Directed in Truth
Isaiah
{59:18} According to [their] deeds, accordingly he will repay,
fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay
recompence. {59:19} So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and
his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood,
the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
{59:20} And the
Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in
Jacob, saith the LORD.
{59:21} As for me, this [is] my covenant with them,
saith the LORD; My spirit that [is] upon thee, and my words which I have put in
thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed,
nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for
ever.
How mighty is the Lord, how amazingly mighty. He would have us know that this
isn't some silly game, that life isn't something without consequence. There is a
battlefield and we all play upon it every single one of us. The Lord shows forth
His majesty, His power, His love, because in truth, we know even in our day that
good and evil exist and while evil often seems to have the upper hand it will be
good that wins out in the end. Sounds like a silly fairy tale, or one of those
sappy love stories? Let it, there is a reason why those stories exist, why
people created them and why they were and are so popular. People have hope and
often when they don't find it in their own lives they're willing to try and find
it even in stories because it does exist.
The enemies will be vanquished ultimately. All will fear and reverence the
name of the Lord. While the enemy is seemingly overwhelming, the Lord alone is
mighty enough to destroy them.
In our individual lives we fight the same battle on a daily basis and we have
a Redeemer if we turn from sin.
Yes, I said it.
Yes, I meant it.
Jesus is our Redeemer, without Him there is no hope at all, none. Yet sin
separates us from God. As He forgives us our sins and we are redeemed it's out
of sin we are redeemed, not in it. The breech that separates us is gone. Jesus
forgives us and we repent and turn from our sins. We go to Jesus all caught up
in our sins and He forgives us as we ask for forgiveness. In asking for
forgiveness we recognize our sins, we recognize our unworthiness and cling to
Jesus' grace and mercy to forgive- knowing that we have much to be forgiven for.
To know we've done wrong is to recognize the wrong. To know you're a sinner is
to recognize the sin you commit. Once awareness exists and we plead for
forgiveness we are telling God that we know this sin we've committed has
separated us from Him and we don't want to be separated from Him we want to be
with Him. Jesus forgives us. He understands. A true repentant heart is something
He is very familiar with. The repentant heart knows that the sin is wrong and is
something to be turned from. Will turning from sin save us? Never. Only Jesus
can save us. Out of love we don't want to sin, we don't want to keep doing the
things that will separate us from God. Yes, sin offers all the pleasures you can
imagine. Sin is addictive. Sin is insidious not wanting to ever let us go. If
even a single sin is cherished it's enough to separate us from God. We have to
lay our hearts open to God and accept the forgiveness He offers and choose to
let the Holy Spirit work within us, listening to the Holy Spirit as our
conscience reveals the sins in our lives and offers us a choice.
None of this is easy, none of it, but God will prevail easy or not, in the
end ALL sin will be done away with. Every sinner that has not gone to Christ and
embraced His gift of salvation with a true repentant heart, will be destroyed.
There isn't going to be any last second reprieves, no surprise ending where
everything turns our happily ever after for those choosing to sin. 'According to
their deeds, accordingly he will repay...' We have hope in Jesus, He is
our only hope. Clinging to Him through faith is the hope we have. The deed of
seeking forgiveness will be repaid accordingly, as well as the deed of embracing
sin and having no hope, no faith.
Thousands and thousands of years ago those words were written- 'and my words
which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the
mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from
henceforth and for ever.' And guess what? It's true. Today the words are
still being spoken.
Isaiah
{60:1} Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the
LORD is risen upon thee.
{60:2} For, behold, the darkness shall cover the
earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and
his glory shall be seen upon thee.
{60:3} And the Gentiles shall come to thy
light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
{60:4} Lift up thine eyes
round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee:
thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at [thy]
side.
{60:5} Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall
fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto
thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
{60:6} The multitude
of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from
Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth
the praises of the LORD.
{60:7} All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered
together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall
come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.
{60:8} Who [are] these [that] fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their
windows?
{60:9} Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish
first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto
the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath
glorified thee.
{60:10} And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls,
and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in
my favour have I had mercy on thee.
{60:11} Therefore thy gates shall be
open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that [men] may bring
unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and [that] their kings [may be]
brought.
{60:12} For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall
perish; yea, [those] nations shall be utterly wasted.
{60:13} The glory of
Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together,
to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet
glorious.
{60:14} The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come
bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at
the soles of
thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The
Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
{60:15} Whereas thou hastbeen forsaken and
hated, so that no man went through [thee,] I will make thee an eternal
excellency, a joy of many generations. {60:16} Thou shalt also suck the milk of
the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the
LORD [am] thy Saviour and thy Redeemer,the mighty One of Jacob.
{60:17} For
brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass,
and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and
thine exactors
righteousness.
{60:18} Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting
nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and
thy gates Praise.
{60:19} The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither
for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto
thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
{60:20} Thy sun shall no
more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be
thine everlasting light, and the days of thy
mourning shall be ended.
{60:21} Thy people also [shall be] all righteous: they shall inherit the
land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may
be
glorified.
{60:22} A little one shall become a thousand, and a small
one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.
{61:1} The Spirit
of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good
tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim
liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound;
Remember-
Luke {4:18} The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to
preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to
preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set
at liberty them that are bruised, {4:19} To preach the acceptable year of the
Lord. {4:20} And he closed the book, and he gave [it] again to the minister, and
sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on
him. {4:21} And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled
in your ears.
The prophet Isaiah foretold of so much and he did so in words that could be
understood. The glorious coming of a Redeemer, a life where God is worshipped as
He should be by a people that love Him. The glory of it alone is so
overwhelmingly amazing. It sounds to good to be true and we try and try to
imagine it and we can when we realize that it's not promised as long as sin
reigns. For as long as sin reigns mourning will exist and these are days when
all mourning has ended and that won't be until Christ comes again and then after
that the earth is made new and there is no more sin, the enemies are gone once
and for all.
Isaiah
{61:2} To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day
of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
{61:3} To appoint unto
them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for
mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be
called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be
glorified.
{61:4} And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up
the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations
of many generations.
{61:5} And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks,
and the sons of the alien [shall be] your plowmen and your
vinedressers.
{61:6} But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: [men]
shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the
Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
{61:7} For your shame
[ye shall have] double; and [for] confusion they shall rejoice in their portion:
therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be
unto them.
{61:8} For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt
offering; and I will direct their work in TRUTH, and I will make an everlasting
covenant with them.
{61:9} And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles,
and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them,
that they [are] the seed [which] the LORD hath blessed.
{61:10} I will
greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath
clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered
me with the robe
of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh [himself] with ornaments, and as a
bride adorneth [herself] with her jewels.
{61:11} For as the earth bringeth
forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to
spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring
forth before all the nations.
{62:1} For Zion’s sake will I not hold my
peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof
go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp [that] burneth.
{62:2} And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy
glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD
shall
name.
{62:3} Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the
LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
{62:4} Thou shalt no more
be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou
shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in
thee, and thy land shall be married.
{62:5} For [as] a young man marrieth a
virgin, [so] shall thy sons marry thee: and [as] the bridegroom rejoiceth over
the bride, [so] shall thy God rejoice over thee.
{62:6} I have set watchmen
upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, [which] shall never hold their peace day nor night:
ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
{62:7} And give him no
rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the
earth.
{62:8} The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his
strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn [to be] meat for thine enemies;
and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast
laboured:
{62:9} But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the
LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my
holiness.
{62:10} Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the
people; cast up, cast up the highways; gather out the stones; lift up a standard
for the people.
{62:11} Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the
world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his
reward [is] with him, and his work before him.
{62:12} And they shall call
them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called,
Sought out, A city not forsaken.
Right now those who are God's are His favored. Those who are not with God are
those not favored. When Jesus comes He will come for those that are His and all
those that aren't will see and understand. Those that choose not to be God's
will know the error of their ways, they will understand the choices they made
we're wrong, they will see the opportunities they had and how they squandered
them. They will also know and see those who are Christ's and will have no choice
but to realize that God's way truly was the way of the righteous.
Here and now we have so much pain and heartache, fleeting joys surrounded by
lingering agonies and yet we try to cling to the hope it'll work out but don't
seek the only source of hope. We need Jesus. We need His mercy. We need the Holy
Spirit of truth in our lives.
'For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will
direct their work in TRUTH,'
The Lord loves judgment why? Because it is righteousness, it is the ultimate
truth without deception, it is the perfect standard without any guile. Unlike
our court system today where judges often get things wrong, there will be no
wrong judgments from God, not one, they will all be perfect and just. Sacrifices
are --
Psalms {51:17} The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a
contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
False sacrifices, actions stemming not from a contrite heart, aren't
acceptable to God.
Truth is the mercy and love of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
The prophets of old knew this and all this would be passed down from
generation to generation.
Jesus spoke of the prophets, used the scriptures and never said they were of
no value and to be discarded.
You'll get people today who will try and set up *new* ways and call it God's
way, Jesus' way, but in truth, the way was set from the beginning and we can see
throughout the entire Bible, Old and New Testaments, that the love and truth of
God is there, all of it.
We want our work directed in truth, God's truth. May God do that- may He
direct our work in truth through the mercy and grace of His Son, may our work be
in Him now and forever, in truth.
Amen.
10/11/09 -
Revelation
Excerpt from--
Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith
Revelation Chapter 15
Preparing the Vials of Divine Wrath
This chapter introduces the seven last plagues, a manifestation of Heaven's
unmingled wrath, in its full measure upon the last generation of the wicked. The
work of mercy is then forever past.
Verse 1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven
angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had
gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and
over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb,
saying, Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are
Thy ways, Thou King of saints. 4 Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify
Thy name? for Thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before
Thee; for Thy judgments are made manifest. 5 And after that I looked, and,
behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: 6
And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed
in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. 7
And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of
the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with
smoke from the glory of God, and from His power; and no man was able to enter
into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
A Preparatory Scene.--
Thus reads the fifteenth chapter. By it we are carried back to a new
series of events. The whole chapter is but an introduction to the most terrible
judgments of the Almighty ever to be visited upon this earth--the seven last
plagues. What we behold here is a solemn preparation for the outpouring of these
unmixed vials. Verse 5 shows that these plagues fall after the close of the
ministration in the sanctuary, for the temple is opened before they are poured
out. They are given to seven angels clothed in linen pure and white, a fit
emblem of the purity of God's righteousness and justice in the infliction of
these judgments. They receive these vials from one of the four beasts, or living
creatures. These living beings were shown in comments on Revelation 4 to be a
class of Christ's assistants in His sanctuary work. How appropriate then that
they should be the ones to deliver to the ministers of vengeance the vials of
the wrath to be poured upon those who have slighted Christ's mercy, abused His
long-suffering, heaped contumely upon His name, and crucified Him afresh in the
persecution of His followers! While the seven angels are performing their
fearful mission, the temple is filled with the glory of God, and no man--{GREEK
CHARACTERS IN PRINTED TEXT}, oudeis, "no one, no being" --can enter there. This
shows that the work of mercy is closed, since there is no ministration in the
sanctuary during the infliction of the plagues. Hence they are manifestations of
the wrath of God without any mixture of mercy.
God's People Remembered.--
In this scene the people of God are not forgotten. The prophet is
permitted to anticipate somewhat in verses 2-4, and behold them as victors upon
the sea which had the appearance of glass mingled with fire. They sing the song
of Moses and the Lamb as they stand upon that sparkling expanse of glory. The
sea of glass upon which these victors stand, is the same as that brought to view
in Revelation 4: 6, which was before the throne in heaven. As we have no
evidence that it has yet changed location, and the saints are seen upon it, we
have here indubitable proof in connection with Revelation 14: 1-5 that the
saints are taken to heaven to receive a part of their reward. Thus, as if the
bright sun should burst through the midnight cloud, some scene is presented or
some promise given to the humble followers of the Lamb in every hour of
temptation, to assure and reassure them of God's love and care for them, and of
the certainty of their final reward. "Say ye to the righteous," wrote Isaiah of
old, "that it shall be well with him;" but, "Woe unto the wicked! It shall be
ill with him." Isaiah 3: 10, 11.
The song the victors sing, the song of Moses and the Lamb, is given here
in epitome: "Great and marvelous are They works, Lord God Almighty; just and
true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints." It is a song of infinite grandeur. How
comprehensive in its terms! How sublime in its theme! It appeals to the works of
God which are a manifestation of His glory. With immortal vision the saints will
be able to comprehend them as they cannot in the present state, even though
astronomy reveals enough to fill all hearts with admiration. From our little
world we pass out to our sun ninety-three million miles away; on to its nearest
neighboring sun, twenty-five million million miles away; on to the great double
polestar, from which it takes light four hundred years to reach our world; on
past systems, groups, constellations, till we reach the great star Rigel, in
Orion, shining with the power of fifteen thousand suns like ours! What then must
be the grand center around which these myriads of shining orbs revolve! Well may
the song be sung, "Great and marvelous are Thy works." But the song covers
another field also, the field of God's providence and grace: "Just and true are
Thy ways, Thou King of saints." All the dealings of God with all His creatures
in the eyes of the redeemed and the sight of all worlds will be forever
vindicated. After all our blindness, all our perplexities, all our trials, we
shall be able to exclaim at last in the exuberance of satisfied joy, "Just and
true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints."
*******
Who entered the Sanctuary to plead for us?
Hebrews-
{9:23} [It was] therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the
heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with
better sacrifices than these. {9:24} For Christ is not entered into the holy
places made with hands, [which are] the figures of the true; but into heaven
itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us
As with the earth Sanctuary service is was a type, an example of the
heavenly. Daily sacrifices were made and then once a year the Sanctuary was
cleansed.
We've gone over the prophecy that led us to the conclusion of this--
Daniel {8:14} And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred
days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
2300 years and the dates lined up with history to bring it to 1844.
They believed Christ would come then, that the sanctuary was cleansed on
that day rather than the beginning of the cleansing started.
Looking to the type the High Priest alone once a year entered the Most
Holy Place and a day of cleansing would take place. The Sanctuary itself would
be cleansed, the people would be cleansed, all the sin that accumulated there
over the year would be cleansed. It was a solemn day, a day for afflicting the
soul of making sure you were right with God.
As Jesus began the cleansing of the Sanctuary the time for the normal day
to day sacrifices was over. 2300 years were up. So in 1844 Jesus began the
cleansing of the Sanctuary and when it's finished He will no longer be in the
Sanctuary. As it says above-
5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the
tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: 6 And the seven angels came
out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen,
and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. 7 And one of the four
beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God,
who liveth for ever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the
glory of God, and from His power; and no man was able to enter into the temple,
till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
NO MAN was able to enter into the temple- till the seven plagues of the
seven angels were fulfilled.
Probation is over completely, the cleansing work moved from the Most Holy
place to the Holy, to the outer court just as it was typified in the earthly
Sanctuary work.
We are told this in Daniel as well--
{11:45} And he shall plant the tabernacles of
his palace between the
seas in the glorious holy mountain;
yet he shall come to his end, and none
shall help him.
{12:1} And at that time shall Michael stand up, the
great
prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and
there
shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since
there was a nation [even]
to that same time: and at that time
thy people shall be delivered, every one
that shall be found
written in the book.
The beast that is being talked of throughtout chapter 11 will plant the
tabernacle of his palace between the seas in the gloious holy mountain--
yet he shall come to his end and none shall help him, and at THAT time shall
Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy
people.
We have something to signal us. We have a prophecy unfulfilled to look
towards. We have other as yet unfulfilled prophecies such as the situation of
not being able to buy or sell save we make some sort of compromise with our
faith that will allow us to do so. These things have to be paid attention to.
Yes, just as it was in the days of Noah and Sodom and Gomorrah this will ALL
take place with the majority of people blissfully in the dark because they don't
want to see, they don't want to believe, they aren't watching and praying, they
aren't prepared with oil in their lamps awaiting the Bridegroom. Looking at the
world today as we see more and more how the Papacy has regained so much power-
power that was unthinkable for it to have even in the 1950's when there was a
massive protest over sending an ambassador to the Vatican. Power that today
people back then would cringe at. Today we have our president calling the Pope,
His Holiness, and the world looks on and smiles, applauding the diplomacy. Less
than a hundred years ago, just under sixty years ago and it was impossible for
the Protestant churches to allow such a thing and now they have ALL joined hands
with the Papacy. The power that has grown since the deadly wound was healed is
tremendous. Under Pope John Paul the Second ties were formed that before were
unthinkable. With Pope Benedict the Sixteenth, they are being tied tighter than
ever and all over the world people are beginning to look to the Papacy as a
bringer of PEACE, of UNITY, of LOVE, of GOD, of HOPE. Eyes are being drawn off
Christ and placed upon a man, upon a system. And the world sleeps on content to
be lulled, unalarmed, claiming no need for extra oil in their lamps, no need for
upset, no need to stand watch they are content to believe there is another
watching for them, another praying for them.
We can't be lulled, we can't let ourselves be lulled! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!
It's all unfolding as foretold and by the grace and mercy of God may we
be with Him, protected in His amazing love, through HIS righteousness so that
when the plagues of God's wrath are unleashed they will not touch us.
Amen!
10/11/10
10/11/11
1995 Aug -- XXVIII -- 8(95) -- EXEGESIS OF
REVELATION -- The Seven Last Plagues -- Part 4 --
In the pronouncement of the Third Angel a warning was given that if
ANYONE worshipped the beast or his image, that one "shall drink of the wine of
the wrath of God." (14:9-10)
Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice,
If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his
forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the WRATH OF GOD, which
is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be
tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the
presence of the Lamb:
In the vision beginning with Chapter 15, this wrath is described as being the
Seven Last Plagues. (v. 1)
Rev 15:1 And I saw another SIGN in heaven, great and marvelous, seven
angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the WRATH OF GOD.
The format for the giving of this vision is the same as was the format
of Revelation 12 - a great wonder is seen in heaven - the screen upon which the
divine revelation is portrayed. (The Greek word for "WONDER" in Rev. 12:1, and
"SIGN" in Rev. 15:1 is the same)
These plagues are defined as the seven last plagues.
The first reference to "plagues" in Revelation is in connection with the
sixth trumpet. (9:20)
Rev 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these PLAGUES
yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship
devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which
neither can see, nor hear, nor walk
This would indicate that the fulfillment of the "trumpets" in the time
sequence of the book of Revelation PRECEDES the final wrath of God, and
therefore, is NOT a parallel prophecy.
The second reference to "plagues" is noted in reference to the Two Witnesses
which are given authority "to smite the earth with all PLAGUES, as often as they
will." (11:6)
Rev 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days
of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to
smite the earth with all PLAGUES, as often as they will.
It is interesting to note that in the Greek text, the word "WOUND" is used to
translate the "PLAGUE" received by one of the heads of the beast of Revelation
13.
In verses 3 and 12, the phrase is "plague of death," while in verse 14,
it is "the plague of the sword."
Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and
his DEADLY WOUND was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Rev 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before
him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first
beast, whose DEADLY WOUND was healed.
Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of
those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to
them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which
had the WOUND BY A SWORD, and did live.
These previous plagues as described under the sixth trumpet, and the wound
received by the beast are ministered by earthly forces--
while the seven last are directly ordered by God, and placed under
seven angels who come from the Throne of God with their mandate. (15:5-6)
Rev 15:5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the
tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
Rev 15:6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven
plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with
golden girdles.
*******
Verses 2 - 4 are interpolated like Rev. 16:15, and serve as an interlude as
does Rev. 19:1-4.
In each of these interludes, we are taken back to the original vision given
to John when "a door was opened in heaven" and John was instructed by "the first
voice" to "Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter."
(4:1)
He sees a throne "set in heaven" upon which sat the Eternal Majesty.
Around the throne sat 24 elders, while before the throne were "seven torches
of fire burning" declared to be "the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all
the earth," representing the omnipotence (horns) and omnipresence (eyes) of the
Lamb. (4:5; 5:6; Hab. 3:4; Zech. 4:10)
Hab 3:4 And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of
his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.
Zec 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall
rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven;
they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
Also before the throne, there is "a sea of glass like unto crystal."
(4:6)
In the midst of the throne are four living creatures, and "a Lamb as it had
been slain." (4:6; 5:6)
The interlude of Revelation 15:2-4 returns to the setting of the vision of
the open door with its sea of glass; but here it is "mingled with fire" rather
than merely being "clear as crystal."
(Compare 4:6 with 15:2)
Rev 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto
CRYSTAL: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four
beasts full of eyes before and behind.
Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass MINGLED WITH FIRE: and
them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over
his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the
harps of God.
Could the "fire" be symbolic of the means by which the ones standing on the
sea of glass were victorious over the beast and his image and purified so as to
be fitted to be in the presence of God? (See Mal. 3:2-3; Luke 3:16)
Mal 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand
when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's FIRE, and like fullers' soap:
Mal 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he
shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may
offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
Luk 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with
water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not
worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with FIRE.
There are some parallels between THIS vision and the vision of Rev. 14:1-5,
as well as some distinct differences.
Here it is stated that those who stand on the sea of glass are victors "over
the beast and over his image," while such a conclusion concerning the 144,000 on
Mount Sion can only be inferred.
The 144,000 sing an unique song, while those standing on the sea of glass
sing the song of Moses and the Lamb, the words of which are given.
Another question arises, how far back in time must we go to find victors over
the beast?
Is the "beast" only that phase of the beast which had a wound by the sword
and did live?
That is the emphasis used in previous identification of the beast in
connection with "his image." (13:12, 14)
Rev 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before
him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first
beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of
those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to
them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which
had the wound by a sword, and did live.
However, the beast has "seven heads" which, depending on the
interpretation given to the seven heads, could reach back to Egypt the first
power to "persecute" the corporate people of God.
Of interest in this connection, "the song of Moses" is introduced. All of
these factors must be programmed into any exegetical study of these verses.
After recording this interlude, John's attention is returned to the "seven
angels having the seven last plagues."
He sees the open temple - "the tabernacle of the testimony" - from which
these angels are to come.
This is none other than the Most Holy Place of the HEAVENLY SANCTUARY wherein
is the ark of the covenant with the Law of God.
John has seen this tabernacle before as the vision of the trumpets was
concluded. (11:19)
Rev 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was
seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and
voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Another parallel between these two revelations is that God in Chapter 11 is
declared to have taken His "great power, and has reigned," while in Chapter 15,
"the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from His great
power."
This assumption on the part of God brings forth His wrath in judgment, and no
"man" is able to "enter the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels
were fulfilled. (15:8)
Rev 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God,
and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven
plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
Intercession has CEASED, for there is but "One mediator between God and
men, the Man, Christ Jesus." (I Tim. 2:5)
1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the
man Christ Jesus
Next John hears a voice described as "a great voice out of the temple."
(16:1)
Rev 16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the
seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the
earth.
It is a mandate from the throne. (See 16:17)
Rev 16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and
there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying,
It is done.
To the seven angels, the command is given - "Go your ways, and pour out the
vials of the wrath of God upon the earth."
Little have we realized what the mercy of God has been, and what the wrath of
God against sin is.
We have tried to reconcile the God of the Old Testament with how we
perceive the God of the New Testament.
In our finite perceptions we have not realized the hatred God has
toward sin, nor the significance of the separation that took place when on the
cross, Christ became verily sin for us, nor the full significance of the fact
that "in the midst of the throne" has "stood a Lamb as it had been slain." (5:6)
But when that Lamb steps aside and when no longer His blood pleads for the
sinful race, and the wrath of God unmixed falls upon the unsheltered heads of
the devotees of the beast and his image, then will all know that the Eternal God
is the same God as is revealed in both the Old and New Testaments.
*******
This is so TRUE!
We don't want to think that there WILL be a time when PROBATION IS OVER!!! We
want to imagine that there won't be a split second between the last decided case
and the coming of our Lord and Savior. The Bible tells us a different
story though.
There will be a people SEALED and a people UNSEALED but MARKED!
This is FACT! This is NOT FICTION!
WAKE UP EVERYONE! You are either sealed by God or marked by the Beast! What
decides? WE DO! We make the choice no one makes it for us, not a single person,
not God, not Satan- WE MAKE THAT DECISION!
People are RESPONSIBLE for their own eternal life, or if they choose, eternal
death.
WE decide whether or not to ACCEPT the offer of Salvation, the GIFT of
Salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord, our Savior! If we do not accept this
offer and this way of life in our Savior then we are not going to have
salvation.
When we are sealed by God we are His and we will be able to live through the
horrors of the seven last plagues and they will not touch us. We will be able to
live through the all consuming fire of the wrath of God that is let loose upon
those who choose to disobey Him, those who choose to receive the mark of the
beast, those who choose to allow themselves to be deceived, by the GRACE and
MERCY of our Savior we will be HIS, depending fully upon Him and His
righteousness. Please Lord, please SEAL us as yours so we may live in the
darkest times ahead. We do not deserve Your mercy and grace, we are sinners,
filthy sinners.
Only through YOU!
Amen.
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Directed in Truth
Isaiah
{59:18} According to [their] deeds, accordingly he will repay,
fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay
recompence. {59:19} So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and
his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood,
the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
{59:20} And the
Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in
Jacob, saith the LORD.
{59:21} As for me, this [is] my covenant with them,
saith the LORD; My spirit that [is] upon thee, and my words which I have put in
thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed,
nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for
ever.
How mighty is the Lord, how amazingly mighty. He would have us know that this
isn't some silly game, that life isn't something without consequence. There is a
battlefield and we all play upon it every single one of us. The Lord shows forth
His majesty, His power, His love, because in truth, we know even in our day that
good and evil exist and while evil often seems to have the upper hand it will be
good that wins out in the end. Sounds like a silly fairy tale, or one of those
sappy love stories? Let it, there is a reason why those stories exist, why
people created them and why they were and are so popular. People have hope and
often when they don't find it in their own lives they're willing to try and find
it even in stories because it does exist.
The enemies will be vanquished ultimately. All will fear and reverence the
name of the Lord. While the enemy is seemingly overwhelming, the Lord alone is
mighty enough to destroy them.
In our individual lives we fight the same battle on a daily basis and we have
a Redeemer if we turn from sin.
Yes, I said it.
Yes, I meant it.
Jesus is our Redeemer, without Him there is no hope at all, none. Yet sin
separates us from God. As He forgives us our sins and we are redeemed it's out
of sin we are redeemed, not in it. The breech that separates us is gone. Jesus
forgives us and we repent and turn from our sins. We go to Jesus all caught up
in our sins and He forgives us as we ask for forgiveness. In asking for
forgiveness we recognize our sins, we recognize our unworthiness and cling to
Jesus' grace and mercy to forgive- knowing that we have much to be forgiven for.
To know we've done wrong is to recognize the wrong. To know you're a sinner is
to recognize the sin you commit. Once awareness exists and we plead for
forgiveness we are telling God that we know this sin we've committed has
separated us from Him and we don't want to be separated from Him we want to be
with Him. Jesus forgives us. He understands. A true repentant heart is something
He is very familiar with. The repentant heart knows that the sin is wrong and is
something to be turned from. Will turning from sin save us? Never. Only Jesus
can save us. Out of love we don't want to sin, we don't want to keep doing the
things that will separate us from God. Yes, sin offers all the pleasures you can
imagine. Sin is addictive. Sin is insidious not wanting to ever let us go. If
even a single sin is cherished it's enough to separate us from God. We have to
lay our hearts open to God and accept the forgiveness He offers and choose to
let the Holy Spirit work within us, listening to the Holy Spirit as our
conscience reveals the sins in our lives and offers us a choice.
None of this is easy, none of it, but God will prevail easy or not, in the
end ALL sin will be done away with. Every sinner that has not gone to Christ and
embraced His gift of salvation with a true repentant heart, will be destroyed.
There isn't going to be any last second reprieves, no surprise ending where
everything turns our happily ever after for those choosing to sin. 'According to
their deeds, accordingly he will repay...' We have hope in Jesus, He is
our only hope. Clinging to Him through faith is the hope we have. The deed of
seeking forgiveness will be repaid accordingly, as well as the deed of embracing
sin and having no hope, no faith.
Thousands and thousands of years ago those words were written- 'and my words
which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the
mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from
henceforth and for ever.' And guess what? It's true. Today the words are
still being spoken.
Isaiah
{60:1} Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the
LORD is risen upon thee.
{60:2} For, behold, the darkness shall cover the
earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and
his glory shall be seen upon thee.
{60:3} And the Gentiles shall come to thy
light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
{60:4} Lift up thine eyes
round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee:
thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at [thy]
side.
{60:5} Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall
fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto
thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
{60:6} The multitude
of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from
Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth
the praises of the LORD.
{60:7} All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered
together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall
come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.
{60:8} Who [are] these [that] fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their
windows?
{60:9} Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish
first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto
the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath
glorified thee.
{60:10} And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls,
and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in
my favour have I had mercy on thee.
{60:11} Therefore thy gates shall be
open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that [men] may bring
unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and [that] their kings [may be]
brought.
{60:12} For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall
perish; yea, [those] nations shall be utterly wasted.
{60:13} The glory of
Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together,
to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet
glorious.
{60:14} The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come
bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at
the soles of
thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The
Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
{60:15} Whereas thou hastbeen forsaken and
hated, so that no man went through [thee,] I will make thee an eternal
excellency, a joy of many generations. {60:16} Thou shalt also suck the milk of
the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the
LORD [am] thy Saviour and thy Redeemer,the mighty One of Jacob.
{60:17} For
brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass,
and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and
thine exactors
righteousness.
{60:18} Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting
nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and
thy gates Praise.
{60:19} The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither
for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto
thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
{60:20} Thy sun shall no
more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be
thine everlasting light, and the days of thy
mourning shall be ended.
{60:21} Thy people also [shall be] all righteous: they shall inherit the
land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may
be
glorified.
{60:22} A little one shall become a thousand, and a small
one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.
{61:1} The Spirit
of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good
tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim
liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound;
Remember-
Luke {4:18} The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to
preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to
preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set
at liberty them that are bruised, {4:19} To preach the acceptable year of the
Lord. {4:20} And he closed the book, and he gave [it] again to the minister, and
sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on
him. {4:21} And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled
in your ears.
The prophet Isaiah foretold of so much and he did so in words that could be
understood. The glorious coming of a Redeemer, a life where God is worshipped as
He should be by a people that love Him. The glory of it alone is so
overwhelmingly amazing. It sounds to good to be true and we try and try to
imagine it and we can when we realize that it's not promised as long as sin
reigns. For as long as sin reigns mourning will exist and these are days when
all mourning has ended and that won't be until Christ comes again and then after
that the earth is made new and there is no more sin, the enemies are gone once
and for all.
Isaiah
{61:2} To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day
of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
{61:3} To appoint unto
them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for
mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be
called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be
glorified.
{61:4} And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up
the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations
of many generations.
{61:5} And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks,
and the sons of the alien [shall be] your plowmen and your
vinedressers.
{61:6} But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: [men]
shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the
Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
{61:7} For your shame
[ye shall have] double; and [for] confusion they shall rejoice in their portion:
therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be
unto them.
{61:8} For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt
offering; and I will direct their work in TRUTH, and I will make an everlasting
covenant with them.
{61:9} And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles,
and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them,
that they [are] the seed [which] the LORD hath blessed.
{61:10} I will
greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath
clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered
me with the robe
of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh [himself] with ornaments, and as a
bride adorneth [herself] with her jewels.
{61:11} For as the earth bringeth
forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to
spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring
forth before all the nations.
{62:1} For Zion’s sake will I not hold my
peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof
go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp [that] burneth.
{62:2} And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy
glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD
shall
name.
{62:3} Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the
LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
{62:4} Thou shalt no more
be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou
shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in
thee, and thy land shall be married.
{62:5} For [as] a young man marrieth a
virgin, [so] shall thy sons marry thee: and [as] the bridegroom rejoiceth over
the bride, [so] shall thy God rejoice over thee.
{62:6} I have set watchmen
upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, [which] shall never hold their peace day nor night:
ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
{62:7} And give him no
rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the
earth.
{62:8} The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his
strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn [to be] meat for thine enemies;
and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast
laboured:
{62:9} But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the
LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my
holiness.
{62:10} Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the
people; cast up, cast up the highways; gather out the stones; lift up a standard
for the people.
{62:11} Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the
world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his
reward [is] with him, and his work before him.
{62:12} And they shall call
them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called,
Sought out, A city not forsaken.
Right now those who are God's are His favored. Those who are not with God are
those not favored. When Jesus comes He will come for those that are His and all
those that aren't will see and understand. Those that choose not to be God's
will know the error of their ways, they will understand the choices they made
we're wrong, they will see the opportunities they had and how they squandered
them. They will also know and see those who are Christ's and will have no choice
but to realize that God's way truly was the way of the righteous.
Here and now we have so much pain and heartache, fleeting joys surrounded by
lingering agonies and yet we try to cling to the hope it'll work out but don't
seek the only source of hope. We need Jesus. We need His mercy. We need the Holy
Spirit of truth in our lives.
'For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will
direct their work in TRUTH,'
The Lord loves judgment why? Because it is righteousness, it is the ultimate
truth without deception, it is the perfect standard without any guile. Unlike
our court system today where judges often get things wrong, there will be no
wrong judgments from God, not one, they will all be perfect and just. Sacrifices
are --
Psalms {51:17} The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a
contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
False sacrifices, actions stemming not from a contrite heart, aren't
acceptable to God.
Truth is the mercy and love of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
The prophets of old knew this and all this would be passed down from
generation to generation.
Jesus spoke of the prophets, used the scriptures and never said they were of
no value and to be discarded.
You'll get people today who will try and set up *new* ways and call it God's
way, Jesus' way, but in truth, the way was set from the beginning and we can see
throughout the entire Bible, Old and New Testaments, that the love and truth of
God is there, all of it.
We want our work directed in truth, God's truth. May God do that- may He
direct our work in truth through the mercy and grace of His Son, may our work be
in Him now and forever, in truth.
Amen.
10/11/09 -
Revelation
Excerpt from--
Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith
Revelation Chapter 15
Preparing the Vials of Divine Wrath
This chapter introduces the seven last plagues, a manifestation of Heaven's
unmingled wrath, in its full measure upon the last generation of the wicked. The
work of mercy is then forever past.
Verse 1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven
angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had
gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and
over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb,
saying, Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are
Thy ways, Thou King of saints. 4 Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify
Thy name? for Thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before
Thee; for Thy judgments are made manifest. 5 And after that I looked, and,
behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: 6
And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed
in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. 7
And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of
the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with
smoke from the glory of God, and from His power; and no man was able to enter
into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
A Preparatory Scene.--
Thus reads the fifteenth chapter. By it we are carried back to a new
series of events. The whole chapter is but an introduction to the most terrible
judgments of the Almighty ever to be visited upon this earth--the seven last
plagues. What we behold here is a solemn preparation for the outpouring of these
unmixed vials. Verse 5 shows that these plagues fall after the close of the
ministration in the sanctuary, for the temple is opened before they are poured
out. They are given to seven angels clothed in linen pure and white, a fit
emblem of the purity of God's righteousness and justice in the infliction of
these judgments. They receive these vials from one of the four beasts, or living
creatures. These living beings were shown in comments on Revelation 4 to be a
class of Christ's assistants in His sanctuary work. How appropriate then that
they should be the ones to deliver to the ministers of vengeance the vials of
the wrath to be poured upon those who have slighted Christ's mercy, abused His
long-suffering, heaped contumely upon His name, and crucified Him afresh in the
persecution of His followers! While the seven angels are performing their
fearful mission, the temple is filled with the glory of God, and no man--{GREEK
CHARACTERS IN PRINTED TEXT}, oudeis, "no one, no being" --can enter there. This
shows that the work of mercy is closed, since there is no ministration in the
sanctuary during the infliction of the plagues. Hence they are manifestations of
the wrath of God without any mixture of mercy.
God's People Remembered.--
In this scene the people of God are not forgotten. The prophet is
permitted to anticipate somewhat in verses 2-4, and behold them as victors upon
the sea which had the appearance of glass mingled with fire. They sing the song
of Moses and the Lamb as they stand upon that sparkling expanse of glory. The
sea of glass upon which these victors stand, is the same as that brought to view
in Revelation 4: 6, which was before the throne in heaven. As we have no
evidence that it has yet changed location, and the saints are seen upon it, we
have here indubitable proof in connection with Revelation 14: 1-5 that the
saints are taken to heaven to receive a part of their reward. Thus, as if the
bright sun should burst through the midnight cloud, some scene is presented or
some promise given to the humble followers of the Lamb in every hour of
temptation, to assure and reassure them of God's love and care for them, and of
the certainty of their final reward. "Say ye to the righteous," wrote Isaiah of
old, "that it shall be well with him;" but, "Woe unto the wicked! It shall be
ill with him." Isaiah 3: 10, 11.
The song the victors sing, the song of Moses and the Lamb, is given here
in epitome: "Great and marvelous are They works, Lord God Almighty; just and
true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints." It is a song of infinite grandeur. How
comprehensive in its terms! How sublime in its theme! It appeals to the works of
God which are a manifestation of His glory. With immortal vision the saints will
be able to comprehend them as they cannot in the present state, even though
astronomy reveals enough to fill all hearts with admiration. From our little
world we pass out to our sun ninety-three million miles away; on to its nearest
neighboring sun, twenty-five million million miles away; on to the great double
polestar, from which it takes light four hundred years to reach our world; on
past systems, groups, constellations, till we reach the great star Rigel, in
Orion, shining with the power of fifteen thousand suns like ours! What then must
be the grand center around which these myriads of shining orbs revolve! Well may
the song be sung, "Great and marvelous are Thy works." But the song covers
another field also, the field of God's providence and grace: "Just and true are
Thy ways, Thou King of saints." All the dealings of God with all His creatures
in the eyes of the redeemed and the sight of all worlds will be forever
vindicated. After all our blindness, all our perplexities, all our trials, we
shall be able to exclaim at last in the exuberance of satisfied joy, "Just and
true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints."
*******
Who entered the Sanctuary to plead for us?
Hebrews-
{9:23} [It was] therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the
heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with
better sacrifices than these. {9:24} For Christ is not entered into the holy
places made with hands, [which are] the figures of the true; but into heaven
itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us
As with the earth Sanctuary service is was a type, an example of the
heavenly. Daily sacrifices were made and then once a year the Sanctuary was
cleansed.
We've gone over the prophecy that led us to the conclusion of this--
Daniel {8:14} And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred
days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
2300 years and the dates lined up with history to bring it to 1844.
They believed Christ would come then, that the sanctuary was cleansed on
that day rather than the beginning of the cleansing started.
Looking to the type the High Priest alone once a year entered the Most
Holy Place and a day of cleansing would take place. The Sanctuary itself would
be cleansed, the people would be cleansed, all the sin that accumulated there
over the year would be cleansed. It was a solemn day, a day for afflicting the
soul of making sure you were right with God.
As Jesus began the cleansing of the Sanctuary the time for the normal day
to day sacrifices was over. 2300 years were up. So in 1844 Jesus began the
cleansing of the Sanctuary and when it's finished He will no longer be in the
Sanctuary. As it says above-
5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the
tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: 6 And the seven angels came
out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen,
and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. 7 And one of the four
beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God,
who liveth for ever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the
glory of God, and from His power; and no man was able to enter into the temple,
till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
NO MAN was able to enter into the temple- till the seven plagues of the
seven angels were fulfilled.
Probation is over completely, the cleansing work moved from the Most Holy
place to the Holy, to the outer court just as it was typified in the earthly
Sanctuary work.
We are told this in Daniel as well--
{11:45} And he shall plant the tabernacles of
his palace between the
seas in the glorious holy mountain;
yet he shall come to his end, and none
shall help him.
{12:1} And at that time shall Michael stand up, the
great
prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and
there
shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since
there was a nation [even]
to that same time: and at that time
thy people shall be delivered, every one
that shall be found
written in the book.
The beast that is being talked of throughtout chapter 11 will plant the
tabernacle of his palace between the seas in the gloious holy mountain--
yet he shall come to his end and none shall help him, and at THAT time shall
Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy
people.
We have something to signal us. We have a prophecy unfulfilled to look
towards. We have other as yet unfulfilled prophecies such as the situation of
not being able to buy or sell save we make some sort of compromise with our
faith that will allow us to do so. These things have to be paid attention to.
Yes, just as it was in the days of Noah and Sodom and Gomorrah this will ALL
take place with the majority of people blissfully in the dark because they don't
want to see, they don't want to believe, they aren't watching and praying, they
aren't prepared with oil in their lamps awaiting the Bridegroom. Looking at the
world today as we see more and more how the Papacy has regained so much power-
power that was unthinkable for it to have even in the 1950's when there was a
massive protest over sending an ambassador to the Vatican. Power that today
people back then would cringe at. Today we have our president calling the Pope,
His Holiness, and the world looks on and smiles, applauding the diplomacy. Less
than a hundred years ago, just under sixty years ago and it was impossible for
the Protestant churches to allow such a thing and now they have ALL joined hands
with the Papacy. The power that has grown since the deadly wound was healed is
tremendous. Under Pope John Paul the Second ties were formed that before were
unthinkable. With Pope Benedict the Sixteenth, they are being tied tighter than
ever and all over the world people are beginning to look to the Papacy as a
bringer of PEACE, of UNITY, of LOVE, of GOD, of HOPE. Eyes are being drawn off
Christ and placed upon a man, upon a system. And the world sleeps on content to
be lulled, unalarmed, claiming no need for extra oil in their lamps, no need for
upset, no need to stand watch they are content to believe there is another
watching for them, another praying for them.
We can't be lulled, we can't let ourselves be lulled! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!
It's all unfolding as foretold and by the grace and mercy of God may we
be with Him, protected in His amazing love, through HIS righteousness so that
when the plagues of God's wrath are unleashed they will not touch us.
Amen!
10/11/10
10/11/11
1995 Aug -- XXVIII -- 8(95) -- EXEGESIS OF
REVELATION -- The Seven Last Plagues -- Part 4 --
In the pronouncement of the Third Angel a warning was given that if
ANYONE worshipped the beast or his image, that one "shall drink of the wine of
the wrath of God." (14:9-10)
Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice,
If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his
forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the WRATH OF GOD, which
is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be
tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the
presence of the Lamb:
In the vision beginning with Chapter 15, this wrath is described as being the
Seven Last Plagues. (v. 1)
Rev 15:1 And I saw another SIGN in heaven, great and marvelous, seven
angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the WRATH OF GOD.
The format for the giving of this vision is the same as was the format
of Revelation 12 - a great wonder is seen in heaven - the screen upon which the
divine revelation is portrayed. (The Greek word for "WONDER" in Rev. 12:1, and
"SIGN" in Rev. 15:1 is the same)
These plagues are defined as the seven last plagues.
The first reference to "plagues" in Revelation is in connection with the
sixth trumpet. (9:20)
Rev 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these PLAGUES
yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship
devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which
neither can see, nor hear, nor walk
This would indicate that the fulfillment of the "trumpets" in the time
sequence of the book of Revelation PRECEDES the final wrath of God, and
therefore, is NOT a parallel prophecy.
The second reference to "plagues" is noted in reference to the Two Witnesses
which are given authority "to smite the earth with all PLAGUES, as often as they
will." (11:6)
Rev 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days
of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to
smite the earth with all PLAGUES, as often as they will.
It is interesting to note that in the Greek text, the word "WOUND" is used to
translate the "PLAGUE" received by one of the heads of the beast of Revelation
13.
In verses 3 and 12, the phrase is "plague of death," while in verse 14,
it is "the plague of the sword."
Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and
his DEADLY WOUND was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Rev 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before
him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first
beast, whose DEADLY WOUND was healed.
Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of
those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to
them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which
had the WOUND BY A SWORD, and did live.
These previous plagues as described under the sixth trumpet, and the wound
received by the beast are ministered by earthly forces--
while the seven last are directly ordered by God, and placed under
seven angels who come from the Throne of God with their mandate. (15:5-6)
Rev 15:5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the
tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
Rev 15:6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven
plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with
golden girdles.
*******
Verses 2 - 4 are interpolated like Rev. 16:15, and serve as an interlude as
does Rev. 19:1-4.
In each of these interludes, we are taken back to the original vision given
to John when "a door was opened in heaven" and John was instructed by "the first
voice" to "Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter."
(4:1)
He sees a throne "set in heaven" upon which sat the Eternal Majesty.
Around the throne sat 24 elders, while before the throne were "seven torches
of fire burning" declared to be "the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all
the earth," representing the omnipotence (horns) and omnipresence (eyes) of the
Lamb. (4:5; 5:6; Hab. 3:4; Zech. 4:10)
Hab 3:4 And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of
his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.
Zec 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall
rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven;
they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
Also before the throne, there is "a sea of glass like unto crystal."
(4:6)
In the midst of the throne are four living creatures, and "a Lamb as it had
been slain." (4:6; 5:6)
The interlude of Revelation 15:2-4 returns to the setting of the vision of
the open door with its sea of glass; but here it is "mingled with fire" rather
than merely being "clear as crystal."
(Compare 4:6 with 15:2)
Rev 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto
CRYSTAL: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four
beasts full of eyes before and behind.
Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass MINGLED WITH FIRE: and
them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over
his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the
harps of God.
Could the "fire" be symbolic of the means by which the ones standing on the
sea of glass were victorious over the beast and his image and purified so as to
be fitted to be in the presence of God? (See Mal. 3:2-3; Luke 3:16)
Mal 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand
when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's FIRE, and like fullers' soap:
Mal 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he
shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may
offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
Luk 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with
water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not
worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with FIRE.
There are some parallels between THIS vision and the vision of Rev. 14:1-5,
as well as some distinct differences.
Here it is stated that those who stand on the sea of glass are victors "over
the beast and over his image," while such a conclusion concerning the 144,000 on
Mount Sion can only be inferred.
The 144,000 sing an unique song, while those standing on the sea of glass
sing the song of Moses and the Lamb, the words of which are given.
Another question arises, how far back in time must we go to find victors over
the beast?
Is the "beast" only that phase of the beast which had a wound by the sword
and did live?
That is the emphasis used in previous identification of the beast in
connection with "his image." (13:12, 14)
Rev 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before
him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first
beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of
those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to
them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which
had the wound by a sword, and did live.
However, the beast has "seven heads" which, depending on the
interpretation given to the seven heads, could reach back to Egypt the first
power to "persecute" the corporate people of God.
Of interest in this connection, "the song of Moses" is introduced. All of
these factors must be programmed into any exegetical study of these verses.
After recording this interlude, John's attention is returned to the "seven
angels having the seven last plagues."
He sees the open temple - "the tabernacle of the testimony" - from which
these angels are to come.
This is none other than the Most Holy Place of the HEAVENLY SANCTUARY wherein
is the ark of the covenant with the Law of God.
John has seen this tabernacle before as the vision of the trumpets was
concluded. (11:19)
Rev 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was
seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and
voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Another parallel between these two revelations is that God in Chapter 11 is
declared to have taken His "great power, and has reigned," while in Chapter 15,
"the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from His great
power."
This assumption on the part of God brings forth His wrath in judgment, and no
"man" is able to "enter the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels
were fulfilled. (15:8)
Rev 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God,
and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven
plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
Intercession has CEASED, for there is but "One mediator between God and
men, the Man, Christ Jesus." (I Tim. 2:5)
1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the
man Christ Jesus
Next John hears a voice described as "a great voice out of the temple."
(16:1)
Rev 16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the
seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the
earth.
It is a mandate from the throne. (See 16:17)
Rev 16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and
there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying,
It is done.
To the seven angels, the command is given - "Go your ways, and pour out the
vials of the wrath of God upon the earth."
Little have we realized what the mercy of God has been, and what the wrath of
God against sin is.
We have tried to reconcile the God of the Old Testament with how we
perceive the God of the New Testament.
In our finite perceptions we have not realized the hatred God has
toward sin, nor the significance of the separation that took place when on the
cross, Christ became verily sin for us, nor the full significance of the fact
that "in the midst of the throne" has "stood a Lamb as it had been slain." (5:6)
But when that Lamb steps aside and when no longer His blood pleads for the
sinful race, and the wrath of God unmixed falls upon the unsheltered heads of
the devotees of the beast and his image, then will all know that the Eternal God
is the same God as is revealed in both the Old and New Testaments.
*******
This is so TRUE!
We don't want to think that there WILL be a time when PROBATION IS OVER!!! We
want to imagine that there won't be a split second between the last decided case
and the coming of our Lord and Savior. The Bible tells us a different
story though.
There will be a people SEALED and a people UNSEALED but MARKED!
This is FACT! This is NOT FICTION!
WAKE UP EVERYONE! You are either sealed by God or marked by the Beast! What
decides? WE DO! We make the choice no one makes it for us, not a single person,
not God, not Satan- WE MAKE THAT DECISION!
People are RESPONSIBLE for their own eternal life, or if they choose, eternal
death.
WE decide whether or not to ACCEPT the offer of Salvation, the GIFT of
Salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord, our Savior! If we do not accept this
offer and this way of life in our Savior then we are not going to have
salvation.
When we are sealed by God we are His and we will be able to live through the
horrors of the seven last plagues and they will not touch us. We will be able to
live through the all consuming fire of the wrath of God that is let loose upon
those who choose to disobey Him, those who choose to receive the mark of the
beast, those who choose to allow themselves to be deceived, by the GRACE and
MERCY of our Savior we will be HIS, depending fully upon Him and His
righteousness. Please Lord, please SEAL us as yours so we may live in the
darkest times ahead. We do not deserve Your mercy and grace, we are sinners,
filthy sinners.
Only through YOU!
Amen.