Death Dies

Revelation Chapter 21

Scripture:
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4)

Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.  But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur.  This is the second death.  (Revelation 21:7-8)

Observation:
The reason why some of the scripture here is in quotes is because the references made by John link back to Isaiah chapter 65, where he talks about the thousand year reign, the life span of those during that time, and the new heaven and new earth that comes after.  This explanation of heaven isn’t a new concept, but rather, an ancient one, one that God has promised all along and is the fulfillment of prophesy.

Application:
No matter if some of us are living and reigning with God during that thousand-year span, mentioned in the previous chapter- Revelation 20, or whether we join him after he remakes all things, we who have believed by faith and have our names on the Lamb’s Book of Life will join him.

But not all roads lead to heaven.  I know this isn’t politically correct for the current thinking of our society, but it really does matter who you believe in (the object of that faith), and the substance of it.  (Is it mature and strong enough to survive testing?).  As hard as it may be to hear, being a “good or moral person” isn’t enough to get us into heaven.

Believing in a thing doesn’t make it real.  It’s who you place your belief in, and HIS power that makes US real, and brings us into His reality.  He provides a list of those who won’t make it into heaven: the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, those who practice the magic arts, the idolaters and all liars.

It’s easy to look at that list and check them off as not applying to us, but I want to focus on two things from this list that might very well apply to us.

First: He is truth, and His truth sets us free from the chains of our self-delusion of believing in the lies we tell ourselves.  You know the ones I’m talking about, we say them to ourselves to keep us feeling comfortable and safe; justified in our positions, and always right - since we filter it through our own, one-point experience it comes out sounding like “that’s just the way I am”.

Second: Once we believe the lie that we can go our own way and still get into His heaven, Idolatry takes over.  This is expressed in our behavior when we fashion our faith into something that makes us feel good about doing good things, projects, or programs.  It comes out sounding like “That’s something I can get behind”. Instead, we should find out what He has to say about a subject and getting behind HIM in it.  (If you are doing it right, the world will reject you.)

Do you say you believe in God?  Then find out what he has to say about himself, and follow him instead of what feels good or right to you.  Your mother may only want you to be happy, but God says that the heart is deceitful and wicked (Jer.17:9).  Your feelings are bound to your flesh and are constantly at war with the Holy Spirit.  If following God is comfortable and easy for you, then you should take a strong look at what you believe in, what you are conforming to with your time, energy, and resources – because only those who do not practice idolatry get to inherit the heaven he has planned.

Prayer:
Father, I pray for the people of my generation who are like cold-blooded animals that adjust to the ambient temperature around them.  They cannot tell the truth from the lie …and so they lie comfortably.  I pray for those who believe in you, that the Holy Spirit within them brings conviction to their actions so they are found approved by their testing of faith.  I pray for those who do not believe, that you would prepare the soil of their hearts to hear the gospel.  I pray it is spoken to them clearly, and for their heart, soul, mind and strength to respond; for it will require strength, endurance to stay the course until the end when you usher us into our new homes with you.  Amen.

The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath

Revelation Chapter 16

Scripture:
Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.”

Observation:
There are a series of three judgments poured out on man. Each of the judgments are successively more severe in area, duration and number of people affected. Those judgments as listed in the book of Revelation are: The seals, the trumpets and the bowls. In today’s chapter we cover the final series that are ushered in by the last trumpet sound, the bowls speak to judgments that bring on literally the end of the world.

Application:
Here is what Peter had to say about these times in 2 Peter3:1-13:

3Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. 

You know what? I couldn't have said it better myself.

The question Paul wrote lingers and echoes in my mind "What kind of people ought you be?" I saw today a quote today that said "Jesus did not die to give us peace and a purpose in life; he died to save us from the wrath of God." (Attributed to Jerry Bridges, but I thought the quote timely for today.)

On the day that our savor died, the words "it is finished" were the last words from his mouth. Then where was a n earthquake and the temple veil was torn, ushering the way for God to live in us. Here in this chapter we get another echo of that day where a loud voice from the throne says in verse 17 "it is done!" just as the final earthquake hits the earth and the earth is literally torn and we are ushered in to live with him.

Prayer:
Father God, help us be the kind of person who takes your word seriously. Help us be the kind of people who love you and reach out to save your children from the fire, instead of basking in the glow of it. Amen.

No Hiding Place

Revelation Chapter 6 

Scripture: 

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 

Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face 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 can withstand it?” (Rev. 6:1, 15-17) 

Observation: 

There is so much about this chapter that I don't understand and can't unpack for you.  (Even the commentaries contradict themselves) I have all sorts of questions myself like: When this is supposed to happen exactly? I don't know.  What order is it supposed to happen in?  I don't know.  Do all of these calamities happen in one day or over the course of years?  I don't know. What scroll are all these seals attached to?  I don't know.  Is this for all the world or only unbelievers?  I don't know. 

There are a few things that I do know though.   

First: It's Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who is opening the seals on this scroll.  And even though it's wrapped up in mystery, Jesus testified to this time coming and spoke of it while he was in human form in the gospels of Mark 13:24-27; Mat. 24:29-31and in Luke 21:25-27   

Second: The bible is replete with reminders for us not to seek revenge on our own, but to give the right to repay to The Lord.  In this way the door of judgment can  to stay open long enough for people to repent and be saved... but it has a time limit on it.  Here are passages that foretell it. 

Deut. 32:34-36 'Is it not laid up in store with Me, Sealed up in My treasuries? 'Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, In due time their foot will slip; For the day of their calamity is near, And the impending things are hastening upon them.' "For the LORD will vindicate His people, And will have compassion on His servants, When He sees that their strength is gone, And there is none remaining, bond or free.… 

Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.  Hebrews 10:30 For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people."  

So, because there is so much symbolism contained in each of these seals as they are broken and poured out on the earth, and I just don't understand all of what John spoke of, it would be foolish for me to parse them for you.  I only know that it's going to be end-of-the-world bad as all those judgments that have been sealed up (held back and waiting) are released and the new heaven and the new earth are created from it's ashes.   

Application: 

Repent and be saved!  Jesus had some hard truth-claims that he made about himself you may need to wrestle with Him about.  Find someone to help you talk through what they are. Look closely at the objects your beliefs are attached to.  Jesus said he was the way, the truth and the life, and that no one can come to the father (God) except through him.                                              

Have you already done this?  Then be intentional and  take as many as you can to heaven with you!  Initiate the conversations that lead to the eternal questions.     

When God's wrath is poured out, even kings, presidents, rulers and common people like you and me will be calling out to the rocks to hide them.  For all those who thought Jesus was a wimp for forgiving - that God was impotent to the travesties enacted throughout the ages, they should read the last book.  Then they will understand His great compassion in waiting for us to come to know Him.  Because that day will be terrible. 

Prayer: 

Lord, I feel like I am guilty of living so much in the moment that I forget how the story ends.  None of what we work and strive for here on earth is meant to last.  It has an expiration date.  And yet, I find that I am caught up in the tyranny of my everyday -investing in this world instead of the one to come.  Lord, provide me with more opportunities to reach out and share the gospel.  Amen.