(I have had a powerful writer's block for many months, so please forgive my silence. I cannot write except under inspiration and have tried many times fruitlessly since my last post. I have much more to say when that inspiration permits it.)
I've been studying Revelation with a group of men led by pastor and teacher Gene Smith. Last week he taught from chapter 11 wherein the two witnesses prophesy from Jerusalem for 1260 days during the first half of the final seven years of judgement.
Gene indicated that most scholars regard these two witnesses to be the re-embodied Moses and Elijah from the Old Testament, or at least people who have the same power and ministry.
I did some of my own research (which I always do regardless of who is teaching) and reached the same conclusion! Here's how I challenged the assertion and the possibilities I studied.
Enoch and Elijah
First, I noted that the two witnesses died. The Bible says it is appointed unto man once to die, and then comes judgement. There are only two people mentioned in the Bible who never died - Enoch (Genesis 5:24) and Elijah (II Kings 2:11). Many scholars believe these are the two witnesses at the end of days. There is some logic here, because these two could return to life in the last days and actually be killed for the first time. Furthermore, although little is known about Enoch, Jude mentions Enoch as an end-time prophet:
It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh
generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with
many thousands of His holy ones, to execute
judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds
which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which
ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” Jude 1:14-15
There is little doubt that one of the two is Elijah, as Malachi prophesied and the Jews affirm (even to this day). Even Jesus referenced John as Elijah's prototype to prepare the way for His first coming.
Moses and Elijah
As Pastor Gene pointed out to us:
Who had the power to shut off the sky so that rain will not fall? Elijah. (James 5:17, Luke 4:25, I Kings 17:1) How long did the two witnesses prophesy? (1260 days or three and a half years.) That is exactly the same amount of time the rain did not fall during Elijah's prophesying. Amazing!
Who had the power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with
every plague? Moses. (Exodus chapters 7-10)
Who appeared with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:2)? Moses and Elijah.
The two witnesses stand before the Lord continually.
What better two authorities could reach the Jewish people and turn their hearts to the living Messiah than Moses and Elijah? These two represent the embodiment of the Old Testament, the Law and the Prophet.
Malachi mentions both Moses and Elijah in his end-time prophecy:
“Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and ordinances
which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel. “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the
prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. “He will
restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the
children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a
curse.” Malachi 4:4-6
There is just one minor problem with Moses as the second witness. Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab (Deuteronomy 34:5). So Moses doesn't exactly parallel Elijah as a person alive and standing before the Lord in heaven. Today I resolved that conflict (in my own understanding at least.) The little book of Jude sheds unique light on what happened to Moses after God buried his body.
But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the
body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said,
“The Lord rebuke you!” Jude 1:9
Deuteronomy 34 says the Lord buried him in the land of Moab, but his eye was not dim nor his vigor abated. I think God might have just resurrected old Moses and took him to heaven alive. Why? If God didn't hide Moses' body the Jews might have worshiped his shrine. If God took him to heaven in a chariot before their eyes they might surely have worshipped him as some sort of deity. It makes sense that if God wanted to take him, He might have to do it rather discreetly. So He sent Michael to go get his body and bring him up to heaven (I suspect).
Getting to the point
On balance I am convinced the two witnesses are Moses and Elijah, in the flesh. Can you imagine the power of these two mighty men of God after spending thousands of years in heaven before the throne of God, returning to earth by God's authorization to convert their Jewish brethren? If that didn't impress you, how about a little fire from their mouths to slay those who try to kill them? By the way, who called fire out of heaven to destroy his enemies, not once but twice (II Kings 1:10,12)? Elijah.
At the end of days, these two mighty witnesses and the 144,000 chosen from every tribe of Israel will lead the nation of Israel back to the Lord. That will be a day I would like to see, but as Pastor Gene pointed out, that will probably be from heaven. At that time the age of the gentile church has been fulfilled and God will once again extend His infinite mercy to his chosen people. Oh Halellujah, praise God, that'll be the day!
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The River That Flows From God's Throne
I was reading the Gospel of John the last few days and came across something that made me seek a little more understanding.
Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'" But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Some of the people therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, “This certainly is the Prophet.” Others were saying, “This is the Christ.”
John 7:37-41
If you're just reading along, you might miss the context. This is Hoshana Rabbah, a most joyous day of the year in Israel. The people have just celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles, which is a week-long praise service to remember their wandering in the wilderness, and God's provision of food and water for the children of Israel.
Jesus stands up and cries in a loud voice that HE is the source of the life-giving water that comes from the throne of God. And He prophesies that believers in Him will be conduits of this life-giving water (the Holy Spirit) for the world's refreshment. He relates Old Testament prophecy (Isaiah 55, Ezekiel 47) to the New Testament church that is yet to be born.
When the people hear this prophecy, their reaction is startling. Some become convinced Jesus is the greatest prophet; others that He is indeed their Messiah. Those few brief words are so exquisitely spoken and timed, they strike a resonant chord in the heart of the faithful. But some are infuriated that Jesus would bind Himself to the words of Isaiah in such a setting, and they seek to kill Him.
This inspired me to learn more about this river of life, and what I learned was truly wonderful. Let me start with Ezekiel.
Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar. He brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate by way of the gate that faces east. And behold, water was trickling from the south side.
When the man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through the water, water reaching the ankles. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the knees. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the loins. Again he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not ford, for the water had risen, enough water to swim in, a river that could not be forded. He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me back to the bank of the river.
Ezekiel 47:1-6
The water that was trickling from the east side of the Temple soon became an ankle-deep stream, and less than a mile downstream the life-giving water became a mighty river. What would cause the waters to grow from a trickle to a mighty river? What causes the Spirit of God to enter a person as a drink, and to leave a person as a river of life? It is as if the faith of the believer greatly magnifies the flow of the Spirit. The picture in my mind is the throne of God, established in the heart of every believer, that causes him or her to become a tributary of the river of life.
Not only does the river of living water nourish the body, but it satisfies the soul and gives eternal life.
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
John 4:13-14
God Himself calls us to come to the river and drink freely. (You might want to listen to this beautiful John Foley song sung by Matt Maher while you read the rest of this...)
“Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters;
And you who have no money come, buy and eat.
Come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without cost.
Isaiah 55:1
What does the river of life look like? It starts at the foot of the cross where the blood of the Lamb was spilled. It pours over the apostles in the upper room. It bubbles from their tongues and spreads like wildfire over the believers of the early church. It is fed by the blood, sweat and tears of martyrs under persecution from their Jewish and Roman rulers. It sweeps through the dark ages of post-Roman Europe and bubbles out of the Protestant reformers and Methodist revivalists at the dawn of the industrial revolution. It bursts forth new branches in home churches throughout Africa, underground churches in Asia, and newly awakened churches in the West. If you can hear it, it probably sounds like a mighty rushing wind. If you listen closely you may hear the prayers and worship of the saints.
Every believer adds testimony, tears and travails to this vast and unending river of life that continues to flow from the throne of God. In a manner of speaking, every believer becomes a tree of life planted by the river, each bearing fruit in its time.
“By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”
Ezekiel 47:12
On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Revelation 22:2
Oh that I might drink anew from that beautiful stream, that I might be immersed in its flow and refreshed in my innermost being! That I might plant my life firmly by its banks and bring forth everlasting fruit! Lord Jesus, every day I will come to the river. I will bow down and water the seeds that I have sewn with tears, and soon I will return with joyful shouting bringing bountiful fruit and healing leaves!
So let it be Lord, so let it be.
Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'" But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Some of the people therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, “This certainly is the Prophet.” Others were saying, “This is the Christ.”
John 7:37-41
If you're just reading along, you might miss the context. This is Hoshana Rabbah, a most joyous day of the year in Israel. The people have just celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles, which is a week-long praise service to remember their wandering in the wilderness, and God's provision of food and water for the children of Israel.
Jesus stands up and cries in a loud voice that HE is the source of the life-giving water that comes from the throne of God. And He prophesies that believers in Him will be conduits of this life-giving water (the Holy Spirit) for the world's refreshment. He relates Old Testament prophecy (Isaiah 55, Ezekiel 47) to the New Testament church that is yet to be born.
When the people hear this prophecy, their reaction is startling. Some become convinced Jesus is the greatest prophet; others that He is indeed their Messiah. Those few brief words are so exquisitely spoken and timed, they strike a resonant chord in the heart of the faithful. But some are infuriated that Jesus would bind Himself to the words of Isaiah in such a setting, and they seek to kill Him.
This inspired me to learn more about this river of life, and what I learned was truly wonderful. Let me start with Ezekiel.
Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar. He brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate by way of the gate that faces east. And behold, water was trickling from the south side.
When the man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through the water, water reaching the ankles. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the knees. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the loins. Again he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not ford, for the water had risen, enough water to swim in, a river that could not be forded. He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me back to the bank of the river.
Ezekiel 47:1-6
The water that was trickling from the east side of the Temple soon became an ankle-deep stream, and less than a mile downstream the life-giving water became a mighty river. What would cause the waters to grow from a trickle to a mighty river? What causes the Spirit of God to enter a person as a drink, and to leave a person as a river of life? It is as if the faith of the believer greatly magnifies the flow of the Spirit. The picture in my mind is the throne of God, established in the heart of every believer, that causes him or her to become a tributary of the river of life.
Not only does the river of living water nourish the body, but it satisfies the soul and gives eternal life.
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
John 4:13-14
God Himself calls us to come to the river and drink freely. (You might want to listen to this beautiful John Foley song sung by Matt Maher while you read the rest of this...)
“Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters;
And you who have no money come, buy and eat.
Come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without cost.
Isaiah 55:1
What does the river of life look like? It starts at the foot of the cross where the blood of the Lamb was spilled. It pours over the apostles in the upper room. It bubbles from their tongues and spreads like wildfire over the believers of the early church. It is fed by the blood, sweat and tears of martyrs under persecution from their Jewish and Roman rulers. It sweeps through the dark ages of post-Roman Europe and bubbles out of the Protestant reformers and Methodist revivalists at the dawn of the industrial revolution. It bursts forth new branches in home churches throughout Africa, underground churches in Asia, and newly awakened churches in the West. If you can hear it, it probably sounds like a mighty rushing wind. If you listen closely you may hear the prayers and worship of the saints.
Every believer adds testimony, tears and travails to this vast and unending river of life that continues to flow from the throne of God. In a manner of speaking, every believer becomes a tree of life planted by the river, each bearing fruit in its time.
“By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”
Ezekiel 47:12
On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Revelation 22:2
Oh that I might drink anew from that beautiful stream, that I might be immersed in its flow and refreshed in my innermost being! That I might plant my life firmly by its banks and bring forth everlasting fruit! Lord Jesus, every day I will come to the river. I will bow down and water the seeds that I have sewn with tears, and soon I will return with joyful shouting bringing bountiful fruit and healing leaves!
So let it be Lord, so let it be.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
A Prophetic Dream
I had a dream in the mid 1980's that I still remember vividly. It was one of the very few prophetic dreams I can remember.
I recalled that dream again today and decided to search around for the word Sardonis on the Internet. Most of the hits I got were for a death metal band from the Netherlands named SardoniS, whose My Space page is Sardonis666. I didn't go there because they seemed to be satanic (well, duh). OK that was enough searching.
So what could this possibly mean? I remember mentioning this dream to a few friends when I first had it. All I got was a "huh" response. Hmm, interesting. I guess I didn't know any Daniels at the time, or maybe they didn't want to tell me what they thought it meant.
So I don't put any stock in knowing the future, and I can't put a date on that dream. All I know is what house I lived in at the time, so that puts the dream between 1984 and 1987. Thus the 30 years is almost over.
Looking backward, it seems fairly obvious that that web of intersecting beams of light was the interconnected world of entertainment and information we now enjoy from multitudes of satellites encompassing the earth. The powers that control this web of stars in the sky are also interconnected and increasingly concentrated. But their ruler is the Prince of Babylon.
Thankfully, perhaps by the sovereignty of God, the Babylonian system has seen fit to allow the word of God to be spread freely over this network.
What could the end of this thiry-year reign mean? I don't think this was just a pizza-dream. What if God were to suddenly cast all those "stars" to the earth as in Revelation 6:13. That would be bitter irony!
This I Know
What I do know is this - the economic system upon which the world is based is crumbling. Actually it's on life-support called "sovereign debt" which is the lending system of last resort. I remember the hypocrisy demonstrated by the US Federal Reserve a few weeks ago, scolding some banks and an insurance company for not having enough capital to survive another economic tsunami. What if somebody stress-tested the Federal Reserve system? It still has not been exposed to even as much as a public audit.
When (not if) the next economic tsunami arrives, what defenses does the government have to offer? There is no amount of money left on earth that could stem that tide. So how do you prepare for such an event?
What Not To Do
A better way to prepare for the very uncertain future is to put your treasure in Heaven (Matthew 6:19). Keep a very loose grasp on the things of earth, knowing they are temporary and your life is a mere breath.
Get oil for your lamp (be filled with the Holy Spirit) while there is still day.
Most of all, be prepared to stand with Jesus against a tide of chaos and rage that will most certainly come one day (see my earlier post about the third and fourth seal in Revelation 6 here). That is what I am praying for and seeking with all my heart - to stay true to the Lord through whatever comes my way.
I remember seeing a view of a city at night, as if from a high vantage point, and a voice calling out so loudly that I believe the whole earth could hear it.
The thirty-year reign of Sardonis begins!
Suddenly there were colorful beams of light (like lasers) reaching from the sky to the tops of each household. There were multiple beams of light, as if each house were connected to multiple points in the sky. There was a low-pitched electric hum as each beam would appear, sort of like switching on a light saber in a Star Wars movie. That was a terrifying sight.
The next scene in my dream was a store selling all kinds of entertainment, mostly magazines and video tapes (it was the 80's after all). I remember seeing a man there who had a very worldly charm, who seemed to own all stores of this nature, and realizing that this was the one called Sardonis. That also terrified me.
I recalled that dream again today and decided to search around for the word Sardonis on the Internet. Most of the hits I got were for a death metal band from the Netherlands named SardoniS, whose My Space page is Sardonis666. I didn't go there because they seemed to be satanic (well, duh). OK that was enough searching.
So what could this possibly mean? I remember mentioning this dream to a few friends when I first had it. All I got was a "huh" response. Hmm, interesting. I guess I didn't know any Daniels at the time, or maybe they didn't want to tell me what they thought it meant.
So I don't put any stock in knowing the future, and I can't put a date on that dream. All I know is what house I lived in at the time, so that puts the dream between 1984 and 1987. Thus the 30 years is almost over.
Looking backward, it seems fairly obvious that that web of intersecting beams of light was the interconnected world of entertainment and information we now enjoy from multitudes of satellites encompassing the earth. The powers that control this web of stars in the sky are also interconnected and increasingly concentrated. But their ruler is the Prince of Babylon.
Thankfully, perhaps by the sovereignty of God, the Babylonian system has seen fit to allow the word of God to be spread freely over this network.
What could the end of this thiry-year reign mean? I don't think this was just a pizza-dream. What if God were to suddenly cast all those "stars" to the earth as in Revelation 6:13. That would be bitter irony!
This I Know
What I do know is this - the economic system upon which the world is based is crumbling. Actually it's on life-support called "sovereign debt" which is the lending system of last resort. I remember the hypocrisy demonstrated by the US Federal Reserve a few weeks ago, scolding some banks and an insurance company for not having enough capital to survive another economic tsunami. What if somebody stress-tested the Federal Reserve system? It still has not been exposed to even as much as a public audit.
When (not if) the next economic tsunami arrives, what defenses does the government have to offer? There is no amount of money left on earth that could stem that tide. So how do you prepare for such an event?
What Not To Do
- DON'T lay up riches for yourself - these will surely rot and rust (James 5:1). I have a retirement fund but I think of this as "death insurance", which covers the case that I don't die soon and the world doesn't end. I want to travel as light as possible while being responsible for my family.
- DON'T buy guns and become a survivalist. This is a difficult thing to imagine, but I don't see the saints of God holed up in a compound shooting anyone who comes for food. If you have land and are self-sufficient, be prepared to share. You will be blessed.
A better way to prepare for the very uncertain future is to put your treasure in Heaven (Matthew 6:19). Keep a very loose grasp on the things of earth, knowing they are temporary and your life is a mere breath.
Get oil for your lamp (be filled with the Holy Spirit) while there is still day.
Most of all, be prepared to stand with Jesus against a tide of chaos and rage that will most certainly come one day (see my earlier post about the third and fourth seal in Revelation 6 here). That is what I am praying for and seeking with all my heart - to stay true to the Lord through whatever comes my way.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
What on Earth Are We Doing Here?
There was a missionary in the late 1800's named C. T. Studd, who wrote a memorable poem that my childhood minister quoted every Sunday: Only one life, 'twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last.
I found the poem with some beautiful piano accompaniment on YouTube. It's worth reading; click the YouTube icon beneath the picture for full text.
I found the poem with some beautiful piano accompaniment on YouTube. It's worth reading; click the YouTube icon beneath the picture for full text.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Revelation - Seven Seals Restrain God's Wrath
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is
patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to
repentance. II Peter 3:9
I am very thankful that God was patient with me, and that His wrath did not descend suddenly upon me like a rain of fire when I was least prepared. As a matter of fact, I think God is infinitely patient and willing to wait for all who would come to repentance, as Peter says above.
However, I also believe that there will come a time when the wrath of God will come suddenly upon the Earth, and He has left us a road map in the Bible to understand those times. Thus He has impressed on the heart of man a desire to understand apocalyptic prophecy, as you can see this year with the almost ridiculous media focus on the Mayan calendar and the writings of Nostradamus.
My interest in understanding the Bible and particularly the book of Revelation was piqued a few years ago when my father passed away and the western financial system was poised at the brink of destruction (it still is by the way).
I must have read the book of Revelation five times that winter, pouring over verses and cross-referencing to Old Testament passages and related prophetic quotes in the Gospels. I did all this without reading commentaries because I desperately needed to understand what I said I believed, the unvarnished truth of the Bible. One thing that stood out to me was the opening of the seals in Revelation chapter 6, which restrain the final judgement of God upon the Earth. But first a little background.
The Purpose of Prophecy
The purpose of the prophecies in the Book of Revelation is not different from other Bible prophecies. As a matter of fact, many of the Old Testament prophecies contain references to God's final judgement and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. Biblical prophecy is intended to:
- Warn us of coming judgement
- Encourage us to persevere and seek God
- Help us to understand the events as they unfold
The Seven Seals
I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.” Revelation 5:1-5
The book of God's final judgement and the coming Kingdom of Heaven on Earth is sealed with seven seals. John wept that no one was found worthy to open the book and break its seals. I'm sure he wept because he was not found worthy, and because he wanted the book to be opened. He had seen his fellow Christians mercilessly martyred at the hands of Jewish zealots and Roman emperors. He had seen and heard of the debauchery of the Babylonian world system. Even King David prayed often for God to bring judgement on his adversaries.
But God is incredibly patient. The seven seals will not be broken until the Righteous One is ready, and each seal has a recognizable "signature". Let me help you recognize these signatures.
The first four seals represent the "four spirits of heaven" (see Zechariah 6) which are sent from God to patrol the earth. They represent the dominant power on earth, each in succession. After these four eras of human history, the great tribulation and the rain of hailstones from heaven precede the breaking of the seventh seal, which allows the final judgements to be proclaimed.
The First Seal - The Emperors
Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
Revelation 6:1
Looking forward in the vision, the apostle John sees four successive horsemen. The first is riding a white horse and goes to conquer. This seal has already been broken; the rider was the emperor of Rome.
The Second Seal - The Barbarians
When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.” And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.
This second seal is also broken; its signature was the end of "Pax Romana", the peace of the Roman Empire. In Palestine and across the middle east, the sword of Islam replaced the bow of the Roman Emperor. In Europe, the swift swordsmen of the north brought chaos and the dark ages to that continent.
The Third Seal - The Merchants
When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.”
The third seal is also broken; its signature was the dawn of the Age of Reason and the subsequent birth of America. Note that many interpreters of this chapter see the four horsemen as future harbingers of apocalyptic doom, with the black horse representing famine. But it is very apparent to me that this era is marked by mercantilism and materialism, not by famine.
There is this amazing reference in Zechariah 6:8 saying "those that have gone to the land of the north have appeased My wrath in the land of the north." The chariots drawn by black horses are the ones that went to the land of the north. Putting that together with the order of the seals in Revelation, it appears to me that this refers to the rebirth of the Church and the role that the Protestant reformers would play in establishing America, which has been used mightily by God for the last two centuries.
This is where we are now, and I'm praying that the next seal remain unbroken for as long as possible.
The Fourth Seal - The Reign of Death
When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.
As would naturally follow the collapse of the global economy, all manner of death will occur. We got a preview of that with the "Great War" and its aftermath in Europe. However, this death is not only the death of men, which has been prevalent in the past. This death is a systemic, final death of civilization, after which basically nothing is left but plant life in one fourth of the earth. The color of the horse is actually the Greek word "chloros" which is consistently translated as "green" in reference to grass or plants in other passages of the New Testament, including the Book of Revelation.
The signature of this seal is the complete lack of order. This is not an imperial war of conquest, or tribal warfare. It is as if creation itself is rising up against mankind. It is the complete collapse of the world system and the subsequent death of a significant part of the world population. This collapse will carry with it a worldwide madness that leads to the Great Tribulation behind the fifth seal.
The Fifth Seal - The Great Tribulation
When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.
This sad chapter of human history will mean the death of most (if not all) Christians alive on the earth at the time. This genocide will remove the restraining force (II Thessalonians 2:7) of the Holy Spirit from the earth and open the door for God's final judgement. The outcry of those slain in Heaven will last only a "little while" until the Lamb of God opens the sixth seal with an earthquake and the sound of a mighty wind.
The Sixth Seal - The Wrath of God
I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him 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 stand?”
This sixth seal will reveal the wrath of God to mankind, and this day of wrath will only be cut short so that those elected by God can be sealed with a sign on their foreheads. But God is patient and waiting for any who would still repent.
The Seventh Seal - Silence
Before the seventh seal is broken the heavens are stilled and the elect children of every tribe are sealed with the mark of God on their foreheads. In another beautifully symmetrical relationship with creation and the Sabbath rest, the seventh seal brings a time of rest and worship. But this worship service is bigger and better than every other worship service ever held on earth combined.
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,
“Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying,
“Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” Rev. 7:9-12
And now, all rise for a long moment of silence as the Judge enters the room. The Lamb of God who was slain from the foundation of the earth, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the Lamb of God who is worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and glory and honor and praise - opens the seventh and final seal. There is a collective "gasp" in the heavens as the seven angels are given their trumpets and the prayers of the saints arise as incense before the throne of God.
The Rest of the Story
Quite truthfully I don't have a strong conviction about what happens next because the scroll hasn't been opened and we only have very symbolic language describing it. There are seven trumpet blasts announcing disasters and woes to come upon the earth. Even after these disasters and woes those who are alive refuse to repent (Rev. 9:20). The seventh and final trumpet blast (Rev. 11:15) is followed by another awesome worship service in heaven.
Then the beast and the false prophet (the antichrist) who comes after are released (Rev. 13). The beast rules for 42 months, after which the false prophet is given dominion for a time. Then comes the harvest (i.e. the "rapture") in which Christ gathers His elect from the four winds of heaven and the four corners of earth (Rev. 14:14, II Thessalonians 4:16, Mark 13:26). Note that the harvest gathering of the elect comes after the antichrist is revealed, which is probably different than you have heard.
Now that the harvest gathering is finished, God freely pours out His seven bowls of wrath upon the earth. Those who are left now can only blaspheme God (Rev. 16:21). Babylon (the world system) is overthrown and there is another tremendous worship service (Rev. 19:1), which is really the beginning of the GLORIOUS WEDDING CEREMONY of the Bride (those who followed Christ) and the Lamb.
The beast and the false prophet are cast in the lake of fire; the dragon is bound and his army is destroyed by the Word of God (the sword that comes from His mouth). The Bride and the Lamb have a thousand year "honeymoon" on earth until the final judgement of the world before the great white throne of God (Rev. 20:11). The creation itself (heaven and earth) flees from the presence of God. Then the eternal home of the Bride and the Lamb is revealed, which is a sight we can "only imagine". Now I recommend you click the link to this wonderful song by Mercy Me and see if you will not jump up and down and shout praise to God!!
"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.” Rev 21:3
Saturday, March 3, 2012
So Simple a Caveman Could Understand It
I'm very interested in the original meaning of words and how meanings were derived, especially when studying the Bible. I also use Wikipedia a lot and thus happened upon the Phoenician alphabet which is the root of the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek alphabets and ancestor to the modern English language.
What caught my eye and inspired me to write this post are two letters in the Phoenician alphabet which also carry a word meaning, Gaml (from which we get the word "camel"), and Qof (which meant "needle head" in the Phoenician hieroglyphic form, or "hole" in Hebrew).
Now if you give me a list of the 24 most basic words in the language, and tell me two of them are "camel" and "eye of a needle", my mind is going to jump to Matthew 19:24 where Jesus says "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."
This sheds a whole new light on what Jesus was saying. It is as if He was saying "let me spell this out for you" or "let me put this in terms a caveman could understand."
To put this in a modern western context, think of a camel as a big pickup truck. The audience is a group of poor Galilean fishermen who could no more afford a camel than they could buy a new truck today. Jesus was saying something like "It would be easier to drive a truck through the hole in this fishing hook, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."
So how is the rich man going to enter the Kingdom of God? The first step is to get out of the truck. The next step is to become very small. Well, actually it's impossible. The only thing you can be holding when you pass through that very small opening is Jesus. "With God all things are possible."
Eternal life and the Kingdom of Heaven are here and now. But you may have to let go of everything you hold dear to go there. You will enter the Kingdom of God just as you entered this world - with nothing. "Blessed are the poor in spirit" is the first and most fundamental attitude required to accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Let me emphasize that Jesus did not imply that giving away your property will get you into the Kingdom, but to "come follow Me." If our properties, jobs, families, etc. keep us from following Jesus, then we must let go. That's part of what I am thinking when I talk about shrinking.
What caught my eye and inspired me to write this post are two letters in the Phoenician alphabet which also carry a word meaning, Gaml (from which we get the word "camel"), and Qof (which meant "needle head" in the Phoenician hieroglyphic form, or "hole" in Hebrew).
Now if you give me a list of the 24 most basic words in the language, and tell me two of them are "camel" and "eye of a needle", my mind is going to jump to Matthew 19:24 where Jesus says "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."
This sheds a whole new light on what Jesus was saying. It is as if He was saying "let me spell this out for you" or "let me put this in terms a caveman could understand."
To put this in a modern western context, think of a camel as a big pickup truck. The audience is a group of poor Galilean fishermen who could no more afford a camel than they could buy a new truck today. Jesus was saying something like "It would be easier to drive a truck through the hole in this fishing hook, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."
So how is the rich man going to enter the Kingdom of God? The first step is to get out of the truck. The next step is to become very small. Well, actually it's impossible. The only thing you can be holding when you pass through that very small opening is Jesus. "With God all things are possible."
Eternal life and the Kingdom of Heaven are here and now. But you may have to let go of everything you hold dear to go there. You will enter the Kingdom of God just as you entered this world - with nothing. "Blessed are the poor in spirit" is the first and most fundamental attitude required to accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Let me emphasize that Jesus did not imply that giving away your property will get you into the Kingdom, but to "come follow Me." If our properties, jobs, families, etc. keep us from following Jesus, then we must let go. That's part of what I am thinking when I talk about shrinking.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Heavenly Accounting
God is not a bookkeeper, but there are certainly books being kept on each of us, and not just by Google and the credit bureaus.
The book on me contains everything I've done, which is basically a book about my sin, because everything I do (including my righteousness) is as "filthy rags" before God. There is absolutely nothing I could do to zero out this book. There is nothing you could do, or all of us could do together to zero out these books. Add to this debt the infinite debt incurred by all of us, when we rejected His Son and put Him through a most painful and unjust death on the cross. That's a pretty heavy load of debt.
On the other side of the ledger is only one act that can balance the books. That is the sacrifice of the pure and spotless Lamb of God. His blood can cover every line in your book. The good new is - Jesus lives and He forgives. You know in your heart that you could not stand and account for your life before God. Without Jesus we are toast. Only Jesus can get us out of this jam.
Let me share one of my favorite Psalms 130 with you in music.
In this Psalm, verse 4 says "If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.."
God doesn't want to read my book, He just wants to see my heart pumping the blood of Jesus through my veins, giving me new life. Live in me LORD, and pour out your blessings through me to others! In Jesus name...
The book on me contains everything I've done, which is basically a book about my sin, because everything I do (including my righteousness) is as "filthy rags" before God. There is absolutely nothing I could do to zero out this book. There is nothing you could do, or all of us could do together to zero out these books. Add to this debt the infinite debt incurred by all of us, when we rejected His Son and put Him through a most painful and unjust death on the cross. That's a pretty heavy load of debt.
On the other side of the ledger is only one act that can balance the books. That is the sacrifice of the pure and spotless Lamb of God. His blood can cover every line in your book. The good new is - Jesus lives and He forgives. You know in your heart that you could not stand and account for your life before God. Without Jesus we are toast. Only Jesus can get us out of this jam.
Let me share one of my favorite Psalms 130 with you in music.
In this Psalm, verse 4 says "If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.."
God doesn't want to read my book, He just wants to see my heart pumping the blood of Jesus through my veins, giving me new life. Live in me LORD, and pour out your blessings through me to others! In Jesus name...
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