TRANSCRIPTS

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1. HE WHO HAS EARS

Welcome to TheREDWords Podcast where we steer clear of man-made religion to pursue a personal relationship with God the Father and His Son—the Lord Jesus Christ. Join us weekly as we deep dive into the dynamic and oftentimes curious Holy Spirit-inspired Book of God’s Word.

I thought it best to begin the first Red Words podcast with a quick introduction. You can learn all about us on TheREDWords.website where you’ll find our blog, which currently houses over 160 posts. We explain who we are on the A and E page, while first-time visitors can check out New Here to acquaint themselves with what we’re doing. Head over to Prayer Starter if you need some help in that area, the Listen page houses the Podcast, and of course we have a contact page, as well.

Very quickly, listeners need to understand that as believers we rely solely upon God’s Word, His scripture, as laid out in the 66 books of the Bible, written by 40 different authors, over several thousand years. We dedicate ourselves daily to the Lord Jesus Christ and His teachings, and we communicate with Him through prayer to earnestly understand and share His truths, because according to the Lord in Matthew 10:26 and 27—the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to everyone. What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes, and what I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear!

Being obedient to Him is TheREDWords Mission—which is to tackle the literal, difficult, unusual, and otherworldly passages in scripture because people like you are seeking the truth about God and His beloved Son.

So thanks for joining me today as we dive into the importance of hearing God’s Word, because Jesus often proclaimed, “he who has ears, let him hear.”

Huh, what an interesting statement since people were created in God’s image with ears, one might think those appendages would automatically cause people to hear. And yet, throughout the Bible the Lord instructs His people to give, or lend an ear, and truly hear Him.

This concept is repeated so frequently, it demands our attention.

You see, in the beginning, the Lord talked directly with Adam during long leisurely walks through the Garden of Eden. We know Adam heard what the Lord said to him, because he did as the Lord commanded.

When God told Adam to name the animals, Adam named the animals,

When God saw that Adam was without a helper of equal status, God made woman and gave Adam instructions.

Adam welcomed his wife,

they tended the garden together,

they co-ruled earth,

they had complete dominion over the planet,

they multiplied, and God said it was good.

So…we know Adam heard because he obeyed.

When God told Adam not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, Adam and his wife obeyed—for awhile anyway.

But we all know the story. Adam and Eve sinned against God and they were thrown out of the Garden forever. Still, the Lord spoke directly to the couple along with Cain, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and many more.

One problem though…

After that initial sin, humanity sort of turned their ears off. And maybe that’s why Old Testament scripture overflows with versus where the Lord is telling people to use their ears to hear what He has to say.

I don’t know, but it appears that things back then were an awful lot like they are right now, because today people use their ears to hear, they even claim to listen, but they still go against God.

So let’s explore a few of the versus about lending an ear.

The first time the Lord commands an ear is in the second book of the Bible, where the Lord just rescued Moses and the entire nation of Israel from total wipeout by the Egyptian army, and without losing a soul, God sends the Israelites into the wilderness on their way to the promised land. The people rejoice in the Lord with thankfulness for being brought out of slavery, and then the following happens—I’ll paraphrase Exodus chapter 15: verses 22 through 27:

Three days into their wilderness journey, the Israelites are having some difficulty locating water and instead of simply asking the Lord for help, they complain against Him. Moses gets word of their grumbling, he intervenes, and the Lord provides water in a most unusual way. But because they complained, the Lord decides to test the Israelites and He says to them: “If you will give earnest heed to the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer.”

God is making it easy for the Israelites to come to Him in times of need. God wants them to rely upon Him. He explains that He will provide. The Lord loves to heal people from their sicknesses, illnesses, and maladies. In return He simply asks for a relationship. These are simple concepts that somehow aren’t easy for people. Immediately following this statement, the Lord brings the nation to a gorgeous spot with 12 clear-flowing springs of water and plenty of food for everyone. In doing this, God proves Himself to the Israelites. He is faithful.

But in the very next chapter God’s beloved nation begins a pattern of rebellion. The Lord calls the people to hear and makes them a promise. The nation claims to hear the promise and they go together towards it. The Lord provides everything and the nation gives thanks, but at the smallest hiccup they grumble and complain against God AGAIN, instead of asking for His help.

Throughout the Old Testament the Lord repeatedly attempts to call Israel away from rebellion. He instructs the Israelites to hear Him in Deuteronomy 32:1, Judges 5:3, 2 Chronicles 24:19, Nehemiah 9:30, Job 34:2, throughout the Psalms and in other Old Testament books. God repeatedly requests His people give an ear to hear Him, stop their rebellion, repent, and return to a relationship with Him. We’re talking thousands of years where God sends emissaries in hopes the people will listen to Him through His prophets, Kings, and Judges.

Alas, the majority do not give an ear, they do not rise above the rebellion, and they do not repent and return to Him. So God separates out the righteous and abandons the rest over to their worldly desires—He allows them to indulge in their pride, and they sink into all types of iniquity.

In the New Testament, things change. God sends His Son so He can be heard and seen by everyone. During His life Jesus performs miracles that are witnessed by thousands. When people see these remarkable events, they also listen to what He has to say. They hunger to hear the Lord share the truth about Himself, He explains the Gospel of the Good News, He tells parables, and He recites Old Testament scripture about Himself in hopes people understand that He is the fulfillment of those scriptures. He encourages both Jews and gentiles into a personal relationship with Him.

And then Jesus gives Himself over to be sacrificed.

The people who saw Him, heard Him, and loved Him believed it was over, their great Messiah was dead. But Jesus is resurrected and remained on earth working with His followers, and many other witnesses, for 40 days. He continued to perform miracles. He ate and drank with people. He spoke to multitudes and then Jesus ascended into the throne room of heaven, where He currently sits with God the Father until the day God tells Him to call forth His beloved people from earth.

We don’t know the exact date of this great calling and subsequent return to Him, known as the Rapture, Harpazo—but we do know from scripture that we are not abandoned this time. Because the Lord showed Himself to the Apostle John in a vision, while John was banished on the Greek island of Patmos, where the Lord gave John the last book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation. In that book, Jesus repeats eight times—“He who has ears, let him hear.”

Jesus speaks this command seven times in the beginning chapters of Revelation, after giving an account to seven different churches regarding the difficulties they faced. At the end of each letter, Jesus instructs the churches to hear His words and obey.

But why would the Lord keep repeating this phrase?

Because—the passages are pulling double duty by warning those seven churches during John’s time—and warning our modern churches today—about things that need to change. Mistakes were being made back then, and the same mistakes are being made today, and Jesus wants the mistakes corrected. Additionally, these mistakes must be corrected on several levels, the most important being the literal hearing of His warning by every individual believer. Hearing and responding brings the individual back into the Lord Jesus Christ’s truth—His way for their personal relationship with Him. He does not want a single one of His beloved to be left behind because they are unaware, or ignorant of their mistakes!

The trouble is the modern church is not teaching their congregations to hear. Particularly, they do not teach the books where the Lord instructs “He who has ears, let him hear”—those books that I already mentioned, as well as Numbers, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and most importantly Revelation.

So what is the very last scripture in the Bible regarding He who has ears?

It is Revelation chapter 13, verse 9. And it comes after an incredible prophesy where the Lord Jesus Christ describes what humanity is going to do in the future. Let me set it up for you:

That great serpent from the Garden of Eden will show himself on earth in the form of a man. He will be the one world leader. This liar, thief, murderer and destroyer will be capable of speaking in every language on earth and he will demand that people worship him. Unfortunately for many, they do as he commands. They adore him as he blasphemes the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father. Then, this world leader murders millions of people who reject this man and reject his mark on their foreheads or wrists, and choose instead to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Directly after this comes the Lord’s warning, because after the one world leader murders millions of saints, anyone who continues to worship him will be slain when Christ returns the second time to earth. And then, finally, in verse 9 Jesus adamantly instructs every individual for the very last time “He who has ears, let him hear!”

The present day church, their leaders, and their congregations need to HEAR and turn back to Him. The Lord desires that no one who turns away remains lost. He desires that everyone who is seeking the truth is given the opportunity to hear it, because He alone offers everlasting life to anyone who chooses Him.

And so this concludes today’s podcast about that important human appendage—the ears. Listen well, dear friends, and heed the God-breathed, Holy Spirit-inspired Word of God as you seek a deeper personal relationship with Him. Thank you for joining me today. Know that the Lord Jesus Christ loves you so very much, and so do we! Until next week, may you be richly blessed. Amen and amen.

2. BOOK OF REVELATION #1

Thank you for joining me today as we begin a new series exploring the book of Revelation.

Right up front I’m going to inform you that this book is God’s final warning to humanity regarding His upcoming plans for planet earth, and hearing God’s mighty words will be difficult—even for some believers.

Many will refuse to accept the information. I understand, and recognize this is their prerogative.

The faint of heart will cry out against the emotional torment Revelation generates. So the question is—would it better to say nothing, or should beneficial information be shared? Because when it is shared—then at least—people can accept it or not. Either way, they make an informed decision for themselves.

Understand too, that there will be people who recognize this book is the ultimate love letter from the Creator of everything. A letter that concludes the final chapter of earth, so God can usher in His next age.

More on that later.

Right now I want to introduce the book of Revelation by saying it is loaded with incredulous passages that boggle the mind. The message is direct and specific and quite literal—as is the rest of the Bible—so be careful not to view any part as some big fiction novel.

Most of the passages in Revelation are spiritual in nature and transcend earthly understanding, as God describes His capabilities and how they will affect the people living on earth. Anyone who struggles with basic earthly truths, may find these spiritual ones nearly impossible to understand.

And yet, our loving God still reveals them to the listener, because His love and faithfulness to mankind is powerful enough to yank people from their unbelief.

Lastly, Revelation is filled with God’s wrath as He seeks vengeance and victory over His enemies. The events in this book are quite violent towards these people and clearly demonstrate the severe consequences toward anyone who harms God’s beloved.

Please understand why. Someday, God will stop world leaders from persecuting and killing His people. The middle and later chapters of Revelation explain when and how God does this.

Right now, though, the beginning of Revelation is God’s greatest desire—that people come to understand that His warnings are His way of showing people how much He loves them and how much He wants to protect as many people as possible. Therefore, He promises His protection to anyone who listens and comes to believe.

So let’s deep dive into the Book of Revelation to see how it unfolds.

According to historians Revelation was written in 96 AD. All but one of Jesus’ disciples are dead. Only John remains and he is in his 80’s—banished on the Greek island of Patmos.

John is the last man standing, so to speak, and something is not quite right about John’s situation, because while Jesus was on the cross, He called John and His mother Mary over to Him and told John to take care of His mother. This was a surprise and obviously the Lord had something on His mind, because Jesus had other brothers who easily could have cared for Mary.

Now add to that, the impossibility of John caring for her while he was banished on an island some 60 nautical miles from Ephesus, where Mary lived at the time.

It didn’t make sense, and yet, there John was.

The answer lies in the beginning of Revelation. Jesus required John to be in complete isolation before He would reveal Himself.

Revelation, Chapter 1, verses 1 and 2:

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.

Immediately John is direct and specific about why Revelation is necessary. He stresses that God wants His beloved to know His plans. John continues by explaining how Revelation originated and why John was chosen to write the book. John tells the reader that he was faithful and obedient in testifying to God’s word, and also to the testimony of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ while he was His disciple. Basically, when John is told to do something, he obeys by repeating it precisely as the Lord says.

And then in verse 3 something amazing happens:

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophesy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

WOW! No other book in the Bible extends a blessing to the reader! Which makes Revelation incredibly important. Time is marching toward God’s final plan and God Himself is saying “Pay Attention!”

Verses 4 and 5 begin John’s salutation:

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood—

In the first 3 chapters of Revelation seven letters are written to seven churches and they contain the loving instructions and warnings that help people find their way to God.

John expresses to the church who reads his letters—and subsequently to the rest of us—God’s hope that only grace and peace will result from what he writes. John uses three common identifiers for God—identifiers the receivers would know and understand as the Great Creator—He who is, who was, and who is to come.

Then John introduces the reader to the seven Spirits who are before God’s throne.

Seven, interesting…we’ll see that number repeated throughout Revelation. So Who are these seven spirits?

We turn to Isaiah 11:2 to find out. As we do, keep in mind both the Lord Jesus and Holy Spirit are servants. Jesus is a servant King and Holy Spirit is His helper. Both show believers how to best serve others. In this passage Holy Spirit is described seven ways as

The Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of understanding, the Spirit of counsel, the Spirit of power, the Spirit of knowledge, and the Spirit of the fear of the Lord—meaning deep respect and commitment.

Finally, John extends greetings from Jesus, hence acknowledging the Father, Son and Holy Spirit of the Trinity. Lastly, John shares the love of God and His Son toward anyone who listens to or reads this passage.

Verse 6 continues the salutation with some shocking information:

…and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

This verse is remarkable and demands the readers attention because Jews know that Old Testament scripture is incredibly clear. Israeli kings and priests are two separate entities—they are never combined—they always come from two separate tribes.

Except for one obscure single sentence passage in Genesis 14, verse 18:

And Melchizedek King of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High.

That’s it. That’s the verse.

So how can John claim that Jesus is going to make His Jewish and gentile believers to be both kings and priests who will rule and reign and serve His Father? This is unprecedented!

But we find the answer in Psalm 110—where the reader is allowed to eavesdrop on a private conversation between God the Father and His Son, as written by King David.

As a side note—Psalm 110 is the only other Old Testament passage relating to King Melchizedek, but there are several New Testament references. Additionally, because the identifiers ‘the Lord’ and ‘the Lord’ are used for both God and His Son, I separate them into God and my Lord—meaning Jesus—to help the listener better understand this passage.

Psalm 110 reads:

God said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool under Your feet.” God will extend Your powerful kingdom from Jerusalem; You will rule over Your enemies. Your people willingly follow You when You go into battle. On the holy hills at sunrise the dew of Your youth belongs to You. God makes this promise on oath and will not revoke it: “You are an eternal priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” O sovereign God, at Your right hand He strikes down kings in the day He unleashes His anger. He executes judgement against the nations; He fills the valleys with corpses; He shatters their heads over the vast battlefield. From the stream along the road He drinks; then He lifts up His head in victory.

WOW! God begins Revelation with a bombshell and He does not relent throughout the remainder of the book. This entire passage in Psalms foreshadows God’s events in Revelation, where He takes vengeance against His enemies, and John is boldly stating that Jesus’ believers will join Him in battle and become like Him as co-rulers and priests.

But verse 7 is even more astonishing:

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.

John clearly shows in these first six verses that Jesus will be returning to earth, and He will not arrive as a meek and humble servant.

Next time, He comes down out of heaven on the clouds, as the mighty King of Kings.

And every single person on earth will witness this event, along with the Roman soldiers who drove the nails through Jesus’ hands and feet when they hung Him on the cross.

How is this possible?

As I mentioned, God is revealing His powers to the world in this book. He can and will do whatever He chooses—and many of those things are far beyond our comprehension. But this passage indicates that God desires that dead people see His Son when He returns to earth the second time. Jesus’ physical return is that important to God!

What is more impactful is the response earth dwellers have to His arrival. The nations of earth will mourn.

But why?

Because they finally realize they chose the wrong side, and their death is imminent.

Of course when Jesus comes the second time, there will be believers who rejoice in His coming, but John doesn’t tell us about them until much later.

This concludes the first episode of the book of Revelation Series. I fully understand that there is much to think about in these passages so I’d like to pray over each listener as they consider what God has to say.

Almighty Father, the Lord of our Lord, Holy are You God. Thank you Father for this beloved listener today. I ask You for a special blessing upon them—while they remain quietly inside Your presence and everlasting love. Father I ask that Your Word travels deep within their heart and mind as they seek to understand this special book that reveals Your plan for humanity.

Lord, I pray that they hold fast to this present course to gain the knowledge and wisdom You provide. Help them learn, Father. Help them see. Provide them with Your covering as they seek the truth, O God, and bring them peace and hope in Who You Are and What You’ve done for all mankind throughout time. Help them as they digest this incredible work of end-time warnings.

And Abba Father, our protector and provider, thank You for sending Your Son to earth as a man to take on the sins of the world. Thank You that the Lord Jesus Christ died to redeem Your beloved creation, died to reclaim what belongs to Him and in His power, rose up out of that grave after taking back the keys to death and Hell. Thank You that He is their sole owner now, and we are thankful that death and hell no longer have a grip on His followers. We know the Lord Jesus proved Himself for all the world to see, before returning home to sit in honor at Your mighty right hand—where He remains until the day of His Second Coming.

O God, I pray that You reveal to each listener today how much this death of love meant to You. That You, the God of the Universe sent as a sacrifice, the One You love most dearly, so that all humanity could be saved.

Thank You, Father for a love so deep and compassionate that we cannot fully comprehend. And thank You, Lord Jesus for Your obedience and willingness to save us. None can truly fathom the price You paid. Your love endures forever and ever.

Amen.

3. BOOK OF REVELATION #2

Welcome to TheREDWords Podcast where we pursue a personal relationship with God the Father and His Son—the Lord Jesus Christ. Join us weekly as we deep dive into the dynamic and oftentimes curious Holy Spirit-inspired Book of God’s Word.

Thank you for joining me today as we continue with the second episode in the book of Revelation series.

We begin with verse 8 where the Lord Jesus Christ introduces himself to the listener.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

The Lord reveals His sovereignty upon the listener—with the statement that He is first and last and everything in between. He bookends every aspect of creation, by stating that He is God with a capital G, like His Father.

Then the Lord repeats the identifiers the listener has already heard and knows from the first seven verses—Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come. Jesus is repeating and layering His many names because He is preparing to introduce additional names in the upcoming verses.

Verse 8 ends with the Lord proclaiming that He is THE Almighty…once again emphasizing He is God, thus assuring the listener that what is about to transpire is God’s plan and it will be fulfilled.

In verse 9 we move back to John, as he explains more about himself.

I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

Once again John is sharing incredible things within a single sentence, and he ties them together with the conjunction ‘and’.

Brother AND

Fellow partaker in the tribulation AND

Kingdom AND

Perseverance which are in Jesus

John is joining two groups together—the letter recipients as well as the future readers of the book of Revelation who are in Jesus Christ—both groups are incredibly important in this book of prophecy.

John considers the recipients of the letter and future believers who read Revelaton to be his kinsman.

AND

John warns both groups that they will be persecuted because they are in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, persecution will occur in John’s time, in the centuries after his death, during our present time, AND into the time period when the actual event that is called the tribulation begins.

AND

The persecuted will be in the kingdom.

AND

Before they get there they must persevere, holding fast to the Word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, just as John was doing on Patmos.

This encouragement is vital for the unveiling of the first three chapters of Revelation.

Keep in mind that John has first hand knowledge of persecution. He personally witnessed it. He personally experienced it. He also dealt with the martyrdom of his fellow disciples—including his brother James. John fully understands the believer’s struggle toward victory which is completed in Jesus.

Next, in verses 10 through 12, John describes what happened when the vision started:

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, saying, “Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man,

The listener is introduced to two terms that will be repeated in upcoming chapters, a loud voice, and the sound of a trumpet. John is given instructions, and seven churches are introduced.

John turns around to identify the owner of the voice, and beholds quite a sight. Seven golden lampstands are lit and their flames are flickering. Walking among them is a person John recognizes as the Son of Man, his beloved Rabbi and teacher. But the Lord’s appearance is quite different from the last time he saw Him.

Now here’s the rest of verse 11 through 16…

I saw one like a son of man, Who was clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.

What a glorious representation of God in the flesh as depicted by The Revealer in the Old Testament book of Daniel. John is repeating Daniel’s prophesy here, and this description would have been recognized by the church leaders receiving the letters.

Jesus—The Revealer—is strong and righteous and worthy as King and Lord. He gets John’s attention with a loud voice that sounds like a trumpet and gives John instructions about the book, and the letters to the specific churches.

The Lord’s voice roars like many waters, mighty and flowing and crashing—unmistakably powerful.

This is followed by two descriptions:

First are the seven stars in Jesus’ right hand. Biblically the right hand symbolizes something important, honorable, authoritative, requiring judgment, even healing. One example regarding importance and honor would be that in heaven Jesus sits at God’s right hand. So we know the seven stars have great value to the Lord, and are completely under His control.

Second is a two-edged sword, which is portrayed throughout scripture as being the Word of God. One of Jesus’ names is the Word of God, because Jesus proclaims Father God’s Word, and uses it in many ways—to teach, reward, prophesy, improve or admonish, declare, judge, convict, and so on.

One particularly descriptive verse about the two-edged sword can be found in Hebrews 4:12.

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Another passage about Jesus being the sharp sword and using it for God’s judgement comes from Isaiah 11:4:

…and He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.

The two-edged sword is Jesus’ most frequently used tool, and in verse 16 the Lord is sharpening it in preparation for future events.

We go on in Chapter 1, verses 17 and 18 to learn that John was overcome by the Lord’s visit.

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

Imagine what it would have been like for John—in this vision—to have His beloved friend touch him with such love. Jesus gives John a little time to pull himself together by identifying Himself with names John is familiar with. Then the Lord tells John that He has two very important sets of keys.

Was John coherent enough to wonder: “Keys? What are they about?” The Lord did not give John the opportunity to ask…

In verse 19 Jesus repeats the reason for His visit, and instructs John again:

“Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.

Huh. The Lord proclaims that the letters to the seven churches will not be the only information He gives to John. And then, in verse 20, Jesus answers the question about who and what are represented by the seven stars and the seven lampstands.

Can you feel the urgency here? The Lord is not wasting any time. Poor John fell as if he was dead, the Lord revived him and is insisting John get with the program. Like snap, snap—let’s go!

“As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”

Ah HA! Jesus is skillfully laying out vital information.

The seven stars might be His holy angel messengers who will deliver the letters.

They could also be seven angles who are in charge of protecting the seven churches.

They could be the seven men who receive the letters. Or they could be all three, which is comforting to know that the Lord has every angle covered.

But what about this?

Jesus is holding these stars close, which indicates whoever the stars represent are vitally important for the unveiling of this book. OK. Who needs to read them? Well, the church leaders do—and then us—we need to read them.

So the order of go is—

John get a move on and write.

Angels deliver the letters.

Pastors, read the letters and follow their instructions.

Angels protect those who read the instructions and obey the solutions provided.

Jesus goes on to reveal that the lampstands represent seven actual, active, working congregations in that region. Therefore, the lampstands are literal earthly churches—for both then and throughout the centuries—to right now. Not one bit of this is allegorical.

So let’s move on to Revelation, Chapter 2, verses 1 through 3:—and the letter to the church at Ephesus.

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: “I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.”

The first of Jesus’ letters answers the question of the seven stars being the recipients of His letters. They are men He holds close and dear to His heart. He tells them that He walks among them. He is with them, and He wants them to be without blemish—holy and pure. He expects the seven leaders to teach their congregations God’s Word in its entirety—straight and true, and with no falsehood.

Then Jesus commends each individual within the Ephesus church, the congregation as a whole, and their church leaders for refusing to tolerate evil people. As a whole, they do not allow evil into their midst.

Wait, why would Jesus mention protection from evil?

The large city of Ephesus was predominantly pagan. Its citizens worshiped the Greek goddess Diana at the Temple of Artemis. Diana was the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and she was twin to the god Apollo. Artemis was known as the goddess of the wilderness, of the hunt, of wild animals, protector of young women, and children.

Apparently, she had a vile temper though, and once demanded the daughter of King Agamemnon as a sacrifice for a wrong the king committed. In Greek mythology Artemis killed Orion for his attempted rape attack against her. Artemis turned one of her followers into a bear after the young woman had sex with her father, Zeus. Then she banished the bear and her child into the sky to live forever as constellations.

But wait, the evil gets worse…Artemis used her hunting bow to kill six innocent daughters of Niobe, because Niobe boasted that she was more fertile than Artemis’ mother, Leto. The list of the goddess’ lawlessness continues, but it’s interesting that her followers in Ephesus worshiped her as a protector of women, yet all she did was kill innocent women regularly!

The enormous Temple of Diana became one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, where black magic and human sacrifices were commonly practiced to appease this goddess whose actions rocket her onto a whole new level of evil.

According to verse 2, the church at Ephesus worked long and hard, refusing to tolerate the many evil men who attempted to infiltrate their congregation. The congregation was also diligent in determining if anyone attempting to join their church was false—regarding themselves to be one of Jesus’ apostles. The church at Ephesus did not want anyone to turn a member of their congregation toward pagan practices.

Jesus is careful to tell the Ephesus leaders that He knows they have endured all of this evil and treachery for Him alone, and He is aware that they will not grow weary in their work.

High praise from the Most High God who walks among them.

In the next episode of the book of Revelation series, we’re going to explore Jesus’ concerns and subsequent instructions for the church at Ephesus.

And so, dear friends, take heed of the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God today as you seek a deeper personal relationship with Him. Thank you for joining me and know that the Lord Jesus Christ loves you very much, and so do we.

Until next week, may you be richly blessed. Amen, and Amen.

4. BOOK OF REVELATION #3

In this third installment in the Book of Revelation Series we continue in Chapter 2, verses 4 through 7 regarding the church at Ephesus.

The Lord Jesus Christ told the church that He is with them, walking among them, observing what they do and how they do it. He praised the church at Ephesus for persevering and working hard to protect themselves from false prophets, misinformation, and evil.

But there’s something we need to understand before we continue, and that is the importance of the lampstands and the reason Jesus walks among them.

First, the lampstands represent past and present day churches. Well, what constitutes a church? It’s made up of varying parts, right? To simplify, the Lord’s church is made up of leadership, congregations, and individuals to whom the Lord has given instructions. Regardless of each person’s placement within the church, they are individually responsible for hearing and obeying the instructions in the seven letters.

Secondly: Jesus clearly and precisely proclaimed Who He was, and why He was sent to earth in His declaration account in Luke 4:16-21. I’ll paraphrase…

During His ministry Jesus travelled to His hometown of Nazareth to declare Himself the Son of God. Jesus went into the Nazarene synagogue on Sabbath and read from Isaiah 61, verses 1 and 2a.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,

Incredulously, He stopped reading at a comma, and did not complete the passage which explains why He came to earth. He purposefully stopped reading to leave that part out. Instead, Jesus said, “today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Claiming He was the long-awaited Jewish Messiah caused an uproar. Those present in the synagogue dragged Jesus to a cliff, and attempted to throw Him off.

So what does Isaiah 61, verse 2b say?

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,…and the day of vengeance of our God.

WHOA!

He shared Who He is, but refused to warn His countrymen about the future day of vengeance of His Father. Jesus walked away from that cliff unharmed, for it was not yet His time to die, but what was the meaning of all this?

As Jesus said, He came to serve, but His ultimate reason was to declare Himself the Messiah—Savior to the lost. This public declaration in Nazareth was another step in God’s plan to reverse the original sin committed by Adam and Eve. Jesus told His hometown that He is God sent in the flesh to be their Savior. They didn’t believe Him because they wanted their Savior to be a mighty warrior King who would defeat the Roman occupation of their lands. The Jews believed this, because they also believed He was coming only to save Jews. It was unthinkable to them that God would come to save all mankind—and they rejected that notion outright.

Yet, the all powerful Son of God did exactly that. He came to earth to provide the only way back to the original perfection He created in Jews and gentiles alike. Just as it was in the Garden of Eden.

But Jesus refused to complete the scripture regarding that future day of God’s vengeance because He needed to build His church first. He needed His church in place to reach every single person possible with His offer of salvation.

In the 2000+ years since His ascension to heaven, the church of Jesus Christ has reached many millions of people, and throughout that time period Jesus Christ has walked spiritually among the lampstands—the churches—guiding and correcting, and furthering His Father’s plan to overcome the original sin. He did all of this to save the inhabitants of earth from eternal punishment, because Jesus wants to see every single person redeemed.

Jesus needs His church body of believers to be His hands and feet. They are tasked to present the Great Commission, the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost. And so that comma between Isaiah 61, verses 2a and 2b represents 2 millennia and in that time period Jesus’ church has gone forth and taught His great commission.

But think about this…in that same time period the body of Christ—Jesus’ church—has also been waiting that long for God to release His Son back to earth so they could once again be with Him in person.

And Jesus too, has been waiting for His Father’s timing, for He knows full well the next time He comes to earth He will arrive as the avenging mighty right hand of God—as King Jesus—and He will take back everything that belongs to Him. Therefore, the seven letters are His first and His final instructions to His church, and they must be heard and obeyed so the lost can be offered salvation.

With that understanding, let’s move on to verse 4 and part of verse 5, as the Lord continues His letter to the church at Ephesus:

“But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deed you did at first;

Jesus’ seven letters are filled to the brim with information that is easy to follow if the listener’s heart and mind are committed to Him. Take note that Jesus compliments first, admonishes second, and instructs third which shows His commitment to maintaining a positive relationship. Jesus desires the church at Ephesus to return to Him like they did at first.

He reminds them of their commitment to the first commandment, love God before everything else. He wants them to recognize how far they’ve fallen away, ask His forgiveness, and love Him foremost.

In Luke 10:27 we read exactly what Jesus wants from the first commandment…

…you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind…

That pretty much covers every aspect, doesn’t it?

For the believer—one who truly seeks and loves God—the first commandment is the single most important thing they should do. Because the believers deep enduring hope and joy and peace in the Lord God, their heartfelt desire to fear and respect and commit to Him, turns the Lord’s heart toward that person. Praise and worship is the normal result of deep love and affection for God, along with a desire to serve Him above all else. These commitments drive the believer ever closer to a loving God, and a loving God ever closer to them.

So what did the church at Ephesus fall away from, exactly?

In Acts 19:19 we learn that in the beginning the Ephesus leadership and congregation loved Jesus so much they burned all of their magic books—worth 50,000 silver pieces! Wow, that was a fortune then, and it’s still a fortune today. But they didn’t hesitate, that’s how in love they were with the Lord Jesus.

But something changed. The church became so busy bustling about, testing false prophets and protecting themselves from evil, that they stopped loving the LORD their God and took great pride in their work instead. They stopped praising and worshiping Him. They stopped looking to Him FIRST! Their work became personal gain—and that always results in waning love. Jesus wanted their love back. He did not want their love to dry up completely.

He wanted Ephesus to eliminate their sense of self and return to Him immediately.

But why?

Because He longed for the sweetness He once had with this church. He desired their surrender to Him. He longed to receive their love, the same way He loved them. You see, Ephesus—in the Greek—means ‘desiring’. God is love. Jesus is love and He desired Ephesus. And this is the reason He writes to Ephesus first. To tie together His desire for the churches with the first commandment to love the Lord your God. You see, then and now Jesus desires all humanity return to Him, commit to Him, and have a personal relationship with Him.

Now here’s the most difficult part people have about how Revelation is worded. Jesus desires this church so much He commands them to turn around or else He will seek vengeance against them. Punishment corrects a person when they’ve done wrong and they refuse to acknowledge and come back to what is correct. But Jesus, in His ultimate kindness uses punishment as His last resort!

But why use punishment at all? Well, because the disobedience within the church at Ephesus had consequences.

Listen to the rest of verse 5:

or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.

This ultimatum was necessary because the consequences of their disobedience would affect non-believing Ephesians! Jesus was not threatening to take away their salvation, or their inheritance to live in heaven. No, no! That’s not it. Their hard work and perseverance caused them to be doctrinally correct, but they’d lost their love for their fellow Ephesian citizens. This church was so busy protecting themselves from their Ephesian brothers, they couldn’t see that the One who created them, also created the rest of the people in the city!

The Lord Jesus had placed this church inside the city of Ephesus to show deep love and affection for everyone living there. He desired the inhabitants of Ephesus to turn away from the murderous Greek goddess Artemis and come to Him for salvation, and He needed the church to do this service for Him. He needed them to act as His hands and feet, but they’d stopped showing love and compassion, and they’d separated themselves instead.

Yes, the church should prayerfully remain strong and resilient and responsible in the Lord Jesus. And if they’d remained thus, He would have protected them. Their job was to SHOW LOVE. He would take care of all the rest, including protection.

And remember, Jesus commended them for a long list of good things. He was simply asking that they return to Him and love Him according to the first commandment, because they MUST WORK WITHIN HIS LOVE to turn the Artemis-worshipers toward God.

In verse 6 Jesus softens His tone and praises this church one more time before He signs off…

“Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”

Ummm, so who are these Nicolaitans?

In the Greek Nico means ‘victor over’. And laos means ‘the people’. Nicolaitans are church leaders who demand their congregations serve them instead of the other way around. Jesus abhors Nicolaitans because in His teachings, He personally demonstrated that He came to earth to serve all people. He demonstrated that He came to be a sacrifice for all people. Jesus served unconditionally, and He died unconditionally. He taught and healed and made blind people see again. The mute to speak. The deaf to hear. He did this FOR people regardless of whether they believed Who He was or not.

And then He bathed His disciples feet as an act of service—to show them exactly what serving means, because Jesus is the living testimony of God’s abundant love toward all humanity.

Jesus also came to earth to proclaim relationship is more important than the law. Especially the man-made laws the Jewish leadership had distorted for their own gain. They desired above all else to be honored and highly esteemed by their congregations. Opposite of what church leadership are required to do—which is SERVE THEIR CONGREGATIONS. But the Jewish Pharisees and Sadducees viewed themselves above everybody else. They taxed their congregations so they could live like kings. They demanded respect in return for nothing. They lorded themselves over everyone.

Of course, other man-made religions do the same thing—asking their congregations to pay to light a candle, pay to get a family member out of purgatory—a place that doesn’t even exist! These congregations must go through layers of priests, and bishops and other leaders before they can get to God. Jesus hates Nicolaitans, because He was the reverse. He represents great love, and out of that love He served, He died for one and all, so we could be with Him and Father God forever. There is only One layer to God, and that is through His son.

So here’s how all of this ties together for the church at Ephesus and for believers today:

Church Leaders = love the Lord first. Then, serve your congregations in love. Seek and meet their needs in the Lord’s name, then teach them to do the same.

Church Congregations = Love the Lord first, learn from church leadership, and then go out and serve people in love.

Individual believer = Love the Lord first, then lovingly serve within the church congregation, and then go out and serve people according to His will for you.

This becomes the activity that is called the great commission—the gospel of the good news of Jesus Christ upon which His church is founded. To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind leads the believer into loving service that benefits the lost and shows them how much God loves them. That first commandment, service-oriented life—which comes from His will for each believer—ripples outward and brings the lost to the Lord Jesus Christ, where they can make a decision for Him. At that point, the Lord Jesus brings the new believer to God the Father.

And finally, here is the last verse to the Ephesian church, Revelation, chapter 2, verse 7:

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.”

Verse 7 circles back to the first REDWords podcast and the importance of every single person hearing the Word of God, because the information is that vital.

Why?

Because when the believer hears and obeys, their relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is upgraded to a new status…that of the faithful overcomer. Jesus rewards these believers and they will rule and reign with Him in His Millennial Kingdom for 1000 years, and at the end will eat from the tree of life in the Kingdom of God forever.

So…there are 4 points to the take away:

At the end of the first letter we have a great understanding that Jesus wants the reader to recognize that the book of Revelation is prophetically declaring God’s plans for the future. We’re going to see this theme throughout the seven letters.
As we move through life believers must remember to love the Lord their God with all they have, and then obey and serve His will for them.
Listeners need to understand that Satan wants God’s beloved separated and he will do everything in his considerable power to make that happen. He will send blatantly evil people into churches. He will turn church leaders from serving their congregations into demanding that they be served. Satan will niggle into prideful hearts and minds to convince the unwary that God’s Word is allegory instead of literal truth. Satan hates humanity and does everything within his power to separate believers from their loving creator.
Combat evil by loving and fearing God. He promises to protect. Those who go above and beyond will be rewarded as King Jesus’ faithful ones—His overcomers.

So, a few final questions…

Did the church at Ephesus repent and return? Did they survive these thousands of years? Are they still going strong in the Lord’s work today?

The answer is no.

The once great harbor at Ephesus is all dried up and the city is covered in layers of silt. All that remains are a few ruins…so sad.

Until next week, may you be richly blessed. Amen, and Amen.

5. BOOK OF REVELATION #4

We’re back this week with a new letter to the church at Smyrna, which is one of two churches where the Lord Jesus Christ spoke positively, with no reprimand—only instructions and rewards.

We begin with Revelation, chapter 2, verse 8:

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: the first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: I know your works, and tribulation, and your proverty…

The Lord Jesus Christ identifies Himself as God with the familiar statement that He is the first and the last. Then He identifies Himself as the Man who came as a sacrifice, and is resurrected to live forevermore among His believers.

It’s interesting how Jesus weaves His identifications of God and Man into the definition of the city. Smyrna is a derivative of myrrh, the herb used to embalm the dead with a sweet scent that occurs only after it has been crushed.

Once again the Lord tells His church that He knows what they’re doing, and how they’re doing it. He approves of their works and understands firsthand their trials and tribulations. Jesus mentions their abject poverty among one of the wealthiest cities in the region. Jesus knew that His Smyrna believers were being publicly robbed of their possessions and their livelihoods, and we read about that in the book of Hebrews, chapter 10, verses 33 and 34: having been

made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations…and [you] still accepted joyfully the seizure of your property…

The church at Smyrna did not shrink away from hardship and persecution. And then in verse 9 the Lord says something quite striking:

(but you are rich),

How can the destitute be viewed as rich?

Because of their faithfulness.

For centuries the wealthy and cultural Smyrna worshiped the pagan Greek gods—Dionysus, Apollo, Zeus, and Aphrodite among them, however, the citizenry had all but abandoned their pagan worship and switched their allegiance to the current Roman Emperor.

At that time it was Emperor Domitian—the Caesar who’d banished John to the island of Patmos. In AD 96 Domitian demanded all Roman citizens personally and publicly claim him as their Lord, and then burn incense on the alter of Caesar to receive their religious certificate. The certificate was good for one year, and if any citizen refused they were put to death in the colosseums.

Well, the church in Smyrna refused to place Caesar higher than their Lord Jesus Christ and they were being crushed for their disobedience.

Verse 9 continues:

and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.”

Jesus’ church faced a double whammy, because their Jewish Smyrna brethren were hostile, they’d turned against them, and were abusing Christ’s church at every turn. And Jesus is quick to disown these Pharisees and Sadducees, refusing to accept them as His beloved people. Instead He links them to Satan, as He did in John chapter 8, verses 41 through 44, when Jesus said:

“You are doing the deeds of your father.” [And the Jewish leadership] replied to Him, “We are not born of fornication; we have one Father: God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand what I am saying? Is it because you cannot hear My word? You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him.”

That’s quite a statement, to compare the Jewish leadership to Satan—calling him their true father because of the deep evil in their hearts. Jesus was not talking about their Jewish heritage, or their blood, or which of the 12 tribes they belonged to. No. Jesus was referring to what was in their hearts and minds, as indicated by their actions.

Jesus was telling the Pharisees and the Sadducees that His true people, His true nation of Israel believed in Him as their Messiah, as the church in Smyrna did. And Paul backs up this theory in Philippians 3:3, when he spoke about Jesus’ church:

For we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh…

In the flesh…what does that mean?

Well, Jesus separates the ethnic Jew from the spiritual Jew, and calls the spiritual Jew rich because of their belief in Him, which places them far away from worldly riches.

Now let’s divide verse 10 into two parts—both are equally important:

The first part reads: Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for 10 days.

Oh how fear comes easily. People dread it, and Jesus is firmly telling the church at Smyrna to stop being afraid regardless of their circumstances. He wants His believers to stand firm in Him despite knowing some of them will be jailed, tested and killed. And Jesus introduces the number 10.

There is not one person among us who is super-hero capable of withstanding the afflictions this church was about to endure. But Jesus knows, and He asks them to stand firm in Him, as the devil performs his torments. It’s not easy to do, especially knowing that after the testing comes a horrific death. But Jesus needed them to endure.

Why? What is the meaning of the 10 days?

Some Bible commentators think that Jesus meant the horrific persecution over the reign of 10 Roman Emperors, beginning with Claudius and Nero in AD 41, through Domitian and Marcus Aurelius, to Valerian and ending with Diocletian in AD 305. And this could very well be true, since the number of Christ’s believers killed over that 1500+ year time period is estimated in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs to be about five million.

Other commentators think that Jesus meant 10 years of persecution—where each prophetic day represents a year during Emperor Diocletian’s reign between AD 284 and 305, when persecution in the church had reached an all-time high.

Still others say that 10 days is simply a Greek expression—meaning a short time.

However, what if Jesus simply means 10 days of severe persecution with an emphasis on the idea that God limited their suffering to 10 days and then welcomed them home, into His kingdom.

Realize, of course, that it could be all four.

Jesus created a very powerful testimony for His future believers regarding the church at Smyrna. They proved themselves to Him, they accepted the testing, the suffering, the tribulation and they were purified and made like Jesus. They became our witnesses to Him in their capability to suffer. And believers have read and understood, and withstood, because throughout the ages, the blood of the martyrs has always been the seed, that spreads His Word and grows His church.

And so back to the reason Jesus told His church at Smyrna that they were rich. You see, in their testing, they succeeded in displaying the true riches of the Lord Jesus Christ—by believing in Him—and living forever in His great love and care for all eternity. Wow! Now that equals the highest riches anyone can obtain!

And think about this…there is no reason to think that Jesus’ present day church will not be tested and persecuted, as well. And this frightens some believers, but the Lord was emphatic about it as we read in John 15:18 and 19:

If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this—the world hates you.

Jesus has already told the church at Smyrna and therefore us also, to stop being afraid. That is His command. But remember Dr. Luke tells us He sweated blood before He died, knowing the excruciating pain He would have to endure. Still, He maintained His Father’s will for Himself and we should, too.

And Jesus goes on to say in John 15, verse 20:

If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.

Jesus is building His case for future generations through the church in Smyrna, as we read in John 16:2—

They will make you outcasts, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering a service to God.

This is a remarkable passage that is being played out today, as people persecute and martyr believers and then claim they are doing these awful things for God! But, which gods, exactly? Well, they would be all the ‘little g’ gods whom Satan has deceived and now controls.

OK, back to verse 10, part 2, which talks about why we should remain faithful through fear:

Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

You see, Izmir, Turkey is the old city of Smyrna and today Muslims continue to crush and persecute the Lord’s church. It is believed by some researchers that Izmir still stones and hangs anyone they discover who is a Christ beliver. And every time they are martyred they receive the crown of life.

But researchers note that another interesting thing also occurs. Each time someone in the Lord’s beloved Smyrna church is killed, a new surge of believers rises up to teach the gospel of the good news of Jesus Christ, for He will not be denied.

So, what about this crown? Let’s take a look and see what it means…

There are two different words for crown in the Greek. Diadema or diadem which is worn by kings. It is heavy and ornate because it is fashioned from gold and precious jewels. It’s uncomfortable to wear, both physically and mentally, because the wearer carries such a heavy responsibility.

Whereas the stephanos, which is the Greek word used in this passage, is a trophy crown presented to a winning athlete—one who finishes the race well. And unlike the Greek stephanos crown made of leaves, Jesus’ crown of life endures forever.

Interestingly, in ancient Greece the stephanos was also worn during marraige ceremonies. Which makes this passage particularly meaningful for the Smyrna believers, for they will participate as the Lord Jesus Christ’s bride in the private wedding ceremony that will be held in heaven. They will forever be close to the Lord and that is an incredible honor.

Now for Revelation, chapter 2, verse 11:

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.

Once again overcomers are identified as Jesus’ faithful ones, those who hear and obey His instructions no matter what. In this case, His believers are to stand fast during persecution without fear, because these believers understand what Jesus told them in John 16:33 when He said—

In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, [for] I have overcome the world.

Believers take great comfort knowing that Jesus goes before them. And should they face tribulation and death, He will reward them by removing them from the second death.

Well, what is the second death?

It is being cast into the lake of fire. Those who have chosen Jesus Christ will never go there because Jesus conquered death for His believers, once and for all.

So, there are 4 take-away points regarding the church at Smyrna:

The name Smyrna depicts myrrh, which was the third gift given to young Jesus when He was visited by the Magi. The first gift of gold represents the Lord’s coming Kingship. Frankincense, the second gift, represents the Lord’s priesthood, and myrrh represents His crushing sacrificial death when He took on the world’s sin. The church at Smyrna was crushed. Smyrna represents myrrh—the Lord’s third gift—and now they live forever with Him bearing His gift to them—the crown of life.
Jesus’ letter to the church at Smyrna offers only praise and encouragement. He loves these people dearly because of their faithfulness, and they were rewarded accordingly. Today, Jesus sees the worldwide persecution of His church, and these believers are also dearly loved and will be rewarded for their fearless faithfulness.
The letter is a study in contrasts, or more precisely, exchanges. Some church members will be killed, but God will give them a new life. They will be tormented by Smyrna citizens who wear crowns made of leaves, but the Lord will give them the permanent and glorious crown of life. The Lord tells the church at Smyrna to be faithful unto death, but the ultimate and final second death will never touch them.
We learn that there are two types of Jews—those who believe their Messiah has already come and died for them, and those who do not. Jesus has separated these believing and non-believing Jews as far as the east is from the west. Those who recognized Him during His ministry on earth, and those who recognize Him today as their Messiah are members of His church. And as we see in Ezekiel 37 and Romans 9 through 11, Jesus has a plan for the Jews who do not yet recognize Him as their Messiah. They will be dealt with separately from the Lord’s church, because Jesus longs for His nation to see Him and recognize Him as their Messiah. So we must be patient, for Israel’s time is coming.

Until next week, may you be richly blessed. Amen, and Amen.

6. BOOK OF REVELATION #5

We have another new letter this week to the church at Pergamos, and once again the Lord warns that Satan has infiltrated His church—this is the third time in a row, making it quite clear how strongly the devil controls most of humanity. But rest assured, the Lord promises that one day Satan will be permanently bound—never to harm another person again. Pray that day comes swiftly! Amen!

The history of Pergamos is interesting, and straight away we see that the city has two names, depending upon which translation is used. Pergamos is the feminine form, and Pergamum is the neuter form of the same word.

Pergamos was known as the regions religious center. Many temples were erected for several Greek gods, Zeus, Athena, Apollo, and most notably for the serpent Asclepius, the god of healing and medical knowledge. The sick came to Pergamos from all over the Roman Empire to lay down on the floor in the temple at night in hopes one of the snakes occupying the temple would touch them and heal their ailment.

Asclepius is the same Greek god who winds around our modern day medical symbol, the Caduceus—which is known as the rod of Asclepius.

According to several key commentators, the Greek description of Pergamos means height or elevation, and towering some one-thousand feet above the city was the great alter of Pergamos, which Jesus refers to as ‘Satan’s throne’.

Additionally, the two root words that make up the name—per and gamos—means ‘by marriage.’ Pergamos is the church that initiated syncretism—the blending of several religions together, in this case Greek mythology, pagan idolatry, and the new derisive religion called Christianity. This marriage blending strongly affected Jesus’ first century church, and it still affects churches to this today.

OK, so Pergamos represents the church that is married to the world—and this holds great significance, because Pergamos switched from worshiping Greek gods and a few pagan sun and planetary gods, to worshiping the current Roman Emperor—much like the citizens of Babylon did when they worshiped Nimrod.

Why is Babylon significant here? Because all idol worship can be traced back to Babylon, where the citizens stopped worshiping the LORD GOD and began worshiping sun, moon, and planetary idols before moving on to worship their leader.

When they began worshiping Nimrod the Babylonian priests and the city’s citizens began sacrificing women and children to Baal, Baphamet, and Molech—different names for the same god. You see, Nimrod is a moniker for Satan and these same gods are still being worshiped today, and still involve human sacrifice.

All idolatry, pagan, and human worship religions—Greek, Roman, Persian, Asian, and others around the world, trace their roots back to Babylon, Nimrod, and the Babylonian priesthood. Now get this, throughout history, the Babylonian priesthood always followed the power and the money.

So when Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon, the Babylonian priests transferred their allegiance to Persia. When Persia was conquered by the Greeks, the Babylonian priests transferred their allegiance to Greece. The same thing occurred when the Greeks were conquered by the Romans, and it happened again when the Caesars were overtaken by the Roman Babylonian priests. They took all the accumulated worship practices from Babylon—idolatry, paganism, and Nimrod worship and transferred them over to their newly formed religion called the Roman Catholic Church—where today the Pope claims himself to be god, and demands to be worshiped as such.

To make matters worse, Pergamos blended ancient Babylonian satanic idolatry, with Greek and Roman paganism, and then married in the brand new religion known as Christianity.

This marraige blending is what Jesus is warning against in His letter to the church at Pergamos. You see, the city was a melting pot of syncretism—with Caesar worship and the new Christian religion spreading like wildfire.

Let’s turn now to Revelation, chapter 2, verse 12:

To the messenger of the church in Pergamum, write: ‘The one who holds the sharp, two-edged sword,

Immediately from His choice of identities, we see a very different Jesus from how He identified Himself to the first two churches. Here the Lord wields the weapon of God’s Word in all of its strength and truth. For God is first and foremost the all-loving and merciful One, but He is also vengeful, because He is the Judge of all mankind, and His Son will be the One responsible for doing His Father’s avenging.

Jesus needs the church at Pergamos to understand that He is serious regarding His messsage to them. So Jesus continues in verse 13:

I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Yet again we see that Jesus knows what we’re doing. He is involved in our lives and keeps track of our work. Jesus verifies that the famous Pergamos alter is Satan’s throne. This church literally lives within Satan’s city, yet some of their congregation holds fast to the Lord’s name. They have not turned their faith over to idols, or pagan symbols, or Caesar worship, or the new Christianity, despite the fact that one of their members was martyred in their presence. Instead they hold fast to Jesus’ faith, that which Jesus has in them, for them, and with them. They have not transferred their trust and confidence to anyone or anything else, because He trusts them and has confidence in them. His faith is their faith.

Yet these congregation members are struggling and Jesus sees this and reminds them that He knows His beloved believer Antipas is dead. Jesus honors Antipas by claiming Him as His own—‘My faithful martyr’, a name also given to Jesus in Revelation 1:5.

Obviously Antipas followed Jesus faithfully as a man who was like Jesus. In researching Antipas there is nothing to be found. He is one of the great nearly anonymous heroes in the Bible that would remain unknown except for the Lord Jesus Christ mentioning him with such love in this passage. Like the rest of us who struggle in our faith but remain true, we too are anonymous in the world. Yet, Jesus recognizes our faith and trust in Him and makes us His own. We live in His heart and in His mind and He recognizes and knows us.

We’re not told why Antipas was killed, but he died in Satan’s city and obviously stood against evil. Interestingly, the name Antipas means ‘against all.’ Another fitting meaning is the word martyr, from the Greek martus. Prior to the New Testament, martus meant ‘a witness’ to something true. As more and more believers were killed in the New Testament, the definition switched to mean a person killed for their religious beliefs—beliefs that differed from the norm. Antipas was a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ and he died because he refused to change his witness, despite torture and suffering—just like Christ died for us. No wonder Jesus gives him that special title—My faithful witness.

Then the letter lists Jesus’ considerable concerns starting in verse 14:

But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

I cover the entire doctrine of the prophet Balaam, and his relationship to the Moabite King Balak in the Donkey Series on the blog page. But the short version is this…there are two nations in Numbers 22 who are concerned with the size of the Israelite nation as they march toward the promised land. Moses is leading them, but must go through Moabite and Midianite lands to get there. Moses asks to travel through, but some of the kings refuse him passage and God instructs Moses to destroy these nations, which he does. The Moabite King Balak is frightened by this turn of events and he sends emissaries to ask a non-Jewish, prophet-for-hire, named Balaam to speak with God about cursing His Nation Israel. That right there is amusing, since God does not allow anyone to curse His people.

Balaam doesn’t care. He consults God and asks Him if he should go with King Balak’s emissaries to do just that. Why? Balaam loves money. But God tells Balaam that he must not go, and to his credit Balaam obeys—this time. But King Balak sends far more important men back to Balaam and demands he come and curse Israel. When Balaam asks God yet again to curse His Nation, God is angered, He’d already told Balaam NO, but this time He tells Balaam to go, but instructs him only to speak what God commands. Whoa! OK, now the fun begins.

Balaam hops on his trusted she-donkey and rides out behind King Balak’s men. Unbeknownst to Balaam, God sends His Son to earth to deal with him. The thing is, Balaam’s she-donkey can see things Balaam cannot. When she encounters the mighty warrior Lord, with His sword raised above His head, she veers off the path and this embarrasses Balaam so greatly that he beats her back onto the path. When the Lord blocks her again in a very narrow place between two walls, she pushes between the Lord and the wall and crushes Balaam’s foot. Balaam beats her furiously. When the Lord moves once again, and despite being severely beaten, the she-donkey refuses to go forward and lays down on Balaam’s leg. He falls off, and curses the animal. Unbelievably, the she-donkey asks why he’s beating her. Balaam tells her he’s going to kill her for all the embarrassment she’s caused him, and then the Lord reveals Himself to Balaam, standing in the path, with His sword raised above His head.

You get the picture of what type of man Balaam is. Things don’t get any better for him, and in the end no matter how many times he attempts to curse God’s people, his curses come out of his mouth as blessings. This infuriates King Balak and he tells Balaam to get lost, but before he goes, Balaam whispers to King Balak the secret to defeating God’s people. How?

The gorgeous Moabite and Midianite women lure the young Israeli men away from camp, where they indulge in idol worship, eat the meat set aside for sacrifice, and then sleep with these women. As punishement, God sends a plague upon the Nation and 24,000 Israelites are killed. God then sends Moses and the Israelite army to destroy the Midianites, which they do. We learn in Numbers 31 that the Israelites capture Balaam and kill him for what he did.

There are those in the church at Pergamos who are leading some members of the congregation into the sinfulness of idolatry, eating idol sacrifices, and immorality—the immorality could be physical, but more likely it is spiritual immorality. They are instructing the church at Pergamos away from the purity of the Lord Jesus Christ toward the blending, the marrying, the whoring after false gods.

And immediately after Jesus’ lists His second concern, this is what He says in verse 15:

Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which I hate.

We know from the letter to the church at Smyrna how the Lord abhors church leaders who demand that their congregations worship them.

In verse 16 Jesus tells them:

So repent. If you don’t, I will come to you quickly and wage war against them with the sword of my mouth.

Listen, we’re all going to fail. That’s not the issue, as Proverbs 24:16 explains—even a just man falls seven times. But the problem stems from not seeking forgiveness, and not having a repentant heart. Jesus shed His blood for our iniquity. To be covered in His blood, to be covered in His forgiveness, we must seek Him and repent. So claim 1 John 1:9 as your evening prayer:

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Because we must understand what’s happening here. Jesus is not telling Pergamos that He will remove their lampstand, like He told Ephesus. No! He’s saying that He will slay the false prophets within the church at Pergamos with God’s Word. We learn later in Revelation exactly what this slaying involves, but one can garner the ramifications when Jesus tells us that His sword is sharp and double-edged!

Jesus continues:

Let everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone. On the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the person who receives it.

We are told to pay attention! To LISTEN and perceive. This is not trivial. And then Jesus proclaims two rewards—manna—the food of angels as noted in Psalm 78:25, that sustains a person to the point they never hunger again. And a white stone with a secret name on it given by the Lord Jesus Himself.

Scholars note several things about white stones:

In ancient times, during a trial, a white stone indicated innocence. In Greece a white stone was awarded to the victor in a race. Interestingly, some people in Pergamos worshiped a goddess whose temple symbol happened to be a black meteorite. This white stone absolutely counters this paganism and represents purity with Jesus as the cornerstone of the universe, and the cornerstone of God’s church.

In 1 Peter 2:5, Peter speaks of Jesus’ followers being lively stones who build up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood that is acceptable to God.

Therefore, receiving a white stone from Jesus with a secret name is quite an honor indeed.

Until next week, may you be richly blessed. Amen, and Amen.

7. BOOK OF REVELATION #6

This week we explore the fourth letter to the churches in Asia Minor, and once again the Lord Jesus Christ brings to the readers awareness a character from the Old Testament. This time a woman—a queen who is the epitome of evil.

Let’s begin with Revelation, chapter 2, verses 18 and 19:

To the messenger of the church in Thyatira, write: ‘The Son of God, whose eyes are like flaming fire and whose feet are like glowing bronze, says this: ‘I know what you’ve been doing—your love, faithfulness, service, and endurance—and that your last actions are greater than the first.

The Lord raises the bar on His identifiers to make the listener aware of the seriousness of His message. It’s important to understand that the Lord wants every single human being to read these letters of instructions and turn away from the world, away from evil, and return to God. For God is the power and glory and majesty forever. God is all-forgiving to those who seek His forgiveness. More than anything, God wants to see His beloved high creation live with Him for all eternity—happy, content, peaceful, and joyful. God alone can be trusted to provide full and ultimate forgiveness, because He sent the One Whom He loved most to secure our salvation. Believers can stand confidently before the throne of God in full assurance of our righteousness, because we are wiped clean and white by His Son’s holy blood. Amen.

Jesus identifies Himself as the Son of God—this is the only place in the book of Revelation where He does this—and He describes eyes that see everything. His gaze burns gaping holes through all humanity’s feeble attempts to hide their sinful hearts. He is fully capable of judgement because He is all present, He knows everything, and He is all powerful.

Along with eyes like fire, His reference to feet of bronze or brass indicates Levitical priestly judgement, because the lavers for sacrifice were made of bronze. Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords, but He is also our High Priest. The combination is highly unusual in Jewish law and occurs just three times in the Bible—King Melchizedek, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Lord’s church. Believers will be Kings and priests in the Lord Jesus Christ’s Millennial Kingdom. Wow!

This Lord Jesus who will be our judge, is telling the church at Thyatira that He knows what they’ve been doing. Once again, it is such a comfort to see that the Lord separates those who are doing His good works from those who are not. Jesus sees within a group and will not judge the group as a whole—He will reward those who love Him, and He will judge and punish those who do evil against Him. One cannot hide within a group, for the Lord Jesus Christ will hold each person responsible for their actions.

Jesus gently tells this group of believers how much it means to Him to see their love towards others, their faithfulness to Him and to each other, their wholehearted service to Him, and their endurance throughout persecution. He acknowledges that they have grown in their service and their actions now are greater than when they first began. High praise, indeed.

And then Jesus turns his gaze to those within the church at Thyatira who are the exact opposite. Verses 20 through the first part of 23 reads:

But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and who teaches and seduces my servants to commit fornication and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refused to repent of her fornication. Look! I am going to strike her with illness. Those who commit adultery with her will also suffer greatly, unless they repent from acting like her. I will strike her children dead.

The Lord is incredibly powerful and precise in His wording here. He raises the bar of seriousness so that it cannot be ignored. He will not allow this particular immoral woman to continue leading anyone astray.

No more idolatry.
No more eating the foods that are sacrificed to idols.
No more paganism.
No more man worship.

Jesus likens this woman to the Old Testament Queen Jezebel, in 1 and 2 Kings. Top that off with the fact that the mighty Lord Jesus will not allow anyone in the church to tolerate this woman, either. He’s done with nicey-nice. He wants His believers to stand strong in righteousness.

Take note that we are not dealing with the meek and humble sacrificial servant Lamb Messiah here. That Jesus is past, for He came and conquered death on that saving cross. It is done. This is the powerful Lord Jesus Christ—present and future, the resurrected and transformed Holy and avenging Son of Mighty YHWH. This Lord Jesus wields the sword of the Word of God and He will not hesitate to cut down all who cling to evil.

Jesus is also not going to wait any longer for this woman to repent. He’s given her enough time and her conscious refusal is noted. She does not get another chance. This is highly unusual, but Jesus is quite firm here, because He KNOWS this woman will not change and therefore exposes herself to His righteous judgment. Jesus will strike her with illness—some translations use the words ‘violent illness’ and ‘intense suffering’.

Along with that, anyone within the church at Thyatira who continues to tolerate this woman will also suffer, for it is their personal decision as well. Jesus holds each person accountable, BUT!!! Notice that Jesus gives the people who tolerate this woman a chance to repent. You see? Jesus keeps offering forgiveness to people. If He observes they still have even the tiniest chance of salvation, if they repent, He provides ultimate forgiveness.

He is as amazing within His tolerance, as He is powerful in His judgement toward those who flat out refuse to abandon evil.

So, just how evil is this Old Testament woman named Queen Jezebel? Let’s turn to 1 Kings, chapter 16, verse 30:

Now Ahab the son of Omari did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him. And it came to pass, as though it has been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him.

Who is King Ahab?

He is King of the Northern Kingdom Israel. The Southern Kingdom is called Judah, where the city of Jerusalem is located. As this passage indicates, the Northern Kingdom had been ruled by many evil Kings, with King Ahab listed as the worst of the worst.

King Ahab went against God—as though it was but a trivial thing—and married a pagan woman, who was the daughter of a king named Ethbaal, who worshipped the most evil god—Baal, along with the goddess Asherah, known as the Mother of Heaven. God had commanded that no Israelite marry outside the 12 tribes. Ahab didn’t care about God or His commands, and did as he pleased. Ahab brought Baal—which is Satan worship—into the Northern Kingdom, and evil permeated throughout the land.

There is no greater evil that permeates a person, than one who worships Satan, and this King sought a wife who did just that. And we will see this ever-present evil in Queen Jezebel, as well, for she demonstrated a particularly open hatred towards God’s people.

Now during the reign of King Ahab, God sent the prophet Elijah to repulse the King’s evil nature. Talk about the coolest guy ever! Elijah was a whirlwind of counter-evil activity for the Lord, as we will soon discover. Elijah repeatedly warned King Ahab of God’s coming judgement if Ahab continued to disobey the Almighty. Ahab being who he was, blamed Elijah for all his woes and troubles, even though it was his promotion of idolatry that brought forth God’s wrath upon him and his kingdom.

Now, let’s explore Queen Jezebel.

She was the daughter of King Ethbaal, who murdered his brother so he could rule over the land of Tyre, or Sidonia. Jezebel strongly followed in her father’s footsteps, and quickly took control over her pitifully weak-minded husband. She brought more than 850 Baal and Asherah priests from her homeland, and openly declared her hatred against God’s people by ordering the slaughter of the Northern Kingdom prophets. Their deaths made it easy for her to turn Israel away from God and into idol worshipers.

Unbeknownst to Ahab and Jezebel, one hundred of Israel’s prophets escaped the slaughter and hid in caves. Elijah also escaped. After the prophets were out of the way, the Queen built alters to Baal, and set up Asherah poles throughout the country. Putting her priests to work, Jezebel easily convinced the Northern Kingdom to worship Baal and Asherah.

God called Elijah against Jezebel and had him call down a three-year-long drought. Toward the end of that period, the lack of pasture got so bad, King Ahab nearly destroyed all his army’s horses.

Interestingly, in 1 Kings 18:16 through 46 the drought culminated in a contest between Elijah and Jezebel’s 850 Baal and Asherah priests.

To paraphrase, Elijah met with King Ahab, who blamed Elijah for the drought. Elijah rebutted the king, telling Ahab that he abandoned God to follow Baal, and now God wanted to prove to His people Israel that He was their God. God ordered Elijah to tell Ahab to assemble all Israel on Mount Carmel, and bring the Baal and Asherah priests with him.

Ahab took up the challenge and the people of the Northern Kingdom gathered on Mount Carmel, along with the Baal and Asherah priests. Elijah stood alone opposite the people of the Northern Kingdom, King Ahab, and the priests. Elijah addressed the nation asking how long they would go between their true God and Satan’s priests. He challenged the people Israel, “if the Lord is God, then follow Him, but if it is Baal, then follow him instead.”

When the people remained silent, Elijah told them, “only I am left as a prophet of God, but Baal’s priests are 450 men, and Asherah another 400.” Elijah set up the challenge by asking for two bulls. He had the priests choose their bull, slaughter it, cut it, and lay the pieces on a wood alter. Elijah ordered no fire be set underneath the alter.

Then Elijah laid out the rules of the contest. The priests of Baal and Asherah were to call upon their gods to have them consume the offering. Elijah said he would call upon the one true God who answers by fire. And the people of Israel said this was good.

Elijah turned to the priests and they called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But nothing happened. The priests limped around the alter shouting and at noon Elijah mocked them, telling the priests to shout louder for perhaps their god was contemplating, or relieving himself, or he had gone on a journey, or maybe their god was sleeping and needed to be roused. The priests wailed and moaned and cut themselves with swords and lances until their blood spilled upon their alter, but nothing happened.

The priests raged on until late afternoon but to no avail.

Elijah told the people Israel, “come near to me,” and they came. Together they helped Elijah repair the alter that was assigned to him with 12 large stones—one for each of the tribes of Israel. They laid wood upon the stones, and the bull upon the wood, and then dug a large trench around the alter. Then Elijah told the people to fill four large jugs with water and douse the meat, wood, and stones. He told them to do this again, and then a third time. The water ran throughout the alter and then filled the trench with water.

Elijah came near the alter and called out to God, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel, and that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back.”

Then fire from God came out of the sky and consumed the offering, wood, stones, and the dust thereof, and then the fire licked up the water that was in the trench. When the people saw this they fell on their faces and said, “the LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God!”

At that Elijah called the people to seize the priests of Baal, that not one of them would escape. And the people did as he asked and Elijah brought them down off Mount Carmel and they were killed.

Elijah went to King Ahab and told him to eat and drink for there was rain on the horizon. The King ate atop Mount Carmel, and while he ate Elijah sent his servant up to scan the skies over the ocean. Seven times he sent the servant and on the seventh, the servant returned with news that a storm was brewing over the ocean. Elijah told King Ahab to hurry up and finish his meal and mount his chariot so that he wouldn’t get caught in the rain.

The heavens grew black and a huge storm ended the drought.

When Ahab told Jezebel what Elijah had done, instead of realizing she needed to turn to God and repent, she vowed to kill Elijah. He fled into the wilderness of Beersheba, in the Southern Nation of Judah.

Jezebel continued in her evil ways and when her husband was unable to obtain a privately owned vineyard that he greatly desired next to his palace, she ridiculed Ahab for his childish sulking and told him she would get it for him.

Naboth, the owner of the vineyeard was a righteous man unto God. He refused Ahab’s offer to purchase his land, because it was imporant to maintain his inheritance. He was approached by two men, hired by Queen Jezebel, who accused him wrongly of a deed he did not commit. Then, Jezebel found Naboth guilty and had him put to death. She claimed the vineyard and then presented it to her husband.

Returning now…back to Revelation, chapter 2, and the rest of verse 23 through 29:

Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will reward each of you as your actions deserve. ‘But as for the rest of you in Thyatira—you who do not hold to this teaching and who have not learned what some people call the deep things of Satan—I won’t burden you with anything else. Just hold on to what you have until I come. To the person who conquers and continues to do what I’ve commanded to the end, I will give authority over the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter; shattering them like clay pots.’ Just as I have received authority from my Father, I will also give him the morning star. ‘Let everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

After the Lord tells the church at Thyatira that He will strike this woman’s children dead, He declares that all the other churches will understand His omniscience—that He knows their hearts and minds, and will reward those whose actions deserve His reward.

Jesus is careful to speak to the rest of the church who refused to tolerate this woman, and did not allow themselves to be part of Satan worship. Jesus asks them to hold on until He comes. This is the first time in the book of Revelation that Jesus shares His plans about returning to retrieve His beloved believers. He encourages the overcomers to continue to do as He’s commanded, for He will give them authority over the nations in His Millennial Kingdom.

This is a remarkable statement of contrast, because Queen Jezebel desired full control over the Northern Kingdom of Israel, but never obtained it. And Satan boasted to God that he would control the nations. He even tempted Jesus with this promise, if Jesus would bow down and worship him. Of course, Jesus refused, but it is true—that right now Satan has the deed to earth, but he will not possess it forever, for the Mighty Lord Jesus Christ will claim what rightfully belongs to Him on His Second Coming—but that is much later in the book of Revelation.

Jesus goes on to explain that the one who overcomes will be given the morning star. Wow, what a beautiful gift—for this is the first beam of light from the sun on a brand new day. It is also one of Jesus’ many names.

In closing, the Lord shares His desire that he who has ears, let him hear and understand the importance of His letters to the churches.

Until next week, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen, and Amen.

8. BOOK OF REVELATION #7

Welcome back to letter number 5, to the church at Sardis. We discover in the letter this week that there is no initial compliment—as there was for the first four churches. Instead we find a church who has self-inflicted difficulties. From the outside, the church at Sardis appears to be one way, but is actually the total opposite as we discover in Revelation, chapter 3, verse 1:

“To the messenger of the church in Sardis, write: ‘The one who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says this: ‘I know what you’ve been doing. You are known for being alive, but you are dead.”

Let’s take a look at the seven Spirits of God listed in Isaiah 11, verse 2, to help us with the Lord’s identifier:

The Spirit of the LORD
The Spirit of Wisdom
The Spirit of Understanding
The Spirit of Counsel
The Spirit of Might
The Spirit of Knowledge
The Spirit of the Fear of the LORD

These identifiers describe the coming King Jesus Christ who will rule and reign over the earth for 1000 years. His government will be perfect—filled first with the Spirit of the Holy LORD God. Jesus possesses wisdom, understanding, excellent counsel, power, knowledge and respect for His Father. A fantastic combination for the future ruler of the world!

Jesus tells Sardis they are in trouble because this church is missing all seven Spirits—but their most important loss is the Spirit of the LORD God Almighty. Without God a church is dead, yet from the outside this church appears to be alive and well. Sardis has a good outward reputation. They dress well and have a haughty confidence in themselves that leads to strong beliefs about who they are, and what they do—but they lack the love, wisdom, understanding and knowledge of God, because they lost their fearful respect for Him.

Sardis is full of themselves and who they pretend to be, but they are spiritually dead like the Pharisees who were beautifully clothed on the outside, but whom Jesus likened to whitewashed tombs in Matthew 23, verses 27 and 28—

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like the whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead man’s bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

Sardis is the church whose parking lot is filled with expensive vehicles and unfriendly parishioners who compete with each other for the title of “best dressed” or the “most well-behaved children.” For Sardis, church has become a Sunday meeting ritual that is devoid of welcome, because it lacks the love of God. Their sanctuaries are loaded with mega TVs displaying informational entertainment, while big bands play contemporary Christian music. The Sardis churches predominantly preach about “make-them-feel-good,” but never teach God’s truth from books like Revelation, Ezekiel, Daniel, Romans, Exodus, or even Genesis.

The danger of the Sardis church is that appearances are far more important than truth, and Jesus strongly warns against this, when He continues in verses 2 and 3:

“Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which are about to die, for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. So remember what you received and heard. Obey it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you won’t know the time when I will come to you.”

This church is filled with such pride and self-significance that they are blinded to the predicament they’re in. Jesus nearly shouts at them to wake up and see that they must strengthen what little they have left, because even those things are about to die. Then things get worse for Sardis when Jesus tells them that even the few small deeds they attempted to do, were not completed in God’s view. Jesus warns Sardis to get back to God, and remember all the blessings they received from Him, and the promises He made. Be obedient! Return to that place, and ask forgiveness, for it will be granted to a pure heart.

But if this church does not wake up and return, Jesus carefully explains that because they are so completely unaware, so dead to the truth—they don’t even have a clue know how bad their situation is.

In the days just before Jesus was crucified He shared a very telling parable about five very foolish virgins who were awaiting their bridegroom. In Matthew 25:1-13, these young women were part of a group of ten who were waiting deep into the night for their groom to come get them for their wedding. Five in the group brought extra lamp oil so they could keep their lamps lit throughout the night. The other five did not. When someone shouted that the groom was on His way, the foolish girls were caught slumbering, and their lamps had gone out. They told the thrifty five to give them oil, but the girls refused, and with lamps lit, ran to meet their groom. The remaining girls had to ran back into town to purchase lamp oil and by the time they returned, the chapel doors were closed and they were not allowed to enter. When they banged the door the groom met them at the threshold and refused them entry. He told them He didn’t know them.

The church at Sardis had depleted their spiritual oil and gone to sleep. When their lamps snuffed out, they did not replace their spiritual oil, nor did they wake up. And Jesus is telling them to do that now, before it’s too late. With the Spirit of God dead in them, they lost their fear of the Lord and replaced Him with their own foolish pride and self-significance. The Lord Jesus Christ wants them to wake up, turn around, repent, and ignite the lamp of their Holy and loving LORD God, because if they gain the first of the seven Spirits back, they will also regain the rest.

Or else, Jesus warns, He will come like a thief in the night and they will be caught unawares. And He will not allow them in, because He does not know them.

This letter to Sardis is such a beautiful reminder of how often the Lord begs people return to Him. His great love is so forgiving. He will do anything to retrieve people, but if they do not reciprocate, they will be caught unawares when He comes, and they will be left behind.

Verses 4 through 6 complete the letter:

“But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments. They will walk with me in white, because they are worthy. The person who conquers in this way will wear white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the Book of Life. I will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father and His angels. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Isn’t it interesting that Jesus does not accuse the church at Sardis of having bad doctrine, nor do they worship paganism or idols, and Satan isn’t involved this time. Instead, pride and self-significance led them to abandon God. Their outwardly beautiful garments are soiled, for there is no love in them. And yet, there is a remnant who remained true to the LORD God and His Son. This remnant will partake in the marriage ceremony dressed in white, worthy, and forever known and loved by God and His multitude of angels.

We look to scripture to see many references to those whom God claims as His remnant.

Genesis 7:23—Noah and 7 others are the remnant from the flood.

Genesis 45:7—Joseph and his brothers are the remnant from the famine.

Jeremiah 40:11-12—After Babylon captured Israel and Judah, God had King Nebuchadnezzar leave some Israelites behind in Jerusalem as a remnant to their God.

When Queen Jezebel murdered the Israel prophets and threatened to kill Elijah too, he fled, hid in a cave and cried out to God, afraid and utterly alone. In his pain and suffering, Elijah couldn’t understand why all of Israel had turned away from God. But in 1 Kings 19:18 God answered Elijah and told him: “Yet I leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

And finally Jesus says, he who has an ear, turn from pride and self-significance. Return to the fearful and holy respect and love of the Father. Repent and seek forgiveness, and then stand tall in the Lord and in His many blessings, but especially stand at the gate and watch; await that wonderful day of His return, so you can run to Him!

Until next week, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen, and Amen.

9. BOOK OF REVELATION #8

This week we learn about the church at Philadelphia, a church the Lord Jesus Christ deeply loves, as we see by the identifiers He chooses. Once again, we have a letter where the recipient church does not receive any type of correction—instead, Jesus tells them to hang on, and then makes them a special promise.

Let’s dive in to the church at Philadelphia in Revelation, chapter 3, verse 7:

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”

How wonderful and amazing it is that Jesus is holy and He is true. But true to what, exactly? Throughout His ministry Jesus remained true to His Mission, true to His Father, and true to those for whom He was sacrificed. Let’s take a look at each of these:

First, Jesus’ Mission

Before God created the original heavens and earth, before earth was without form, even before darkness and light, and prior to the Spirit hovering over the waters, the Son of God, His helper Holy Spirit, and the Father God were planning the Lord Jesus Christ’s mission.

The Holy Trinity knew before they created the heavens and the earth—the first time— that their highest and most beloved future creation—man—would choose against them in the Garden of Eden. Yet, they did not hesitate. They did not question. And they did not falter—even for one tiny moment—to prepare the way of salvation for all of humanity. They were preparing to create man in Their image and regardless of what mankind did, they wanted humanity with them forever.

Jesus’ Mission, from before the beginning of time—as we understand it—was to sacrifice Himself so that He could reclaim back to Himself the deed to earth, and in doing that He would once again lay claim to all who dwell upon it—specifically mankind.

Second, the Son of God remained true to His Father

Repeatedly throughout the New Testament we witness events that easily could have pulled Jesus away, or apart, from His Father’s will for Jesus’ earthly life. Yet, the Son of God, as the Son of Man, NEVER allowed this to occur. Jesus remained true during the worst possible testing through temptation from Satan, by using scripture as His defense. And Satan fled from the Word. Jesus remained true—deep in the night, in that place called Gethsemane—as He sweated blood, knowing the anguish and torture He was about to endure. And, while Jesus hung on the cross, made from a tree high upon a hill that He created, He remained true to His Father, even when His Father turned away from Him because Jesus had taken all the sins of the world upon Himself. Jesus died with the sins of the entire world within Him, thus presenting sinlessness to all who choose Him. And finally, the Lord Jesus Christ remained true to His Father and rose up from that grave—thus removing forever the power of eternal death and separation from God! All of this according to His Mission of salvation, redemption, justification, and sanctification for humanity.

Thirdly, Jesus has remained true to those for whom He was sacrificed

And now, this very day, Jesus remains true to those people who seek and choose Him as their Lord and Savior.

The Son of God is as faithful to His beloved believers today as He was on the day He, and Holy Spirit, and Father God planned Jesus’ Mission.

Jesus is as faithful to His beloved believers today as He was during those horrible 40 days of Satanic temptation.

Christ is as faithful to His beloved believers today as He was when He was sweating blood in Gethsemane.

And the Mighty Lord Jesus Christ is as faithful to His beloved believers today as He was when He allowed Himself to be sacrificed for us—so we could be saved, redeemed, justified, and sanctified in Him to meet the LORD God’s requirements for everlasting perfection.

The Lord Jesus Christ is faithful and true to anyone who chooses Him, for they shall forever be with Him in eternity.

Amen and AMEN!

So, what about this key of David, that opens and shuts? This identifier is from the book of Isaiah, chapter 22, verses 20 through 22 where God sends the prophet to warn the treasurer that his days of service are limited because of his pride and ego. God replaces this treasurer with another man:

‘Then it shall be in that day, that I will call My servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah; I will clothe him with your robe and strengthen him with your belt; I will commit your responsibility into his hand. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; so he shall open, and no one shall shut; and he shall shut, and no one shall open.

This key allows the wearer the power to determine who can gain access to the King. Of course Eliakim is long dead, but the Lord Jesus Christ has this key, because no one can come to the Father, except through Him, and no one can reverse this fact. Meaning, no one can shut the way to the Father that Jesus has opened, and no one can open the way to the Father that Jesus has shut. This is a remarkably powerful statement of Jesus’ true identity. As the Son of David. As the King of David. As David’s heir. As David’s Father.

Revelation, chapter 3, verse 8 continues:

“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

The church in Philadelphia had suffered many losses. Jesus lets them know that He understands firsthand their grief in doing His missionary work. All that is before them now is an open door to the LORD God. They have been perfected. They have been holy and true to Him. And despite having little strength left, this church shared Jesus’ word of the gospel of the good news. They never denied His name despite heavy persecution, and the Lord Jesus Christ promises that no one will take away what He provides for them. Well, what exactly is Jesus providing? We read the answer in verse 9:

“Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.”

Once again, Jesus references the sons of the devil—the Pharisees and Sadducees—who claim they are God’s chosen Jews, but are not. All the lying synagogue priests will one day be called forward by the Lord Jesus Christ and he will make them worship those whom they persecuted and martyred. Jesus will show these evil men how much He loves His true chosen beloved believers. For you see, not all Jews who claim to be God’s chosen people, actually ARE God’s chosen people.

Then, in verses 10 and 11 Jesus declares what He will do for those who persevere through persecution:

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast to what you have, that no one may take your crown.”

Oh boy! This is an enormous proclamation to the Lord Jesus Christ’s latter day believers who persevere through the difficulties of an ever changing and evil world, and to keep their eyes upon Him who is faithful and true. They are to refuse all false doctrine, and maintain what the LORD God faithfully claims in His Word. The world is being pummeled with falsehoods and lies, and ever-present evil from all quarters. And yet, according to this verse there will be a time period—an hour—upon which a trial shall come that will test all the people who dwell on earth. Jesus promises to remove His beloved believers PRIOR to this testing trial, and He warns that He will come quickly to remove them.

Believers are to hold tightly to Jesus’ truth, so that their rewards will not be taken from them.

Jesus finishes His letter to the church at Philadelphia with another promise for His overcomers:

“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.”

Oh glorious day—to be with Jesus in His upcoming Millennial Kingdom temple! Never to leave His side. WOW! Not only that, but to be permanently addressed by three separate names. First, to be marked with the Holy Name of God. Second, identified by the NEW Holy City Jerusalem, which will be in the Kingdom of God AFTER the Millennial Kingdom. This is a promise of being marked for God for all eternity! And finally, being given the same new name Jesus gives Himself when He arrives upon earth the second time. WOW!

And in verse 13 we hear the familiar closing:

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Remember, these promises written to seven churches by the Lord Jesus Christ are directed toward everyone who has chosen the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. These promises are for those saved who work toward their overcoming—toward their sanctification works, that are provided through the Holy Sprit, and which are God’s will for each believer. These are wonderful, and mighty, and powerful promises from the Son of God, who came to earth as the Son of Man, and sometime in the future, it is this same man, the Son of Adam, who will redeem the title deed to earth.

Until next week, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen, and Amen.

10. BOOK OF REVELATION #9

In the Lord Jesus Christ’s final church letter we learn about Laodicea, a church that causes the Lord to be sick. He wants to vomit these congregations out of His mouth, but He warns them first, in hopes they will turn around and recognize their unfaithfulness.

Here is Revelation, chapter 3, verses 14 through 20:

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprimand and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”

Jesus uses strong identifiers in this letter. He wants to be fully understood regarding His Holiness, His power, and His authority. By stating that He is The Amen identifies that because He is the LORD God’s appointed One, He will have the last word regarding God’s Church. Jesus faithfully witnesses and records all of the thoughts, words, and actions done by man, so He knew what the congregation in Laodicea was doing—and He knows what the modern day churches are doing, also. Jesus continues with His final identification to all the churches: that He was with Father God and Holy Spirit before time was created, and Jesus—through the LORD God—created all that we know, and also all that we do not yet know.

Jesus tells the ancient and current Laodicean churches, and that they are oblivious to the truth about themselves. They are so tepid, so apathetic in their lack of effort to do ANYTHING, that they are nauseating to the Lord. Jesus warns them to pick one or the other—be on fire in service to God, or go stone cold dead—but DO SOMTHING!

But it gets worse, because Jesus knows these people so well. They are utterly convinced that they are the best of the best, because they have more wealth than they know what to do with. In their wealth, they lack for nothing. All of the world’s materialistic things are in their possession—so, what do they need the LORD God for?

Hummmm, it’s interesting how the sins of the world capture a person into believing they don’t require anything else. It’s also interesting how riches cause a person to act superior over less fortunate people. And yet, the Lord Jesus tells the ancient and present-day Laodiceans that they have absolutely nothing of value to Him—and therefore, nothing of value to themselves. Jesus calls them wretched—which is defined as low quality, desolate, sickly, and miserable.

But Jesus has good reason to be sickened by this behavior, for He seeks the meek and humble. He desires shapeable, willing, and obedient people to fulfill His will, because the haughty are hardened to His ways. Jesus wants these heart-hardened people to come to their senses and repent. For they are of little use to Him unless they repent and obey His will.

Unfortunately, this situation with the Laodicean church goes from worse to…well…something even more awful, because Jesus views these people as being completely blind to their situation! They are unaware that they’re running around totally naked for all the world to see. They are believers who never matured past infancy.

And Jesus does not pity these people, for they chose this situation for themselves. Instead, He tells them to PAY ATTENTION, repent and return to Him. He explains what they should request from Him to be welcomed by Him again.

Please note that when Jesus says ‘buy from me’ He is not suggesting that anyone can purchase their salvation. Oh no! Salvation is provided by grace through faith, and only requires one to choose the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. Rather, Jesus is appealing to this wealthy church’s misguided opinion that they CAN purchase all they need with their wealth, and so He suggests they take ACTION by doing the following:

Acquire from the Lord the pure refined gold that survives a trial by fire. This is discussed in 1 Corinthians 3:12-15. The analogy is constructing a building. The Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation. Through Holy Spirit He directs the rest of the construction. Each believer’s building—or their service—is different. Jesus directs the believer to construct using the correct materials—basically, what’s in the believer’s heart toward Him regarding obedience and servanthood. If the believer constructs using quality materials, then when their works are tested, the materials will withstand. If the believer constructs using poor quality materials, then, when their works are tested, their choice of materials will not withstand.

Interestingly, Jesus tests using fire, because He desires purity, and fire refines. Jesus desires those believers who truly focus solely on Him. He wants those believers who desire His will in their lives, and then obey His will. Those believers who don’t even attempt to build, or build with pride and ego as their motivation, or with no enthusiasm at all, will not lose their salvation, but their works will be burned up as useless. This is what 1 Corinthians 13:12 through 15 explains:

“Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

Jesus is suggesting that anything done for self-aggrandizement will be burned as wood, hay and straw in the refining fire. Those servant works that were accomplished with gold, silver and precious stones—performed out of humble obedience to Him—will be purified, and these good works will remain forever—and they will be rewarded.

Acquire from the Lord the White Robes of Righteousness which are mentioned throughout Revelation and represent purity, cleanliness, and a bride who is clothed and presented to her groom. The wealthy pride-filled do not wear white robes, in fact, they are naked and worse—they are blind to the fact that they are naked.
Acquire from the Lord some eye salve to see the value of God’s perspective, versus the worldly perspective of material belongings. The worldly view is dangerous, therefore, the eye salve is used to remove the encrusted scales of pride and ego to show a person that they are naked and possess nothing. That they are miserable, and they are disgraced. With the eye salve, these people can come to recognize just how far they have fallen from His grace, and turn around.

In His mercy and grace, Jesus backs off slightly to explain why He speaks these truths to the Laodicean’s: because in His great love and forgiveness the Lord Jesus Christ stands at the door of a person’s heart and knocks—hoping the person will open the door of their heart and bid Him come in. He wishes to sup with them, so that they can begin building a relationship with Him.

But here’s the important part of the Laodicean church letter! Jesus does not want this relationship to falter at the very beginning—with the new believer remaining a baby. Jesus wants the new-born to grow and mature in His Word into a deep and lasting maturity, so that the person can be of service to Him.

So many new believers end their relationship with the Lord after their salvation! They never seek to leave their worldly life. They never mature into obedience, nor do they attempt any service unto Him.

Yet, the Lord seeks those who accept their free gift of salvation and then desire to grow and mature toward a very deep relationship with Him. Interestingly, the Lord Jesus Christ will provide this desire for a deeper relationship through His indwelling Holy Spirit, to anyone who seeks it.

Because the indwelling Holy Spirit knows the Lord’s will for each believer. It is Holy Spirit who guides and directs the believer who seeks everything from the Lord. Those who deeply desire Jesus’ will in their lives are humble and open to direction. And Jesus describes what He does to these desiring believers—“Those whom I love, I reprimand and discipline”

Well, how does He do this?

Jesus throws His desiring beloved onto His potter’s wheel and shapes and molds them, to teach them how He wants things done. There is nothing comfortable about this process. But as the new believer deepens into maturity, as they prove to Him that they are open to reprimand and discipline, the Lord Jesus blesses them more and more.

The thing is, as the beloved believer’s maturity grows, the Lord then begins another process. He prunes and cuts His beloved vine for maximum yield. Therefore, the more mature the vine, the more Lord Jesus cuts and prunes!

Remember, He is working toward total pure refinement here. Jesus is seeking the pure gold service. He gives the most difficult tasks to those who have been shaped and molded, pruned and cut according to His will. Because Jesus knows that these believers will DO PRECISELY WHAT HE ASKS. These believers are in total communication and obedience to the Lord Jesus Chris’s will in their lives. By remaining close to Him, these believers accomplish His service so that more new believers are gathered into God’s church.

Think of this as a military operation, where Jesus is President, and His believers are ranked from five-star generals right on down to the lowliest private. Believers who subject themselves to His shaping grow and mature from a private all the way up to a general.

But note, there is nothing comfortable about this process UNTIL the lowly private submits, learns, grows, proves himself, and is rewarded with the next higher rank. The higher a believer goes, the more they desire His will of servanthood in their lives, and the more they are shaped to understand the things Jesus wants them to understand. The mature believer is often battle scarred, but they are blessed in ways that go beyond normal understanding.

Therefore, Jesus wants His beloved to grow out of requiring milk, into the mature spiritual meat that empowers servants to whom Jesus can turn to in critical times. We read this analogy in 1 Corinthians 3:1-4, when Paul the Apostle taught:

“Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not still worldly?”

Paul teaches again in 1 Corinthians 14:20—

“Brethren, do no be children in understanding,…but in understanding be mature.”

The Lord Jesus Christ seeks those who will be obedient to Him without question, who will meet His requirements head on, with full understanding, and a driving willingness to succeed in the service of He Who is Holy.

How can one accomplish this? Through daily seeking, obedience and repentance:

Spend quality time daily in His Word.
Learn to pray unceasingly.
Fill your head and your heart with constant praise, worship and thankfulness.

And understand, it takes dedicated time throughout this process for the Lord to grant His wisdom, knowledge, and discernment upon the mature believer, through Holy Spirit. For should the immature believer spew scripture in hopes of accomplishing something for themselves, their words will not be well received.

The mature will quietly accept the shaping and molding, the pruning and cutting to become totally obedient and service-minded. Only then will Christ know that He can depend upon them. Throughout this process He blesses richly and thoroughly, for He will not allow more than a person can withstand.

So present yourself daily to the Holy One of God in utter commitment to His will. The Lord Jesus Christ is looking for overcomers—His Faithful Ones—His zealous mature believers to carry out the work that He set aside for them. He desires they move swiftly away from their baby salvation and into maturity, so they can serve. Jesus is looking for the shapeable, moldable, workable willing-to-sacrifice believers who will stick through it all to gain Him to themselves. These believers run hard for the finish line, and they do not allow any part of themselves to get in the way of their service to Him. Their hearts are His alone, and they seek only Him.

Riches and wealth, personal pride and ego, and a superior attitude toward others is the failure of many today—whether they claim to be believers, or not. Whereas, the daily constant seeking of the Lord’s will to serve and obey brings the mature believer into repentance and a bright, new, shining, service-oriented attitude that binds the overcomer close to the Lord. These are the believers who will be invited into the very private Wedding Ceremony of the Bride of Christ. Amen and AMEN!

Then, Jesus verifies in verses 21 and 22 that His overcomers will be kept extremely close to Him, as a new bride is kept close to her groom:

“He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

The Faithful Ones—the Overcomers—will be the future rulers who reign with King Jesus in His Millennial Kingdom. And he who has an ear, let him hear, repent, and turn fully toward the Lord, for the remainder of Revelation is exponentially worse than the Lord Jesus Christ’s loving shaping and molding, pruning and cutting, and He reveals this throughout the remainder of this prophetic book.

Until next week, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen, and Amen.

11. BOOK OF REVELATION #10

This week we begin chapter 4 in the prophetic book of Revelation, where the disciple John is relaying information from the Lord Jesus Christ about things that are going to occur. Chapter 4, verse 1 begins in a very odd way, as we read here:

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

Whenever something is repeated in scripture, God wants the reader to recognize the importance. Twice in verse 1 we are told ‘after’. This word is ‘meta tauta’ in the original Greek and means ‘after these things.’

But, after what exactly?

John just completed seven letters to God’s Church, therefore the next prophesy takes place after God’s Church.

All right, but what does that mean?

The Greek word Church is translated from Ekklesia meaning ‘a called-out congregation.’ Therefore, God’s Church is an assembly of believers who are separate somehow.

1 Peter, chapter 2, verses 9 and 10, explains God’s definition of His Church:

…you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God…

Ok, so God’s Church was chosen to be a separate holy people who belong to God. And this group is supposed to proclaim God’s excellencies. They are drawn out of some sort of darkness, and will be brought into His light. Interestingly, at some point this holy nation was NOT a people group, but now they are a people group who belong to God.

So, who is this holy nation and how were they formed?

The Apostle Paul teaches throughout the New Testament that there are three people groups in the world—Jews, Gentiles, and God’s Church. The ancient Jews were descended from Abram, later renamed by God to Abraham. He was a gentile who lived in modern day Iraq and he was chosen by God. God formed a covenant with Abraham and through Isaac and Jacob and Joseph, the Nation of Israel was formed. Then Paul describes this new nation, a new assembly that is formed through the combining of both Jews and Gentiles into God’s Church. They are a new holy nation—one that used to be separated, but is now specially combined into the body of Christ. Then God sets His Church—His Holy Nation—apart from the world for His specific purpose.

And what purpose would that be?

To share to good news of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, as we know in John 3:16—“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Therefore, when God determines that His Church and their purpose on earth is complete, God will call His Assembly to Him.

And that’s what Revelation, chapter 4, verse 1 describes. God opens the door to heaven and in His trumpet voice He calls His Church home.

This event is described in 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4, verse 16:

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

God sends Jesus out from His throne room into the air just below heaven. Jesus shouts loudly, like one of His mighty archangels, and with the trumpet voice of God, those believers—the body of Christ—who died prior to this precise moment in time, rise up and meet Jesus in the air. They rise up with a brand new resurrected body just like Jesus had when He rose from the grave. Once the dead are resurrected, the living believers—those here on earth who make up God’s Church at this precise moment in time are caught up in the air with them. They too, are provided with new bodies.

So what is this event called?

In the original Greek text, the word is harpazo, which means forcibly snatched out. The English translators chose to use ‘caught up’, which is a much milder explanation of what actually happens.

Paul shares more about this event in 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, verses 51 and 52:

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep [meaning die], but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Paul further explains the harpazo, clearly defining that this precise moment in time is so fast it is the twinkling of an eye. Not as slow as the blink of an eye. NO! This is the twinkling of light that crosses the retina and causes an eye to sparkle. It is faster than words can describe. The Lord Jesus Christ’s believers on earth will hear God’s voice sound like a trumpet blast, and they will be physically removed from earth. They do not die. Instead, they meet Jesus in the air—with bodies that are forever changed, and they live with Him forever.

There is another less obvious confirmation of this event in the Bible. God’s Church is mentioned 19 times in the first three chapters of Revelation. However, in chapter 4 and throughout the remainder of the book God’s Church is never mentioned again! This strongly indicates that God’s Church is physically removed from earth before the remaining prophesies begin.

OK. So, where does God’s Church go? The end of verse 1, along with verses 2 and 3 provide the answer, when God says to John:

“Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.

Now remember, John is on the Greek island of Patmos when he is visited by the Lord Jesus Christ in a vision. God spiritually calls John up to heaven, through the open door, and into His throne room to reveal what must happen after these things. John tells the reader what he saw. Since God the Father cannot be seen by man, John describes Him as various forms of colorful light.

Now, if we go back to Peter’s definition of God’s Church we see that God calls His Holy Assembly out from a world that is rife with darkness, and into His presence of brilliant light in His heavenly throne room.

Additionally, being swept away into an unfamiliar and intimidating place must have been quite uncomfortable for John, but God welcomes him into His throne room by showing John a familiar symbol—one that all of humanity would recognize—God’s brilliant rainbow—His promise to Noah after the flood.

John continues to describe what he sees in verses 4 and 5:

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lampstands were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

John recognizes more familiar things in God’s massively large throne room. The place is filled with sounds, people, and the seven golden lampstands from the seven churches! Wow! The seven golden lampstands have been removed from earth and transported into heaven. This is yet another confirmation of the prophetic snatching away of God’s Church from earth, because the lampstands represent the Lord Jesus Christ’s church leaders and their congregations.

So who are these 24 elders? There’s only one other place in the Bible that describes 24 specific men joined into a group. We read about them in 1 Chronicles, chapter 24, verses 5 through 19. To paraphrase, King David separated the Levitical priests into 24 rotational courses. Each man served in the Temple for one week and then rotated out. These men were elders of God’s ancient Temple—God’s ancient CHURCH.

The 24 men in Revelation are also elders, but they are from God’s modern Church assembly—the Holy Nation combined church made up of Jews and Gentiles. Furthermore, John would recognize these elders as representatives of God’s modern church because they wear the Lord Jesus Christ’s white robes of righteousness, which the Lord promised to His Faithful Ones. Plus, these elders wear the overcomers crowns of gold which were given to them by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. These elders are the Lord Jesus Christ’s chosen believers.

Here are verses 6 through 11:

Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

“You are worthy, O LORD, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”

Who are these four living creatures?

Many scholars believe these four living creatures represent the Lord Jesus Christ, as He is depicted in the four Gospels. Matthew presents Jesus as a lion—the mightiest creature on earth, and one of Jesus’ many names is the ‘Lion of Judah.’ Mark presents Jesus as the suffering servant—the same way oxen have suffered in their service to mankind. Luke presents Jesus as the Son of Man— Adam’s descendant. Also, that man is God’s highest creation, having been made in His image. And finally, John presents the Lord Jesus like an eagle, the Son of the Most High God, for eagles fly higher than any other bird.

We first learn about these specific mighty angels in Genesis, when God blocked the entry into the Garden of Eden after the fall of Adam and Eve. God set a single blazing angel—a cherub or a seraph—their plural names are cherubim and seraphim—armed with a sword to guard the entrance, so that no one could enter and eat from the Tree of Life. These angels are of the highest order of angelic beings, and they attend God constantly.

Additionally, we read about cherubim in the prophetic book of Ezekiel, chapters 1 and 10, where the prophet Ezekiel had a vision of the throne room of God very similar to the vision John is experiencing. Interestingly, it is Ezekiel who tells us about Satan, when he was known as Lucifer—one of God’s closest cherubim who attended Him around His throne. Then Lucifer became pride-filled and egocentric and told God that he would be above God someday. God threw Lucifer out of heaven and on his way out he took one-third of the angels with him. They are known as the fallen angles and Jesus Christ renamed Lucifer, Satan. He is the one who deceived the original couple, Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden, as a serpent.

So these specific four living creatures have six wings, which means they are seraphim. Whereas, cherubim only have four wings, and cherubim have four faces that depict the lion, ox, man, and eagle. Both species of angel cry out “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was, and is, and is to come.”

And chapter 4 concludes with the elders proclaiming “You are worthy, O LORD, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”

This is an interesting reminder that the Lord Jesus Christ, through the power given to Him by His Father, created everything. And it is by God’s will that all of creation, and all things, including plants, mammals, fish, birds, all creeping things, stars, galaxies, and angels are allowed to exist.

Keep that in mind as we go forward into chapter 5.

Until next week, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen, and Amen.

12. BOOK OF REVELATION #11

In Revelation, chapter 5 we witness the opening of the scroll of all scrolls—the Deed to Earth—that was forfeit by Adam in the Garden of Eden. We learn that this scroll can only be opened by a special person who must be a kinsman of Adam, someone who is capable, willing, and who could assume all the obligations to the beneficiary. He is none other than the One who was, and is, and is to come.

The opening of this scroll marks the beginning of God’s end time events that are listed in Revelation, and in the prophetic Book of Daniel, chapter 9. Therefore, understand that at this future time millions of people will already have been snatched out from earth. They will simply vanish. World governments and media outlets will attempt to cover up or explain away this massive event—but the fact will remain—people from all walks of life, every age, ethnicity, color, and nationality will no longer be present on earth, and chaos will ensue.

Additionally, according to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 7, right now—during our current time—Holy Spirit restricts the approaching evil and lawlessness that will culminate in the single world leader coming into power. Holy Spirit is identified as ‘the restrainer,’ and He is preventing this lawless man—and Satan—from completing this rise, while God continues to bring people into His Church. However, when God is finished gathering, the great snatching out of God’s Church will occur worldwide, and God will longer require the restrainer to hold back the forces of evil and lawlessness. Without Holy Spirit combating evil, the lawless one—known as Antichrist—will burst onto the world stage and begin moving his way up through the ranks until he becomes the single political and military world leader.

Here is the warning from 2 Thessalonians:

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.

Satan has been working toward this goal for nearly 6000 years. But it is comforting to know that God alone determines when Antichrist rises to power and when Antichrist falls from power. Thankfully, God will limit the reign of Antichrist for the sake of His elect, as we read in Mark, chapter 13, verse 20:

Unless the LORD had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.

Right now, before these future events begin, you and every person on earth has the opportunity to avoid the reign of Antichrist. For God loves you so deeply that long ago He, and His Son, and Holy Sprit devised a plan. God sent His Son to earth so that His contemporaries could witness Him, hear, and see Him IN PERSON. But humanity rejected Jesus as the Son of God, but also as their Savior, and demanded He be crucified. Jesus allowed Himself to be killed on a cross in order to take all the sins of the world upon Himself. It was the only way to redeem earth back to His Father. Then, Jesus laid in a tomb for three days, but He did not remain there. He resurrected, rolled away the stone, and physically walked out of that grave to continue His ministry for another 40 days. Jesus proved that He LIVES. He is alive today.

In His resurrection—and subsequent proof of life after His resurrection—Jesus conquered death forevermore. When His work on earth was complete, Father God called His Son up into heaven where He sits today, awaiting the ‘twinkling-of-an-eye’ moment when God gives Him permission to resurrect His Church out of the world.

But why must all of this happen?

Because, God will achieve His separation of believers unto Himself, and right now, He is patiently waiting for people to choose.

There is no better time than right now to come to the realization that the Lord Jesus Christ is your Creator and Savior. Jesus is the one and only Redeemer of all mankind, and He waits for people to choose Him and receive His free gift of Salvation. Amen and Amen.

So, now we dive into the events that occur after God’s Church is removed, and the restrainer is no longer holding back the rise of Antichrist. Here is Revelation, chapter 5, verses 1 through 7:

And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

John stands before the heavenly throne, where God is seated in all of His brilliant light. God holds a scroll that has seven seals, and there are words written on the outside.

So what is the deal with this scroll?

In ancient Jewish law, whenever property was sold, there was a clause in the deed that allowed the original owner to purchase the land back at some future date. That future date was called a redemption, which is the act of regaining possession, in exchange for payment. The repurchase had to occur within this future timeframe and certain terms, over and above the actual payment, had to be fulfilled in order to repossess the land. Those requirements were written in the deed and sealed. On the outside of the original Deed, specific requirements were written that had to be fulfilled before the redeemer could gain possession of the land. When the instructions were completed, two copies were made.

The original sealed deed was buried in a jar, while the copy was held by the original owner. At the time of redemption, if the original owner desired the property, both deeds were brought forth. As mentioned, not only was payment required, but all the other requirements had to be met, as well. If those requirements could not be met, the seals on the original deed could not be lawfully broken. Such is the case here. God holds the scroll Deed to Earth that only one Man can open.

John recognizes that this scroll contains something so important, so vast, and so great that not one single person is allowed to even look at it, much less open it. John cries uncontrollably over the fact that throughout the entire universe no one can meet the requirements written on this scroll. No one can redeem earth back to its original owner, and therefore, Satan will be allowed to rule earth forever. John is literally wiped out with the pain and suffering this knowledge brings.

Then, one of the 24 elders comforts John and tells him that there is One. He is the Mighty Lion of Judah, the One who created King David, the One who will redeem the promise of the Davidic Covenant in Luke, chapter 1. This One alone is the powerful victor over all of the requirements and can open all seven seals.

John lifts his head and there, walking among the thrones near the living creatures is the Sacrificial Lamb of God. John recognizes his Master, his Beloved Teacher, and friend. The Lord Jesus has upon His head seven horns that scripturally depict the power and honor awarded to a King. John also recognizes the seven eyes as the Seven Spirits of God. Those same messengers who delivered the seven church letters Jesus told John to write in the early chapters of Revelation!

O the joy John must have felt to know that those instructional letters were made available by the Seven Spirits to the pastors of the seven churches and then to all of humanity. For surrounding John in the throne room are the saints who read, understood, obeyed, and came to believe the prophetic information that was written in those seven church letters.

Then King Jesus steps forward and takes the Deed to Earth out of His Father’s hand. For He alone is worthy.

But worthy of what?

Earth, and all that is in it, the universe, and all that is within it, along with every angel and all mankind were created by the Trinity.

YHWH, His Son, and Holy Spirit are the original owners of Creation as we read in Psalm 24:1—

The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to Him.

God created earth and then gifted it to Adam, as we read in Genesis 1, verse 26:

God said to Adam, “have dominion over the fish of the sea, the foul of the air, over every moving and creeping thing for I have given it unto thee. It is yours.”

When God did this, Lucifer—God’s highest and mightiest angel—did not approve. In his anger over God’s gift to Adam, Lucifer made five declarations. Here they are in Isaiah 14, verses 13 and 14:

I will ascend into heaven. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. I will also sit on the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north. I will ascend above the height of the clouds. I will be like the Most High.

And in Isaiah 14 God answers this prideful created angel:

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!”

So we know Lucifer’s original statements and God’s final future act against him, but what happened in between?

God cast Lucifer out of heaven and when he was removed Lucifer took one-third of God’s angels with him. They landed on earth and the Lord Jesus Christ renamed Lucifer, Satan—which means deceiver, murderer, liar, and thief. He is the epitome of all things evil.

Satan set out to conquer mankind, and he determined the best way to do that was through the female. He waited until the time was ripe and approached the woman Eve, in the Garden of Eden, and deceived her, convincing Eve to disobey the only command God had given His original couple. Do not eat from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, otherwise you will die.

Adam and Eve ate from that tree and of course, the couple who was originally created immortal, died because of their sin. When they disobeyed God’s one command they forfeited the Deed to Earth over to Satan, and he has been the prince of the world ever since. He got what he wanted, and Satan has lived up to his name. Every evil and horrible thing that has occurred on this earth has happened and continues to occur, because of Satan. He is the one responsible for weakening the nations, causing governments to give up their sovereignty to this upcoming single world leader called Antichrist.

But glory hallelujah, Jesus Christ came to earth and paid the redemptive price to regain His creation back to His Father. Jesus could not, and did not remain in that grave, even though Satan thought he had won when he produced the evil to have the Lord Jesus Christ killed. Satan believed, with Jesus forever dead, he would fulfill his five I will declarations.

But Satan is a created being and does not comprehend the full power of the Trinity. Jesus, in His mighty power resurrected Himself from that horrible death, and from His grave. Jesus remained on earth 40 days ministering to His beloved highest creation—mankind—before He was called back to His Father’s throne room in heaven. Jesus is alive and He will be returning to earth to rule and reign as King, just as He said He would throughout the New AND and the Old Testaments.

But His time is not yet, because God is still gathering His Church, and He will not cease His gathering until all have been separated out.

Revelation, chapter 5, verses 8 through 10 continues:

Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.”

The music swells as the sweet sound of ten thousand upon ten thousands of harps fills the air. John looks on in awe and wonder as the massive throne room reveals multitudes of saints singing. Great joy, hallelujahs, praise and worship erupt throughout heaven as the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Mighty Creator rightfully takes possession of His Creation in the greatest escrow closing of all time.

But what is the significance of the golden bowls filled with incense?

In the Old Testament, when priests went into the Temple they carried a golden bowl filled with incense and swinging from chains. They would take a burning coal, place it in the herbs and smoke would rise, smelling very pleasant. This was an offering to God representing the prayers of His people, Israel. Only now, the 24 elders hold the same golden bowls, but inside is the incense that represents the prayers of God’s Church as their offering to the One Redeeming God.

Right now—at this time—earth’s redemption is not yet complete, even though the price has already been paid, through Jesus’ death. Today, God’s Church awaits their complete redemption, as Paul tells us in Romans 8:

And we and all creation do groan and suffer waiting for our redemption…

Even as we pray the Lord’s Prayer: Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven! We await the great releasing of the Lord into the air just below heaven, when He snatches out His Church from earth. When He has His beloved they will sing a new song, because they represent every nation, color, tribe, and tongue on earth—all of God’s people who recognize and choose Him, as Colossians 3:11 tells us:

For there is neither Jew, nor gentile, bond or free, but Christ is all and in all.

God’s Church is one big family within the Lord Jesus Christ and they are singing the song of redemption brought to them through His shed blood. These saints know from the Lord’s promises that the sanctified in Christ will rule and reign with Him on His redeemed earth.

Revelation chapter 5, verses 11 through 14 completes this chapter:

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

“Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

WOW!

Ten thousand times ten thousand is one million, multiply that thousands of thousands more, and that equals quite a large crowd, all shouting the worthiness of King Jesus’ strength and honor and glory.

Add to that every single created creature in the world, in heaven, and under earth, in the sea, shouting in splendid perfect harmony—in their own unique voices—blessings, and honor, and praises, and worship to their Creator King.

I wonder if the people left on earth will understand what’s happening when this occurs. The sound will be tumultuous in heaven, it will be tumultuous on earth—but will the people hear it? Will they know? Will they recognize and understand that they need to come to the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation?

Scripture doesn’t say…but scripture does continue with the combined wrath of God, Satan, and man in the upcoming chapters.

Until next week, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen, and Amen.

13. BOOK OF REVELATION #12

In Revelation chapter 6 the Lord Jesus Christ opens six of the seven seals on the Deed to Earth. These seals furnish an overview of the events that occur during the 7-year Tribulation and reveal what life will be like on earth after God’s Church and the restrainer are removed, and the one world leader takes control.

Seals 1 through 4 release the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse and seals 5 and 6 provide a sneak peek into the events that occur in more detail later in the book. As these events unfold throughout Revelation they increase in intensity until the final battle of Armageddon.

But what determines the 7-year time period? The answer lies in the prophetic Old Testament Book of Daniel, chapter 9 where Daniel describes something called a week of years. A week is 7 days, therefore a week of years is 7 years. Most translations simply state a week, so understand that the nomenclature is a week of YEARS.

Here is Daniel, chapter 9, and the beginning of verse 27:

The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven,

The people are the nation Israel, but what is the significance of 7 years? Jesus tells us in Matthew chapter 24, verses 21 and 22 that the 7-year time period is set in place to limit the length of the Tribulation. According to Jesus if the time frame were any longer no one would survive.

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”

OK. But why are those days to be shortened? Because the battle between good and evil—that once raged in the heavenly realms—will be fought openly on earth during the Tribulation, and mankind will be caught in between. Therefore, it is vitally important to understand who’s fighting, and what they are fighting over.

God in His goodness, and His multitude of angels battle against Satan and his legions of Nephilim, demons, and human emissaries, but throughout the Tribulation only Satan’s agents will be visible. This battle is being fought over the ownership of human souls—for God is the rightful owner of humanity, because He created them, and He wants people with Him forever. Whereas Satan is a created being—turned evil—and his only desire is to take people away from God.

Scripture is not clear regarding when Satan’s legions will be released during the Tribulation, but we do know that it will occur, because Jesus tells us about it in Luke 17:26—

And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man.

Well, what happened in the days of Noah? We read the account in Genesis chapter 6, verse 4.

In those days, and for some time after, Nephilim lived on the earth, for whenever the sons of God had intercourse with women, they gave birth to offspring who became the mighty men and famous warriors of ancient times.

When these creatures polluted human bloodlines, God sent a flood to cleanse the earth.

In Revelation, chapter 6 the opening of the first Seal introduces Satan’s agent riding a horse and carrying a bow. He is called Antichrist. Scripture does not reveal this man’s name, but he is the liar who pops onto the world stage bearing a peace treaty for Israel. Several passages in Daniel confirm that Antichrist is the one world ruler and after he rises to dominance, he will—under Satan’s authority—unleash these legions of evil creatures.

OK, next. Both God and Satan know that mankind was created with the gift of free will, and every single individual will either choose God’s offer of eternal salvation, or they will choose eternity with Satan. Therefore, Satan is fighting to keep the truth about salvation from as many people as possible. Opposite that is God’s great love, for He sent His Son as a sacrifice to redeem humanity from sin.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Way back to God.

He is the Truth about God.

And He alone is the One who can provide everlasting Life with God.

Now, with all of this information, we return Revelation, because after the disappearance of God’s Church wickedness rapidly spreads throughout earth. And with the removal of the restrainer mankind crumbles under the weight of evil. Families and friends are torn apart. Lawlessness is the norm, and with the opening of the first seal Satan unleashes his hatred on all humanity in the form of an incredibly deceitful man. Here is Revelation, chapter 6, verses 1 and 2:

As I watched, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll. Then I heard one of the four living beings say with a voice like thunder, “Come and see!” I looked up and saw a white horse standing there. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode out to win many battles and gain the victory.

Throughout Revelation loud voices that sound like thunder, trumpets, and roaring waters announce prophetic events. As the first seal is opened one of the angels around God’s throne bids John come and witness. He sees a white horse. White represents purity and goodness. And biblically horses represent instruments of strength, power, war, and judgement. In ancient times, horses were formidable assets—difficult to ignore. Men rode war horses into battle, providing the rider with a speed, height and strength advantage. Large horses pulled chariots—vehicles that were fast, heavy, and unstoppable. Spear throwers and archers rode inside the chariots, where they totally demolished anyone in their path. So the contrast between white for purity and the clear intent to harm people provides a clue about this rider.

The fact that he’s riding a powerful horse and carrying a lethal weapon clearly indicates this man plans to control and hurt people. In ancient wars archers were highly trained and extremely accurate in long range destruction, which indicates this man, too, is planning long term hostility. This evil and deceitful man is ushering in the most tumultuous and war-torn era in history, but he hides his intentions by riding a horse that represents purity! Right from the start, this agent of Satan behaves just like his master does—he is a liar and a thief who uses deceit to rob people of the truth.

Now, let’s explore another theory about the bow, because sometimes a bow is representative of a legal contract between two parties. One example is God’s rainbow covenant after the flood, when God promised Noah that He would never send another flood.

But there is a huge difference between when God promises and when Antichrist promises, for God keeps his promises. Antichrist does not. And we learn how he breaks this peace treaty later in Revelation. Right now, though, Antichrist enters the world stage carrying a document specifically for Israel, and it is acceptable to the entire world. So acceptable that the world allows Israel to build their holy temple on the Temple Mount. The nation Israel falls for the lie and God’s elect are deceived by Antichrist. Not only that, but Israel’s initial belief that Antichrist is their messiah rockets him into world dominance. This action fulfills yet another prophesy spoken by Jesus—the real Messiah. Here is John chapter 5, verse 43:

For I have come to you in My Father’s name, and you have rejected Me. Yet another will come in his own name. Him you will receive.

And Antichrist wallows in his newfound power as He is crowned the one world leader. He kicks off the end time destruction—the Tribulation—just as Paul said he would in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, verses 9 and 10:

This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction…

Revelation chapter 6, verses 3 and 4 continues with the opening of the second seal:

When the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second living being say, “Come and see!” Then another horse appeared, a red one. Its rider was given a mighty sword and the authority to take peace from the earth. And there was war and slaughter everywhere.

Another angel from the throne of God tells John to come and see. This seal reveals a red horse who’s color is blood, deadly conflict, war, and slaughter.

What happens after God’s Church disappears when people realize there are millions of properties open and available and filled with possessions ripe for the taking? Do you think the people left on earth will politely wait for the judicial systems to divvy properties over to their rightful heirs? Or do you think people will kill to gain possession of the homes and belongings left behind by God’s Church? Perhaps people around the world will rejoice at their newfound wealth, glad that the believing community is gone, thus leaving them to obtain that which they could not obtain previously.

Antichrist will usher in new fiscal programs. New medical solutions. He will be hailed as the best and most wondrous leader man has ever seen. But ever so slowly, ever so deceitfully Antichrist will gain more power and control. He will create conflict and he will demand slaughter. For everyone who dares stand against him will be destroyed. Antichrist will thrive on this evil.

Verses 5 through 7 continues:

When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, “Come and see!” I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice from among the four living beings say, “A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley will cost a day’s pay. And don’t harm the olive oil and wine.”

Black, the color of night, darkness, and impairment. Scales are produced for the majority of earth’s population to bring their day’s wages in exchange for a single loaf of wheat bread, or three loaves of barley. Interestingly, the elite will maintain their wealth as depicted in this passage by olive oil and wine. The world witnesses massive depopulation from slaughter and inflation while Antichrist and Satan’s emissaries prosper. But how many people will starve to death when inflation reaches these proportions? Who will have the strength to continue working day-in and day-out on bread alone? And what happens to the young, infirm, injured, ill, elderly, and incapable?

Verse 8 provides the answers:

I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was named Death, and his companion was the Grave. These two were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals.

This horse is the putrid green color of an exposed body that has been dead for more than three days. The rider and his cohort bring finality to those who are caught in Antichrist’s foul schemes. Some are killed by war, some starve, others by disease, and with earth’s dwindling population, animals become emboldened enough to hunt and eat men.

People are beginning to realize that Antichrist is not the benevolent world leader he claims himself to be. Nothing about his actions involve peace, prosperity, freedom, or happiness for the masses. Many people realize that his reign only produces suffering and death. And the next verse identifies some of these people:

Revelation, chapter 6, verses 9 through 11:

When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?” Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters—their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them.

During the tribulation millions of people will come to know and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. They will refuse antichrist’s duplicitous leadership and speak out against his rule. Regardless of martyrdom, they remain faithful to their Lord and King, Jesus Christ. In heaven these saints stand before God’s throne and ask Him an interesting question:

“How long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?”

So who are these people that belong to this world? They are Satan’s emissaries who work for Antichrist. They are the presidents of nations and their henchmen. They are the secret police. They are the guillotine operators. They are the earth dwellers, and we learn more about them in Revelation chapter 11. They are the ones who murder millions over the course of the Tribulation.

As these saints cry out for justice, God tells them to be patient, for the time is coming when all those who come to believe in His Son are gathered.

Revelation, chapter 6, verses 12 through 17 reads:

I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood. Then the stars of the sky fell to earth like green figs falling from a tree shaken by a strong wind. The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places. Then everyone—the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person—all hid themselves in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?”

Seal number 6 provides a glimpse of the major events that are about to occur in the upcoming chapters, and it is interesting to see that the Tribulation unfolds in such a way that earth’s inhabitants fully realize the absolute truth about what is happening. The blindfolds are off. People know and understand that the battle raging all around them is being fought by God and Satan, and Antichrist is forcing them to choose between him and God.

Many recognize Antichrist is a liar and they turn to the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, while others love and worship Antichrist and fully accept him. Time is running out though, and the choice now is black or white. There is no in between, no denying. No hiding. No heads in the sand. And this scripture reveals that those who choose Satan will come into the full wrath of God and His Son. They will not escape the tide of events the Trinity sends to earth.

And so, on earth during the Tribulation, the battle for eternal souls will be fought in real time, and what is the end result?

One will either spend eternity with God, or eternity with Satan. The choice is up to every individual.

Which begs the question…should people believe Biblical prophesy?

Absolutely they should, because there are hundreds of Old and New Testament prophesies, and many of them have already COME TRUE. Therefore, will the prophesies in Revelation, that are yet unfilled, also come true?

The Bible is God’s Word to mankind. It is His gift of life, history, instruction, redemption, power, and glory…so many things. But it is also God’s spotlight on future events.

When God the Almighty and His Son prophesy, you can bet your life those events will come to pass. Think about that—because so far the Triune God’s success rate is 100%.

Here is one of the Lord Jesus Christ’s end time prophesies from Matthew, chapter 24, verses 33 and 34:

Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

And who might that generation be? They are the people who live during the Tribulation.

Until next week, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen, and Amen.

14. BOOK OF REVELATION #13

Revelation chapter 7 takes a small break in the narrative to answer the question asked at the end of Revelation chapter 6—“who is able to survive?” The response reveals two people groups that God separates out of the Tribulation, but only the first group survives the entire time period.

Some background information is useful here and we turn to Matthew 24 where Jesus is speaking to His disciples about the end times. He tells them about liars who claim to be god and how they deceive many people. Then He talks about wars, and famines, and diseases, and how people betray one another, and how believers will be hated by everyone. Jesus tells His students that during this horrific period, people around the world will deliver believers up to tribulation and kill them.

Let’s stop there and examine how many of these things have already happened or are currently happening.

Are there people claiming to be the Lord Jesus Christ, and do huge groups of people believe them?

Are there wars between nations today, famines, pestilence and diseases affecting many people?

Would you say betrayal is commonplace in our world?

In our modern society are believers hated by everyone, and if they are, are they being delivered up to their governments to be killed?

Keep these things in mind as we continue through Revelation because these are timeline signs that help us determine when events occur, and we already know that the Tribulation begins when Antichrist presents a peace treaty to Israel, and the entire world accepts it. Immediately thereafter massive wars break out, along with super high inflation, food shortages, world-wide famine, pestilence, disease, biological warfare, and subsequently millions of deaths.

All of this occurs during the first 3.5 years.

Then Jesus goes on to explain to His disciples the event that triggers the second—and final— 3.5 years—the Great Tribulation. There will be an abomination of desolation within the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Jerusalem. The entire world will witness this event and it sets off another series of events so catastrophic that many more millions of people die.

So we now have the two events that kick off the 7-year period, and the last 3.5 years of that whole timeframe.

So back to the question: “who is able to survive?”

In the last podcast we learned about the earthly battle that will rage between good and evil, and we learned about the participants on both sides. After Antichrist brings the peace treaty, he spends the first 3.5 years of the Tribulation building his world dominance. During that time he organizes the world’s banking, media, commerce, political, technology, militaries, religions, and many other things under his control. Antichrist gathers followers from across the globe, and then trains and outfits them as his personal army, and they obey him without question. Scripture calls Antichrist’s many followers the dwellers of earth—or earth dwellers. These people play a major role throughout Revelation.

Opposite Antichrist’s efforts, God is also preparing people here on earth. And we learn about these men, but first we witness God organizing His angels up in heaven.

Here is Revelation, chapter 7, verses 1 through 3:

Then I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds so they did not blow on the earth or the sea, or even on any tree. And I saw another angel coming up from the east, carrying the seal of the living God. And he shouted to those four angels, who had been given power to harm land and sea, “Wait! Don’t harm the land or the sea or the trees until we have placed the seal of God on the foreheads of His servants.”

God sends four angels to the four quadrants of earth—north, south, east, and west—with instructions to hold back the wind inside their quadrants.

But why are these angels to hold back the wind? We find the answer in the Old Testament book of Joshua, which strongly parallels the Book of Revelation.

When Moses died, God chose Joshua to lead Israel into the promised land. The name Joshua is ancient Hebrew for Jehoshua. In Latin Jehoshua is translated as Jesus. Joshua represents the Lord Jesus Christ in the Old Testament, and as Israel’s military commander Joshua leads a 7-year campaign against the kings of the promised land. Interestingly, these kings rose to power illegally, just as Antichrist does. So when Joshua prepares to battle the city of Jericho, he secretly sends two observers into the city.

These two men from the Old Testament parallel two New Testament witnesses who appear during the early days of the Tribulation. God sends these men to preach at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, and they do so non-stop until the middle of the 7-year period. They teach the world about God and His greatness and faithfulness, and all of His many promises—especially pertaining to His Son.

Apparently, their preaching upsets Antichrist to the point that he attempts to have the witnesses killed. Each time an attempt on their lives is made, the perpetrators are burned to death by fire the two witnesses call down from heaven. When attempts upon their lives escalate, God gives the two witnesses authority to halt rain across the entire earth and they declare this for 3.5 years.

In physics the hydrologic cycle of oceanic evaporation, condensation, transport, and precipitation causes rain across the earth. Without wind to transport condensation, there is no precipitation. Without rain, plants and crops wither, the earth turns a dull brown color. Water supplies dwindle down to nothing, and during the Tribulation water becomes a rare and valuable commodity. And of course, without rain—trees die.

Now back to verses 1 through 3. A fifth angel rises out of the east carrying the seal of the living God. And the Living God is the Lord Jesus Christ, and the angel seals the foreheads of the Lord’s servants.

OK. So what is this seal and who are these servants? First—the seal.

Four New Testament verses describe people being sealed by God.

The first passage is John 6:27 where Jesus speaks about the eternal life a believer should seek from Him, because God gave Jesus His seal of approval. And in John 6:28 Jesus tells us that all God wants is for people to believe in His Son. And if they do, they will be sealed.

The next scripture is 2 Timothy 2:19, talks about people who turn away after being taught the Gospel of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Turning away is their choice, but those who remain in Jesus understand that God’s truth about His Son stands firm like a foundation stone with an inscription that reads: the Lord knows who belongs to Him, and they have God’s seal upon them and the Lord knows who they are, and He claims them as His. Believers are Jesus’ beloved—they are His possession.

And the third scripture is today’s verse, Revelation 7:3, where the angel from the east seals the foreheads of God’s servants.

And the last scripture is Revelation 9, verse 4 and it talks about the harm that befalls anyone who does NOT HAVE THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD upon them.

In the Greek, a seal is a stamp which makes a mark, indicating something that is private, secret, protected, or owned. Many ancient cultures used wax seals and signet rings to close a private document, the way we use an envelope to seal mail. Seals protect contents. But ancient civilizations also used a seal to show ownership of property, thus permanently marking the recipient forever, and Revelation 14:1 tells us that the seal of God marks the bearer with God the Father’s name, and the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

So who can receive God’s seal?

1 Thessalonians 5:9 and Revelation 3:10 state that anyone living during the Tribulation who chooses the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior is sealed and kept from suffering the wrath of God, and the wrath of the Lamb. (And the Lamb is the Lord Jesus Christ.)

During the Tribulation two marks will be used. The first is this living seal of God that marks the foreheads of believers with the Lord’s name and with God the Father’s name. This seal will only be seen by fellow believers, and the only location where it is placed is on the forehead.

The second mark is not a seal, nor does it contain a name. It is the mark of Satan and it is his specific identification number, which is 666. This mark will be visible to everyone and will be administered to the forehead or the right hand of anyone who chooses to accept it. Anyone who takes Satan’s mark upon their bodies can buy and sell during the Tribulation. Anyone who takes Satan’s mark upon their bodies will never be able to experience God’s salvation. Those who refuse this mark during the Tribulation will not be able to buy or sell, but anyone who refuses this mark and accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior is saved forever. Antichrist’s armies hunt these people down and kill them.

So, while God’s sealed Tribulation believers will be divinely protected from the events of wrath from God and His Son, many will be martyred by Antichrist and his earth dweller armies. These Tribulation believers will be martyred, but they will live eternally with God forever.

And now, who are these God-chosen servants?

Revelation, chapter 7, verses 4 through 8 explains:

And I heard how many were marked with the seal of God—144,000 were sealed from all the tribes of Israel: from Judah 12,000, from Reuben 12,000, from Gad 12,000, from Asher 12,000, from Naphtali 12,000, from Manasseh 12,000, from Simeon 12,000, from Levi 12,000, from Issachar 12,000, from Zebulun 12,000, from Joseph 12,000, from Benjamin 12,000.

Note that Jesus marks these 144,000 Israeli men with His Father’s name and His name. He separates them from other Israeli’s as His own personal possession and then the Lord protects these men in such a way that they survive the entire Tribulation.

But why?

Because they are His servants, and Jesus tasks these men to go throughout the world and teach the Gospel of the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ—the Savior, who offers everlasting salvation to anyone who chooses Him. This group of Israeli’s generates another group that comes out of the Tribulation. This second group comes from every place on earth, and they too are sealed and marked as Jesus’ possessions. After hearing the Good News, and in their newfound salvation, this multitude refuses to take Satan’s mark. Their refusal leads them to being hunted like animals and slaughtered by the millions. But we learn about the wonderful things that God gives to this second group.

Revelation, chapter 7, verses 9 through 15 tells us about the multitudes:

After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”

And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. They sang, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Then one of the twenty-four elders asked me, “Who are these who are clothed in white? Where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.”

Then he said to me, “These are the ones who died in the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white. That is why they stand in front of God’s throne and serve Him day and night in His Temple. And He who sits on the throne will give them shelter.

This multitude flows into the throne room of heaven clothed in white robes and waving palm branches. In their happiness and jubilation, they shout their universal thanksgiving because they received salvation from the 144,000 Israeli men sent by the LORD God and His Son.

This vast crowd is remarkably similar to the crowds who welcomed the Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem as He rode a donkey colt into the city 2000 years ago. They too, waved palm branches and cried “Salvation, salvation! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

These Jews did and said very similar things, except the people waving palm branches in Jerusalem were Hebrews while the heavenly multitude that came out of the Tribulation come from every nation and tribe and people and language throughout the world.

It is interesting to note several other differences about this heavenly multitude that comes out of the Tribulation.

If we contrast them with God’s raptured Church we see that:

God’s Church wears crowns, while this multitude does not.

God’s Church carries harps. This multitude carries palm branches.

God’s Church is kept from experiencing the Tribulation, while this multitude experiences horrific things.

God’s Church sits on thrones, while this multitude stands in front of the thrones.

God’s Church rules and reigns with King Jesus. This multitude will serve King Jesus in His Millennial Kingdom Temple. What a high and glorious honor that will be!

And lastly, John recognizes the members of God’s Church, but he does not recognize this multitude. For God’s Church is Jesus’ inheritance from God the Father while this multitude receives salvation from both God the Father and the Son.

Interestingly, this multitude does not complain about the suffering they experience during the Tribulation, but they do shout their appreciation, because their deaths equal eternal life with God and His Son forever, and their white robes washed clean indicates that ultimately they will receive the same privileges as God’s Church. They are so thankful that they will not ever suffer again, as we learn in verses 16 and 17:

They will never again be hungry or thirsty; they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun. For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

Revelation chapter 7 reveals that during the Tribulation God’s beloved people will die horrible deaths because of Antichrist and his earth dwellers. But it is so comforting to know that before this occurs, God holds back His angels so that this special group of Israeli men can be sealed. It is comforting that these men go throughout earth and teach and reach millions. And it is comforting to know that after martyrdom Jesus keeps this multitude close to Him and loves them so completely and thoroughly that He wipes away their every hurt and pain, forever.

But Revelation chapter 7 also reveals something else. During the Tribulation, people will also die because of events brought forth by the wrath of God through His angels. We will soon see that these events escalate rapidly.

What is vitally important to understand here is that during the Tribulation, as more and more innocent people die because of evil committed by sinners, by earth dwellers, by Satan, and by Antichrist God will escalate His wrath to punish these monsters who cause these deaths to His beloved.

You see…God understands that at any time—until a person takes the mark of Satan—any person on earth can stop what they’re doing and choose His Son—the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. These people can be saved!

However, if they persist in harming God’s beloved, God will not stand for it! His Son will not stand for it and they warn repeatedly throughout scripture not to harm those whom they love.

Isaiah 13:9 states—“Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, cruel, with fury and burning anger, to make the land a desolation; and He will exterminate its sinners from it.”

Do you think that these three years of drought will cause the earth to be so dry, so brown that it will be desolate?

Micah 5:15 says—“I will execute vengeance in anger and wrath on the nations which have not obeyed.”

In the upcoming episode in Revelation chapter 8 we will see God’s vengeance and wrath begin in earnest.

Colossians 3:6 says—“For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience.”

Satan, Antichrist, the false prophet, and every earth dweller are the sons of disobedience, and they are going against God’s goodness. Therefore, they will experience His everlasting wrath.

Romans 2:5 says this—“[Sinner] because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God.”

And finally from Zephaniah a prophesy concerning the Book of Revelation:

Zephaniah 1:15 says—“A day of wrath is that day. A day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of thick darkness and gloom.”

Listen and know and understand—in the end times, it will not bode well for liars, or people who claim to be god, or deceivers, betrayers, earth dwellers, and those who murder God’s beloved people, because God sent His Son to bear the sins of mankind and purchase everyone back from Satan’s ownership. The Lord Jesus Christ did this once and for all, and the only thing needed to be covered in His salvation is to choose Him.

And so, I pray dear friends, that you will take heed of the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God today and seek a deeper personal relationship with Him. Thank you for joining me and know that the Lord Jesus Christ loves you SO very much, and so do we.

Until next week, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen, and Amen.

15. BOOK OF REVELATION #14

And so it begins in Revelation, chapter 8. For 3½ years millions of God’s people have been brutalized, hunted, persecuted, and martyred. And God does not contain His wrath any longer. He hurls His vengeance upon the people of earth with natural judgements first, and then allows the demonic plagues.

Chapter 8, verse 1 begins with complete and utter silence:

When the Lamb broke the seventh seal on the scroll, there was silence throughout heaven for about half an hour.

From previous episodes we know that there are many multitudes of people standing before God’s throne. Just the sound of that many people breathing would be noisy, and yet, there is deafening silence from every person, every angel, and even from the four seraphim who fly around God’s throne, claiming His Holiness.

Then verse 2 introduces us to God’s seven archangels:

I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.

We know from scripture that the archangel Michael is the commander of God’s angel armies, and the archangel Gabriel is God’s messenger to His Nation Israel. Outside the Tanakh, from the Aprocrypha Books of Enoch and Tobias we learn the remaining five archangels are Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Sarakiel, and Phanuel. Each name ends with El—meaning ‘with’ or ‘of’ God, and they stand before Him ready to do His bidding. Interestingly, they are given seven trumpets. Scripturally, trumpets are used to sound the alarm for war and they often threw the enemy into a frantic panic. These seven archangels take their trumpets and wait for God to signal the battle alarm that begins the Great Tribulation.

But before that occurs, an eighth angel is introduced in verse 3:

Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the alter. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people as an offering on the gold alter before the throne.

Exodus 30:25 and other passages tell us about some of the herbs used to make incense—myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, cassia, frankincense, salt, and galbanum. While some of these spices may not be familiar today, the mixing of myrrh, cinnamon, and frankincense is really quite pleasing, but it is the scent of His believers’ prayers offered up to God that are sweetest to Him—particularly during times of salvation and persecution. We read one such prayer in 2 Corinthians 2:15:

For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing…

But there is another, more commonly said prayer that is prayed by believers and non-believers alike during times of duress. This one from Matthew, chapter 6 is the epitome of the prayers God seeks:

Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.

This prayer was given to all of earth by the Lord Jesus Christ, to be used in times of plenty—and times of wanting—but especially in times of trouble. This prayer is a sweet, sweet scent that God loves above all other prayers because it came from His Son and He fully intends to honor it, as He is about to do in Revelation, chapter 8, because no longer will God abide the horrors perpetrated against His beloved believers.

Throughout time, God’s goal has been to bring about His Kingdom on earth, just as His Kingdom reigns in heaven. Understand, that when He created this planet it was beyond beautiful. It was absolute perfection and God placed mankind—His highest beloved creation—within it, fully intending that they would live with Him in perfection forever. But the fall of Adam and Eve halted that intent and we are about to see God reverse the pattern of sinful man in the following events.

God does this because of the prayers of His believers, for the one thing they desire most is to be with Him forever. And God desires the same.

Here is Revelation, chapter 8, verses 4 and 5:

The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God’s holy people, ascended up to God from the alter where the angel had poured them out. Then the angel filled the incense burner with fire from the alter and threw it down upon the earth; and thunder crashed, lightening flashed, and there was a terrible earthquake.

And so the sweet herbs are burned and God’s people’s prayers ascend into His nostrils, and just then the eighth angel scoops the burning coals from the alter back into the incense burner and hurls them to earth.

The result is tremendous thunder, lighting and a terrible earthquake. Scripture tells us about God’s thunder in Job, chapter 26, verse 14: But His mighty thunder, who can understand?

Maybe a listener to this podcast has experienced thunder and lightning so violent their aftereffects can be felt indoors. Those who have, know that buildings shake, windows rattle, and often the electricity goes out. God’s wrathful power is not a pleasant affair.

Yet, not one of us has ever experienced a world-wide earthquake, much less one that crumbles earth’s bedrock with such force that bridges and buildings topple like match sticks, and long stretches of highways and entire neighborhoods are swallowed up into the bowels of the earth.

But we do know about the last time the entire earth was rocked by an earthquake. It was 2000 years ago on the day the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. Matthew, chapter 27, verses 51 through 54 tells us all about it:

And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city [of Jerusalem] and appeared to many. Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

And this passage in chapter 8 does not tell the reader how many people die from the thunder, lightening, and earthquake, but one can assume that it is a vast number. Every person with the seal of the living God is not harmed, but those who died and never decided to choose the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior will never be able to do so. It is too late for them. They can never be redeemed.

Surely, a goodly number of earth dwellers also die, and they too, face the same fate. For once a person’s earthly life is over, there is no returning, there are no other opportunities, and the Bible is clear that those who do not choose Jesus as their Lord are doomed to hell forever.

And with another world-wide earthquake, God begins His Trumpet Judgements. Here is Revelation, chapter 8, verses 6 and 7:

Then the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to blow their mighty blasts. The first angel blew his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were thrown down on earth. One-third of the earth was set on fire, one-third of the trees were burned, and all the green grass was burned.

The first Trumpet Judgement is hurled to earth in the form of a horrible mixture of hail, fire, and blood. Extreme cold, extreme heat and blood—how bizarre. After 3½ years of drought this mixture sets one-third of earth on fire, and if anyone had a small patch of green grass they were watering, well, they wouldn’t need to waste water on it anymore.

This isn’t the first time that God, in His wrath, destroys something with a fiery mixture from heaven. We learn in Genesis 19:24 that God rained fire and brimstone down on Sodom and Gomorrah with such utter destruction that the entire valley where these two cities once stood are still uninhabitable to this day.

But what about fire and hail mixed together? We read about this mixture in Exodus, chapter 9 where God commands Moses to gather all his people and bring them inside, and remove all of his animals from the fields and bring them in close to home. Then God tells Moses to stretch out his hand toward the sky and God sends thunder, hail and fire down upon Egypt. The hail, fire and flashing lighting rained down continuously and it was so severe that man, beast, plants and trees were shattered. Only Moses, his people and his animals survived.

So, in the past, what was the cause of God’s wrath? He was avenging His people from sins committed against them.

OK, but what about the blood?

The second Trumpet Judgement also deals with blood. Here are verses 8 and 9:

Then the second angel blew his trumpet, and a great mountain of fire was thrown into the sea. One-third of the water in the sea became blood, one-third of all things living in the sea died, and one-third of all the ships on the sea were destroyed.

Is this actual blood, or is it some type of poison? Biblical commentators and theologians are split regarding their opinions, but perhaps this event is similar to the red tides that plague the shores of Florida every few years, killing hundreds of thousands of sea creatures. We read in the news about how red tide causes all types of horrible ailments, and the stench and putridity from dead sea life forces many coastal Floridians to vacate their homes until well after the red tide has subsided.

But then there’s Exodus chapter 7, where water is turned into actual blood, and not just in the oceans, rivers, ponds and reservoirs, but also in wood, clay and stone pots. God turned every drop of water into blood, thus no one had drinking water, and they could not cook, or bathe.

Now, what is this great mountain of fire that was thrown into the sea? Recall Revelation, chapter 6, when the sixth seal to the Deed of Earth was opened and there was a great earthquake and the stars of the sky fell to earth like green figs falling from a tree that is shaken by a strong wind.

This great mountain of fire refers back to those ‘stars’, more likely this is an asteroid and it kills and destroys one-third of the oceans, but this happens to fresh water, too—as we see in verses 10 and 11—and this time it is called a star:

Then the third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on one-third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. The name of the star is called Wormwood, and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.

‘Star’ gets more interesting when we learn the Greek translation, which is ab-sin-thos and means ‘harmful and undrinkable’. Absinthos is used throughout the Old Testament to indicate calamity, bitterness, and sorrow, and in Jeremiah 9:15 we learn that wormwood-poisoned water was given people to drink.

Quite fascinating too, is the Russian translation for wormwood is Chernobyl.

Additionally, wormwood is an herbal remedy used to clear heavy parasite infestation, and must be ingested with extreme care so as not to kill the host!

But, quite possibly, there’s something else going on here.

Fifty-four times in the Bible Satan is referred to as a star falling from heaven.

Isaiah 14:12 says—how you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations!

And Luke 10:18 states—And [Jesus] said to them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightening.”

Just keep these two verses in mind as we continue…

Now, here is Revelation, chapter 8, verse 12:

The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and one-third of the sun, and one-third of the moon, and one-third of the stars were struck, so that one-third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for one-third of it, and the night in the same way.

Could this be the cataclysmic result of meteorites, astroids, and comets disintegrating inside earth’s atmosphere?

Could this be from thousands of volcanic eruptions caused by the earthquake?

We don’t know. But the lack of natural light is disastrous, as Luke, chapter 21, verses 25 and 26 tells us:

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the seas and the waters roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear; and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the power of heaven shall be shaken.

In the Greek three of the descriptive words in the above scripture are ouranos, dunamis, and saleo, meaning to be ‘set of balance using uranium and dynamite.’ Basically, something as devastating as a nuclear weapon.

Then Revelation, chapter 8 ends with a dire warning, as we read in verse 13:

Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

Midheaven is where eagles fly, and this eagle cries out three times “Woe!” which means great sorrow and distress will be directed at earth dwellers.

In conclusion, the first four Trumpet Judgements are aimed at four natural elements—land, sea, water, and light coming from the sun, moon, and stars.

In Revelation, chapter 9 the next three angels sound their trumpets, and they generate demonic disasters upon earth.

Until next week, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen, and Amen.

16. BOOK OF REVELATION #15

The vast difference between natural and demonic events are contrasted in Revelation, chapter 9 when God gives the keys of hell to Satan and he releases two demonic armies who torture and kill anyone who is not sealed with the mark of the Living God. It gets so bad, that after the sixth Trumpet Judgement, half the world’s population is dead

Here is Revelation, chapter 9, verse 1:

Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen to earth from heaven; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him.

We learned in the last episode that scripture refers to God’s angels as Bright Morning Stars, but normally God’s created beings do not fall to earth like Satan did. To expound further, when Satan pridefully told the LORD God Almighty that he would become god, the LORD clipped his wings and threw him out of heaven. Satan left his first habitat and landed on earth, where he desired earth as his own. To achieve that ownership he had to dethrone God’s highest creation—Adam. When Satan succeeded in deceiving the original couple, he gained complete control of earth and he’s been the god of this planet ever since, wrecking havoc for millennia. He has ownership control over the weather, disasters, tragedies, terrorism, war, famine, disease, corruption, death—anything evil is Satan’s doing.

Along with this kingship, Satan also controls humanity through lies and deceptions and sin-filled temptations at every turn, doing anything he can to separate mankind from their loving creator. One of the things Satan did was to convince the Jewish Pharisees, Sadducees and high priests to have the Lord Jesus Christ crucified. Satan thought he had succeeded in killing his arch enemy—the Son of God—but the LORD God Almighty and His Son had other plans that Satan wasn’t aware of. And this is ALWAYS the case, because Satan is a created being and he can never know what is on God’s mind. Nor can he ever rise above God the Father or His Son, no matter how many times he boasts that he’s going to do this very thing. The best Satan CAN do is PRETEND to be a god, but unfortunately, he is powerful enough to manipulate people against God. He’s always done this and he always will—right up until the very end.

Now, during the three days Jesus lay in the tomb—while Satan was celebrating his mistaken victory—Jesus went down into hell and took back two very important keys. One is the key to death, and the other is the key to hell itself.

With these keys in hand Jesus exited hell and took with Him all of His saints who’d died prior to His death. This multitude rose up out of that place and Jesus took them to heaven, where they’ve been ever since. Then the Son of God resurrected and remained on earth another 40 days—teaching, and healing, and loving His people until Father God brought Him up to heaven, to sit at His right hand until the timing of the harpazo. At the harpazo the LORD God Almighty will remove the Deed to Earth from Satan and hand it over to His Son, and thus the Tribulation will begin, as previous Revelation episodes explain.

Before we continue we need a better understanding of this place called hell, or hades because scripture tells us there are different compartments within this place. Also understand that hell is where dead souls go, whereas a grave, or a tomb—often called sheol—is the physical place where a dead body is lain.

Hades has within it a burning section reserved for rebellious mankind, and there is another part next to it that does not burn. Between these two sections is a very wide and deep chasm that occupants from either side cannot cross. The opposite side of the chasm is called paradise, or Abraham’s Bosom, and prior to the Lord Jesus Christ’s cruxifixction, was occupied by the Lord’s Saints, while they awaited His rescue into heaven.

It is each person’s earthly decision to chose Jesus as Savior—or not—and that determines to which side a person is placed.

Also within hell, but far below the above mentioned compartments, is the bottomless pit and it is called the Abousso. This pit is reserved for demonic beings. Those in the Abousso are in a constant state of free fall expecting to hit bottom at any moment, and it is torturously hot there, as well.

We learn more about the Abousso in the New Testament, when Jesus asked the demonic who occupied a man’s body, who he was. The demon replied ‘the Legions’ and they begged Jesus not to send them into the Abousso before it was their time.

The last compartment is called Tartarus—it is utter blackness and roasting hot—and it is set apart specifically for the fallen angels who left heaven with Satan when he fell. God chained these fallen angels there to protect the occupants of earth from their destructiveness.

There is also a completely separate place called the lake of fire, where the Antichrist, his false prophet and residents from hell will be thrown. We learn more about these events later.

Ok. Revelation, chapter 9 continues when the LORD God Almighty temporarily gives hell’s key back to Satan and he opens the Abousso, as we read in verses 2 through 6:

He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit. Then out of the smoke came locusts and they descended upon the earth, and power was given them to sting like scorpions. They were told not to harm the grass or plants or trees, but only the people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torture them for five months with pain like the pain of a scorpion sting. And in those days people will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them.

So many locusts swarm out of the pit that they darken the day like black furnace smoke and cover the face of the earth. This demonic army does not behave like natural locusts, for they do not eat plants. Instead, they are instructed to torture humanity.

So who is left on earth now? There are four groups of people. The first are the 144,000 Israeli men. The second are the survivors who’ve chosen the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. The first and second groups are sealed on their foreheads with God’s name and the name of His Son. The third group are those people who have not chosen Christ, but they haven’t chosen Satan, either. And the fourth group has chosen Satan—they number in the hundreds of millions.

They are the earth dwellers, and they along with those who have not decided are hunted down and stung by the demon locust hoards. None from the later groups escapes Satan’s torturous demonic army. The stings are so severe that many attempt to commit suicide, but God prevents death from taking them, for He holds the key to death. During this horrific 5-month period there will be people who attempt suicide, but they do not die. Their mangled bodies will live on in anguish and misery, both from the locust torture and from their self-inflicted wounds.

Unimaginable suffering, just like Satan desires.

Then, in verses 7 through 10 the apostle John does his best to describe this demonic locust army:

The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. They had what looked like gold crowns on their heads, and their faces looked like human faces. They had hair like women’s hair and the teeth of a lion. They wore armor made of iron, and their wings roared like an army of chariots rushing into battle. They had tails that stung like scorpions, and for five months they had the power to torment people.

Pretty horrendous stuff, and in verse 11 we learn about the king of the demonic locust army:

And they have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in the Greek the name is Apollyon. The first woe is past; behold, two woes are still coming after these things.

Abaddon or Apollyon means destroyer and this describes Satan and his plans for humanity perfectly. His wish is to destroy as many people as possible before they realize they have the choice to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and be saved.

So after the demon locust army and the five months of torture, another woe is released upon the earth, this one is far more terrifying as we read in Revelation, chapter 9, verses 13 through 16:

Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice speaking from the four horns of the gold altar that stands in the presence of God. And the voice said to the sixth angel who held the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great Euphrates River.” Then the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were turned loose to kill one-third of all the people on earth. Then I heard the size of their army, which was 200 million mounted troops.

The gold alter is the same alter that burned incense in Revelation chapter 8. The angel attending this alter commands four Satanic angels be released from the Euphrates river, where God bound them until this very hour. We do not know from scripture where these four Satanic angels get their 200 million man army, but we do know that this army’s job is to kill another one-third of earth’s population.

So, why did God chain four such horrific angels in the Euphrates river?

We first learn about this river in Genesis 2:14. The Euphrates is the fourth fork that branches out from the head river that flows away from the Garden of Eden.

In Genesis chapter 15, verse 18 God tells His servant Abram that the river Euphrates will be the eastern boundary of the Promised Land. And it is the land east of this boundary that we need to understand, for the mighty city of Babylon was built along its banks.

The first King of Babylon was Nimrod, who was the first one-world ruler and the creator of idol worship and the false god Allah, whose historical name was Baal, or Satan, who is worshiped by the second largest religion in the world today—Islam.

Revelation, chapter 18 tells us that Babylon will once again become Satan’s city, for Antichrist and the false prophet will govern from there. It is no wonder then, that these four Satanic angels have been held in captivity within the water of the Euphrates, just waiting for Satan’s rise and the rebuilding of his special dwelling place.

Once again John does his best to describe this Satanic 200 million man army and their steeds in verses 17 through 19:

And in my vision, I saw the horses and the riders sitting on them. The riders wore armor that was fiery red and dark blue and yellow. The horses had heads like lions, and the fire and smoke and burning brimstone billowed from their mouths. One-third of all the people on earth were killed by these three plagues—by the fire and smoke and burning sulfur that came from the mouths of the horses. Their power was in their mouths and in their tails. For their tails had heads like snakes, with the power to injure people.

Fire. Smoke. Brimstone. Interestingly, another one-third of the remaining people on earth are killed by the very same elements that make up the compartments of hell and the lake of fire. Interestingly too, John is describing as best he can military equipment in modern times. After the sixth trumpet judgement—at this point in the Tribulation—half of the world’s population is dead.

But the question is, at this time, after all this demonic torture and suffering, do the remaining people on earth who have not yet chosen Satan realize that they can escape and choose God? Do the earth dwellers understand the choice that they’ve made?

Revelation, chapter 9, verses 20 and 21 tell us:

But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to repent of their evil deeds and turn to God. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that can neither see nor hear nor walk! And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

During the Great Tribulation people will see an horrific rise in the crime rate and nobody will do anything about it. Crime and Satan go together hand-to-hand.

I seek the Lord in prayer:

O LORD God, hallowed by Thy name, for You stretch out your hand over earth to protect those who love you. I pray that you would help people realize who You are and how much You love each and every person. I pray, O King of the Universe, that You turn people’s hearts towards You, so that they do not needlessly suffer these horrors and atrocities that are lying in wait for them in future times.

Thank You dear heavenly Father for the gift of Your Son—that He willingly came to earth, born a man, to die for our sins, and that He redeemed us forever into Your everlasting care when He resurrected to live forevermore. Lay the knowledge of this precious gift upon the hearts of all who hear this prayer today, that they may choose the Lord Jesus as their Savior.

In Your Holy name. Amen.

Until next week, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen, and Amen.

17. BOOK OF REVELATION #16

In Revelation chapter 10—for the second time—we see the unique pattern of seven divided, with a pause between the sixth and seventh events. This time we get a glimpse of the sweetness of the Lord Jesus Christ’s second coming, and the bitterness of waiting for that precious moment.

Here is Revelation, chapter 10, verses 1 through 3:

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, surrounded by a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face shone like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire. And in his hand was a small scroll that had been opened. He stood with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. And he gave a great shout like the roar of a lion. And when he shouted, the seven thunders answered.

Is this the Lord Jesus Christ or is this another mighty angel messenger from God? Scripture does not present a definitive answer, however; the description closely matches previous descriptions of Christ:

He is surrounded by clouds, as He will be when He returns to earth.

His rainbow crown is similar to the rainbow that surrounds God’s throne.

He has a face like the sun.

And feet like pillars of fire.

He has a voice like a lion.

And when He shouted seven thunders responded.

Add to all that, in Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, and Zechariah, Christ is identified as an angel of the LORD.

And while all of these descriptions match the Lord Jesus Christ, on the other hand, the Greek is quite careful to state that this being is ‘allos’ which means another of the same kind, meaning identical to all of the other Revelation angel messengers who proclaim future events.

Either way, this being holds the Deed to Earth with the seven seals opened. He stands upon the land and the sea, indicating his total command of earth and all its elements.

John continues in verse 4:

When the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write. But I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Keep secret what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down.”

Huh! A fascinating bit of information is offered here, as the seven thunders shared something important, but we’re not allowed to know.

But why can’t we know?

We’re already being given vast amounts of future information in the book of Revelation, but apparently this bit cannot be shared.

And we don’t know why.

We don’t know what.

Nor does scripture tell us when we will be told.

We do know that John went to his grave with this wonderful bit of knowledge, while the rest of us must patiently wait to see what it’s all about. No amount of speculation is worthy, however, for if God wanted us to know He would have shared, just like He has already. What can be said is that God is love. His promises endure forever. Therefore, this information will be something special for those who love Him.

Verses 5 through 7 continues:

Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand toward heaven. He swore an oath in the name of the One who lives forever and ever, Who created the heavens and everything in them, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it. He said, “There will be no more delay. When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as He announced it to His servants the prophets.”

How many times have we witnessed a person placing their hand on the Holy Bible to swear their allegiance to tell the truth—and then break that promise? More times than we care to admit, and unfortunately, some people are incapable of keeping promises, but God is different. He’s proven repeatedly that He is ALWAYS honest and true.

God ALWAYS keeps His promises—the biggest being His promise to save, redeem, and justify His beloved highest creation through His Son. Father God promised that His Son would live forever and Jesus resurrected and lived and stayed on earth to prove His resurrection was truthful.

In front of many witnesses, the God/Man Jesus Christ in His resurrected body was lifted into heaven to sit at the right hand of His Father. People saw this occur, and God promises that the people of earth will see King Jesus return, just like He departed. Not only that, but God promises there will be no more delay in revealing His mysterious plan!

So what is God’s mysterious plan?

We know from scripture that there are many Godly mysteries—but Revelation specifically deals with God’s plans for what occurs after the Great Tribulation. The first plan is called the Millennial Kingdom and the second is called the Kingdom of Heaven. The later cannot take place prior to the former, and neither will occur until AFTER God’s Judgements from the Great Tribulation are completed.

OK. So, now we know what the plans involve, but what is their purpose?

There are two purposes:

The first is to repair the evil in the world that began when Adam and Eve sinned against God and ate the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Think about it. God’s Creation was perfection. All within His Creation lived accordingly. God provided everything to His plants, fish, birds, animals, and to His original couple. The relationship between Man and God—and God’s creation—was good. In their innocence, Adam and Eve only knew love, beauty, truth, gentleness, kindness, bounty, provision, hope, and generosity.

Adam and Eve had no knowledge of evil.

But God knew that the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil would release evil into His Creation, and that is the reason God told Adam and Eve never to eat from that tree. It was God’s one rule for the couple to live by—and if they broke it, they would no longer be immortal, because evil can only be overcome by death.

After consuming the fruit, the couple’s eyes were opened to pride, egotism, egocentrism, narcissism, immoral behavior, lying, sin…the list is so incredibly long, but it clearly defines humanity to this day.

And that is why God’s purpose is to return man back to His original plan of goodness—God’s perfect relationship between Himself, Man, and Creation. And since history has proven that man cannot do this by themselves, God sent His Son to do it for them.

God will eliminate evil through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ in three stages.

The first is happening on earth right now: Believers are being separated from non-believers, through their choice of accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. At the end of the Great Tribulation, all those who chose Satan will be eliminated, and Satan will be locked in hell for almost 1000 years.

Secondly: During that 1000-year time frame earth’s believers will have children. These generations will live in near perfection, for they will not experience Satan’s influence. What they will experience is man’s sin nature that Adam brought into play when he ate the forbidden fruit. Those who refuse their sin nature and turn to King Jesus will remain on earth. Those who choose to succumb will be reunited with Satan when he is released from hell at the very end of the 1000 years. Then they, along with Satan will be eliminated.

And third: The believers who come out of the 1000 years will be in utter agreement with God. They will experience His loving goodness and protection forevermore. At this time, God destroys this old earth and replaces it with a new one.

Now, circle back to the second purpose for God’s mysterious plan. It is to fulfill the ancient prophesies that the Lord Jesus Christ will rule and reign as King of all creation upon the throne of David. For the Lord has NEVER reigned on earth as its King.

OK…so, how? How does all of this come about, exactly?

That is God’s mysterious plan.

Throughout history believers have prayed for Christ’s return. They have hoped and sought and begged God for King Jesus to return and reign on earth—sitting on David’s throne in the holy city of Jerusalem. Time and time again, the LORD God has said “be patient”, for the gathering of His believers must take precedence, so that no one who wants to chose Him as their Savior is left behind. God knows the number of those who will chose Him, and when that last person is gathered to His heart, He will release His judgements. Therefore, the Tribulation and Great Tribulation must occur to wipe out evil. Following the 7-year period, the first of God’s mysteries occurs.

God’s first mystery is for His Son to rule and reign over earth for 1000 years. At the end of the Great Tribulation, King Jesus will come through the clouds and take possession of earth. He will rule with an iron rod to eliminate all evil. This 1000-year period is called the Millennial Kingdom.

At the end of the Millennial Kingdom, God Himself will eliminate any person who chooses evil, and then God will reveal His final kingdom. God will destroy this current earth and bring down the New Heaven and the New Earth and the New Holy City of Jerusalem. This new creation is everlasting and it is called the Kingdom of Heaven. There—for the very first time—God, the LORD Almighty will walk with His Son in plain sight for all to see. \

There will be no more suffering.

There will be no more pain.

There will be no more tears, injury, disease, famine, war—all evil influence will be gone forever.

So this messenger in chapter 10 is proclaiming yet another promise of these two events—called God’s Mysterious Plan, and the messenger is saying there will be no more delay. God’s plan will be fulfilled just as God has said it would—throughout scripture—when He told His prophets to share it.

And one such prophet—is the apostle John!

So once again, John plays an active role in sharing what happens next as we read in Revelation, chapter 10, verses 8 through 10:

Then the voice from heaven spoke to me again: “Go and take the open scroll from the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” So I went to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. “Yes, take it and eat it,” he said. “It will be sweet as honey in your mouth, but it will turn sour in your stomach!” So I took the small scroll from the hand of the angel, and I ate it! It was sweet in my mouth, but when I swallowed it, it turned sour in my stomach.

Eating a scroll is kinda weird, huh? But the reason becomes clear when John obeys. More than likely, none of us has ever eaten a scroll, but how many times have we eaten something wonderful that later turns sour in our stomachs? Whatever we ate didn’t agree with us, and YUK—life is no fun for awhile.

This is what John experiences here. The joy and wonder of King Jesus’ second coming is fantastic. The promise of King Jesus’ Millennial Kingdom reign is outstanding, but the elimination of evil that must occur to bring about the fulfillment of God’s mysterious plan—the events of the remaining Judgements—is bitterness through and through.

Do you see the repeating pattern in the book of Revelation? Over and over God is making it plain…there are but two choices a person can make—God’s everlasting love and goodness, or Satan’s everlasting evil.

For God created everything, including angels. God’s highest ranked angel was Lucifer, and in his pride and egotism, egocentrism, narcissism, deceit, and hate, Lucifer turned against his Creator and told God he would rise above Him and become the god of the universe.

Except there’s a huge problem with this concept. Lucifer IS A GOD CREATED BEING! He CAN’T rise above God Almighty, any more than an infant can rise above his father. This isn’t possible—because just like a newborn, Lucifer is under God’s control.

So to remind Lucifer that he does not have the power of God, God clipped Lucifer’s wings and threw him out of heaven. God gave Lucifer a new name, one that fits him perfectly—Satan—it means destroyer—the epitome of evil.

When Adam ate that forbidden fruit, he unleashed every form of evil upon earth, and Adam imprisoned God’s beloved creation within evil. Now, evil rules over earth, and from that moment on earth started to die. People and animals and birds and fish and plants—all originally created immortal—die, because evil always ends in death.

God told Adam he would die if he ate the fruit. But God’s creation was originally immortal, because death is outside of God’s goodness. So God had to make a way for mankind to be removed from eternal death, and come back to God’s original goodness and perfection.

That Way, Truth, and Life—the only path back to being perfected—is through the love of the Lord Jesus Christ who came as a sacrifice for all mankind.

Jesus died to banish sin.

Jesus died so His blood could wash people clean from evil.

Jesus died so humanity could be freed from their incarceration. Evil holds no power over those who accept Jesus’ free gift of salvation.

Jesus’ death and resurrection redeemed original man’s decision to choose against God. By choosing the Lord Jesus Christ anyone can be saved from the final mystery—that of the second death—the death that determines where a person’s soul resides forever.

The choice is plain—eternity with God—or eternity with Satan. God offers everyone the opportunity to come within His protection. This is the pattern between good and evil.

And this is the ultimate question set before every single human being.

Choose God? Or choose Satan? A person’s everlasting life depends upon this decision…

Until next week, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen, and Amen.

18. BOOK OF REVELATION #17

In Revelation, chapter 11 we continue the pause between the sixth and seventh Trumpet Judgements as John expounds upon the two witnesses who testify regarding the Lord Jesus Christ.

In previous episodes much information is given regarding the price the Lord Jesus paid to repurchase His Creation.

In the beginning, some 6000 years ago—according to scripture—God gave earth to Adam and Eve, and they handed it over to Satan. To regain His Creation, the Son of God willingly left His home to be born a man on this wretched world so He could die as the Sacrificial Lamb of God. The Lord Jesus Christ died on Passover 2000 years ago. He redeemed earth, but He hasn’t returned to take possession, for His time of fulfillment is not yet.

Meanwhile, under Satan’s rule all of earth groans as mankind has eroded, depleted, destroyed, and militated the very planet we need to survive. Entire species are extinct. Babies are murdered by inconvenience. Wealth and power and control are more important than basic human rights. Millions of people live their entire lives in slavery. Truth is twisted into whatever suits the individual. Facts are ignored. Victims are incarcerated while perpetrators go free. Good is bad, and bad is good. The world is upside-down, and inside out, and flipped, and twisted.

This is the wreckage humanity faces under Satan’s control. But he won’t get his way for much longer. But before we learn about Satan’s downfall, Revelation, chapter 11 begins the shift where scripture no longer reaches out to the lost, hoping they chose wisely. For in this chapter it is clear that people have chosen which side they’re on, as we see in verses 1 and 2:

Then I was given a measuring stick, and I was told, “Go and measure the Temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers. But do not measure the outer courtyard, for it has been turned over to the nations. They will trample the holy city for 42 months.

After Antichrist’s peace offering is accepted by the nations, Israel will rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. This scripture indicates that the Jewish Temple and the Muslim Dome of the Rock will co-reside on the Temple Mount. Commentators note that there is much evidence indicating the Holy of Holies inside Solomon’s Temple is located north of the Dome of the Rock, therefore, the outer courtyard where the Mosque is located is not to be measured because it belongs to the nations who will run roughshod over the holy city during the Great Tribulation.

John continues in verses 3 through 6:

And I will give power to My two witnesses, and they will be clothed in burlap and will prophesy during those 1,260 days.” These two prophets are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of all the earth. If anyone tries to harm them, fire flashes from their mouths and consumes their enemies. This is how anyone who tries to harm them must die. They have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.

Why two? Because scripture requires two witnesses before something can be established, as we see in Deuteronomy 17:6—There must always be two or three witnesses. And again in Matthew 18:16—Take one or two with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses.

In relation to the Lord Jesus Christ’s resurrection, well over 500 people personally witnessed Him teaching, healing, eating, and drinking prior to His ascension into heaven. Even the ascension was witnessed by Jesus’ disciples and His other followers.

Then again, three disciples in Matthew 17 watched as Jesus rose into heaven on the Mount of Transfiguration. As Jesus left earth, He hovered in the air and was met by Elijah and Moses, and the three of them spoke. Peter, one of the witnesses to this event, wanted to build memorials for the three of them.

So, is it possible that Elijah and Moses team up once again during the Great Tribulation?

The LORD does not specifically tell us, but commentators and theologians strongly suggest the witnesses could be Elijah, Moses, or Enoch. This claim is made because God took both Elijah and Enoch from earth—they did not die. Then there’s the fact that Elijah and Moses never completed their earthly ministries, and many claim Revelation accomplishes this for them. Another interesting point is that both witnesses must be Jewish and Enoch was not.

Add to all of this, that Elijah called fire down from heaven multiple times during his ministry as a prophet, and he also shut the skies so no rain covered the earth for many years. And of course, Moses brought the 10 plagues of Egypt, including turning water into blood. Both of these men have extensive experience in all aspects of this scripture.

And then verses 7 through 9 tells us what happens to them:

When they complete their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit will declare war against them, and he will conquer them and kill them. And their bodies will lie in the main street of Jerusalem, the city that is figuratively called “Sodom” and “Egypt”, the city where their Lord was crucified. And for three and a half days, all peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will stare at their bodies. No one will be allowed to bury them. And all the earth dwellers who belong to this world will gloat over them and give presents to each other to celebrate the death of the two prophets who had tormented them.

Here we see the two witnesses complete their ministries, and God allows Satan to conquer them. They lie dead and decomposing for 3.5 days while the citizens of the world rejoice. Meanwhile, the citizens of Jerusalem—which is so perverted that God compares it to Sodom, and whose citizens insist upon worshiping idols to such an extent that God compares Jerusalem to ancient Egypt, plus Jerusalem is the city that crucified Jesus—these people party and gloat and celebrate the two men who brought such destruction upon them. But oh, God is not finished yet, as we see in verses 11 through 13:

But after three and a half days, God breathed life into them, and they stood up! Terror struck all who were staring at them. Then a loud voice from heaven called to the two prophets, “Come up here!” And they rose to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched. At the same time there was a terrible earthquake that destroyed a tenth of the city. Seven thousand people died in that earthquake, and everyone else was terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

The greatest fault line on earth is located just east of Jerusalem. The line runs north and south, down the Jordan river, through the Great Rift Valley, and then underneath the Dead Sea into Africa.

That is no coincidence, for one should never, ever underestimate the mighty power of the LORD God. His will alone is completed throughout the universe, and none can stop Him. Here, God Almighty sits back and allows His beloved preachers to be mocked and ridiculed by the nations, because the citizens of the world have chosen evil over good.

God watches earth celebrate their demise, by allowing earth dwellers to think they have successfully defeated the God of the Universe. He folds His arms and waits for the precise moment when He breathes life into the preachers lungs and has these two men stand in defiance.

Now the situation is reversed, as the entire world becomes witnesses to the two men who are brought back to life. People stare at their televisions, watching in horror as CNN covers the big party, turned disaster. The men revive as the terrorized crowd backs away, some attempt to run, but all the world hears God’s thunderous voice as He calls His beloved home to heaven. Some TV cameras follow the witnesses ascension upward, while other cameras focus in close on stunned and horrified faces. Because every single man and woman on earth now understands that Antichrist, the false prophet, and all the world’s governments are NOT IN CONTROL. Satan’s big deception is revealed.

But people are not allowed much time to think through this situation before God strikes Jerusalem with an earthquake so severe that one-tenth of the city is annihilated and seven thousand earth dwellers die. Some commentators believe the seven thousand are prominent leaders and dignitaries.

Those earth dwellers who survive this quake, along with all the nations of the world, suddenly realize they made the wrong choice, and they give glory to the one true God, but it’s too late for them, as we see in verses 14 through 19:

The second terror is past, but look, the third terror is coming quickly. Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: “The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.” The twenty-four elders sitting on their thrones before God fell with their faces to the ground and worshipped Him. And they said, “We give thanks to You, Lord God, the Almighty, the One who is and Who always was, for now You have assumed Your great power and have begun to reign. The nations were filled with wrath, but now the time of Your wrath has come. It is time to judge the dead and reward Your servants the prophets, as well as Your holy people, and all who fear Your name, from the least to the greatest. It is time to destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth.” Then, in heaven, the Temple of God was opened and the ark of His testament could be seen inside the Temple. Lighting flashed, thunder crashed and roared, and there was an earthquake and terrible hailstorm.

Oh, the horrifying moment a person realizes they made a fatal mistake!

That will be the case here for anyone who chose Satan over God. Woe to those who chose evil over good, who took part in turning the world upside-down and inside-out, those who terrorized God’s beloved, those who had anything to do with persecuting and martyring God’s people.

For there is nothing throughout history to compare what they are about to experience. From this point, until the end, God takes back His creation, His possession, and unleashes His wrath upon anyone who did not chose Him.

Only those who’s foreheads are marked by God, who have miraculously managed to survive up to this point, will be spared God’s wrath.

His wrath also includes permanently throwing Satan, and one-third of the angles who followed him, out of heaven once-and-for-all, where all mankind will see, experience, and personally suffer Satan’s anger and desperation, as he unleashes grizzly horrors upon anyone who remains. For Satan knows his time is short!

In chapter 11’s conclusion, take note that verse 19 is an introduction to Revelation, chapter 12 and the differences between God’s testament and the Ark of the Covenant must be addressed.

The ark of God’s testament is not the Ark of the Covenant. The former has never left God’s heavenly Temple, while the later is a replica God gave to Moses, and it resides on earth, but OH! What an amazing glimpse into God’s holy realm, and very soon we’ll learn how He plans to replicate heaven on a brand new earth!

In the meantime, dear friends, take heed of the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God today as you seek a deeper personal relationship with Him. Thank you for joining me and know that the Lord Jesus Christ loves you very much, and so do we.

Until next week, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen, and Amen.

19. BOOK OF REVELATION #18

As we continue in Revelation, chapter 12 we are still between the sixth and seventh Trumpet Judgements, as John continues to define the players involved in the Great Tribulation. We meet the beautiful pregnant woman who is instrumental to God’s final plan, and we also get a closer look at her arch rival, as John fully describes Satan’s identity. Additionally, John provides the historical relationship between Satan and Israel, and how angry he becomes when he doesn’t get his way.

Here is Revelation, chapter 12, verses 1 and 2:

Then I witnessed in heaven an event of great significance, I saw a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant, and she cried out because of her labor pains and the agony of giving birth.

So, who is this pregnant woman?

Back in Genesis, Joseph—of the coat of many colors fame—had a dream about how the sun, moon and stars would bow down to him. Joseph was describing how the nation Israel would produce 12 tribes out of his ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for God chose these men, along with Joseph, to be the instrument through which He would bring forth His Son as Messiah. Many generations later, God chose the virgin Mary and her betrothed, also named Joseph, both from the nation Israel and specifically from the tribe of Judah—and from the line of David—to bear His Son, but when Jesus came to earth to save Gods people, the Israelites rejected Him.

Keep in mind, the pregnant woman in Revelation symbolizes the entire nation of Israel, not just the virgin Mary, therefore, Israel—the mother or the instrument of God to create His Son—has rejected Jesus as their Messiah for two thousand years, and all the while God has been silent towards them as He gathered His Church.

Interestingly, during the Great Tribulation it will be Satan who causes the nation Israel to realize their original mistake, repent of it, and beg Jesus to return as their Messiah!

But there’s more to it. In Genesis God told Eve that her descendants would war with Satan for generations. And God told Satan his descendants would war with Eve. So now we see the parallel to Revelation, chapter 12. For God is finally bringing to an end the curse He placed upon Eve and Satan in the Garden of Eden.

Israel and Satan are linked, and now God will separate them. God will destroy Satan and when He is finished, God will redeem Israel and they will love, worship, and praise Him forever.

So here is the link between Israel and Satan in verses 3 and 4:

Then I witnessed in heaven another significant event. I saw a large red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, with seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept away one-third of the stars in the sky, and he threw them to the earth. He stood in front of the woman as she was about to give birth, ready to devour her baby as soon as it was born.

This description tells us that Satan has been the evil behind the kingdoms and governments of earth for thousands of years.

Throughout history:

Any King or government that turned against it’s people,

Any king or government that ran roughshod over anyone,

Any king or government who took more than they deserved,

Any king or government that did not serve it’s constituency in all goodness…

has been—and still is—governed by Satan.

During the Great Tribulation Satan comes to the forefront of the world’s governments and reveals himself as their true leader. He no longer hides behind the scenes anymore. During the first part of the Tribulation he will pull all the nations under his thumb using Antichrist. And then Satan will embody Antichrist during the second half of the Tribulation to become the visible king of the world. He will wear the crown of every nation during his short run as the one world leader.

Additionally, in this verse we get another clear description that ties Satan back to the one-third of the angels whom Satan took with him when he told the LORD God that he would be greater than God.

Lastly, in Bethlehem on that silent night when the star shown brightly above the barn where our Lord Jesus Christ was born, Satan—in the form of King Herod—was lurking in the shadows, trying desperately to locate Mary as she gave birth. Satan was unsuccessful in that attempt, and he did not devour the baby Jesus. But throughout history he has attempted to thwart every single one of God’s plans to bring King Jesus forth from the nation of Israel. Hummm…In this endeavor, Satan has failed miserably!

In verses 5 and 6 we see how God intervenes:

She gave birth to a son who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her child was snatched away from the dragon and was caught up to God and to His throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place to care for her for 1260 days.

So Mary, representing Israel, gives birth to the Son of God. He grows up and in His 30^th year begins His earthly ministry, knowing He will be sacrificed and resurrected at the end of His ministry.

But, since before time as we understand it, God, His Son, and Holy Spirit have planned for the upcoming one thousand-year reign of King Jesus, who will rule earth as its King, and regain all that was lost to Him in the Garden of Eden.

During His rule, Jesus will be the most benevolent King ever to set foot on earth. At the same time, King Jesus will not tolerate evil. He will judge all wrongdoing—hence ruling with a rod of iron. That scepter will never punish the innocent, because during His reign Jesus will correct the upside-down, inside-out, wrong is right, and twisted ‘evil-is-good’ world that we currently have under Satan’s leadership.

Now, why does God’s nation Israel flee? And where do they go?

The answer lies in Daniel’s prophetic vision when he was told that Antichrist would enter the new Temple in Jerusalem and go into the Holy of Holies and declare himself to be god and that every person on earth must worship him or die. Satan even sets up a statue of himself for the world to worship! This event is called the abomination of desolation, for under God’s law, no one, other than the Levitical Priests are allowed inside the Holy of Holies, without being destroyed. This event marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation, the last 3.5 years. At this time those in Israel who’ve heard the teachings of the 144,000 Jewish men will know that they must flee from Israel to hide from Antichrist.

Where do they go?

According to Isaiah, chapter 16, Israel is to flee to the Rock City of Petra, at the south and east end of the Dead Sea, for God said, “Open up your borders and receive My people. Shelter them in Petra until the tribulation is complete.”

Modern day Jordan will be the ‘wilderness’ where those in Israel—who heard and understand the scripture—flee to. Those who obey scripture, and flee, are God’s chosen remnant, His nation Israel—His people—and He will care for them, and redeem them.

Next, in verses 7 through 9 future events swiftly escalate as God yanks back the curtain into the spiritual realms to reveal everything mankind requires to fully understand what is at stake right now.

Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.

Can it get any clearer than that? Does anyone need further explanation regarding what Satan is doing right now at this very moment? This great deceiver is running the world’s governments and earth’s population is being crushed beneath his rule. Today, right now—Satan is ramping up his fight against God, because he already knows he will not survive. But if he can deceive multitudes, if he can convince people to chose him, if he can take people away from God forever? Well, then he’s accomplished that which he set out to do.

But understand this, the reason God has not destroyed this beast already is because God MUST remove His Church before He deals with Israel.

His chosen nation, the one He designated as His instrument to give birth to His Son, MUST be the ones who beg for King Jesus to return.

Israel must provide the 144,000 men who teach during the Tribulation and bring millions back to God.

Israel must be ‘the Mother’ who regains her lost child.

Israel must be the final nation, and they must belong to God alone.

Therefore, Satan will do anything in his considerable power to thwart Israel from bringing King Jesus back to earth. Right now, today, Satan is causing considerable difficulty for Israel. He will do anything he can to destroy the remnant of Israeli’s who seek God today. For it will be these people who will recognize and seek King Jesus, and ask Him to return and save them!

And so, in verses 10 through 12 we see heaven rejoicing because God has opened the curtain for all to see the truth, but woe to the earth dwellers who live below:

Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last—salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth—the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.”

Those who were persecuted and martyred during the Tribulation rejoice when their accuser is tossed out of heaven, no longer able to torment them. They rejoice because they refused Satan’s mark, and they were willing to die in Jesus’ name. They were washed by His blood and stand before the throne of God in all His power, glory, and might, to witness His kingdom established on earth, for there is no turning back now. God’s wrath and the wrath of His Son will come to earth to avenge their persecution and murder.

Verses 13 through 18 describe what happens next:

When the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But she was given two wings like those of a great eagle so she could fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness. There she would be cared for and protected from the dragon for a time, times, and half a time. Then the dragon tried to drown the woman with a flood of water that flowed from his mouth. But the earth helped her by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that gushed out from the mouth of the dragon. And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children—all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus. Then the dragon took his stand on the shore beside the sea.

Now residing on earth and having indwelled Antichrist’s body, Satan earnestly pursues the Israeli remnant into Jordan. He does everything he can to destroy them, but God protects them. Many commentators state that the armies who pursue Israel into Jordan will be swallowed up by the earth. Revelation, chapter 11 talked about a great earthquake that rocks this region. Is there a correlation? Does the earthquake swallow Satan’s army as they pursue God’s remnant into Jordan?

Whether it does or not, at every turn God thwarts Satan’s plans, because Satan is no longer in control and he cannot stop God’s goodness and righteousness.

And we know all of this because in Daniel, chapter 12, verse 1, it says:

At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over Your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of Your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued.

Glory be to God, for He set this specific Israeli remnant aside for Himself and He will never, ever abandon them.

Until next week, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen, and Amen.

20. BOOK OF REVELATION #19

In Revelation, chapter 13 John introduces Antichrist and gives his description and where he gets his power. We learn that someone kills him, but he is supernaturally revived. Then John introduces us to the false prophet, and we discover Satan’s attempt at a false trinity made up of these three—but they cannot compete against the Triune Godhead!

Here is Revelation, chapter 13, verses 1 and 2:

Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God. This beast looked like a leopard, but it had the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion! And the dragon gave the beast his own power and throne and great authority.

At the end of chapter 12, Satan was standing on the seashore. Here John witnesses a beast coming up out of that same sea. Scripturally, the sea always represents sin, and in the gospels Jesus rebukes the sea, telling it to be still. Again in the gospels Jesus walks on the sea indicating His complete authority over sin.

This beast that Satan pulls from the depths of sin is Antichrist and his identity is identical to Satan’s in chapter 12 because Satan indwells this man so he can rule as king of earth.

Clearly, Antichrist is Satan’s puppet and he is under his complete control. Antichrist is the epitome of evil and he is given great power and authority. But, it’s interesting that his main identity appears to be all the different ways in which he boasts about himself while he blasphemes God. Like all prideful people, to feel important, he has to build himself up while he tears down anyone whom he views as a threat.

Well, for sure, those threats would be God and His Son!

The ten horns refer to ten earthy kings who are granted power over Antichrist’s ten regions of earth. The seven heads refer to the seven ancient kingdoms that the prophet Daniel speaks of in Daniel, chapters 2, 8, and 11 where he describes the huge statue in King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The first kingdom was Egypt, and they were conquered by Assyria. In turn, Assyria was conquered by Babylon, who was conquered by Persia, who was conquered by Greece, who was conquered by Rome. Now, the interesting part is that Rome will conquer twice—the second time will occur during the Tribulation—and the conquering will be religious based, rather than military, and involve Satanic worship.

But before we get to that, we learn more about Antichrist in verses 3 through 7:

I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery—but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast. They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they also worshiped the beast. “Who is as great as the beast?” they exclaimed. “Who is able to fight against him?” Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months. And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering His name and His dwelling—that is, those who dwell in heaven. And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation.

Sometime during the Great Tribulation, when Antichrist rules over all the earth, someone assassinates him. Satan uses supernatural power to resurrect his henchman. Antichrist comes back to life, but his wounds remain—one in his head, and the other causes his right arm to shrivel up.

People around the world are so enraged and distressed by this assassination—and so in marvel and wonder over Antichrist’s revival—when he returns to life, they demand to take his mark upon themselves to show their allegiance! This mark of the beast seals their fates forever and they will be destroyed and eventually thrown into the lake of fire along with Antichrist, the false prophet, and Satan.

We see how this event triggers such rage that Antichrist and Satan attack anything holy, and people are murdered by the millions. And all the time he’s slaughtering these people, Antichrist boasts and blasphemes God. He thinks he’s won!

And then, tucked neatly within this bit of scripture God provides a warning. Here are verses 8 through 10:

And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made—the Book that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. Anyone who is destined for prison will be taken to prison. Anyone destined to die by the sword will die by the sword. This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful.

We already know that earth dwellers worship Satan and take his mark. These people are not named in the Lamb’s Book of Life because of this decision, and for a time they are allowed to do horrifying things to the people of earth who hold fast to the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And we also know that anyone who is not in God’s Church prior to the harpazo will live through this horrific time, but in their steadfast love of God these people will be rewarded. The difficult part will be the persecution, imprisonment and slaughter that they must endure. No one wants that, but millions upon millions dedicate themselves during the Tribulation to the LORD God Almighty and His Son. No matter what Satan, or Antichrist, or the false prophet do, these believers remain faithful to their loving God.

In verses 11 through 18 we finally receive information about the Antichrist’s second-in-command. He is called the false prophet and he is granted some power:

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

Do you notice the pattern here? This man is the final character in the Satanic trinity and he’s just like the other two—he’s another deceiver, liar, and destroyer.

This is a man specifically chosen from some nation on earth, but because of the Greek and Hebrew translations and because he is circumcised, many commentators wonder if this man will be a Jew. Regardless, he is one who mimics, rather than having actual power. He speaks “like the dragon”, and he has little horns, but he only has power when he’s in the presence of Antichrist.

When Satan deems it necessary, he even gives this false prophet the ability to do what God had the real prophets do; he calls down fire from heaven. Huh! Cuz, when the two witnesses call down fire from heaven the earth dwellers rage, and fume, and sputter. But when the false prophet performs the same supernatural event, the earth dwellers stand in awe and wonder, and they worship him. Oh, the hypocrisy!

But it gets worse… The false prophet has a huge image built, a replica of Antichrist, and Satan gives the false prophet the ability to breathe life into the image so that it speaks and spouts smoke. And people around the world are forced to line up and worship this idol, and if they don’t, the idol kills them.

The number of supernatural events that Satan causes during the Great Tribulation are many, and varied, and they always end in death for someone. Satan needs these supernatural events to get people to believe in him.

Now, contrast that to the Lord Jesus Christ who did not perform miracles to gather followers. Rather:

The Lord worked miracles to SAVE people’s lives.

Christ healed and drove out demons to stop suffering.

Christ taught and preached and worked His entire ministry so people would see the love of His Father through Him.

He never boasted.

He never puffed up.

He never dressed in fine clothing.

He never deceived.

Jesus was humble, and meek, and oftentimes absolutely SILENT. He wouldn’t even defend Himself when He was falsely accused by the Pharisees, Sadducees, Jewish priests, and Pontus Pilot.

Interestingly, even when Jesus was hanging on the cross, the Jewish leadership—that had Him crucified—called out to Him to perform one last miracle. They challenged Him by saying “if you are the Son of God come down off that cross!”

Well, how many miracles did they need to witness before they would believe? They’d seen so many they wanted Him dead! If Jesus had exited that old tree, they would have found yet ANOTHER excuse NOT TO BELIEVE HIM, because, like the earth dwellers, their minds were made up.

They chose Satan.

Additionally, if Jesus had agreed to pop those nails, not one single person, animal, or any part of earth would be redeemed. All would be lost as the original curse would remain forever, and that is precisely why Satan had those Jewish leaders taunt Him. But Jesus did not give in to the pain, anguish, suffering, or rejection He experienced during the last 24 hours of His life. Jesus knew He had to die to be resurrected and live forever, because He is the bridge back to God.

And although Satan supernaturally resurrects Antichrist, that will not help these three in the end. For all of them are going to be utterly and thoroughly destroyed later in Revelation. What’s more!!!! They know they’re going to be destroyed. Satan is master of the scriptures. He knows the Bible inside and out, and he knows it in Latin, Greek, Aramaic, and both the ancient and current Hebrew languages.

Lastly, God provides some information regarding the number 666. He tells the reader there is wisdom in His Word, for the number 666 is the number of a particular man, and that is Antichrist, who is indwelled by Satan. They are one and the same.

Research indicates the single number 6 is God’s number for mankind in general. The Sabbath, which is man’s day of rest, is on the sixth day of the week. The evil giant Goliath—who was defeated by David—was six cubits tall, his spear weighted six shackles, and he wore six pieces of armor. King Nebuchadnezzar’s image—that he made people worship—was sixty cubits high, six cubits wide, and it held six musical instruments. Some theologians believe King Solomon—the wise—was a type of occultist 666 as listed in 1 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah. I’m not convinced of that, but he did end his life poorly for being the wisest man ever to walk the face of the earth.

So, how many times is Antichrist labeled in scripture? He has 33 names in the Old Testament and thirteen in the New. Here are but a few of those references:

He’s called ‘Adversary’ in Psalms, Isaiah, Lamentations, and other books.

He’s called an ‘Assyrian’ in Micah, Nahum and other books.

He’s called the ‘Bloody and Deceitful Man’ in Psalms.

He’s labeled ‘Chief Prince’, ‘Crooked Serpent’, ‘Cruel One’, and the ‘Destroyer of the Gentiles’. There are 26 additional names just in the Old Testament!

As mentioned before, the man whom Satan indwells is the epitome of evil.

Until next week, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen, and Amen.

21. BOOK OF REVELATION #20

In Revelation, chapter 14 John foreshadows God’s judgement upon the earth, and His resulting wrath and vengeance. Keep in mind we are still between the sixth and seventh Trumpet Judgements, and anyone learning about God’s plans through Revelation right now can see that God is still providing His amazing grace to the world. Once the Tribulation and Great Tribulation arrive, all those who chose against God will be judged by God, and they will experience His wrath. Oh, that prior to the Tribulation, the wise will heed His Word, and come to Him, for this is the deep desire of the LORD God Almighty.

Here is Revelation, chapter 14, verse 1:

Then I looked and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.

We first met these men in Revelation, Chapter 7 and here we learn two things about them:

The original 144,000 are still very much alive after all the persecution and martyrdom. These men have been faithful and true in their teachings, and as God promised they’ve survived the Great Tribulation.

Secondly, they stand with the Lord Jesus Christ in Zion!

This foreshadowing shows us that when Christ returns these men will be with Him in the Holy City Jerusalem, by His side all the way.

Verses 2 through 5 tell us just how sanctified these men are:

And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Let’s switch back to verse 1 for a moment to get a greater understanding of Mount Zion and its importance.

Mount Zion is the Temple Mount in Jerusalem where Solomon’s, and later the Temple of Ezra and Nehemiah stood. King Herod remodeled that Temple and it is the one that was on the Mount during Jesus’ ministry. It is Herod’s Temple that Jesus said would be destroyed and not one stone would be left standing. In AD 69 and 70 that is exactly what happened. All that remains of Herod’s Temple today is the Wailing Wall.

But, now the Muslim Dome of the Rock mosque dominates Mount Zion, and we learned about it in chapter 13 as the place given over to such evil that it should not even be measured. It is so insignificant that God literally ignores it.

So, the big question is—why was this building constructed on God Almighty’s most sacred place, when Mount Zion isn’t even mentioned in the Koran?

The answer is simple. Satan was attempting to thwart God’s plans to rebuild His Temple. But, in the end it will be Satan’s henchman—Antichrist—who brings the peace treaty that causes the entire world to demand that God’s Temple be built!

Great stuff…because we know that God’s plan is to place King Jesus upon David’s throne in the Holy City of Jerusalem and on Mount Zion in the location of Solomon’s Temple. From there King Jesus will rule and reign for one thousand years.

In the mean time, though, the prophet Zechariah, in chapter 12, verses 2 and 3 gives us important insight regarding what happens in the future to the nations who come against Jerusalem:

Behold, I will make Jerusalem like a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they send their armies to besiege Judah and Jerusalem. On that day I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock. All the nations will gather against it to try to move it, but they will surely be cut in pieces, though all the nations of the earth are gathered against it.

Throughout Psalms scripture tells us that the Lord has chosen Zion as His own:

The 144,000 will be delivered there,

The kings of earth are gathered there,

The kings of earth are cut down there,

King Jesus will rule with a rod of iron there,

Israel will be united there,

From Jerusalem the new Babylon will be destroyed,

And vengeance upon the nations will occur there.

Quite obviously, Mount Zion is very important to God, and He proclaims this seven times in this chapter, using seven different angels. We’re introduced to the first angel in verses 6 and 7:

Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the eternal Good News of the gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. “Fear God,” he shouted. “Give glory to Him. For the time has come when He will sit as judge. Worship Him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water.”

Have you heard the Good News of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ? That He came to earth from His heavenly home to live as a man, though He was fully God? He came to live, die, and be resurrected to live again so mankind can choose Him and live with God forever.

It’s that simple.

So recognize that these verses are not for the earth dwellers of the future. These verses are for humanity RIGHT NOW! Telling them to fear and respect and love the LORD God for Who He is, because He alone is the Creator, and because of that He will judge all those who fall into great iniquity because they don’t choose Him.

The second angel is introduced in verse 8, with another proclamation:

Then another angel followed him through the sky, shouting, “Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen—because she made all the nations of the world drink the wine of her passionate immorality.”

And now we learn that Babylon becomes Antichrist’s and Satan’s capital city during the Tribulation. From there they wreck havoc and destruction upon the world. This verse foreshadows the city’s destruction, and we learn more about it later in Revelation.

Verse 9 introduces the third angel, and he tells the world what happens to earth dwellers in verses 10 and 11:

Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or on the hand shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.”

God’s judgment doesn’t get any clearer than that. He will not tolerate anyone who chooses Satan, because throughout history God has provided His love, forgiveness, redemption, truth, peace, hope and joy to all humanity. He sent His Son as visible proof of His love. Those who chose Him spend their lives trying to bear His witness—they love, provide, share, and forgive, all in hope of overcoming their sin natures. This is an ongoing attempt to remain within His peace and joy. Conversely, those who choose Satan live in pride, egotism, lies, deceit, control, and iniquity. They will never achieve peace and joy, and the tragedy of this fact will be revealed after the harpazo—when God’s Church is removed.

The foreshadowing continues in verse 12. And then the fourth angel is introduced in verse 13:

Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their good deeds follow them!”

God’s beloved Tribulation saints, the persecuted and the martyred kept His commandments and they maintained their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. They KNEW their deaths would result in their reward. Then the fourth angel confirms this fact, and he is answered by Holy Spirit—exclaiming that the murdered can rest now and their good deeds will be rewarded in heaven. Hallelujah!

And now, in verses 14 through 15, the foreshadowing reveals what happens to the people who chose against God, and persecuted and murdered His beloved. The fifth angel is introduced in verse 15, and he calls for God’s wrath to begin:

Then I saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was someone like the Son of Man. He had a gold crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. Then another angel came from the Temple and shouted to Him sitting on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”

A white cloud specifically? What does that mean? Throughout scripture the white cloud represents the Shekinah Glory of God, His Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Triune Godhead. He is the One whom Jesus sends to indwell His beloved who have chosen Him as their Lord and Savior.

Seated upon the Shekinah Glory of God is His Son—the Son of God, the Son of Man who wears a golden crown and carries a sharp sickle.

What in the world is a sickle?

It is a short-handed farming tool, usually with a wooden handle, and has a semi-circular blade that is used for cutting grain, lopping, or trimming.

One swipe from a sharp sickle can cut through a small to medium sized tree branch, or harvest a full sheaf of wheat. Used against flesh, it can kill like a sword because the curved blade captures the perpetrator, and does not release until the cut is completed.

Angel number five appears out of God’s Temple in heaven and he shouts to King Jesus that the earth is ripe. Interestingly, the Greek defines ripe as being late in the harvesting, where too much time has passed and the grain, or fruit, or whatever is being harvested, is now withered and useless, but must be cleared for the new crop to grow.

Verse 16 foreshadows King Jesus, as He begins His earthly clean up:

So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

Angel number six also carries a sickle, while angel number seven comes forward from the alter and they assist in the earthly clean-up as we read in verses 17 through 20:

After that, another angel came from the Temple in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. Then another angel, who had power to destroy with fire, came from the alter. He shouted to the angel with the sharp sickle, “Swing your sickle now to gather the clusters of grapes from the vines of the earth, for they are ripe for judgement.” So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and loaded the grapes into the great winepress of God’s wrath. The grapes were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood blowed from the winepress in a stream about 180 miles long and as high as a horse’s bridle.

God’s angel does the harvesting of the withered fruit. The earth dwellers are depicted as grapes. They are the walking dead, the multi-millions who march under Satan’s leadership into the Battle of Armageddon, where they will meet their judgement and destruction.

The valley of Megiddo—hence the name Armageddon—is a narrow 180-mile long valley that stretches from north of Jerusalem, east and south to Petra. The earth dweller’s blood flows through this valley in a river some 4 feet high past the Jewish remnant.

God promised to protect His people Israel from Satan’s army and they witness the fulfillment of this promise. Please note, the Battle of Armageddon is covered in great detail in Revelation, chapter 19.

But is this scripture in Revelation the only scripture that speaks about the valley of Megiddo? It is not, as we read in Isaiah, chapter 63, verses 1 through 6:

Who is this who comes from Edom, from the city of Bozrah, with His clothing stained red? Who is this in royal robes, marching in His great strength? “It is I, the LORD, announcing your salvation! It is I, the LORD, who has the power to save!” Why are Your clothes so red, as if You have been treading out grapes? “I have been treading the winepress alone; no one was there to help Me. In My anger I have trampled My enemies as if they were grapes. In My fury I have trampled My foes. Their blood has stained My garments. For the time has come for Me to avenge My people, to ransom them from their oppressors. I was amazed to see that no one intervened to help the oppressed. So I Myself stepped in to save them with my strong arm, and my wrath sustained Me. I crushed the nations in My anger and made them stagger and fall to the ground, spilling their blood upon the earth.”

There is only one remedy for sin, and that is the covering of the Lord Jesus Christ’s sacrificial blood, which he shed on that cross for all mankind. He alone is worthy, and He alone can save.

Amen, and Amen.

22. BOOK OF REVELATION #21

Now we continue with Revelation, chapters 15 and 16, where the seventh Trumpet Judgement introduces the seven Bowl Judgements. The Bowls are God’s final wrath upon earth, for not one earth dweller who chooses 666 will be allowed to live, because every one of them harms God’s people. God does not tolerate the murder of His people, and He sends His wrath to punish those who do.

Back in Revelation, chapter 11, the seventh Trumpet angel opened God’s Temple for all to see, then in chapters 12 through 14 God foreshadowed His final wraths. Now, chapter 15 introduces seven new angels who hold golden bowls filled with God’s punishments.

But first…Why is God’s punishment necessary? Multiple reasons, but two are offered here:

1. Because, there are people who think that after they die, they go to heaven, simply because they are no longer inhabiting earth.

2. There are other people who think that after they die, since they don’t have a soul, they don’t go anywhere. They believe they’ll be buried or cremated, and that’s that. They will experience nothingness—darkness—forever.

Well, God gave every human the gift of free will. If a person wants to think that after they die it’s all a big fairytale—they’re allowed!

But there is a huge difference between man-made thinking and God thinking!

So, the big question is… What if a person is wrong about their thoughts on eternity?

God repeatedly answers questions regarding eternity in His Holy Bible.

Ah! What if a person doesn’t believe in the Bible?

Then they’ve already chosen against God. They don’t give Him the remotest opportunity to help them.

End of story.

Or is it? Just because people don’t want to believe a fact, does not mean that fact isn’t true, because Luke 16 tells us that if a person dies without choosing God, they find themselves chained within a compartment in hell called ‘Torment’. A place where the dead experience never-ending heat, utter and complete isolation, and thirst. A place from which they cannot escape.

Luke 16 describes a beggar who died and was carried by angels into Abraham’s Bosom—the opposite compartment from hell’s torment. While there, the beggar was freed from all his earthly hurt and pain. Interestingly, between Abraham’s Bosom and hell’s torment is a wide and deep chasm. Occupants from both sides can view each other.

According to the Bible, inside hell’s torment is a rich man crying for Abraham’s mercy to bring him a drop of water. He did not beg to get out of torment! When Abraham told the rich man that no one can cross the chasm, the rich man switched his begging, asking Abraham to send word to his five brothers—yet alive—and warn them about the horrible place in which he found himself.

But more revealing is this: immediately after a person arrives into hell’s torment they realize the absolute truth—the torment is that while they lived on earth they COULD HAVE MADE THE CORRECT DECISION to accept the Lord Jesus Christ into their lives—but now their predicament—their choice against Him—WILL LAST FOREVER.

One additional biblical fact arises:

Later chapters in Revelation tell us that those people who reside in hell’s torment will be thrown into the lake of fire—which is a far greater torment.

OK. So what is the opposite to hell’s torment? What does a person gain if they choose to believe that God loves them?

The answer is in John 3:16:

For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.

OK. So who is God’s Son?

He is the Lord Jesus Christ and He is defined in John 14:6:

Jesus told him, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man can come to the Father except through Me.”

God is quite clear that the only way to avoid hell’s torment is to go the opposite direction, into heaven, and only the people who choose to believe in God—while they are still alive on earth—are allowed that access!

God is quite clear that His Son is the only choice. He alone leads people to Father God, as Jesus explains in Matthew 7, verses 13 and 14:

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Do you see? If you let go of man-thinking and seek the knowledge available in God’s Word—in His Holy Bible—you learn that Jesus is the Way. He guides a person along the path that leads to the narrow gate. But Jesus warns that few people chose this way. They refuse to accept that He even exists. They remain on the broad road, engulfed in the huge mass of people who hide the entrance onto that single-file path that leads to the gate into heaven!

Their refusal, ignorance, head-in-the-sand approach to life stops them seeing life’s most important opportunity, and that is their individual responsibility to choose God, or not.

Entering the narrow gate leads to everlasting life with the Almighty God who loves you dearly. While the broad road represents Satan’s lies, his deception that earthly things will bring people happiness.

The broad road is Satan tempting mankind AWAY FROM GOD.

The broad road is that crowded ‘go-with-the-flow’ highway that leads people into hell’s torment.

Every person must make an INDIVIDUAL DECISION to head straight toward God, and they can do this by accepting His Son, for Jesus is THE ONLY WAY to God, and God will not force anyone to chose Him. All He does is repeatedly offer His Son as an opportunity to everlasting life in heaven.

So…back to the original question—what is the harm in believing there is no God, no soul, no eternity? Here is Revelation, chapter 15, verses 1 through 4:

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete. I saw before me what seemed to be a glass sea mixed with fire. And on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number representing his name. They were all holding harps that God had given them. And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations. Who will not fear You, Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous deeds have been revealed.”

Seven angels are seen in the Temple, while the Saints stand on the glass and fire sea that represents God’ Word—His Holy Bible. These people chose to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and their eternal reward is life in heaven.

Because of they found biblical truth during the Tribulation, they refused to accept Satan’s mark, his idol, and his worship demands. They remained steadfast to their hope and joy and belief that God would reward them, and He does. He gives them a golden harp and they sing the old and very beloved Song of Moses, that is the Song of the Lamb. It will be such a beautiful song as their voices float upward throughout heaven, but do not miss the fact that there will come a time when all nations will come and worship before the throne of King Jesus. There will come a time when every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God and He alone is the Way, Truth, and Life that leads to the Father.

Verses 5 through 8 switch the reader’s attention back to God’s angels:

Then I looked and saw that the Temple in heaven, God’s Tabernacle, was thrown wide open. The seven angels who were holding the seven plagues came out of the Temple. They were clothed in spotless white linen with gold sashes across their chests. Then one of the four living begins handed each of the seven angels a gold bowl filled with the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. The Temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angles had completed pouring out the seven plagues.

The number seven throughout this verse indicates God’s completion, whereby His wrath judgements proceed, for He alone deals with earth’s final destiny.

In Revelation, chapter 16, verses 1 and 2, the first of the Bowl Judgements is released upon earth:

Then I heard a mighty voice from the Temple say to the seven angels, “Go your ways and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God’s wrath.” So the first angel left the Temple and poured out his bowl on the earth, and horrible, malignant sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue.

Make no mistake, throughout scripture God is quite clear that no one will worship any image made by man. Idol worship is Satanic worship and the image of Satan in Revelation is the epitome of God’s historical demand to avoid such worship.

No idol can ever replace the Living God, the One who saves. No mark, no tattoo, no piercing, uniform, no media outlet, no Hollywood actor, no government leader, no person, no thing can replace the LORD God Almighty!

This plague upon the skin is indicative of an outward sign of inner corruption. These sores were first seen when Moses told Pharaoh to release God’s nation Israel from slavery. When Pharaoh refused, God had Moses bring forth a skin plague. The next plague will also stem from Moses, and from the Trumpet Judgements, as we read in verse 3:

Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse. And everything in the sea died.

Again, this is literal blood, and the sea is filled, killing everything. The third angel releases the next Bowl in verses 4 through 7:

Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs, and they became blood. And I heard the angel who had authority over all water saying, “You are just, O Holy One, who is and who always was, because You have sent these judgements. Since they shed the blood of Your holy people and Your prophets, You have given them blood to drink. It is their just reward.” And I heard a voice from the alter, saying, “Yes, O LORD God, the Almighty, Your judgements are true and just.”

Imagine trying to live without water. Yet, it is fitting that the people who worship Satan—that beast who demands his followers drink human blood—end up having only blood to drink. Do the earth dwellers repent? We find out in verses 8 through 11:

Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, causing it to scorch everyone with its fire. Everyone was burned by this blast of heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had control over all these plagues. They did not repent of their sins and turn to God and give Him glory. Then the fifth angel poured out his own on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. His subjects ground their teeth in anguish, and they cursed the God of heaven for their pains and sores. But they did not repent of their evil deeds and turn to God.

Oh the blame game of those who hurt and harm others and then refuse to take responsibility for their actions! This is the plight of the earth dwellers, for God knows that they will not repent. God does not concern Himself with whether they stop and change. He already knows that they won’t! He gives them a small taste of the horrors they committed upon the Tribulation believers, and these earth dwellers don’t like it one little bit. They curse God, they shake their fists in defiance, so He continues in His wrath in verses 12 through 14:

Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates River, and it dried up so that the kings from the east could march their armies toward the west without hindrance. And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgement day of God the Almighty.

Earth dwellers are drinking blood, they are covered in leaking, smelly, itchy boils. They are blistered and seared by the sun. Those in Babylon are stuck in demonic darkness. They suffer, and wail, and moan in pain and anguish, but Satan, Antichrist and the false prophet don’t care!

These three bring forth reptilian beings who perform supernatural works that result in gathering earth’s armies near Jerusalem. Little frogs don’t bring destruction, but these reptilian creatures must have faces like frogs, for that is the only identification John can come up with to describe them.

There are many biblical references to who these reptilian beings are, but that is a subject for a future podcast. Just know that this time period toward the very end of the Great Tribulation will be horrific and frightening even for the earth dwellers who believe in Satan.

Why?

Because every single earth dweller will be forced into battle and somewhere along the way they realize that all along, they have been Satan’s pawns in this battle against Almighty God and His Son. These earth dwellers recognize that no one can defeat God Almighty! They see what has always been the truth. And that is, throughout history Satan has used mankind to fight his war against God. Satan hates humanity, and he will take as many people with him as he can. Any that chose him instead of God becomes a trophy that he uses against God! Eventually, God gives them over to Satan permanently, and that is the last time they have a choice…

For in the end, these earth dwellers, along with Satan, Antichrist, and the false prophet, all suffer the same fate.

Here are the final verses of Revelation, chapter 16:

“Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for Me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.” And the demonic spirits gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place with the Hebrew name Armageddon. Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a mighty shout came from the throne in the Temple, saying, “It is finished!” Then the thunder crashed and rolled, and lightning flashed. And a great earthquake struck—the worst since people were placed on the earth. The great city of Babylon split into three sections, and the cities of many nations fell into heaps of rubble. So God remembered all of Babylon’s sins, and He made her drink the cup that was filled with the wine of His fierce wrath. And every island disappeared, and all the mountains were leveled. There was a terrible hailstorm, and hailstones weighing as much as seventy-five pounds fell from the sky onto the people below. They cursed God because of the terrible plague of the hailstorm.

The Lord Jesus Christ announces His upcoming arrival as Satan’s reptilian creatures forces earth’s rulers and armies into the valley of Megiddo.

The seventh bowl is cast into the air, which is Satan’s last remaining area of influence. One of his many names is ‘prince of the air’, and he has been controlling airborne devastation for thousands of years. Satan and his fallen army of one-third of God’s original angels is referenced in the book of Ephesians, where Satan’s evil wickedness fights against God’s armies in the spiritual high places.

A shout reverberates from the Temple and King Jesus announces that Satan’s wickedness is finished—it is done—for Christ paid in full, and His beloved will be with Him forever.

Anyone else? Well, their time is also finished, as God unleashes the single most devastating earthquake ever to hit earth. Islands disappear and mountain ranges are flattened. The evil armies in the valley of Megiddo quake in their boots as they await their final moments.

Meanwhile, Babylon is divided, and we learn more about this city in upcoming chapters.

And as if the devastation of this earthquake is not enough, God pounds earth with hailstones. The Greek and Hebrew texts use the word ‘talent’ which is a weight measure. This particular translation decided to use the least amount for this ancient weight. But understand that a Greek talent weighed 86 pounds. A Hebrew talent weighed 110. And a Babylonian talent weighted 135 pounds! Geez, in comparison, 75 pound hailstones don’t seem all that bad!

In summary, one last bit of information…did you know that in the Old Testament the punishment for blasphemy against God was to be killed by stoning?

There is only one remedy for sin, and that is the covering of the Lord Jesus Christ’s sacrificial blood, which He shed on that cross for all mankind. Jesus alone is worthy, and He alone can save.

Amen, and Amen.

23. BOOK OF REVELATION #22

In the previous chapter of Revelation God has thoroughly dealt with the origin of evil and its affects upon earth dwellers. Now He dives headlong into the world’s false religious systems and how their clergy lead people to worship other humans or ‘things’, and not God. In Revelation, chapter 17 we meet the whore who, for millennia, has swept mankind away from God’s will.

Here is Revelation, chapter 17, verse 1:

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke to me. “Come with me,” he said, “and I will show you the judgement and punishment of the great whore who rules over many waters.

God is wrapping things up now and He addresses all the world’s religions that according to Pastor Chuck Smith, “have damned the souls of so many men.”

In Matthew 7:15 Jesus warned His disciples to “beware of false prophets who will come looking like sheep, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” How thoroughly this describes the world’s many man-made religions who have convinced people to abandon God’s love and seek something else instead.

Some of these religions have replaced God altogether. They’ve written their own books, totally separate from God’s Holy Bible. Others have counterfeited the Word of God. They’ve rewritten the Holy Scriptures to declare themselves worthy of worship. These religions place themselves between their congregations and the Lord Jesus Christ. They encourage worship of many different people, often calling them saints! They even encourage worshiping the Lord Jesus’ mother INSTEAD OF JESUS!

What happens in every one of these ungodly usurpations, is a man-made idol or human being receives that which was supposed to belong to God. This wickedness intentionally breaks two of the Ten Commandments—the first two, in fact.

But why did mankind seek this fallacy?

Because man-made religion attempts to provide humanity with a way to gain control of their own destiny. Except, God’s Word repeatedly states that the outcome is totally opposite that which people seek! The deceit dumps them into turmoil and confusion and despair!

So straight up in verse 1 we learn that every man-made religion and all those who follow after them will be judged and punished. Here is verse 2:

The kings of the world have committed adultery with her, and the people who belong to this world have been made drunk by the wine of her immorality.”

God views the worship of man-made religion as adultery and therefore the entire group of man-made religions is described as a female prostitute that world leaders and their congregations fornicate with. Knowing this, we go on to verses 3 through 5:

So he carried me away in the Spirit to a wilderness, and there I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. Now the woman was dressed in purple and scarlet clothing, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup filled with obscenities and unclean things from her sexual immorality. A mysterious name was written on her forehead: “Babylon the Great, Mother of All Prostitutes and Obscenities in the World.”

This angel removes John into a wilderness setting to further define who this woman prostitute is. Right away we see that she’s sitting on Antichrist—the beast who blasphemes God and his nations. This whore has some control—for awhile anyway—over the world’s political system.

Pay special attention to how she’s dressed, for the colors she chooses to wear are those from the Roman emperors and the subsequent Roman Church who adopted the false religion called ‘Christianity’. Then there’s the fact that she’s draped in every type of material wealth, also similar to the Roman Church. The whore holds a golden goblet filled with disgusting things and proudly reveals her name for all the world to see. In Greek ‘musterion’ means “a secret revealed.” Therefore, the whore is no longer concerned about hiding who she really is and what her intentions are. The fact that she uses Babylon and not Rome in her title is interesting, until one does the historical research and discovers that many historians referred to Babylon as Rome, and vice versa.

OK. But why Babylon specifically? Because Babylon came into power prior to Rome.

In scripture Babylon is the symbol of confusion, where ancient people attempted to build a tower in hopes of communicating with beings who lived beyond earth. God would not allow them access and He confounded their single language into many languages. Therefore, when they could no longer communicate with each other, they were forced to abandon the Tower of Babel and mankind scattered throughout the world, forming nations from their respective languages.

Babylon was also the first great world city and Nimrod was its king. According to scripture, Nimrod was a mighty hunter who was against God. All forms of pagan and occult practices originated in Babylon. As Babylon was conquered by future empires, they too, adopted these practices. Babylon was conquered by Persia, followed by Greece and then all the way to the Roman Empire and subsequently to the Roman Church.

Interestingly, Nimrod claimed to be born of a virgin and demanded to be worshipped. Those who did not worship him were killed, and many who did worship him were sacrificed, particularly children and young women. In addition, Nimrod claimed he was gored by a boar and died, and that his body lay in the woods for three days, and then was resurrected.

But it gets worse. Historians claim Nimrod was born on December 25^th and he demanded his birthday be celebrated by cutting down evergreen trees, bringing them indoors, and decorating them with gold and silver ornaments. Large parties, gifting, and orgies completed the celebration every year.

Did you know that evergreen trees are the pagan symbol for eternal life?

But hang on a sec—there’s more…

Nimrod also demanded people celebrate his resurrection date each spring by coloring eggs and worshiping rabbits—the animal who represents human reproduction.

Additionally, I’ll put this out there for anyone who wants to do their own research: The ‘Christian’ religion has been lead on a pagan wild goose chase for two thousand years, because the Lord Jesus Christ was born on the 29^th of September, and He was crucified late afternoon on Passover, which was a Wednesday that year, and He was resurrected the following Sunday after Passover Sabbath. Thus proving the scriptural references that He laid in the tomb for THREE FULL DAYS, unlike what Christian religions believe today, which is Jesus died on Good Friday and was resurrected on Sunday. Do the math. That’s not three full days!

Now, there is another comparison to be made from all this. Without God, mankind finds themselves tremendously confused, and they attempt to remedy that confusion by worshiping themselves, or some idol they make. All that accomplishes is additional confusion, but we see throughout scripture how mankind built golden baby cow idols, and clay and wooden statue idols to worship—instead of God.

But God set up a perfect and simple order. Choose His Son to receive salvation, redemption, and justification, and that person gains access to God. There is no requirement for any man to get in-between what God has already ordained. And yet, that is precisely what humanity does in their man-made world religions.

Unfortunately, not long after the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, people began to deny what He taught, because they sought their own authority, power and control over potential new believers. These men, who lived in Antioch at the time, had gained a little bit of knowledge about what the Lord taught and they took that tiny bit and fashioned their own way. They used their minute knowledge to lord it over others who didn’t know any better. These poor new believers thought they were following Christ’s teachings. In fact, these deceivers gave themselves a new name—Christians!—as Luke tells us in the book of Acts. These poor victims ended up accepting some guy’s twisted and convoluted views—views that were not even close to what the Lord Jesus originally taught.

What did these usurpers hope to gain by placing themselves as the go-between God and man? Power, control, and money. No matter how hard Jesus’ disciples and apostles fought this trend, it found it’s way to Rome and became the official religion called Christianity, and it continues to this day.

The Lord Jesus Christ NEVER used the name ‘Christian’ to identify His followers. His disciples and apostles used ‘followers of the way,’ but more commonly, they used the term ‘believers’ to identify themselves and their congregations.

Now here is verse 6:

I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people who were witnesses for Jesus. I stared at her in complete amazement.

The world’s religions—that are absent of God—kill anyone who refuses to believe in them, and this whore is drunk on their blood. All one needs to do is read their history to know how many believers have been killed by the world churches—one in particular who’s single world leader spends much time dressed in purple and scarlet robes. But the murder is not limited to just that one Christian religion. And poor John couldn’t believe what he witnessed, for he’d been one of Jesus’ disciples that had attempted to stop people from following the Roman church, and the false prophets of his day.

And right now, people still have the opportunity to turn away from the world’s false man-made religions and come to God through His Son.

In verses 7 and 8 we begin to learn about the upcoming one-world political rulership:

“Why are you so amazed?” the angel asked. “I will tell you the mystery of this woman and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns on which she sits. The beast you saw was once alive but isn’t now. And yet he will soon come up out of the bottomless pit and go to eternal destruction. And the people who belong to this world, whose names are not written in the Book of Life before the world was made, will be amazed at the reappearance of this beast who had died.

The angel begins to explain the seven heads, which will be the world regions under Satan, Antichrist, and the false prophet. The future kings of those regions, plus the Satanic trinity make up the 10 horns.

We know from the book of Daniel, chapter 2, that King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream foretold the coming world kingdoms—Egypt was conquered by Assyria, then Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. But Rome will be in 2 parts.

And why is that?

Because Rome 1.0 was never conquered by another nation; rather, the empire just sort of fell apart into pieces and those pieces have each attempted—and failed—at some point to form a one-world government. So that beast mentioned in verse 8 was Rome 1.0—that empire is no longer alive, but it will be drug out of the bottomless pit for a time, and then God will destroy it forever. But first, Rome 2.0 has to rise and the Bible tells us that will occur under a one-world government.

Anyone can take a look at the current World Economic Forum map and see their seven financial regions. Also, as covered in previous podcasts, the original 10 world regions will be reduced to seven after Antichrist brings the peace treaty to Israel, because scripture foretells that sometime within the first 3.5 years of the Tribulation Antichrist kills three world leaders, and consolidates their regions with the others.

Now, verse 8 shares with us that when Rome 2.0 shows up, earth dwellers will be amazed. So let’s move on to verses 9 through 11:

“This requires a mind that has wisdom: The seven heads of the beast represent the seven hills where the woman rules. They also represent seven kings. Five have already fallen. The sixth now reigns, and the seventh is yet to come, but his reign will be brief. The scarlet beast that was, but is no longer, is the eighth king. He is like the other seven, and he, too, is headed for destruction.

Our angel friend is telling the listener they must have a mind filled with wisdom. Our present day commentators and theologians agree. Here is their prevalent theory:

According to the above scripture, the seven heads of the beast represent the seven hills where the woman rules. Well, there is only one place on earth where a country resides within the city of a different country.

Rome, Italy claims to be ‘the City of Seven Hills’ and Vatican City is a separate country inside that city’s boundaries. The Vatican has their own government, financial system, police, etc. According to Wiki, Rome is generally considered to be the cradle of western civilization and western Christian culture, and of course, everyone knows where the Roman Catholic Church resides.

Five kings have already fallen: they would be Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece. At the time John received this vision from God, Rome was in power, so that would be the sixth empire that verse 10 refers to. Rome 2.0 is yet to come, but that reign will be brief. Antichrist, who was assassinated and supernaturally brought back to life is the scarlet beast that was, but is no longer, and in this future time will be the eighth king—the one-world ruler. And Antichrist, like the seven other empires before him, will be destroyed by God.

On to verses 12 and 13:

The ten horns of the beast are ten kings who have not yet risen to power. They will be appointed to their kingdoms for one brief moment to reign with the beast. These kings have a single intent, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.

There are ten original regions with their respective kings, until Antichrist kills three of them. The remaining seven kings have a single intent, which is to give their power and authority over to Antichrist. Here are verses 14 through 18:

They will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. And His called and chosen and faithful ones will be with Him.” Then the angel said to me, “The waters where the prostitute is ruling represent masses of people of every nation and language. The scarlet beast and his ten horns all hate the prostitute. They will strip her naked, eat her flesh, and burn her remains with fire. For God has put into their minds, a plan that will carry out His purposes. They will agree to give their authority to the scarlet beast, and so the words of God will be fulfilled. And this woman you saw in your vision represents the great city that rules over the kings of the world.”

Remember from the previous podcast that Satan, Antichrist, and the false prophet call forth the reptilian beings who force earth dwellers into the valley of Megiddo, all in preparation for the Battle of Armageddon. Satan’s intent is to war against the King of kings and Lord of lords. He foolishly thinks he can win against the One who created him, and in doing so Satan will destroy every single one of the earth dwellers, because King Jesus, the Lamb of God, will conquer them. King Jesus brings His armies of angels and beloved Saints with Him as witnesses to their destruction.

The angel is kind enough to explain to John, and subsequently to us, that the waters upon which the whore rules are the people of earth who choose against God. The angel goes on to say that even though the kings and people of earth fornicated with the man-made religions that originated in Babylon and then moved to Rome, still they hated those religions, for now they realize they were led astray. In their hate they destroy the City on Seven Hills. They strip it naked, they rob it blind, and they burn it to the ground.

But why?

Because God will fill their minds with His plan. His purpose is to destroy anyone who does not desire Him and who turned their love away from Him and gave it over to Satan instead.

We learn in the upcoming chapters all of the reasons for God’s purposes. They are amazing and wonderful and filled to the brim with His absolute love for humanity, but only for those who humans use their gift of free will and choose Him.

Finally, the angel verifies one last fact. The woman whore in John’s vision—who parades herself around dressed in purple and scarlet robes, who decks herself in gold and jewels, who has the wealth of the world at her disposal—represents Vatican City, that place that right now rules all the kings of the world. All one need do is watch our current world leaders kiss that ring in subjugation.

There is only one remedy that overcomes the onslaught of today’s man-made religions, and that is the covering of the Lord Jesus Christ’s sacrificial blood, which He shed on that cross for all mankind. Jesus alone is worthy, and He alone can save.

Amen, and Amen.

24. BOOK OF REVELATION #23

As we move closer to the final chapters in Revelation, chapter 18 describes God’s destruction of Babylon, which is Satan’s governmental, financial and commercial capital. Babylon is the last holdout before the final battle, for Rome lies in ruins, and many people are being force-marched into Israel to meet their fate in the Battle of Armageddon.

Here is Revelation, chapter 18, verses 1through 3:

After all this I saw another angel come down from heaven with great authority, and the earth grew bright with his splendor. He gave a mighty shout: “Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen! She has become a home for demons. She is a hideout for every foul spirit, a cage for every unclean and hateful bird. For all the nations have fallen because of the wine of her passionate immorality. The kings of the world have committed adultery with her. Because of her desires for extravagant luxury, the merchants of the world have grown rich.”

Another angel provides details about Babylon and her destruction. The city will be great and marvelous, except lurking in her underbelly is every noxious and deadly creature—demons, evil spirits, along with unclean and hateful birds.

Birds?

Yes. For what is a group of crows called? A murder! What do vultures eat—roadkill! Is it possible that crows and vultures are the result of God’s curse upon earth after the fall of Adam? Maybe…

But we learn a lot about birds from Jesus’ parable about sowing seed. Because who took and ate the seed of the Good News of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the seed that He spread upon earth? That would be birds. Throughout scripture they are often represented as Satan’s ministers. In the occult crows belong to Satan.

But wait, what about other birds? How about a raven, a close cousin to the crow. What did ravens do throughout scripture?

In Genesis chapter 8, verse 7 Noah released a raven from the Ark, and it flew back and forth until the floodwaters receded and it found dry land. In 1 Kings, chapter 17, verses 4 and 6 God sent ravens to feed His prophet Elijah when he was forced to hide in the wilderness. The ravens brought Elijah bread and meat twice a day!

In Job, Psalms, and Luke God specifically asks Who is the One that feeds the ravens when they’re hungry? And twice in the Old Testament and at least four times in the New Testament God declares how important sparrows and swallows are to Him, and then He tells us that as important as those birds are, His greatest creation—mankind—is more valuable to Him than an entire flock of those birds.

The point being, God knows all about good and evil birds and there are quite a few horrible birds creeping about in Babylon!

All the nations of earth adore Babylon and they’ve gotten drunk off her vileness, evil, and seduction, for she oozes great extravagances and luxuries—all the things of the world Satan uses to tempt people. And then there’s the greed aspect, as many men throughout the Great Tribulation make billions off this city

Right now, during our time, there are a few extravagant buildings in Babylon, but it is just a shell of what it will become when Antichrist has the city rebuilt. The book of Daniel tells us that when the time comes developers, contractors, craftsmen, and laborers will be employed by the tens of thousands to build her rapidly. And they will receive exceptionally high wages for getting this job done. In turn, they spend their wages on immoral and violent acts deep within the bowels of the city’s underworld. The cycle is perpetrated and people love it, for they get so filthy rich, they wallow in money.

Here are verses 4 and 5:

Then I heard another voice calling from heaven, “Come away from her, my people. Do not take part in her sins, or you will be punished with her. For her sins are piled as high as heaven, and God remembers her evil deeds.

Oh how gracious is the LORD God as He warns—right now—to come away, and stay away, from Satan’s worldly temptations of money, power, control, pride, and egotism. These things are the root of all that is evil, and God wants people to avoid them at all costs. But do they? Here are verses 6 through 8:

Do to her as she has done to others. Double her penalty for all her evil deeds. She brewed a cup of terror for others, so brew twice as much for her. She glorified herself and lived in luxury, so match it now with torment and sorrow. She boasted in her heart, ‘I am queen on my throne. I am no helpless widow, and I have no reason to mourn.’ Therefore, these plagues will overtake her in a single day—death and mourning and famine. She will be completely consumed by fire, for the Lord God who judges her is mighty.”

God does not forget one moment of history. Here and now He remembers Babylon’s original sins, and every one committed in her boundaries, up to and including Antichrist’s future city.

God claims that He will do to Babylon what she has done to others, for in her horrible deeds she claimed the lives of many victims. God doubles her penalties, not just taking an eye for an eye, but far more. Because Babylon’s iniquity stretches far back to the beginning.

But why?

Because for everything the city boasted, for all the things that propelled one person into the lap of luxury, some other person had to suffer to get them there. So now God doubles down on those abhorrent acts with pain and suffering in the form of plagues that all occur within one day, but last for many.

God blasts the city and it burns to the ground, the same way He obliterated Sodom and Gomorrah. The devastation is so bad, people are forced to watch from afar! Could the blast be nuclear, then? Is the radiation such that the mourners cannot safely get any closer?

We aren’t told. But what about the other plagues?

Babylonians die and they are deeply mourned. The mourners grieving is so deep it covers them like a plague. And the devastation leaves the mourners to suffer great famine, for everything is gone or contaminated, and no one comes to their aid.

You see, when God warns and people refuse to listen, He’s patient for a time, but only to a point. Most would agree that several thousand years is plenty of time for people to hear and comprehend, except most do not. Therefore, when God has had enough, it may appear that His punishment is sudden, because He doubles or triples His vengeance.

But why does He do this?

Because He alone is worthy to judge and condemn after so many years have passed and people still don’t change. God will not tolerate evil forever, but He will give people multiple chances to choose against it, and run to Him.

Despite all this the merchants of the world stand back and moan and wail over Babylon’s fiery consumption, as we see in verses 9 through 11:

And the kings of the world who committed adultery with her and enjoyed her great luxury will mourn for her as they see the smoke rising from her charred remains. They will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will cry out, “How terrible, how terrible for you, O Babylon, you great city! In a single moment God’s judgment came on you.” The merchants of the world will weep and mourn for her, for there is no one left to buy their goods.

So why are these people so upset? HA! Because the money dries up! There’s no one left to purchase the cargo that sits in the holds of their ships. Verses 12 through 16 tell us what the citizens of Babylon purchased:

She bought great quantities of gold, silver, jewels, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet cloth; things made of fragrant thyine wood, ivory goods, and objects made of expensive wood; and bronze, iron, and marble. She also bought cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, and bodies—that is, human slaves. “The fancy things you loved so much are gone,” they cry. “All your luxuries and splendor are gone forever, never to be yours again.” The merchants who became wealthy by selling her these things will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will weep and cry out, “How terrible, how terrible for that great city! She was clothed in finest purple and scarlet linens, decked out with gold and precious stones and pearls!

Easy come, easy go, but not one mention from these mourners of the suffering victims—those whom they used to gain their riches. This scripture lists 28 items in their cargoes that the merchants wanted to sell to the citizens of the world.

Take a look at the last item…Human slaves! According to one commentator, during the first Roman Empire, some 10,000 humans were bought and sold every day. One-third of the world’s population during Rome 1.0 lived in life-long slavery.

Is there human slavery today? Even if a person refuses to believe that this is happening—what about enslaving people to the world’s governments via taxation? The majority of Americans work until the beginning of June to pay their yearly taxes. Most never fully break free from our governmental taxation “system”. Americans watch, as their hard-earned money is spent by their government on some of the most horrific things.

This is the reason God destroys Satan’s governmental and commercial city, for in the upcoming chapters the LORD God is going to make way for an entirely new system—a monarchy without commercialism!

But let’s continue as verses 17 through 19 sheds more light on who profited from Babylon:

In a single moment all the wealth of the city is gone!” And all the captains of the merchant ships and their passengers and sailors and crews will stand at a distance. They will cry out as they watch the smoke ascend, and they will say, “Where is there another city as great as this?” And they will weep and throw dust on their heads to show their grief. And they will cry out, “How terrible, how terrible for that great city! The shipowners became wealthy by transporting her great wealth on the seas. In a single moment it is all gone.”

The elite mourn as if the city were a PERSON—coating themselves in ashes and dust! Yet, they did not mourn the actual people who died so they could gain. The only thing these elites care about is losing their MONEY!

And in verses 20 through 23 we see the absolute opposite response from those in heaven who witness Babylon’s destruction:

Rejoice over her fate, O heaven and people of God and apostles and prophets! For at last God has judged her for your sakes. Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a huge millstone. He threw it into the ocean and shouted “Just like this, the great city Babylon will be thrown down with violence and will never be found again. The sound of harps, singers, flutes, and trumpets will never be heard in you again. No craftsmen and no trades will ever be found in you again. The sound of the mill will never be heard in you again. The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The happy voices of brides and grooms will never be heard in you again. For your merchants were the greatest in the world, and you deceived the nations with your sorceries. In your streets flowed the blood of the prophets and of God’s holy people and the blood of people slaughtered all over the world.”

Chapter 18 condenses the entire book of Revelation into super simple terms—and that is, the difference between God’s and Satan’s perspectives, as Satan’s people mourn the city’s destruction and God’s people rejoice. Finally, after many thousands of years, Babylon’s victims are avenged.

God waited all that time, and when He’d had enough He judged them, and all the happy memories made within the city—music, craftsmanship, trading, grinding flour and corn, the light of lamps in the evening, marriage ceremonies—are all devoured by the wanton evil that flows like blood in her streets.

But there’s one other interesting fact here.

In Matthew, Mark, and Luke Jesus said, “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck.”

Hummmm…from Babylon’s beginning until her end, how many Babylonians harmed innocent children, or caused these little ones to fall into sin? How many people throughout the world who harmed children, had those children end up in Babylon, or any other great city of the world? How many children were sacrificed? How many were sold into slavery? How many were used for sex trafficking? How many were killed for their organs or their DNA?

Only God knows the answer, but it sure seems as if this mighty angel of God responds to Jesus’ claim!

The good new is, from here on in Revelation takes a 180 degree turn away from God’s wrath and flows toward His many wonderful and glorious future promises.

Until next time, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen, and Amen.

25. BOOK OF REVELATION #24

Revelation, chapter 19 introduces the absolute joy, wonder and amazement of Christ’s long-awaited return to earth. In chapter 19, part 1, we learn about two important events that occur in heaven prior to King Jesus’ return.

Here are verses 1 and 2:

After this, I heard what sounded like a vast crowd in heaven shouting, “Praise the LORD! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. His judgments are true and just. He has punished the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the murder of His servants.”

Multitudes shout in heaven rejoicing, praising, and worshiping the God who saved them. They know they are beloved. They know that He has and will continue, to avenge them. They also know that God does not turn away from His righteous judgment, and those who fear Him recognize He has every right to avenge His beloved.

But who are these multitudes? They are called God’s Church.

Quite simply, they are the people throughout time, who, during their earthly lives, chose the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. They accepted Him as their blood bridge—the One who would return them back to Father God. From the moment of our creation, God wanted to live with us forever, and throughout the ages, those who choose the Lord Jesus Christ will experience that.

In the most simplified terms those dead believers, and those believers who are alive at the moment of the harpazo, will be provided resurrected bodies in the air when they meet the Lord. Now don’t misunderstand me here, there will be others who receive resurrected bodies too, just not at this time.

This multitude recognizes that the judgements of God are justified, for many of them were martyred, while others lived ordinary lives. Regardless, this group worships and praises because the false religious systems and Babylon are gone—destroyed forever, and they’re excited that the next period of history is about to commence.

But first, more praise as we read in verses 3 and 4:

And again their voices rang out: “Praise the LORD! The smoke from that city ascends forever and ever!” Then the twenty-four elders and the four living beings fell down and worshiped God, who was sitting on the throne. They cried out, “Amen! Praise the LORD!”

This is the perfect opportunity to realize how important it is that present-day believers should be consumed with praising and worshiping God too, for His return is promised. In fact, we can pray today, and every day, for His Kingdom to come and His will to be done on this old groaning and dying earth.

Next, an angel encourages the multitudes in heaven, and modern-day believers as well, to participate in daily worship and praise through reverence and Godly fear. Here are verses 5 and 6:

And from the throne came a voice that said, “Praise our God, all His servants, all who fear Him, from the least to the greatest.” Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder: “Praise the LORD! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.

We can never praise and worship God enough for all that He’s done for us. But the angel states that all of God’s servants should ‘fear’ Him.

What is Godly fear?

Fearing God is a scriptural term that often trips people up. To understand why it’s necessary, we need to understand Who God is.

The LORD God Almighty is the unseen, all knowing, always present, totally powerful three-person Trinity who is Creator of everything. God controls it all. God knows, and He’s everywhere. Add to all that…He’s not going away. It doesn’t matter if people chose to believe in Him or not. He simply is, and evidence of Him surrounds every human being on this planet.

And He did something extraordinary. According to Genesis, chapter 1, verse 2 to the end of that chapter, God remodeled this planet to make a place for humanity. He took a world He’d previously created and reformed it specifically for us. He planted a garden of such brilliance and beauty it defies imagination and then pulled Man from the dirt to be His greatest creation.

Adam had God-created plants, and birds, and fish, and animals, and when that wasn’t enough, God provided Adam a helpmate. Eve was perfect and co-ruled earth equally with her husband—for a time. But Creator God also gave the couple the freedom to chose, and that free will tripped them up.

Still, in the beginning these two humans only knew God as the agape loving Being who made them. All they ever understood was His goodness! They walked with Him, and spoke with Him. He provided for them. They experienced absolute perfection—just as God created. The concept of absolute perfection is beyond human comprehension—but one day it will be reinstated—as we learn later in Revelation.

For some unknown time period, however; the concept of evil never entered the minds and hearts of the original couple, and ya’ll know the rest of the story about that forbidden tree, and the angel being who introduced evil into our midst.

So, back to Godly fear…

Did the original couple fear God? Perhaps, but if they didn’t, they should have. Because if they’d had the deep recognition and respect for God’s power and might, they would have completely and totally obeyed His command not to eat the fruit that would open their minds to every sort of horrifying thing. If the original couple had feared God and His promise of death, they would have sprinted away from that creepy-crawly serpent so fast, our collective heads would spin.

So, this understanding brings us around to what Godly fear actually is.

It is the acknowledgement and acceptance of God’s power, and holiness, and righteousness, and goodness—along with His absolute command over all things to judge! Because, as Creator, all things belong to Him, and anyone who rejects Him will be judged.

That’s a lot to take in, especially for a non-believer, because misunderstanding Godly fear often pushes people away from God.

But Godly fear involves the absolute and ultimate respect for the One who created us, and it becomes the believer’s desire to seek and learn and grow in the knowledge of Him, because Godly fear generates seeking and learning and growing the new believer into a mature believer. Then, Godly fear becomes the tool that welcomes God’s power and authority and knowledge and presence in the believer’s life.

But still, it’s more than that.

Fearing God culminates in His protection, and guidance, and abundant blessings, and hope, and joy in every situation.

When Godly fear is misunderstood it can be SO DIFFICULT to grasp, for the unbeliever must EXPERIENCE His love and blessings to fully understand what He does for them every day. And people can only experience Him by taking that leap of faith that drives them to seek. Once they do, they usually chose Him, and after that…they experience who He is!

Now, here is a wonderful fact about Godly fear: Those who fear God and come to know Him don’t have to fear ANYTHING!

A true believer is not afraid, or terrorized, or mind controlled—no matter what happens—because the end result of fearing God is that God is for you, and no one can stand against you.

To remain in respectful Godly fear is to be in His everlasting Presence forever—regardless of whether or not the believer is alive or dead. And that’s where Revelation is heading right now. Because those believers who are dead, and the believers who are captured into the air during the harpazo, will be in heaven when the Tribulation begins; therefore, they won’t experience the horrors. Instead, these believers enjoy a completely opposite experience during their new lives in heaven.

Therefore, according to this verse, Godly fear creates a heightened level of praise and worship that is worth further exploration.

Next, this angel tells the multitudes to be glad and rejoice, for a great celebration—a wedding feast—is about to occur, and all are invited! This will be a tremendous affair like none we’ve ever witnessed. The wedding feast lasts 7 days and is filled with singing and dancing and wine and food and fellowship.

But sandwiched between the harpazo and the Wedding Feast are two important events not mentioned in Revelation.

The first is called the Judgement Seat of Christ, when God’s Church comes before the Lord, as written in 2 Corinthians, chapter 5, verse 10:

We must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

To emphasize, the ’we’ in this passage represents God’s Church who are already in heaven.

In the Greek this judgement is called the Bema Seat because it portrays the raised platform where judges sat during athletic events. These judges made sure contestants followed the rules. They did not condemn, nor punish. Their job was to witness, correct, and present awards to the winners.

So King Jesus presides over this Judgement much the same way, as each member of God’s Church reports on the earthly works they performed for Him after their salvation. The King places value upon each work and tests it by fire. Those good works that survive are rewarded, and those works that are not good are burned away without a reward, as we read in 1 Corinthians, chapter 3, verses 11 through 15:

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—which is Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgement day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

One of the best things about the Bema Seat is that Jesus knows the mind and heart of each believer and that makes Him the very best judge possible. He listens to each account and tests the results of that conversation with fire, and then rewards accordingly. The Bema Seat is the end result of how a believer conducts themselves on earth after they’ve been given the Lord’s free gifts of salvation, redemption, and justification. All the Lord does here is listen to the truth about what each individual accomplished, and then He rewards their efforts. Therefore, every single believer can determine, right now, what good works they will perform, but there are rules, as we’ll soon see.

Meantime, please keep in mind that believers are not being judged for sin at the Bema Seat. Oh no. Jesus already paid that price for every single member of God’s Church.

OK. Then why is the Bema Seat necessary?

Because this Judgement directly leads to the second event, which is the invitation-only Wedding Ceremony between King Jesus and His Bride. The Bema Seat determines who is invited.

After every believer in God’s Church goes through the judgement process, Jesus invites those believers who’s earthly works reflected their dedication, obedience, and servanthood to Him. These rewarded individuals are given the pure white linen gowns of righteousness. Thereafter, King Jesus and His Bride are married inside God’s heavenly Temple, with the LORD God as their witness.

No other guests are permitted inside.

Those believers from God’s Church who’s earthly works did not reflect dedication, obedience, and servanthood to the Lord will remain outside the Temple. Additionally, because these individuals did not receive rewards, they also will not rule and reign with King Jesus in His new Kingdom.

Remember, Jesus rewards according to each individual’s personal decision to serve. These individuals are believers. They don’t lose their salvation, redemption, or justification, but they will need to learn how to serve. Therefore, they will spend their time in King Jesus’ Millennial Kingdom learning dedication, obedience, and servanthood. Once learned, they will be rewarded and perfected and they will live in the forthcoming Kingdom of Heaven with the LORD God and His Son forever, as we see later in Revelation.

OK. That’s a lot to take in. Let’s break down the steps that lead to a believer dedicating, obeying, and serving the Lord here on earth.

In the New Testament Paul teaches that the believer must earnestly seek, strive, and contend to do the Lord’s will. Paul relates this earthy endeavor back to athletic—specifically to running a foot race and fighting to win.

Who is the believer competing against?

Satan, the world, and their old sin-nature that constantly attempts to lure them back into their old pre-salvation. Paul teaches that the believer is to shed every desire to remain in the world. They are to hate all worldly sin-filled devices and all that they encompass—pride, egotism, money, power, control, etc. Just think of it as all the temptations and deceit.

The believer’s race is against all that is ungodly, and the believer knows the race is hard, because old behaviors entice. That old broad road filled with like-minded people begs participation, while the current narrow and laborious path they’re running, seems all but impossible to accomplish.

The pull back to sin is great…except for God.

When the striving believer runs the race with his eyes set on God, the path becomes straight, and the finish line comes into view. Nevertheless, the race is not easy. This striving, pushing, and straining to run well toward God, is what King Jesus rewards.

So how does one accomplish this?

Pray in earnest to learn what the Lord’s will is for you, because every believer’s service is different. God’s Church is a huge body of believers and each one has their specific assignments.

These earnest prayers will be answered through Holy Sprit who lives within each believer’s heart. Therefore, be prepared to listen and receive the Lord’s will and then be absolutely dedicated and obedient to it.

Actively serve in the capacity that is set aside for you. Do not deviate, add, or subtract.

When that good work is completed, pray intently for the Lord’s next good work to be accomplished through you.

Then be prepared, for with each new work, the tasks become more difficult. This is required to keep the believer close to the Lord’s will, for without Him the works are dead—they have no value, and cannot be correctly completed. Also, the works turn a new believer into a mature believer. One can see this closeness in the relationship between a loving groom and his bride. It develops and grows between the couple who is long-married and knows the value of trust and commitment.

Never is the believer to go forward alone, of their own accord. And particularly never of their own accord while claiming they are serving the Lord. This is prideful and incorrect, and leads to dead works. Only those works which are provided through earnest and seeking prayer will be rewarded, for Holy Spirit is the only one who guides the believer to the Lord’s will.

Interestingly, the Lord knows His beloved so well, that when they seek His will, and then listen and obey, He provides work they love to do. Because in seeking Him the believer blesses the Lord and He calls them His Faithful Ones—or Overcomers. These God fearing and joyful believers run away from worldly things and focus strictly on being the Lord’s hands and feet to the lost and suffering. The end results is: both the recipients and the believer are richly blessed!

Now one more thing. The Lord knows how difficult these jobs are, so He also provides all the necessary tools to accomplish the job.

And so, at the Bema Seat Jesus rewards His Faithful Ones with glorious privilege and rewards. They become His Bride because they are found trustworthy to fulfill His commandments. Overcomers obey and take action, and King Jesus wants these faithful and trusted believers by His side when He begins His 1000 year ruler ship of earth, for they will rule and reign with Him as part of their reward.

OK. The marriage between the Groom and His Bride occurs in heaven, however, the wedding feast takes place after King Jesus returns to earth. So let’s continue as verses 7 through 9 describe King Jesus’ bride and the Wedding Feast:

Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to Him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and His bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.”

The Groom presents His Bride in all her preparations, beautifully crowned and adorned. They stand before the multitudes in great anticipation of the biggest celebration of all time, and all of God’s Church are blessed to be invited to the feast.

Join me next time as Revelation, chapter 19 introduces the Second Coming of the great King Jesus.

Until next time, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen, and Amen.

26. BOOK OF REVELATION #25

Revelation, chapter 19, Part 2, unveils that the Son of God, the Son of Man, the One who sits at the right hand of God, who was, and is, and is to come, is finally HERE! King Jesus rides through the cloud on a white horse, followed by an army of angels and His Beloved.

But first, the angel who’s been announcing everything needs to remind John of something. Here’s Revelation, chapter 19, verse 10:

Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.”

Oops. Wrong guy, the angel tells John, but it’s easy to understand why John fell on his face. God’s angels are impressive beings, and more than likely other believers will make this same mistake, too. But, the angel is quick to refuse John’s worship and correct his behavior. What’s really incredible is, if John had remained standing we never would’ve heard what this angel says next.

Scripture tells us that both angels and believers testify about their faith. And believers are commissioned to bring the good news of the gospel to the lost. When they do, God sends His messengers to protect them, so that His will is accomplished. So, both angels and believers serve God, but it is the believer’s testimony that bears witness to the Lord Jesus Christ and verifies scriptural prophesy!

Soon, very soon, the Lord Jesus Christ will return to bear His own witness—this time, as King of Earth.

Now, something remarkable happens, as we catch our first glimpse of the true rider on the white horse:

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for He judges fairly and wages a righteous war.

What a glorious day this will be! In absolute clarity, the holy dwelling place of God Most High is opened for all to see. According to Donald Grey Barnhouse, in his fabulous work, ‘The Invisible War’—the heavenlies are divided into four realms. The first heaven is what we call ‘sky’, the second heaven is the finite universe. The third heaven is the spiritual realm the apostle Paul talks about in Ephesians, chapter 6. And the fourth heaven is God’s home, the remarkable place where the Lord Jesus Christ voluntarily left, to come to earth as Messiah, and where He ascended to the right hand of His Father 40 days after His resurrection.

Now, here’s something to consider. In order for the fourth heaven to open, the other three realms must be opened, too. Which means the occupants of the other heavens must be completely subdued and placed under God’s authority.

OK! What does that mean?

That means every single fallen angel who was thrown out of heaven along with Satan—those who have been fighting God’s angel armies in the spiritual realm—are instantly defeated. The war that’s been raging in the spiritual realm for thousands of years is finally over! The Archangel Michael and God’s heavenly armies leave the third realm and report to their King who sits upon His white horse.

Now, why a horse? King Jesus could have chosen any animal or vehicle for His triumphant return to earth. In fact, He could have created a brand new creature or thing—a remarkable, distinct, or unique conveyance. But no, Jesus’ personal choice is a horse so blindingly and brilliantly white, that this exact color is unique to this animal. And we see a bit later that Jesus mounts His Bride upon white horses, too, but these will be of normal earthly whitish coloring.

All right, here’s another consideration. Some may think King Jesus’ horse, and those of His Beloved, require wings to travel through the heavenlies to earth, but they do not—for two reasons:

Reason number one: A real-life pegasus would be a brand new creature!

And two, the Creator of all things can easily uphold His mount and all the other horses upon His descent. Not only that, Jesus also controls every horse’s behavior, because anyone who knows horses understands that these animals can get a bit silly when they’re all thrown together into a big herd. And who needs several million playful equines whilst one is attempting to traverse the heavenlies behind their King?

All that aside, the real question is, why does Jesus specifically choose a horse to ride into His new Kingdom? Two more reasons:

The first is: God Most High is sending His Faithful and True Son on a mission to judge and wage war against Satan, Antichrist, the false prophet and all their demonic and earthly minions. When one studies scripture, horses represent judgement and war. King Jesus alone is the Father’s Judge and He alone will administer God’s vengeance.

And the second reason is before King Jesus leaves the fourth realm, He gathers to Him three distinct species to witness His departure. The first species are His created beings—His messengers—whom the Biblical translators call angels. These beings witnessed and celebrated the creation of Adam. Many were tasked to protect and guide mankind while others were tasked to punish. But now, the angel armies witness the King’s departure from His heavenly home, and they accompany Him through the heavenlies to earth.

The second species are those humans who chose the Lord Jesus Christ by faith when they lived on earth.

Lastly, horses too, will bear witness—for horses are the superior servant-animals the Lord gave to mankind to ride, plow fields, pull chariots, wagons, and carriages. Horses bore humanity’s heaviest labors throughout history until man manufactured engines. King Jesus honors horses for their steadfastness and willingness to serve mankind, despite how horrifically humanity often treats them. And so, horses are the Lord’s choice to carry Him and His Beloved into His New Millennial Kingdom on earth.

And now to Jesus’ descriptions in verses 12 and 13:

His eyes were like flames of fire, and on His head were many crowns. A name was written on Him that no one understood except Himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and His title was the Word of God.

Throughout the early chapters of Revelation Jesus is described as having eyes like flames of fire, and wearing many crowns, because through His reign God will return the original goodness, virtue, decency, integrity, honesty, morality, honor, purity and sinlessness that was decreed for mankind and all of earth.

This will be a process, and King Jesus starts it right here and now by giving Himself a special name that He alone knows and understands. One day believers will know its meaning and rejoice! In the mean time, believers understand why His robe is dipped in blood, for it is His blood that washes all of His beloved believers clean of their iniquity.

The last part of King Jesus’ description is extremely important to understand:

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Word of God.

The Holy Bible is also the Word of God to all mankind. For Jesus was the Spirit hovering over the deep in Genesis, chapter 1, verse 2.

The Word of God is the Triune Godhead history from ages in eternity past to ages in eternity future.

The Word of God is all that the LORD was, and is, and will be in truth, action, and righteousness.

The Word of God is also the LORD God’s promises and His prophesies that King Jesus is now bringing forward into His earthly rule and reign.

And we know from another description in Hebrews, chapter 4, verse 12 that the Word of God is alive and active and is sharper than any two-edged sword that cuts between soul and spirit, joint and marrow, and exposes a person’s innermost thoughts and desires.

Yet another description from Revelation, chapter 14, verse 14 it says: He—(that would be King Jesus)—sits upon a white cloud, wearing a golden crown and carrying a sharp sickle.

Therefore, King Jesus as the Word of God comes to fulfill the biblical Word of God in all judgement and righteousness. So, when God opens the heavenly realms and presents His Son to the universe—sitting upon His horse on the threshold of heaven—every eye that was alive and currently is alive—will see Him, as we learned from Revelation, chapter 1, verse 7:

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him, Even so, Amen.

That cloud that hovers around King Jesus on His descent to earth is the same cloud that received Him during His ascension, 40 days after His resurrection. The cloud is the Shekinah glory of God, which is the presence of the LORD God on earth. Quite clearly from the above verse every human being—both dead and alive—will see King Jesus leave His heavenly home. And those on earth—the minions of evil—will mourn His presence, for they realize they made an eternal error by not choosing Him as their Savior.

Now let’s continue with chapter 19, verse 14:

And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

In the entire King James Bible there are only two verses that have the descriptive words ‘linen, white, and clean’ in them. The first instance is Revelation, chapter 19, verse 8 which exactly describes the clothing worn by King Jesus’ Bride. The second occasion is this verse.

Therefore, those who follow King Jesus to earth are His angel armies and His Bride, because His chosen Bride—His Faithful Overcomers out of all of His believers—are those who proved themselves worthy to accompany Him to their new rulership with Him. The remaining believers stay in heaven until the King summons them to earth for the Wedding Feast and afterwards their servanthood training, which takes place throughout His 1000-year Kingdom reign.

The remainder of the massive multitude that accompanies King Jesus are His angel armies—His created creatures who’ve fought for and protected humanity from the beginning. These mighty angles will fly or drive their fiery horses and chariots around the King’s Bride.

We know these angels drive fiery horses and chariots to protect God’s beloved because we’re told this in the Old Testament book of Second Kings, chapter 6, when God showed Elisha’s servant His vast and powerful fiery angel army that surrounded the Syrian army. For the Syrian’s had come to harm Elisha, but God’s angel army of fiery horses and chariots far outnumbered the Syrians.

As stated, King Jesus’ angel armies will be mightily accompanied by horses and they will be doing what they do best—protecting the King’s Bride during their descent.

Interestingly, the multitudes of angels and Faithful Overcomers will not engage with the King in the Battle of Armageddon; rather, their purpose is strictly to witness the Messiah’s return to earth, for Jesus is proof of scripture revealed, as the next verse clearly states. Here is verse 15:

From His mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.

King Jesus gallops through the sky carrying a scepter—a rod of iron—by which He will judge all the nations of earth that are gathered together in the Valley of Megiddo. He will correct the wrongs done by the peoples of these nations. He will avenge His Father’s beloved to such an extent that He promises their blood will flow like juice from a winepress.

And He arrives with a title on His thigh, as we see in verse 16:

On His robe at His thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

King Jesus, surrounded by the cloud of His Father, swoops down out of the sky to fulfill the prophesies:

For He alone is THE KING and THE LORD.

Jesus is the creator who made it all.

Jesus is the Messiah who came to offer salvation.

He is the One who died to redeem everything back from the usurper.

And Jesus is the fully resurrected Living Son who will reign as King of Earth.

Then, in verses 17 and 18 John watches as an angel shouts a message to all the carnivorous birds who live in King Jesus’ creation:

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, shouting to the vultures flying high in the sky: “Come! Gather together for the great banquet God has prepared. Come and eat the flesh of kings, generals, and strong warriors; of horses and their riders; and of all humanity, both free and slave, small and great.”

In response vast flocks of flesh-eating birds begin their flight toward Israel. And we learn what happens next in verse 19:

Then I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the One sitting on the horse and His army.

Satan, Antichrist, and the false prophet, along with the kings of the nations came to fight. They came to do battle with the One who created them! They, along with their armies WANT TO FIGHT THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY! The sheer idiocy of this concept demands contemplation, for no one can withstand the fierce wrath of God when it is handed out by His Son.

The King dismounts from His white charger and stands alone against the vast armies swarming in the Valley of Megiddo. These multitudes think they have a chance to win the Battle of Armageddon! They do not, as we see in verse 20:

And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

Instantly, Antichrist and his henchman are captured and thrown into the lake of fire for all eternity. Two of the three evil leaders are gone, and the kings of the nations and their minions realize they’ve been deceived into thinking they can win against the LORD God Almighty and His Son.

The battle never even begins, as we see in verse 21:

Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of the One riding the white horse. And the vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies.

King Jesus, according to His promise, now turns His attention to the earth dwellers. And He slays these people with His two-edged sword of God’s truth-filled words—words that destroy them all.

In God’s judgement their blood flows like juice from a winepress. In fact, the blood is so deep that scripture states it will rise to the height of the horse’s bridles throughout the Valley of Megiddo. That depth equates to about 4 feet inside a triangular-shaped valley whose dimensions are 15 x 15 x 20 miles!

And then the birds gorge themselves.

And so the returning King comes to fulfill many prophesies. But here’s one from the New Testament gospel of Matthew, chapter 16, verse 27:

For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.

And now it is done! The King proves Himself to be the scriptural One and only Son of the Almighty God, who has returned to earth to reclaim His creation, and He will sit upon the Throne of David in Jerusalem for 1000 years, just as the Archangel Gabriel told Mary that He would.

But wait! What happened to Satan? Here is a sneak peek into Revelation, chapter 20, verses 1 through 3:

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. He seized the dragon—that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years. The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished…

Finally, not one single enemy of God remains on earth. A newness is promised, another return of a different type—for now the King of Earth will continue with God’s future promises of restoration within a government that can never again be corrupted.

Until next time, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen, and Amen.

27. BOOK OF REVELATION #26

After King Jesus defeats all evil, Revelation, chapter 20, explains the details and reason for Satan’s demise. Also this chapter introduces King Jesus’ Millennial Kingdom reign and what happens at the Great White Throne Judgement at the end of that 1000 years.

Here is Revelation, chapter 20, verses 1 through 3:

In brief recap from Revelation, chapter 19, Antichrist and the false prophet are already in the lake of fire. Also destroyed are the massive nation armies who came to the Valley of Megiddo thinking they could fight the LORD God Almighty. There was no battle, for King Jesus destroyed every single evil person with the Word of His mouth, as sharp as a two-edged sword. Carrion birds, birds of prey, and wild beasts feasted upon the massive armies.

And now, standing before his creator, it is Satan’s turn to be imprisoned.

John describes a single angel descending from the fourth realm with the key to the bottomless abyss. He holds a chain and without any other assistance this solitary angel seizes Satan and locks him in the abyss for 1000 years. The angel places the key back into the padlock and secures it so that Satan cannot tempt, deceive, lie, or prevail his evil against anyone for nearly 10 centuries.

But then scripture warns that at the end of the 1000 years, Satan must be released for little while.

Hummmm, that Satan is released from God’s prison is troubling, but the reason is revealed very soon. With Satan imprisoned, scripture now turns to King Jesus’ new government. Here is verse 4:

Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their forehead or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

God’s Church, who was taken up in the harpazo, have gone through the Judgement Seat of Christ. Those who served Him while on earth and whose works passed His refining fire—became His Bride. They rode with Him through the clouds, and now sit on thrones with King Jesus. They are given authority to rule and reign with Him.

Also present are the vast multitudes of people who chose the Lord Jesus Christ after the harpazo and during the Tribulation. These Saints refused Satan’s mark and they suffered tremendously during the Great Tribulation. Many starved, or died from disease and war. Millions were rounded up and if they refused to worship the statue that caused the Abomination of Desolation, they were beheaded.

Throughout the Tribulation, these Saints stood before their accusers and proclaimed the good news of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. They prevailed in their testimonies of the wonder and amazement and promises of their Redeemer. They could not be silenced, and they refused to be swayed by the threat of death, for they knew and understood God’s promise to them would be eternal life forever with Father God.

Now, standing before their King, God fulfills His promise to these Saints and awards them their new resurrected bodies and grants them rulership with King Jesus throughout the Millennial Kingdom.

Verses 5 and 6 adds further explanation:

This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.) Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. From them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him a thousand years.

The first resurrection is a specific group of people who are gathered from four different time periods, and this group is awarded brand new incorruptible bodies like the one God gave His Son when He was resurrected. These new bodies awarded to the first resurrection group are capable of many fabulous things, too numerous to mention here.

The important question is, who becomes a member of the first resurrection group?

The answer is the Lord Jesus Christ, His Old Testament Saints, God’s Church, and the Tribulation Saints. Four very distinct time periods and four very distinct gathering methods. The common denominator is this: these souls, with their new bodies, who are in the first resurrection do not experience the second death.

The only thing that separates them from everyone else was their decision to choose by faith the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, while they lived on earth.

The above scripture goes on to say that God blesses the Tribulation Saints and makes them priests in His Temple. Wow, what an honor!

Now let’s unscramble the rest of the above verse. Who are ‘the rest of the dead’ and what exactly is ‘the second death’?

The rest of the dead are those people who refuse to choose the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, and the second death is what happens to these people after they are judged by God, which we learn about very soon.

To fully understand the second death it must be understood that the first death is the physical passing away of a person from earth. Once a person is dead, their soul lives forever and continues to experience mental, emotional, and physical things.

At the moment of death location is determined. If the person refused the Lord as their Savior when they were alive, their soul goes to hell. If the person chose the Lord as their Savior when they were alive, their soul goes to the fourth realm of heaven.

Now, here is the vital fact about the second death:

The second death is the soul’s eternal separation from God after judgement. The soul recognizes that it cannot reverse the incorrect decision that was made during life. This knowledge produces everlasting mental, emotional, and physical torment.

Let’s continue with Revelation, chapter 20, verses 7 through 10:

When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison. He will go out to deceive the nations—called Gog and Magog—in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle—a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore. And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them. Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

OK, so King Jesus and His beloved rule the nations of earth for one-thousand years, but who populates the nations of earth so they become as numerous as the sand along the seashore?

Those in the first resurrection—made up of King Jesus, His Old Testament Saints, God’s Church, and the Tribulation Saints. This group is human-like in appearance—made in God’s image—but they are more than that in every way. They can travel in and out of spaces differently than a regular human can, as Jesus demonstrated multiple times after His resurrection, when He disappeared and reappeared in another location, in an instant. Those in the first resurrection group do not age, they do not marry or reproduce, they do not know temptation, nor do they commit iniquity.
The second group that populates earth during the Millennial Kingdom are the fully physical humans—the remnant Israelites whom God protected when they fled to Petra after the Abomination of Desolation. God grants this group long lives similar to those lifespans prior to the flood where people lived 6, 8, 9-hundred years. In the Millennial Kingdom this group ages, but do not die. They are like any human capable of sin and deceit. They are also marry and reproduce. This people group repopulates earth over the one-thousand year period.

Now, to fully understand what happens next, we need to know what life will be like during the Millennial Kingdom. First, King Jesus’ government is a monarchy. He alone rules and reigns, and He will do so with absolute fairness.

Right from the start He restores earth to its former glory as it was at creation. This restoration involves many things beyond comprehension, but suffice it to say earth will be perfect, whereas the human generations born from the Israeli remnant will not be perfect.

Next, King Jesus appoints kings and judges, governors and mayors. Each one of these rulers, who are chosen from His Faithful Ones, from within the first resurrection, serves Him in some capacity, but not just any capacity. Oh no! For Jesus provides each one with the work of their heart—something they absolutely love to do. Never again in King Jesus’ government will anyone hear that someone hates their job, instead all will serve out of joy and happiness and love.

This is vitally important to understand, because when the Israelite remnant marries and has children, they marry and have children, and so on, reproducing for 10 centuries—thus filling the nations of earth as numberless as the sand along the seashore. Yet, the earth—in its perfection—does not moan or sag or stop producing all that is necessary to sustain this vast number of people.

Now, get this…the original Israelite remnant chose the Lord Jesus Christ during the Great Tribulation, therefore by grace they are saved. They age, but will be rewarded new bodies at the end of the Millennial Kingdom. Meantime, their descendants grow up in perfection. They want for nothing. They don’t know war, death, disease, or deceit. These generations know love, and beauty, hope, truth, justice, fairness, rewards—the list of God’s goodness is long.

These generations know and understand who King Jesus is and what He did to save the world. These generations never see the horrors their Tribulation remnant ancestors witnessed and suffered during the years leading up to and throughout the Tribulation. These generations do not experience demonic activities of any type. They do not experience Satanic lies and deceit for he is bound in the Abyss and cannot influence them. But regardless, even with perfection surrounding them, these generations resort to sin and iniquity! They revert back to human nature introduced by Adam and Eve when they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Many of the generations rebel against the authority of their Monarch, and ruling with a rod of iron, King Jesus corrects any wrongdoing swiftly and justly, but always in love. Instead of responding with acceptance of their wrongdoing, and repenting—instead of being thankful for their amazing and perfect lives—they refuse their King’s worthiness and ability to judge fairly. They act out according to their own desires, and this behavior too, is swiftly and justly corrected.

For each rebellion King Jesus corrects, their sin grows deep within their hearts and minds, until they fully reject their King and get as far from Him as the four corners of the earth allows. Entire nations become over-populated with the unruly, and as their numbers grow, so does their desire to overthrow the Kingdom.

Near the end of the 1000 years, God releases Satan out of his prison to unleash the deceiver upon earth. Satan does what he has always done and roams the planet deceiving those who have abandoned King Jesus in their hearts and in their minds. Satan gathers the sinful to him and marches them to the exact same place he marched the earth dwellers from the Great Tribulation—back to Jerusalem they go! And they surround the holy Temple, and once again in their deceit, these descendants of the Israeli remnant believe they can slay God’s Son.

King Jesus does not move against them this time. He remains sitting quietly upon on His throne, sure of the outcome. Then God’s fire from heaven comes down upon the descendants and destroys them all.

Immediately afterwards Satan is thrown alive into the lake of fire where he joins Antichrist and the false prophet, and they are tormented day and night forever and ever.

So the dead from the Millennial Kingdom go to hell where they join the other dead who also refused the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. King Jesus 1000 year reign now draws to a close.

Here are the final verses of Revelation, chapter 20:

And I saw a great white throne and the One sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from His presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.

John describes the LORD God sitting upon a great white throne as creation attempts to disappear from His mighty presence. For His creation holds the multitudes of the dead. And God will not allow creation to leave His presence, because He calls forth from His creation all those people who refused His offer of His one and only Beloved Son. The God/Man whom the Almighty sent to be the blood bridge back to perfection, so humanity could live with God forever.

And God causes creation to release its dead. He causes the sea, and the earth, and the graves of death to give up their souls, and God brings them to life one last time to stand before Him at the Great White Throne Judgement.

Before the LORD God stands the great and small together as the books of recording are opened. The books of recording list every deed, thought, spoken word and action ever committed by these people. Beside the books of recording is the Book of Life and it too, is opened for one last final comparison.

God—the One who knows every man’s heart and mind—judges these people by the deeds they did when they were alive on earth. Then God removes death and the graves forever by throwing them into the lake of fire. God identifies the lake of fire as the absolute second death, for physical death has already occurred, and now the everlasting spiritual death of the soul—the permanent separation from God Almighty—is commanded upon all those whose names are not found recorded in the Book of Life. The judged masses standing before the great white throne are thrown into the second death—the lake of fire—forever.

The reason is now clear—God demands perfection, and that can only be obtained through the sacrificial death of the Lamb who died on that cross for every person throughout history. Choosing the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior brings righteousness and justification before God, for His Son is the Way, the Truth, and the everlasting Life.

Until next time, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen, and Amen.

28. BOOK OF REVELATION #27

And now all that remains on earth are God’s beloved perfected, all others have been judged and thrown into the lake of fire forever. With this absolute perfection must come absolute newness in creation, and God brings forth the New Heaven, the New Earth, and the New Holy City Jerusalem.

Here is Revelation, chapter 21, verse 1:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.

Throughout scripture the LORD God promises that He will make a new heaven and a new earth. Here is the Lord Jesus Christ’s promise in Matthew 24, verse 35:

“Heaven and earth will disappear…”

The New Heaven will not contain four realms, and the New Earth will not be compartmentalized with death graves, hell and a bottomless pit. No. The promised heavens and earth will be absolute perfection in purity, goodness, truth, and everlasting love. But something else happens too, as we read in Isaiah 65, verse 17:

“Look, I am creating a new heaven and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore.”

WOW! God will make us new, also. He will wipe our memories of this old earth away, because they hold iniquity, condemnation, sorrow, pain, shame, etc. When we live with God in His new creation, there won’t be any old thoughts because God is perfection and those things cannot reside with Him.

And so, as it says in Isaiah 66, verse 22:

“Behold, I create ALL THINGS new.”

New heavens, new earth, and fresh new believers will live forever with God.

So, how does the first heaven and the first earth pass away?

Here’s what the late Pastor Chuck Smith has to say:

“God holds the universe together by the word of His power, for He created the universe and the earth by the Word of His Power and by Him all things are held together. All He’s going to do is relax and let it all go and the whole material universe will go up in one gigantic puff. The elements will be dissolved and melted with a fervent heat. The heavens will be on fire, and this whole material universe will go out of existence in a moments time.”

We read of this in 2 Peter, chapter 3, verses 5 through 13:

…God made the heavens by the word of His command, and He brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then He used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood, and by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgement, when ungodly people will be destroyed. The day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. On that day, He will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth He has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

Interestingly, there won’t be any sea. Hummmm, why not?

Well, we know that the Lord made the sea because He knew humanity would sin. We know from earlier in Revelation that Satan calls forth the beast from out of the sea. We also know from Daniel, Isaiah, Job, Jonah, Matthew and Luke that the sea represents sin, danger, the storms of life, and separation from God. Therefore, the sea has to be no more, because none of these things equals perfection.

But here’s another interesting fact to consider, this from Dr. Chuck Missler:

“For millennia 70% of earth has been covered in an average depth of 2.3 miles of 3.5% antiseptic salinity that purges, cleanses and preserves earth.”

Huh! When there’s perfection, there is no need for a sin antiseptic! So, I wonder what God will create to replace the sea?

Here is verse 2:

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

John has been transported into heaven for Revelation, and he’s up there beholding this new vision. He sees a massive thing being lowered and this beautiful new holy city Jerusalem is as gorgeous as a virgin bride prepared in all her finery before her groom, with every detail completed in utter perfection.

We recall one of the Lord Jesus Christ’s promises in John, chapter 14, verses 2 and 3, when He said:

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Jesus promises to snatch His beloved from earth, and he also promises brand new living quarters—mansions—many mansions!

But there’s something else: numerous commentators tell us that the New Jerusalem will not touch down on earth, but will orbit earth the same way our moon does—except the orbiting city will be cubed instead of spherical. A precise description of the New Jerusalem is upcoming, but right now understand that the perfected resurrected who live forever with God and His Son will have bodies capable of dimensional travel. Therefore, going between the new earth and the new orbiting holy city will be easy.

Now, here are some amazing God promises in verses 3 through 5:

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

Boy, oh boy! Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? For are humans capable of understanding absolute and true perfection? Can we truly comprehend that the God of all creation will walk among us? That believers will see the LORD God walking the streets of New Jerusalem?

No one has ever laid eyes on the Father and yet, there He will be with His Son and Holy Spirit living among us.

But even more: Is it possible right now in this wicked old world to fathom no more pain, suffering, sorrow, tears, mourning, or death? No physical infirmities, no weaknesses, no tiredness, and no weariness?

Yeah, tough to fathom! So the Lord who is sitting on His throne tells John, “My words are faithful and true.” You can believe them, because in verse 6, He goes on to say:

“It is finished. I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.”

King Jesus is repeating His many scriptures where He tells people, “If any man thirst let him come unto Me and drink,” for “if you drink of the water that I give you will never thirst again,” because “I will give the fountains of living water freely.”

Repeatedly, the Lord Jesus Christ offers His free gifts to anyone who believes, and this later chapter of Revelation sees Jesus’ promises coming to fruition.

Then, verse 7 continues with yet another amazing two-part promise:

“He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

The first part continues the Lord’s blessings upon His chosen believers, those people who, while they lived on earth, chose Him as their Savior. The second part of the promise fully reiterates that anyone who does not chose Him, will be separated from Him and His Father forever, and their souls will live eternally in torment.

Now, verse 9 continues with an invitation:

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

The holy city, New Jerusalem, is adorned like a bride, and verses 10 through 14 begin to describe her beauty:

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

God’s bride is in all of God’s glory. In her brilliance she shines and glimmers and sparkles like a fine-cut diamond. Jasper is diamond. The city is surrounded by a great and high wall in which God places twelve gates and twelve angels to guard them. The gates bear the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. Additionally, the wall’s foundation stones are named for the Lord Jesus Christ’s twelve apostles who gathered God’s Church after His ascension. That means the apostle Paul replaces Judas, the betrayer.

In verses 15 through 21 the angel describes New Jerusalem in more detail:

The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall. The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements. The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

And so we learn that the wall is 216 feet deep and 216 feet tall, and the holy city is laid out in a 1500 mile square cube. The wall’s foundation is made in layers of precious jewels, and the gates are huge pearls, and the city within is made of gold so pure that it is clear as glass. Even the streets are paved in gold.

Huh! Apparently, money and wealth—which so many people strive for here on this old earth today—has such little value in God’s future kingdom, that the most precious metal known to man is used for asphalt, and jewels are used to build foundations.

Think there’s a bit of a hint there that relationship is far more important to God than all the money and wealth in the world? As the saying goes: when you die, you can’t take it with you!

John continues his vision in verses 22 through 27:

I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

When God Almighty dwells amongst His beloved there is no requirement for a Temple. The meeting place walks the street with everyone, and His glorious Shekinah light is all that is necessary to illuminate His new creation, and His Son is the sun! No more night, no more darkness where evil can hide. Instead, the nations walk in His glory and they honor Him. They move to and fro through the open gates at will.

But there’s something else here…

There are additional creatures unknown to us, made by God either in some previous age—or perhaps in some future age—who will not be allowed into the New Holy City Jerusalem. Remember, we cannot limit God, but this scripture is quite clear that there will be ‘others’. Hence, the reason for the 12 guardian angels at each of the gates leading into the city. Because no ‘others’ who defile, or who work abominations, or who tell lies will be given access, and only the Triune Godhead knows who these ‘other’ creatures are.

But believers are promised that only God’s beloved who are written in the Book of Life and in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be granted permanent access into His presence inside the Holy City.

And we will live in eternity learning who He is, and what He’s done for us, and we will be given the ancient and future knowledge, secrets, and mysteries—for God is truth and His full truth is yet to be revealed to His beloved.

We can look forward to that, but first the final chapter in Revelation awaits!

Until next time, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen, and Amen.

29. BOOK OF REVELATION #28

Revelation, chapter 22 offers more insights into what the world will be like in the Kingdom of Heaven. Interestingly, things come full circle from Genesis, as the Tree of Life and the beauty and glory of God’s original creation is restored.

Rivers will be clean and pure again, all information, knowledge and wisdom will be unveiled for the betterment of all. Plants will sustain everlasting life, nothing will be lost, and the Kingdom of Heaven will thrive with honorable and productive activity.

Here is Revelation, chapter 22, verses 1 through 5:

Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and His servants will worship Him. And they will see His face, and His name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.

In the beautiful New Holy City Jerusalem with its buildings and streets of pure gold flows the Lamb’s water of life, as Jesus explained in John, chapter 7, verse 37 when Jesus opened wide His arms and said:

“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink”

And again in Revelation, chapter 7, verse 17 Jesus identifies Himself as the sacrificial Lamb, and as the Shepherd of His flock:

For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water.

This river of crystal clear flowing water is the life everlasting, as we read in John, chapter 3, verse 14:

“But whoever drinks of the water that I give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

This life-giving water also feeds the Tree of Life that is replanted in the Holy City from the Garden of Eden. That tree is now available to anyone in the Kingdom of Heaven and bears fresh new fruit every month, while its leaves offer healing, so perfection is maintained in God’s Kingdom forever.

Never again will there be any sort of imperfection. Entropy and the second law of thermodynamics, no chaos, or confusion will never again deteriorate God’s perfectly ordered systems. And this perfection wells up in every single person as they worship Him in His presence.

Everyone will see the LORD God’s face, and on their foreheads His Holy and Wonderful name is written, thus identifying His beloved forever.

Wow! Marked by God for all eternity—what a blessing and an honor to serve and glorify Him.

Once again, scripture states that the illumination of God’s Shekinah glory, and the Lamb’s light obliterate any requirements for lamps or a sun. Darkness is gone, as the true LORD God and His Son reign in love, purity and truth over the new earth and the Holy City forevermore.

Here are verses 6 and 7:

Then the angel said to me, “Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. The LORD God, who inspires His prophets, has sent His angel to tell His servants what will happen soon. “Look, I am coming quickly! Blessed are those who obey the word of prophecy written in this book.”

And so, one of the Lord Jesus Christ’s most blessed names finally comes true: ‘Emmanuel, God with us’ is fulfilled, as the prophets promised.

But there’s an interesting word used in this scripture—SOON. Some translations use the word ‘quickly’, which is slightly more accurate—depending upon which definition within each word is applied. Both ‘soon’ and ‘quickly’ have caused much confusion when one uses the definition to mean ‘right away’, ‘in a short time’, or ‘with little or no delay’—as in ‘promptly’.

We all know Jesus’ return was not immediately after His ascension. Instead, it’s best described in English as ‘in the future’, or ‘later’.

In the Greek, the word used is ‘tachu’ which means coming rapidly at the appointed time. King Jesus’ removal of God’s Church during the harpazo will be lightening fast. No one will have time to think or react. The same applies to His Second Coming when He presents Himself in the clouds.

And the reason the Lord has not returned soon is of vast importance, for had He returned for His beloved shortly after His ascension, then God’s Church would not have been completely gathered. Therefore, until the last person is brought into God’s loving care, King Jesus cannot snatch that group from earth, nor can His Second Coming follow.

Humanity must understand that the Lord Jesus Christ’s deep desiring love for all to choose Him is unmistakable in His arms-wide-open, stretched-across-the-universe invitation! Jesus’ powerful love is limitless, and His promise is sure: “Come to Me all who are burdened and heavy-laden and I will give you rest.”

The eternal kind of rest with the LORD God Almighty forever!

Here are verses 8 through 10:

I, John, am the one who heard and saw all 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. But he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!” Then he instructed me, “Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near.

Once again John is overwhelmed and falls at the angel’s feet to worship, and yet again the angel corrects this behavior by sharing that God alone is to be worshiped now and forevermore. Interestingly, the angel then instructs John “not to seal up the prophetic words’ in the book of Revelation. This is an exact opposite command from the book of Daniel, chapters 8 and 12, which commands Daniel to seal up his prophetic words. How wonderful, that in these end times the LORD God opens Daniel’s book to vast understanding and then adds John’s book of Revelation to Daniel’s information, so now we can see the entire future plan of the Almighty God!

With this knowledge available to us now, the angel then provides a clear warning. Here is verse 11:

Let the one who is doing harm continue to do harm; let the one who is vile continue to be vile; let the one who is righteous continue to live righteously; let the one who is holy continue to be holy.”

Woe to those who have the knowledge of the LORD God and His Son before them, and yet choose to continue in their evil ways. And blessed are those who have the same knowledge and follow the righteous and holy path, no matter what. For the warning continues, but now it is spoken directly by the Son of God in verses 12 through 14:

“Look, I am coming soon, bringing My reward with e to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life.

Again and again throughout the book of Revelation, our loving God and His Son warn humanity to make the correct decision for their future soul, because no one will be allowed into the Kingdom of Heaven who have not come through the Son first. No one will be able to live forever unless they choose the Lord Jesus Christ while they live on earth, because He alone is the Beginning and the End. Those who follow His commandments and obey Him will be blessed. Therefore, after the Great Tribulation and after the Great White Throne Judgement, only those who are provided with incorruptible and perfected resurrected bodies will be permitted to enter into the New Holy City Jerusalem and eat from the Tree of Life, and drink from the living water.

This is reiterated (AGAIN!) in verses 15 and 16:

Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie. “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.”

Why reiterate again?

Because in the beginning of the book of Revelation are the Lord Jesus Christ’s clear and precise instructions for all humanity that were given to John through the Lord’s messenger to the seven churches—information that bestows the necessary knowledge to all.

Way back in the beginning of this book, Jesus admonishes, “All who have ears, let them hear!”

Way back at the beginning of this book, Jesus explained Who He is and what He’s done. He provided His lineage as the father of David, and as the subsequent heir to David’s throne. He is both before and after King David.

Additionally, He reconciled Satan’s vile lie regarding who truly is the Bright Morning Star!

Throughout Revelation, the Lord never hid any of this information from anyone who wished to learn what He had to say.

Truthfully, frankly and honestly the book of Revelation is the life-changing wisdom and knowledge for all humanity to be saved from everlasting torment.

And so, the closing verses express the joy and wonder and hope and freedom offered to anyone who chooses to partake. Here are verses 17 through 20, the last words in the book of Revelation, and the entire Holy Bible:

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book. He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.

Even now, at the end of Revelation, the Lord invites anyone who has ears to hear, to come to Him. If you are troubled, persecuted, riddled with sorrow, overwhelmed, incapable, unable, struggling, or suffering—Jesus invites you to “Come to Him.”

He opens His arms across the vast universe and welcomes anyone who is thirsty. He is the water of life, and His promises are sure and true.

Then, in the Lord’s final closing statement, He announces one last command—one that was first presented in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, chapter 4, verse 2. Anyone who attempts to add or subtract from His Word will be held responsible, and anyone who alters the book of Revelation will be severely punished.

But why?

Because the book of Psalms clearly states that “Thou has magnified Thy Word above all Thy Name” and “His Word will live forever as the entirety of His Word is truth.”

There it is, Jesus’ last command made plain and simple right before He announces one last time that He is coming quickly!

And all who believe heartily respond by saying: “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus, Come!”

Until next time, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with God’s holy people. Amen, and Amen.