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Prophecy Of The Future

God’s Plan For The Future — What does the Bible say about the future?

God's Plan For The Future

It is Thursday night on the day before Jesus dies, and He and His disciples have finished their Passover meal. Judas has discovered that Jesus knows what he is going to do. Hurriedly Judas leaves to betray Jesus. That evening Jesus seeks to encourage His disciples to love each other and tells them that He will be leaving them. Peter objects because he wants to be with Christ and claims that he will die for Him. Jesus knows better. Then Jesus assures them that though He is leaving, He will come again—the second coming of Christ. This is part of God’s plan for the future.

Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you shall follow later.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.” Jesus *answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a cock shall not crow, until you deny Me three times. Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me . . . I would have told you; for 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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 13:36-14:3 (NASB)

Jesus’ first appearance on earth is called His first coming or First Advent. When Jesus said, “I will come again,” He was referring to His Second Coming, or Second Advent – which is yet in the future. The disciples may have thought that Jesus’ appearance after His resurrection was His second coming. Apparently some thought He was going to establish His kingdom or “The Millennium” at that time. This explains why the disciples asked Jesus when He was going to “restore the kingdom” in Acts 1:6. But Jesus responded by saying it would not happen then, but in the future.

God's Plan For The Future

Disciples Would Die First

Jesus’ disciples were still trying to understand the future of the world and their own future. They had not understood Jesus’ comment that they would not see His return during their lifetimes. Jesus had said this after a discussion with the Pharisees.

Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” And He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. Luke 17:20-22 (NASB)

The apostle Peter understood later in life that Jesus would not return before he died (2 Peter 1:15) nor in the near future (2 Peter 3:3-5).

The apostle John wrote many years after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension back to heaven (A.D. 90 -100) that Jesus would be coming back. But he did not know when.

Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. 1 John 2:28 (NASB)

Some believe that Jesus returned when Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70. But this is not possible given Jesus’ comment in Luke 17:20-22 and the fact that the apostle John was alive after Jerusalem’s destruction. It is important to notice that the book of Revelation was written sometime after A.D. 95. That means John wrote about the future in the book of Revelation after Jerusalem was destroyed. Revelation tells us that the second coming of Jesus was a future event.

King Nebuchadnezzar's Dream

Four Kingdoms In Daniel

When is Jesus coming again? In order to answer this question, we must go to the book of Daniel. The prophet Daniel gives us a glimpse of Israel’s future when the prophet interprets a dream of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (Daniel 2:19-45).

The dream was about a statue which symbolizes the future nations that would control the land occupied by Israel. Daniel prophesies a succession of empires starting with the Babylonian empire. The golden head symbolized Babylon. The silver chest symbolized the Medo-Persian empire. The bronze waist symbolized the Grecian empire. The iron legs symbolized the Roman empire. The iron and clay feet and the stone symbolized a future that arises from the ashes of the Roman empire. Each kingdom defeated the preceding one. Each new kingdom was a continuation of Gentile control over the nation of Israel. Each empire has controlled the land of Israel, and each was built on the previous empire.

Last World Empire

The ten toes of the statue are a continuation of the old Babylonian, Medio-Persian, Grecian, and Roman empires. It is important to note that the Ottoman Empire occupied the same territory from about A.D. 1300 to 1923, but it is not represented in the statue since the nation of Israel was destroyed in A.D. 70 by the Romans, and the Jews fled to other nations. The nation of Israel did not exist during the Ottoman Empire. Israel as a nation returned in 1948 when the United Nations allowed the Jews to return after almost 1,900 years. The statue deals only with those empires which controlled the Jews while they were in Canaan.

The ten toes of the feet are symbolic of a future version of an alliance of ten nations that will exist in the same territory previously occupied by the four kingdoms of the statue. Eventually, a one world empire will control all of the world. But it will be a different version of the Roman empire. It will be different than all of the other empires.

Stone Hits The Statue’s Toes

Every part of the statue was symbolic of a real physical kingdom or nation. So we should expect the feet and the stone in the prophecy in Daniel 2:19-45 to represent literal, real empires too! When Daniel says that a stone will crush the feet (Daniel 2:34, 45), it symbolizes one kingdom defeating all the previous nations or empires. The statue represents a succession of Gentile nations that have and will rule over Israel. The stone is made without hands; that is, God made the stone.

The message is that He will destroy all Gentile rule over Israel. After the statue is destroyed, the stone will become a great mountain. The mountain symbolizes a new kingdom which fills the whole earth (Daniel 2:35). This timeline is repeated in Daniel 7:1-8, 23-27. It is God’s future earthly 1,000 year kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6). Each symbol is a kingdom and the stone is a kingdom ruled by God! It is the kingdom that Jesus was discussing with the disciples (Luke 19:11; Acts 1:6). This kingdom is the one that Christ will rule some day after His second coming.

Signs of The Future

Signs of the Future

Now when will the future empire represented by the ten toes come to power in the future? What are the signs of Jesus’ return? Jesus told us that lawlessness will increase (Matthew 24:12) and Daniel prophesied that knowledge will increase (Daniel 12:4) in the last days. Another sign is that many will turn away from God in the end. Even though the good news about Jesus Christ has been spreading around the world, many will also reject God. God calls this apostasy (2 Thessalonians 2:3). One very significant sign is the return of the Jews to the land they occupied. This was prophesied in Isaiah 11:11-12 and Ezekiel 37:11-14, and that has already occurred. Multiple passages indicate that the temple must also exist in Jerusalem in the end-times in order for the abomination of desolation to occur (Daniel 9:25-27; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

Jesus warned us that wars and earthquakes will increase (Matthew 24:6-7). The signs of these events are already occurring and increasing. But we do not know if Jesus is coming soon or if He will delay His return for another 100 years. He could come tomorrow or in one hundred years. Christians have been expecting the end of the world for hundreds of years because the Bible tells us that Christ can at any moment.

Jesus also warned that His second coming would happen 3.5 years after the abomination of desolation appears that was prophesied by the prophet Daniel (Matthew 24:15). When Jesus said this, He was referring to the prophet’s statement in Daniel 9:27.

The Tribulation Timeline

The Tribulation Timeline

In Daniel 9:27 it is prophesied that a seven-year period known as Daniel’s 70th week will start with peace for Israel. Daniel also prophesied the abomination of desolation will occur in the middle of the 7 year period. When the abomination of desolation appears, the time of peace will end and plagues, disasters, terror, and war will follow (Revelation 6-19). This means that the first 3.5 years are peaceful and the last 3.5 years are filled with pain, misery, and a horrible war.

Jesus called the last 3.5 years a period of “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21). As a result, the entire 7 year period is called the Tribulation. In other places in the Bible, each 3.5 year period is also called “time, times and half a time” (Daniel 12:7; Revelation 12:14), 42 months (Revelation 11:1-2) and 1,260 days (Rev. 11:3).

So the tribulation period in the future will start with a peace treaty. When it occurs, only seven years will be left before Jesus returns to set-up His kingdom on earth – His future earthly 1,000 year kingdom.

The Antichrist Arrives

Daniel 7:27 and 2 Thessalonians 2:4-5 reveal that the abomination of desolation will occur when the antichrist stops the temple sacrifices, sits down in the temple, and declares himself to be God.

. . . the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (NASB)

Revelation 13:14-15 suggests that the antichrist might even erect a statue of himself in the temple. But his reign of terror will only last 3.5 years or time, times, and half a time. Who is this individual? The Bible calls him the antichrist. He is the leader of the empire which is known as the ten toes in Daniel 2:42-43 and the ten horns in Daniel 7:23-25.

One World Government

So what do we know about ten toes or the ten horns? Daniel 7:3-7 presents the same information that is recorded in Daniel 2 but uses the symbols of four beasts: lion (Babylon), bear (Media-Persia), leopard (Greece), and a dreadful beast (Rome). The ten horns are ten kings (Daniel. 7:8, 20-24) or ten nations. The ten horns correspond to the ten toes of Daniel 2:41-43. This is the same future version of the fourth empire that will be an alliance of ten nations that will establish the peace treaty for Israel in the Middle East. When peace occurs in the Middle East, the Tribulation will have started.

The leaders of these ten nations will have a leader who the Bible calls the antichrist or “the prince” in Daniel 9:26-27. The antichrist will establish what will appear to be a lasting peace for Israel, a covenant of peace; but it will only last 3.5 years (Daniel 9:27). This ten nation alliance and the antichrist will rule the world. 2 Thessalonians tells us that he will be a lawless man (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

Peace Followed By Disaster

As we have already discovered, the peace will be established by the antichrist and the alliance of ten future nations. The peace will end after 3.5 years when the antichrist eliminates three of the ten world leaders of these nations (Daniel 7:7-8; 7:24). Then the antichrist and the global leaders will make war against the Jews and the followers of Jesus Christ during the last 3.5 years of the Tribulation (Daniel 7:21; Revelation 13:1-10).

The book of Revelation describes the events of the tribulation (Revelation 4-19). The seven seals that Jesus breaks in Revelation 6 provide an overview of God’s judgment on a God rejecting world that is willing to follow and worship the antichrist. The last 3.5 years will be a period of terrifying war, famine and death that will end with the great battle of Armageddon. We are told that God will warn and encourage people to believe in Jesus Christ but most people will ignore Him. He will send 144,000 Jewish witnesses who follow Jesus (Revelation 7:4-8; 14:1-5), two supernatural witnesses who speak out for God and perform miracles (Revelation 11:1-14), and seven angels who preach from the sky above (Revelation 15).

Many land animals, water life, plants, and people will die because the oceans, seas, rivers, and streams are polluted and destroyed. One-third of the trees and grasslands will be burned. A third of the sun, stars, and moon will be affected (Revelation 8). Many people will become sick, suffer, and many will die (Revelation 8, 16). The city of Babylon will be destroyed and the economy of the world will collapse (Rev. 17-18). Revelation prophesies that people will know this is the hand of God, but they will not forsake their sin and submit to God. Instead they will become more angry and curse Him (Revelation 6:16-17; 9:20-21). That will be a tragic mistake.

The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts. Revelation 9:20-21 (NASB)

In the end, they will engage in war against Israel and God. The antichrist will convince the world leaders that they can defeat Israel and God at a battle called Armageddon (Revelation 19).

Second Coming of Christ

Both Daniel and Revelation tell us that Jesus Christ will return and defeat the antichrist and the world’s armies at the battle of Armageddon. His return is called the second coming of Christ. When the Ancient of Days, Jesus Christ, returns (Daniel 7:11-12; 7:26-27; Revelation 19:11-19), Jesus, the holy angels of heaven, and the believers who have already died will annihilate the armies of the world. The Antichrist and the false prophet will be killed and sent to the Lake of Fire after their defeat (Revelation 19:20-21). 

The Kingdom

Then the dead who were followers of Jesus Christ will be resurrected at that time and enter into the 1,000 year kingdom that is promised in Acts 1:6-7. The kingdom will be a period of peace on earth. Even the animals will be at peace. The lamb and the wolf will lie together and a child will play with a cobra.

And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. Isaiah 11:6-8 (NASB)

Those who long for a world without guns will rejoice at this event. Psalm 72:8-11 says that the Lord’s kingdom or “The Millennium” will cover the earth and the rulers of the nations who are still alive will come and give Him honor.

Isaiah 2 and 11 give us some great details about the kingdom. Psalm 2 and 72 provide others. Isaiah 2:2 says that in the “last days,” the mountain of the house of God will be the chief of the mountains. The phrase “mountain” was a common ancient term symbolic of a kingdom (see Daniel 2:35). That appears to be the meaning here. If not, then it implies that Jerusalem will be the most significant place on earth, and the message is the same. Isaiah 2:3 and Psalm 2:6 tell us that the city of Jerusalem is on this mountain and it will be the capital of the kingdom, literally the capital of the world.

The kingdom or “The Millennium” will be what many dream about, but not everyone will be happy. Some will not like holiness or God. Even though the Antichrist will have been defeated, the religious and political influence of the world’s empire will be allowed to continue for an “extension of time” (Dan. 7:12; Rev. 20:1-10). Incredibly, they will try once again to defeat God, but they will utterly fail once more. The world empires, or kingdoms, as represented by Daniel’s statue in Daniel 2 and the four beasts in Daniel 7 along with Satan will be defeated finally and forever (see Dan. 7:13-14), and Christ’s kingdom will be established – an eternal one (Dan. 7:21-28). Praise the Lord!

Final Judgment

Then the final judgment will follow. Those who never repented of their sins, never believed that Jesus was God, and never submitted themselves to God will be sent to an eternity of punishment. That they will be judged for their actions, thoughts, and deeds will be reminders or proof that God’s judgment is just. Their actions, thoughts, and deeds will prove that they rejected God! Those who have rejected Jesus and refused to submit will be sent to the Lake of Fire.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16-18 (NASB)

Eternity

After the destruction of the universe, every follower of Jesus Christ will enter into an eternal future called the “new heaven and a new earth” (Rev. 21:1). Our future home will be a holy place filled with joy and peace, without pain because the curse of sin will be gone. There will not be any danger from thieves, murderers, or politicians. We will not need to worry about going to work or someone becoming angry with us. Everyone will love one another (Rev. 22:3). We will want to serve and praise God because of all that He has done for us. Heaven will be one great, awesome, glorious, exciting time.

But the greatest and most unbelievable gift will be living with God the Father and God the Son – Jesus Christ – the Lamb, and seeing Him face-to-face (Rev. 22:3-4).

Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Revelation 22:12-13 (NASB)

The Rapture

The Bible teaches that not everyone will go through the seven years of tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 reveals that Christians will be removed from the earth prior to the start of the tribulation. The rapture refers to the removal of Christians from this world by Jesus before the great period of suffering starts. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 describes the rapture in this way,

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall 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. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 (NASB)

1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 tells us that Christians should not be surprised by the signs of the end times and Jesus’ coming to rapture believers; but the world will be surprised. The rapture will come as a thief in the night. Many of those who become followers of Jesus during the tribulation will die for their faith. They will suffer greatly. But many will then believe in Jesus because it will be obvious that God is fighting with the world.

Since the rapture can occur at any moment, are you ready to be raptured? Since only Christians will be raptured, are you ready? Are you a Christian? If you are not a Christian, you will be left behind. The tribulation will be an adventure, but it will be a bad experience. Great events in human government will occur. The antichrist will have great power, but God will also display His far greater power. The suffering will be excruciating as people suffer for following the antichrist and rejecting Christ. So, are you ready for the rapture? Are you a Christian? To discover how to place your faith in Christ and become a Christian, visit “Searching For God.” If you are concerned that you are not a Christian visit “Are You A Christian? — Looking For Evidence.”

 

Chart of Future Events

 

Love In The Darkness!

God used Moses to bring darkness and pain on the land of Egypt. God did this to rescue His people, the Israelites, from the Egyptians who were oppressing them. A new pharaoh had come to power and forced them into slave labor. Pharaoh did not understand that God was watching. As a result Egypt was going to suffer for Pharaoh’s brutal decision. God used Moses, the prince of Egypt, to bring darkness and pain on the land and together they turned water into blood and created hordes of frogs, gnats, flies, and locusts. People and animals were killed by disease and hail. It was a horrible time (Exodus 7-11). The Egyptians were in pain when God brought a deep darkness across the land, and then killed the first born in each family. But God spared those Israelites who believed in Him and placed a mark of blood above the door of the house and the two doorposts. He brought death to the Egyptians, but safety to the believing Israelites. God showed His love for His people in the darkness of horrible suffering and death.

Time of Darkness and Pain

In our last study, Revelation 6, the horrible period of time known as the Tribulation started when Jesus Christ broke the first of seven seals. The first seal symbolized the first 3.5 years of the Tribulation – a period of peace. Then as each of the next five seals were broken, we saw that suffering and pain would be unleashed on the world. These seals symbolized an exceptionally horrible 3.5 year period of war, famine, and death. Many will die during this part of the Tribulation, including many Christians.

What the Bible Says About the Future

All Christians will be raptured or removed from the earth before the Tribulation begins (see the study “The Church Is Missing”). During the dark and painful period of the Tribulation some people will be become Christians, and God will rescue some of the Christians, just as He rescued Israel from the darkness and pain inflicted on Egypt, but not all. This is the message of Revelation 6:9-11. Which Tribulation Christians will suffer and who will not? That question is answered in this study.

Revelation - Scenes In Heaven

First Scene in Heaven

Revelation 6 ends with the world in the horror of suffering, but Revelation 7 opens with a beautiful vision – a scene in heaven. This is the first of three scenes that occur between the seven trumpets, the seven signs, and the seven bowls. Each one is like a pause in a movie. The Holy Spirit seems to give us a break from the descriptions of darkness and suffering by giving us positive glimpses of the saints and God’s coming victory.

John’s vision of the seals closes at the end of Revelation 6. As Revelation 7 opens he sees four angels who were preventing the wind from blowing on the earth.

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind should blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads. Revelation 7:1-3 (NASB)

These angels prevented winds from blowing from the north, west, south, and east. Still winds will cause the earth and the sea to be warmer and uncomfortable. Great portions of the earth will be without rain. The impact will be misery on the earth.

Then John saw another angel arrive who told these four angels not to harm the earth until the 144,000 bond-servants of God had been sealed. These are the ones whom God will protect from the darkness and pain of the Tribulation. The Greek word for “bond-servant” or “servant” in Rev. 7:3 is DOULOS. It means “slave.” These men are God’s slaves. The apostle Paul called himself a bond-servant or slave of God many times. Paul’s greatest desires were to know and to serve God. Paul wanted to serve God – to be His slave.

It is not true that pain and death come to a Christian only as the result of sin and disobedience. During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus encouraged us when He said that Christians will suffer for simply being righteous – for following Him.

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men . . . persecute you . . . on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:10-12 (NASB)

Then why did God spare Israel from suffering and pain in Egypt and why will He rescue all Christians before the start of the Tribulation but only some during the last half of the Tribulation? The answer is found in the word “bond-servants” used for these men.

It is easy for Christians to forget that if we really want to serve God, we will suffer for Him. If we are serious about serving Him, Jesus told His disciples to expect suffering to come.

Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you . . . John 15:20 (NASB)

All Christians will suffer for Him in some way, and some will die for Him. Whether we die or live for Him, His love always shines on us in the darkness as some are rescued from eternal darkness. This is our calling.

144,000 Witnesses Sealed

The 144,000

The 144,000, who are to be sealed, will come from the twelve tribes of Israel. These 144,000 have seals on their foreheads according to verse 3.

Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000, from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000, from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000, from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000. Revelation 7:4-8 (NASB)

If we compare these twelve tribes to the those found in Exodus 1:2-5, we find a difference. Exodus lists Dan, but Revelation 7:4-8 substitutes Manasseh. Why? The tribe of Dan was very idolatrous, but the tribe of Manasseh was faithful. Apparently, God will give the honor of telling others about Himself to only the faithful tribes of Israel.

Many wonder about the lost tribes of Israel. I have received questions about this topic. This passage reveals an important truth. God knows who belongs to each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Some of them are lost to us, but not to Him. He will find 12,000 from each tribe to be His witnesses during the tribulation. The honor of being part of this select group of bond-servants will be for 144,000 of His chosen people.

The Crowd At The End

The vision moved to the end of the Tribulation as John saw a great crowd of people from around the world standing before God

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no-one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb. All the angels were standing round the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” Revelation 7:9-12 (NASB)

This is a great crowd of people from around the world. This group of people are standing – not kneeling – before God along with the angels, the twenty-four elders, and the four Seraphim. Who are these people? The answer is found in the next few verses, when one of the elders asked the Apostle John to identify these people.

Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes– who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:13-14 (NASB)

John answered, “I do not know!” Then the elder gave the answer. These people are Christians. These men and women are wearing white robes which symbolize their holiness. This is the same symbol used earlier in Revelation 3:4-5. In that passage the “soiled” referred to non-Christians and clean, white robes referred to Christians.

This passage also reveals that they are Christians since their robes have been washed in the blood of Jesus. As a result their robes are white. Wow, who ever heard of blood turning dirty clothes white? The elder did not give John lessons on how to clean clothes but on how to wash away our sins. Jesus’ death forgives our sins. This scene in heaven is a great crowd of Christians who are thanking God for their salvation.

Their Reward

The elder has more to say to the apostle.

Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:15-17 (NASB)

Because their sins are forgiven, they will be with God day and night forever and ever. They will never again experience hunger, thirst, extreme heat, or darkness. They will never again cry in the night when they are alone and no one seems to care. They will never again cry, for God will wipe away their cares and pain. This is part of the great reward that Jesus promised those who suffer for Him in Matthew 5:10-12.

Multitude From The Tribulation

Conclusion

Will people be saved during the Tribulation? Some ask, “How can people be saved during the Tribulation when all the Christians are removed from the world before it starts?” The answer is that there will still be Bibles, books about the Bible, web sites, sermons on tape, and CDs for example. Many who are left behind at the time of the rapture will realize the truth of the gospel message and will give their lives to Jesus. God will also select 144,000 people to preach the good news – telling others about Jesus and His death in order to forgive their sins.

We will see later that God will select two men to preach about heaven and hell. We will also find that angels will preach the eternal good news to the world. There will be many opportunities for people to believe that Jesus can and will forgive their sins if they trust Him to do that. The gospel will be preached and many will be born again, but not all. What great news those in the Tribulation will hear! God will offer them light in the middle of darkness and pain. If only they will believe or trust Jesus to forgive their sins, they can have light and happiness for eternity.

Today God wants His bond-servants to tell others about Jesus’ forgiveness and that all they need to do is trust in Him.

During the French Revolution political prisoners were imprisoned in dungeons. In one place, a prisoner had a Bible and his cell was crammed with prisoners who wanted to hear the Bible. The men discovered that for a few minutes each evening a light would shine through the cell window. The prisoners devised a plan. Each evening when the light appeared, they would lift the owner of the Bible onto their shoulders and into the light. In that position, the man would read the Bible. After the light was gone, they would bring him down and say, “Now tell us, what did you read while you were in the light?” (Focal Point, Denver Seminary. vol. 6, no. 3)

Now we need to go and share the message of light!

 

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The Wake-Up Call

A man spent an entire weekend hunting for ducks without any success. He was embarrassed and did not want to arrive at home without any ducks, so he struggled with what to say to his wife and friends. On the way home he saw a man feeding a group of ducks at a pond. So he approached the man and asked if he could shoot some of them for $50. The man agreed. After paying the man, the hunter picked up his gun and pulled the trigger. He killed twelve ducks. He was surprised. Quickly, the hunter apologized for having killed so many ducks. The man responded, “I do not care, the ducks are not mine.” Now the hunter was really surprised. I wonder how God reacted? Was God pleased with the second man’s deception? In Malachi 3:13-15 a group of people complained that God lets the wicked get away with being wicked. But a day is coming when God will end evil and punish those who reject Him.

Our Cultures

In the United States the majority of people believe that God exists. Yet, many ignore Him because they would rather enjoy comfort, luxury, and the pleasures of sin. For many Christians, God is someone to “worship” but not someone to serve. For non-Christians, a sense of right and wrong is considered by many to be something for the “old people and previous generations.” For them absolute standards of right and wrong do not exist. For others God is a myth.

For many centuries and even today, Christians have been and are being ridiculed, abused, and murdered for their faith. It is now fashionable to accuse Christians of being intolerant towards other people if those believers seek to tell others about God. The word “tolerant” now means that we should be content to let others go to hell. It now means that we should disobey God’s command to tell others about Jesus Christ.

How Long Sovereign Lord

How has the world responded to God’s prophets and apostles? How did they react to Jesus? The truth is that they killed them when they did not like the message. They did not like messages of rebuke and calls to submit to God. Those who have rejected the messages and do not believe in Jesus have rejected, abused, persecuted and even murdered many Christians. Where has God been? Has God ignored His followers? No! God is not ignoring His people. God will correct the injustice. Judgment is coming.

First Seal – White Horse

In Revelation 5, Jesus takes the scroll with seven seals from God the Father and now He is starting to open each seal one at a time.

And 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.” Revelation 6:1 (NASB)

It is important to remember that in Rev. 5 and in this study Jesus is called the “Lamb.” It is Jesus who will break each of the seven seals of the scroll. As He breaks each seal, something terrible happens. When Jesus breaks the first seal, a white horse appears and seated on the horse is one with a crown.

“And 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 6:2 (NASB)

The horse and the rider symbolize peace. It is a false peace that will not last very long. The crowned rider is in control of the world and he will “force peace” to occur. How can we know that this is the meaning? The answer is found when Jesus breaks the next seal.

The Four Horseman

Second Seal – Red Horse

The second symbol is a red horse and no description is given about the rider.

And 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 should slay one another; and a great sword was given to him. Revelation 6:3-4 (NASB)

This horse and rider will take “peace from the earth.” This means that the white horse, the first symbol, represents a time of peace since this second horse brings war or, in other words, takes peace away. This world leader will force a peace treaty and later break the peace himself by starting a great war. That is the meaning of the “great sword.” This world leader will be the Anti-Christ.

This agrees with the prophecy of Daniel 9:27 where we read that the Anti-Christ will make a peace treaty and then break it later.

And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering . . . Daniel 9:27 (NASB)

The Hebrew word for “will make” implies that the peace treaty is forced. The Anti-Christ, one who is against Christ, will force peace on the world. This horse and rider are very powerful. But in the middle of the Tribulation period, war starts and continues until the end of the Tribulation. That is the meaning of the second horse.

Third Seal – Black Horse

When Jesus breaks the third seal, He allows a global famine to occur.

And when He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.” And I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard as it were 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 harm the oil and the wine.” Revelation 6:5-6 (NASB)

A denarius was the average day’s wage in Jesus’ time, and a quart of wheat was consumed in one day. barley was typically given to the animals for feed. This is a picture of a famine. The cost of food will be very high and they will be willing to eat anything. This will not be a one time event but an ongoing famine. God will allow the famine to occur around the world until the end of the horrible Tribulation.

Fourth Seal – Yellowish Green Horse

When the next seal is broken, we see a yellow-green horse. The Greek word for “ashen” means “yellow-green.” This horse symbolizes the fact that God will allow more men and women to die from famine and disease in the last half of the Tribulation than at any time in the history of the world.

And when He broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” And I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. And 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. Revelation 6:7-8 (NASB)

This is only the beginning of God’s judgment on the world. We will see more details about death later in Revelation. Many will die, especially those who believe in Jesus.

Seven Seals of Revelation

Fifth Seal – Martyrs

When the fifth seal is broken, the Apostle John sees those Christians who were killed during the Tribulation.

And when He 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, wilt Thou 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, should be completed also. Revelation 6:9-11 (NASB)

These are men and women who will some day trust Jesus to forgive their sins. Later they may die because they own a Bible, quote it, read it, believe it, go to church, and talk about God. The mark of a true Christian will be that they are telling others about Jesus! Can you imagine the joy of these martyrs when they finally escape this earth?

These martyrs will be clothed in white since white is a symbol of holiness (Revelation 3:5). This is an important truth to understand. When God forgives our sins, He forgives all of our sins – past, present, and future. He will treat us as holy ones or saints when we stand before Him some day. He will consider us to be perfect and ready for heaven, even though we still sin in this life. We call this “position versus practice.” We are “positionally” holy, but in “practice” we are still sinners. God understands that we have not been completely transformed; but when we die and go to heaven, we will be perfect.

This is a wonderful truth. It means that Christians do not need to worry that God will not forgive their sins. There is never a sin that God will not forgive. When a person believes in Jesus, all past, present, and future sins are forgiven.

This horse reveals the fact that many of those who believe in or are trusting Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins will be dying throughout the last 3.5 years of the Tribulation. The last half of the Tribulation was also called the Great Tribulation by Jesus (Matt. 24:21). Christians will be dying in greater numbers as the end of the Tribulation approaches. God will allow many Christians to die. Notice the words, “until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed . . .” God plans the time of our death.

Sixth Seal – Final Battle

The sixth seal gives us a glimpse of the last battle of the Tribulation.

And 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. And the sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And 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?” Revelation 6:12-17 (NASB)

The events described in this passage will occur in the latter part of the Tribulation – just before the Second Coming of Jesus. They are also described in Matthew 24:15-31, Mark 13:24-27, and Luke 21:25-28 where Jesus predicts that these events will occur just before His return. In the final moments of the Tribulation, Jesus says this about the final moments.

But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken, and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. Matthew 24:29-30 (NASB)

The seals cover the entire Tribulation period and are in effect from Revelation 8 through Revelation 19.

God's Justice Unfolds

Conclusion

The four horsemen are a warning that God will strike at the desires of every man and woman. Most people admire a great leader. I do not know of anyone who does not want to follow a great leader. We desire to have peace in our life, in our city, and our nation. Most of us spend our entire life earning money in order to avoid going without food and becoming sick. Illness is something to avoid. These are four major things we all want: great leaders, peace, food, and good health. Most of us would say these are important to a good life. But in the Tribulation, God will remove these from the people of the world. He will finally allow a terrible leader to take over the world. He will finally allow war, famine, and sickness to occur world wide and at an unprecedented level. The world will know that these events are from God. There will be no doubt because it will be so terrible.

Many years ago I was not sure that I was doing God’s will. I was also fearful that I was not a Christian. I was going through a very difficult time in my life. So I asked God to do something miraculous in my life to show Himself to me in a way that would be very unusual. I asked for a surprise. My wife and I were traveling home from a vacation and we stopped at a restaurant to have lunch. We were seated near a couple we did not know. We ordered our lunch, and sometime later the other couple left. When we finished our lunch and were prepared to pay for our food, the waitress explained that the other couple, total strangers to us, had paid for our lunch. What a surprise! What a wonderful gift. That is the only time that has ever occurred in my life. Did God show Himself to me? Yes! That is what God will do in the Tribulation. He will bring pain and suffering on a world that has rejected Him and whose people lived as they desired. When God brings unusual catastrophe and pain, only then will many men and women finally admit that He is real and that Jesus is God. A day is coming when God will end evil, punish those who reject Him, and force men and women to admit He is real.

 

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The Holy Spirit – Our Helper

Who Is Worthy?

Every person desires at least some respect and honor. Most of us are respected and honored by our co-workers, families or friends. Each person desires to be considered worthy of something significant, but some of us want more. Simon Tournay is one example of a man who wanted too much. History says that after completing his studies at Oxford, he moved to Paris, France where he became a very prominent person and eventually the chief doctor of the Sorbonne (a university in France). He was so proud that he said that Aristotle was greater than Moses and Jesus Christ, and that he (Tournay) was greater than Aristotle. He wanted respect and honor. He felt that he was worthy of such honor; but at the end of his life, he became senile. He could not remember one letter in any book, or one thing that he had ever done. God humbled the man. Tournay was not worthy of the honor that he gave himself.

The Scroll

In our last study in Revelation 4, the Apostle John was taken to heaven in a vision and there he saw God the Father sitting on the throne with the Holy Spirit and four living creatures before Him on a sea of glass like crystal. God was also surrounded by twenty-four elders. The chapter ended with the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders giving praise and honor to God. What a great vision! What an honor for the Apostle John.

In this study, we find ourselves in Revelation 5 and the apostle’s vision continues.

And 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. Revelations 5:1 (NASB)

The English word for “book” misses the fact that in Jesus’ day books did not have pages or bindings. The English word should be scroll, because the actual Greek word is BIBLION which means “scroll.”

The Lamb And Lion Of Judah

Scrolls were made from the skins of sheep or goats or from the vellum of calves. The skins were washed, the hair removed and then rubbed with pumice and dressed with chalk. Finally the skins were cut into sheets (7.5 inches by 10 inches or 19 cm by 25 cm) and up to twenty sheets were glued together (less than 35 ft or 10.7 m). The scrolls were unrolled from left to right and were written in columns 2 to 3 inches wide (5-8 cm). Is this the type of scroll that God the Father had in His hand? We do not know, but the use of seven seals was something that would have been familiar to the apostle.

This type of scroll was common for ancient legal documents (Jeremiah 32:10-12). The seals were apparently attached to the document as it was written. So the first seal would have been attached on the inside; the next seal would have been attached later after more words were written. This process would have continued until the legal document was completed. This scroll had seven seals. So the first seal on the end of the scroll would have been broken and the words would have been read. Then the next seal would have been broken so that more words could have been read. This process would continue until the document was completely read. This was an important legal scroll, since it had so many seals. It must have been important also since God the Father was holding the scroll.

Who Is Worthy?

Then the Apostle John heard a strong angel ask, “Who is worthy to open the scroll?”

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. And I began to weep greatly, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look into it . . . Revelation 5:2-4

 

Outline of Revelation

Who is worthy? The answer was that no created being on or under the earth or in heaven was worthy. Simon Tournay, the doctor of Sorbonne, was not worthy. Nor was any apostle worthy.

Is this why the apostle cried? He might have thought that he was worthy, since he had been invited to heaven. Did he forget that he was brought there to write the book of Revelation? Did he forget that he was just a servant? We do not know, but we do know that God’s servants often forget that it is God who gives us our opportunities because He wants to use us. It is easy to forget that God does not really need us to accomplish His purposes. Moses discovered that when God did not allow him to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20). Moses was unfaithful, and God did not allow him to enter the land. So Moses died in the land of Moab because of his sin, and God used Joshua to take the people into the land. Deuteronomy 34:6-7 tells us that Moses was physically strong and not ready to die, but yet God ended his ministry.

Moses had endured the people for forty years and had waited forty years to enter the Promised Land, but his sin prevented him from getting there. He ended his life with his dream unfulfilled. His ministry was over and God was going to use Joshua. There is a great lesson here for us and it is this: God does not really need you or me to accomplish His ministry. Moses sinned and God used someone else – Joshua. Moses was not worthy. God is looking for faithfulness and holiness.

He Is Worthy!

Then one of the twenty-four elders told the Apostle John to stop crying because there was one who is worthy to open the scroll – Jesus Christ.

. . . 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.” And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. Revelation 5:5-6 (NASB)

These are the descriptions of Jesus. The Old Testament says that Jesus is the Lion from the Tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:9). He is a descendant of David (Isaiah 11:2; Jeremiah 23:5-6; 33:15-17) from the tribe of Judah (Luke 3:23, 33) and He is the Lamb of God (Isaiah 53:7; John 1:29). Who is worthy? Jesus is worthy!

What did Jesus do? Did He worship God the Father before He received the scroll? The answer is found in the next verse.

And He came, and He took it out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Revelation 5:7 (NASB)

No! He did not worship the Father because He is God Himself. Jesus just took the scroll. He did not worship or bow down. Everyone else did but not Jesus. This is another great indication that Jesus is God.

Worthy Is The Lamb

The Response

How did heaven respond? They worshipped Jesus by singing a new song to Him. They did not sing an old song but a new one!

And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. “And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” Revelation 5:8-10 (NASB)

The new song honors Jesus. It praises Him for dying for every person on this earth, and it anticipates the future when we will reign together with Jesus in the 1,000 year kingdom. Remember that Jesus told his disciples that they would eat and drink with Him in the kingdom. Have you ever wondered if we would do anything other than praise and worship God? This passage says that we will be doing more than that in the kingdom. We will have responsibilities to carry out. We will co-reign with Jesus! I hope this sounds wonderful to you. Jesus will include us in His victory and honor. The kingdom will be fun! This will be better than any party. We will be with Jesus.

Then heaven ring out with more praise to God the Father and Jesus Christ. Millions and maybe billions of angels will join in the praise and worship of both God the Father and Jesus Christ.

And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped. Revelation 5:11-14 (NASB)

Honor will be given to both of them equally. This is one more proof that Jesus is God. The New Testament clearly teaches that Jesus is God. There is no difference between them.

In our next study, we see what happens as Jesus breaks each seal. We will see what happens as the seals of the scroll are broken and we are allowed to understand the contents of the scroll.

Conclusion

Do you think that heaven and the coming kingdom will be boring? I think it will be wonderful, exciting, and an incredible adventure to be included with Jesus. He has given us this promise . . .

If we endure, we shall also reign with Him . . . 2 Timothy 2:12 (NASB)

Does Jesus include us because we are worthy? I believe that George Mueller captured the answer when he said,

It ill becomes the servant to seek to be rich, and great, and honored in that world where his Lord was poor . . . and despised.

How should we, who are unworthy, respond? The Holy Spirit reminds us that . . .

The LORD reigns, let the peoples tremble; He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake! The LORD is great in Zion, And He is exalted above all the peoples. Let them praise Thy great and awesome name; Holy is He. Psalm 99:1-3 (NASB)

Only Jesus is worthy. Let us praise Him!

 

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Seeking A Broken Heart

Hw did you come to God? If you answered this question, I believe your answer would be different from the answers of other men and women because God deals with each of us uniquely. Yet, Jesus made it clear that no one can enter heaven except by coming to God with a heart like that of the tax-gatherer who beat his breast, and pleaded, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!” (Luke 18:13). Mason once said, “Repentance begins in the humiliation of the heart, and ends in a reformation of the life.” God seeks a broken heart which cries out for forgiveness. We start that way and continue that way. In this study, we discover that God will continue unleashing pain and suffering upon the world in judgment to motivate men and women to come to Him. What happens? The answer is found in this study.

Outline of Revelation

Fifth Trumpet

In our last study , the first four trumpets killed plants, land animals, and sea life, polluted the earth’s water, and brought excessive heat and cold. While the seven seals opened the door for the worst famine, war, disease, and death to occur upon the earth, the seven trumpets reveal God’s specific actions. The seven trumpets will bring disasters unlike anything the world has ever experienced. The world will not be able to explain these events away as some natural disaster brought about by “mother nature.” The trumpet’s disasters will be so horrible and so extreme that the world will know Who has caused them.

The next two trumpets focus on the demonic world – the dark spiritual world of evil angels, which we sometimes call “spirits.” God will some day send a message to the demonic world that the end is near. The message is sent when the fifth trumpet sounds and a star falls from heaven.

And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him. Revelation 9:1 (NASB)

Earlier in Revelation the term “stars” was used to refer to angels (Revelation 1:20). In Job 38:7 the word “stars” has also been used to refer to angels. So this star is also symbolic of an angel. Here we are told that the a star a) falls from heaven, and b) the key to the bottomless pit or abyss was given to “him.” Notice that the star is an intelligent being since the star is called “him” and is able to open the bottomless pit. Also note that the star did not have the key originally. He did not own the key. It was given to him for the purpose of allowing him to open the abyss.

The fact that we are told the star falls from heaven strongly suggests that the star in Revelation 9:1 is symbolic of Satan. Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:12-16, and Luke 10:18 reveal that as a result of Satan’s original sin he was “thrust down to Sheol.” Satan was originally an extremely beautiful cherubim who apparently covered God with his wings (Ezekiel 28:14). At some point after his creation, he wanted to rule over God (Isaiah 14:13). That is, Satan wanted to become a god. As a result, God could not allow Satan to live in heaven. He had to live on the earth.

How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! Isaiah 14:2 (NASB)

In Rev. 9:1, the phrase “had fallen” is the English translation of the perfect participle form of the Greek verb pipto. Pipto means “to fall” and since the word is a perfect participle, we should understand that the star “had already fallen and remained fallen.” That is, the star fell and remained fallen. This is a stronger indication that the star is Satan. He was thrown out of heaven and is no longer allowed to live in heaven. He may visit, but he cannot live there.

The book of Job tells us that Satan still has access to heaven (Job 1:6-7; 2:1-2), but he can only visit. Later in our study of Revelation, we will read that on some future day Satan will no longer be able to visit God in heaven (Revelation 12:7-10). The result of that event appears to be described here in this verse – “a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth.” At this same time God will allow him to inflict men and women with unusual severe suffering and pain.

When this happens, Satan will know that the end is near. But in the end, Satan will be imprisoned and suffer torment forever.

Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, To the recesses of the pit. Isaiah 14:15 (NASB)

That day is coming and it is described in Revelation 20:10.

Seven Trumpets of Revelation

Bottomless Pit

We are also told that Satan will be given a key to a place called “The Bottomless Pit,” and he will open it. When he opens it, he will release hordes of demons – his followers.

Revelation 12:2-4 says that one-third of the angels in heaven joined Satan when he rebelled against God. As a result, they were denied access to heaven and were forced to live on the earth too! Some of these evil angels, or demons, sinned (Genesis 6:1-4) and were imprisoned in the bottomless pit (1 Peter 3:18-20; 2 Peter 2:4-6; and Jude 6-7).

On one occasion when Jesus was removing some evil spirits called “Legion” from a man, the demons pleaded with Him to not send them into the abyss or the bottomless pit (Luke 8:31). They did not want to go there. 1 Peter 3:19 calls it a prison. The bottomless pit is a real place with real demons. When Satan uses the key to open the bottomless pit, these unusually wicked demons will escape. They are described as locusts in the next verse.

And 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. And out of the smoke came forth locusts upon the earth; and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. Revelation 9:2-3 (NASB)

Satan Banished

Freed Spirits

These demons will have supernatural powers to cause great pain for men and women for five months but not to kill them. They will not be allowed to hurt or harm anyone who has the mark of God on his or her forehead.

And they were told that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man. And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; and they will long to die and death flees from them. Revelation 9:4-6 (NASB)

People who are “stung” by one of these demons will suffer for five months and their suffering will be so intense that men and women will seek death.

This reminds us of the Apostle Paul who had a “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7) which God would not remove. Paul’s thorn in the flesh was a messenger from Satan – a demon. Paul says that God allowed this to prevent him from becoming proud. It was God who had caused Paul’s ministry to grow and had caused others to respect him. Paul was only God’s tool. How easy it is for us to take credit for the things which God has done through us or to value the things that God has given to us. It is easy to ignore God and value the things of this world more than God.

During the Tribulation, God will destroy the things the world values. He will destroy the plants, land animals, sea life, pollute the earth’s fresh water, and bring excessive heat and cold. He will allow men and women to be physically tormented. Life will be getting worse with each new day!

Destruction Caused By The Trupmets

Their Description

The description of these demons is difficult to understand because the Apostle John is not able to tell us exactly what he sees. Notice that he keeps using the word “like.”

And the appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads, as it were, crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. And they had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions. And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle. And they have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months. Revelation 9:7-10 (NASB)

The description of these evil spirits is horrible. These are beings who were once beautiful, holy angels; beings who once lived in heaven with God; beings who ended up in a bottomless, smoky pit, with ugly bodies. This is a good reminder of the ugliness of sin – a reminder that sin is not shades of gray. It is black!

King of the Pit

The king of the demons locked up in the abyss is called Abaddon or Apollyon.

They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon. The first woe is past; behold, two woes are still coming after these things. Revelation 9:11-12 (NASB)

Since Satan is a) the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2), b) the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4), c) free to move about in this present age (1 Peter 5:8), and d) constantly seeking someone to destroy (1 Peter 5:8), Satan is free to move and do as he pleases. He is not limited by being imprisoned in the abyss – the bottomless pit. Consequently, he cannot be the king of the abyss. The king of the bottomless pit is an evil angel who serves Satan. He is the king of the demons imprisoned in the bottomless pit.

These hordes of demons will attack the people of the world. He will be like a little child with hurt feelings. This is the first “Woe” – demons unleashed! There are two more “woes” coming. The last one is the worst.

Sixth Trumpet

When the sixth trumpet sounds, a voice from the golden altar, which is before the throne of God the Father (Rev. 8:3), will command that four angels be released.

And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they might kill a third of mankind. Revelation 9:13-15 (NASB)

These four angels are apparently demons. They are demons because God would not need to bind holy angels. Holy angels are obedient! God has used “angels” to refer to demons before in 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 1:6. So this not new. The Greek word for “bound” means that these demons are currently bound or tied up near the Euphrates River. They are bound at the center of the world’s future battlefield. One day they will be freed and they will cause many to be killed (Revelation 9:18).

Revelation - Scenes In Heaven

The Armies

The next passage tells us that 200 million soldiers will became active once they are released.

And the number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone. A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone, which proceeded out of their mouths. For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads; and with them they do harm. Revelation 9:16-19 (NASB)

The Greek word for “army” is plural. This is not one army but several armies which have come together to make war. Since the army will not come to power until the four demons are released from their bonds at the Euphrates River, it implies the demons are the leaders of these armies. This also suggests that since the leaders are demons, the 200 million army is composed of demons too! It is important to notice that both the four demons and the 200 million demons are released so that they can kill one-third of mankind. They will work together.

It does not appear that the 200 million refers to human armies which are controlled by demons. Some believe the “fire, smoke, and brimstone” refers to modern gun, tank, aircraft warfare. Some of the writers in the 1800s believed it referred to cannon fire. But the horses are described as having as heads like those of lions and tails like those of serpents. Fire, smoke, and brimstone come out of their mouths and tails. This could be modern warfare, but it does not seem likely since verses 20-21 end the chapter talking about demonic worship. Verse 18 says that the fire, smoke, and brimstone are plagues. So far only God and the demons have brought plagues to the world. Humans have not. The 200 million demons are probably a portion of those just released from the pit in verses 2-11.

How should we respond to the description of the riders and horses? It is important to remember that the horses which took Elijah to heaven in a chariot of fire were described as “horses of fire” (2 Kings 2:11). In 2 Kings 6:17 we were told that Elisha was surrounded by horses and chariots of fire. Later in Revelation 11:3-5 we will discover God’s two witnesses will be able to kill people with fire from their mouths. This is supernatural stuff. The 200 million army is supernatural. It is 200 million demons which are released upon the world to kill one-third of the men and women.

The apostle uses the word “like” to describe these demonic forces. These demons will cause three plagues: fire, brimstone, and smoke. They are real and not figurative. The world will be in flames and smoldering. The passage describes a world war in which one-third of the human race will die because of these demons.

How Will They Respond?

How will men and women respond to these trumpet disasters? We have already discovered in Revelation 7 that many will seek God and confess their sins but many more will not.

And the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts. Revelation 9:20-21 (NASB)

They will not repent of their sin! The word “repent” occurs more times in the book of Revelation than in any other New Testament book. That should be a message for us. God will be calling men and women to repent of their sin and to turn to God. He is doing that now (Hebrews 3:15)! Men and women will prove to God and to every other human being who has ever lived that they deserve eternal punishment by their rejection of God. God will prove that men and women would rather suffer than repent and yield to God.

God will uses these future plagues to call people to repent. Many will have sorrow because of their pain and suffering, but they will not repent. Instead, they will be angry with God. God will be looking for a broken heart that brings men and women to Himself, but they would rather suffer than yield.

For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 (NASB)

Conclusion

If you are currently trusting Jesus to forgive your sins, then you understand God desires to forgive our sins. He wants a relationship with us! We became Christians because we had a godly sorrow over our sinful condition and realized that Jesus wants to forgive us. As a result, we responded by trusting Jesus to forgive us.

Those who come to God must see their need to have their sins forgiven. Otherwise, why would anyone come to Him? Jesus came to forgive our sins and to have a relationship with us.

Once a person becomes a Christian, he/she still needs to confess his/her sins to keep the spiritual relationship correct with Him. Do you confess your sins daily? If so, is your confession a humble one or a ritual? God seeks a humble, repentant heart. He has promised to forgive our sins each and every day. Sin grieves Him. We can restore our relationship with Him by admitting our sins with a humility of heart. God wants a genuine relationship with you!

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NASB)

 

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Vision of God

Have you ever heard someone say, “While I was dead I saw a great light, and then came back to life”? Have you ever wondered if this can be true? What does it mean? Why did it happen? One man, an agnostic, has written a book about his near death experience (NDE). In his book, we discover that he died when his pickup fell on him, flattened his chest, and killed him. He was “dead” for about 15 minutes. Yet, he returned to life. He said that while he was “dead” he traveled through a tunnel and saw the “Light of God.” He said that God sent him back to tell everyone that God loves without any conditions. He wrote about seeing Jesus and asking God many questions. Eventually, he revealed that the “Jesus” he talked with was not the Jesus who walked this earth. He believes that we are a part of god, and yet we are all god. This is revealing because Jesus did not teach that we are a part of god, nor did He teach that we are god. He did not teach that we all went to heaven either. This man did not see God. He saw something else.

Heavenly Vision

The Apostle John saw God too, but John was alive – not dead. He did not have a NDE. The apostle had a different experience. He saw God in a vision.

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. Revelation 4:1-2 (NASB)

The Holy Spirit gave the apostle a vision of heaven, a throne, and of One sitting on the throne. We will discover soon that the One sitting on the throne is God. We will also read that there were others around the throne too!

Revelation 2-3 are about the past. In our last study, we saw that since the rapture will occur before the Tribulation, it must occur between Revelation 3 and 4. Revelation 4 takes us to the start of the Tribulation, and we are able to see into this future event through the apostle’s vision. What we are about to see are the events which will occur in heaven before the Tribulation starts.

Outline of Revelation

Throne Room

In the vision, the apostle saw the One sitting on the throne, twenty-four elders, and four creatures sitting around the throne.

And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. And around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. Revelation 4:3-4 (NASB)

The One sitting on the throne is God the Father. He is the first person of the Trinity. The apostle does not describe Him as simply light. Yes, God is light; but He is more than that. He is like a jasper and sardius stone with an emerald bow surrounding Him.

Revelation 21:11 says that a jasper stone was a crystal-clear stone. We are not sure, but it sounds like a diamond. The sardius stone was named after the city of Sardius and was ruby red in color. A diamond and red ruby make a wonderful color combination on a bracelet or necklace. Just imagine how God must look with the emerald bow. Why did we say emerald bow and not rainbow? The answer is found in the Greek word translated as “rainbow.” The Greek word actually means “bow.” So, God is surrounded by an emerald bow and flashes of lightening and sounds of thunder.

And from the throne proceed flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. . . . Revelation. 4:5 (NASB)

What an amazing vision of God!

Throne Room

Twenty-four Elders

The twenty-four elders surrounding God are Christians from the New Testament church. We do not know who they are, but we do know that they are saints or “holy ones” because they are clothed in white garments. God had promised those who attended two of the seven churches (Sardius and Laodicea) that if they responded to His warnings they would be clothed in white (Revelation 3:5, 18). Later in our study (Revelation 7:9, 13 and Revelation 19:14), we will discover that the ones who are clothed in white garments are believers.

And around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. Revelation 4:4 (NASB)

The crowns indicate that God has given these twenty-four elders authority. These elders appear in the book of Revelation throughout the Tribulation. When the Tribulation ends, they disappear from the heavenly scene because Jesus’ kingdom is established on earth. When the earthly kingdom is established, all Christians will reign with Christ (Revelation 20:6) for 1,000 years. This is the promise that Jesus has given to us (2 Timothy 2:12). This is a wonderful reminder that we are joint-heirs or fellow heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). We will share in Jesus’ inheritance.

Seven Lamps

Before God are seven lamps. These lamps represent the Holy Spirit (Revelation 1:4),

And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God . . . Revelation 4:5 (NASB)

Where is Christ? So far, we have seen God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. So far, we have seen two members of the Trinity. Is the Holy Spirit God? Acts 5:3-4 gives us the answer when we read,

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God. Acts 5:3-4 (NASB)

The Apostle Peter says that Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit and then later added that Ananias lied to God. He lied to the Holy Spirit who is God. So, we have seen two members of the Trinity. Jesus will arrive in the next chapter.

Twenty Four Elders Worship God

Four Creatures

Next, we discover that there are four very special beings before the throne of God.

. . . and before the throne there was, as it were, a sea of glass like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. And the first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.” Revelation 4:6-8 (NASB)

We know very little about these four living creatures – angels. Cherubim are described in Ezekiel 1:5-25 and in Ezekiel 10:1-22. Cherubim have four wings (Ezekiel 10:8, 20-21) and seraphim have six wings (Isaiah 6:2-3). The faces of the four creatures are similar to the faces of the cherubim and their wings are like the wings of the seraphim. This is the only place in scripture where the four living creatures appear to be described.

Glory To God

I wonder how the apostle responded to what he saw? The apostle does not describe a tunnel of light or a great light. He does not describe a human being with great powers as some have us believe. He did not try to help us understand that we are part of god and ‘yet all God.” He did not say that God was some mysterious force. No! He described two beings in their glory. He saw God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.

In response the four living creatures repeated and repeated,

Holy, Holy, Holy, Is The Lord God, The Almighty, Who Was And Who Is And Who Is To Come. Revelation 4:8 (NASB)

And the twenty-four elders worshipped too!

And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created.” Revelation 4:9-11 (NASB)

They fell down before Him and gave away their crowns to the One who is worthy to be crowned. This is the response of a loving, grateful heart to a loving, forgiving, and glorious God! These elders have no pride and are not seeking glory. Now they really understand who deserves the glory. None of them are hanging on to their crowns. They give them away.

Conclusion

Some day when we come before God, we will finally understand that God greatly loves us. I look forward to seeing Him, to understand His love, and to experience Him. Some day that will occur.

God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us to love! – Augustine of Hippo

 

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Your Worthless Gods

During our study of the church at Pergamum (Revelation 2:12-17), we saw one form of religious idolatry. Religion is not very different today. For example, the citizens of Pergamum worshipped Asclepius, who was the god of health. People would come from distant places for their health. “Health” included baths, theaters for culture, gyms for physical well-being, and the libraries for the mind. Culture, reading, the arts, and cleanliness were important. There are ancient testimonies of people who say that they were cured of blindness and ulcers. These ancient records reveal that hypnosis, diet, bathing, and various medicines were commonly used to help people feel better and to “heal” their diseases. The citizens did not live in a village of mud huts and straw shacks. They lived in an elegant city of roads, buildings, and temples made of stone and marble. They were living in a society that worshipped one or more gods in their temples, but not the true God. Religion was part of their daily lives, including their health.

Outline of Revelation

Idolatry

Religion is not just a belief in a higher power. Your god is anything or anyone which occupies your thoughts and time more than the true God – more than the one who created us. That is the message of Colossians 3:5,

Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. Colossians 3:5 (NASB)

This verse simply says that idolatry can even be the passions which control you. Anything that prevents you from being totally committed to God is idolatry.

Revelation - Scenes In Heaven

Seven Trumpets

This study takes us to Revelation 8. Here we will see God start to destroy those things the people of the world prize, desire, want, and covet most – the gods of their life. In this chapter the first four of seven trumpets will be blown and God’s elimination of sin from the world and universe will begin. The seven trumpets are introduced when the seventh and last seal is broken by Jesus Christ. When Jesus breaks the seventh seal, there is silence in heaven for thirty minutes.

And when He broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God; and seven trumpets were given to them. Revelation 8:1-2 (NASB)

It may be hard to accept the fact that Jesus has been breaking each of the seven seals which have brought so much pain, suffering, and death upon the world. If so, it is important to remember that Jesus is not just a God of love. He is also a holy God who has been warning the peoples of the world to turn away from anything that puts Him in second place in their life. His love has been shown in the death of Jesus Christ. In the end times, His justice will be evident in His punishment of sin.

The seven trumpets belong to seven angels and they will start to blow the trumpets in a few verses. The first six trumpets will sound in Revelation 8 and 9. We will also see the first woe in Revelation 9:12, and then another scene in heaven unfolds in Revelation 10-11.

Prayers of the Saints

Before the first trumpet is blown, we are told that another angel comes and stands before the altar.

And another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. And the angel took the censer; and he filled it with the fire of the altar and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake. And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them. Revelation 8:3-6 (NASB)

We are not sure, but it appears the altar is the altar of incense (Exodus 30:1-38). Throughout scripture, incense and the prayers of the saints are associated (Psalm 141:2; Luke 1:10-11; Revelation 5:8). Both the incense and the prayers of the saints will mingle together on the altar as a sweet aroma to God. What a wonderful thought: our prayers are pleasing to God! He likes them . . .

Then the angel takes the golden censer, fills it with fire, and throws it to the earth. In reaction there will be “peals of thunder, sounds, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake” will occur. The disaster will be beyond anyone’s greatest fears. It will be horrible. This seems to be God’s answer to the prayers of the saints that the wickedness and horror on the earth be stopped. God will answer their prayers. Some day God will put an end to the evil that is growing year by year. That day is coming.

First Four Trumpets

First Trumpet

When the first angel blows his trumpet, hail, fire, and blood will come down out of heaven upon the earth, just as the golden censer was thrown down.

And the first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. Revelation 8:7 (NASB)

One third of the world’s trees and every green plant will be destroyed. Since plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, this will have a significant impact on the health of all living things in the world. By destroying all green plants, God will also temporarily destroy the vegetation which the land animals and humans eat. This will cause death, illness, and poor health until the vegetation sufficiently re-grows. God will show His power and superiority over the world’s preoccupation with health. I do not mean to imply that exercise, a good diet, or visiting your doctor is wrong, but when these things are more important than loving God and honoring Him – something is wrong.

Second Trumpet

When the second trumpet sounds, something like a great mountain falls to the earth.

And the second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood; and a third of the creatures, which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed. Revelation 8:8 (NASB)

Notice that the Apostle says, “something like.” He is trying to describe it. We are not sure what it is. It could be a meteor or debris from space. Whatever it is, it kills one third of the animals in the sea and destroys one third of the ships.

God will not only destroy one third of the trees and all of the plants, He will also kill one third of the salmon, tuna, shrimp, lobster, oysters, grouper, halibut, sharks, whales, and clams, for example. The world’s ability to catch marine life will also be hindered. One third of the ships will be destroyed. There will be blood everywhere. God will show His power and superiority over the world’s god of health and food. There will be sadness in the world’s restaurants and food stores, and many will be hungry.

Third Trumpet

The third trumpet brings about more disaster.

And the third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters; and 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. Revelation 8:10-11 (NASB)

Once again, the Apostle tries to describe something he does not recognize. This time it appears that the object is a meteor or a comet. This celestial body will apparently break up into smaller pieces, scatter around the world, and pollute one third of the fresh water of the world. God will be capturing the attention of the world by attacking the earth’s water resources. God will be threatening life – the one thing almost every man and woman will fight to protect.

Seven Angels With Seven Trumpets

 

Fourth Trumpet

The fourth trumpet causes the celestial lights to be dimmed. The brightness of the sun, moon, and stars is dimmed by one third.

And the fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were smitten, so that a third of them might be darkened and the day might not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way. Revelation 8:12 (NASB)

I can imagine some scientists, television commentators, politicians, and other individuals giving natural explanations as to all of the previous events that have occurred. But this disaster will be difficult to explain. How can the celestial bodies in the heavens be dimmed? God will have caused an event that one cannot explain away.

Conclusion

The effects of these four disasters will be significant to the health of every living creature and plant. God will have destroyed plants, land animals, sea and fresh water life, and severely impacted the temperature of the planet. We will see in the next chapter that the people of the world will finally know that these disasters are from God. Now they will admit that there is God. How do they respond to God? We will find out in the next study.

But for now, the Holy Spirit gives a warning,

And 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!” Revelation 8:13 (NASB)

These first four trumpets are the first woe. There are two more to come. The world will be in serious trouble. It is a time when God shows that He reigns supreme. He will be reminding men and women of the world that there really is a God. They will discover that they have substituted health, food, and other things for the real God. God will make a direct assault on mankind. God will be calling them to Himself and they can respond if they will.

The god of this world is Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4) and he wants us to be preoccupied with the pleasures of this life and not with the true God. He wants us to seek anything but God. He whispers suggestions into our ear about things that will divert our attention and occupy our time.

A traveller to Pompeii was taken into the temple of Isis. The temple contained the statue of Isis through whose lips the credulous worshippers of long ago thought that they had obtained trustworthy answers to their prayers. But alongside the ruined shrine the traveller saw a secret staircase by which the deceitful priests would reach the back of the statue and while hidden, murmur the responses of the oracle. – G. G. Eckman

So it is today. The deceitful voices are many and the murmurs are soothing. But God is also calling us – to Himself.

 

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