judgment for sin nor any triumph for the believers in Christ. For a short moment in heaven, things look very hopeless.

John does not have to weep long, because we read that Jesus Christ, the Lamb, the One who has overcome death and hell, steps forward to take the book from the hand of the Father and takes His rightful place to begin to execute the promised judgment upon the earth. In verse 5, one of the elders tell John that the "Lion from the tribe of Judah" has prevailed. This word in the Greek is "nikao" where we get our English word "nike", meaning victor. He is called the Lamb who is seen "as if slain" but He is standing. This One received a mortal wound, and yet now lives and is the Champion of all heaven and earth. As Jesus takes the scroll, and soon begins to peal back each seal that will bring judgment upon the wicked and vindication for His saints, the sound of praise and worship rings throughout heaven. When you chose to side with the One and only True and Living God, Jesus Christ, then your future will be less stressful. Until next time, keep walking close with Christ.