There is an end to God's Mercy

 Read Genesis 19. 

The two angels who visited Abraham were on a mission to see firsthand if the evil in the valley had reached its end.  When they arrived, their wickedness proved pervasive "to the last man" (19:4).  The area became totally committed to the most heinous behaviors imaginable and God's mercy for these unrepentant rebels had reached its end. 

Lot was far from perfect but he was a "righteous" man (2 Peter 2:7) and these angels had come to rescue him and his family.  The preannounced judgment of God was absolutely certain.  However, the responses to God's coming wrath produced differing results.

1. The sons-in-law laughed (v.14).  When Lot tried to persuade his extended family to immediately leave with him, they considered God's word to be a joke. 

2. Lot lingered (v.16).  The command was to leave immediately, but Lot hesitated to obey.  Perhaps, he realized he would lose some of his family members, his home, and all his belonging which were significant.  He had so many possessions in herds and servants that he had to separate from Abraham in chapter 13.  His heart was tied to temporal things.  

3. Lot's wife longed to go back.

The command was "Do not look back."  She deliberately disobeyed.  Her "look" was more than a curious glimpse (v.26).  The Hebrew word has to do with intently looking with pleasure. Though the environment was irredeemable, she already missed living there.  Her heart was not right with God as was her husband's.  She paid for it with her life.  

The Word of God could not be more clear on the subject of homosexuality.  To this day such behavior is legally referred to as Sodomy.   

The two angels had to physically grab these four and pull them out of Sodom to a new place.  Note verse 22.  The angel stated, "I can do nothing till you arrive there."  God's wrath is never intended for His own.  As 2 Peter 2 underscores, each time God always provides a way to escape His wrath.  This is consistent with the rest of scripture, including the judgments in Revelation. 

The coming earthly and eternal judgments are just as sure.  The responses to God's word concerning these announcements are the same as it was in Genesis.  But God has already provided a singular way of escape.  "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." (John 3:36) 

 

A hard lesson on intercessory Prayer

 Read Genesis 18.

This is the sixth recorded time the LORD has directly revealed Himself to Abraham.  Each occurrence provided direction, a promise, or affirmation concerning God's covenant with him.

In the previous chapter, the LORD promised that a son named Isaac would indeed be Abraham's heir.  Here, the LORD appeared again to announce that the child would be born within the next year.  What humanly was impossible for this elderly couple presented no problem for God.
"Is anything too hard for the LORD?" (v.14)

The first half of the chapter appears to be almost incidental to the real mission.  The two angels were on their way to deal with the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Notice that the two angels appeared as men, not with glowing auras, and not with wings.  This is consistent with all other appearances of angels in the scriptures.  

The LORD, then, asked this question: "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?" (v.17)  God's patience with the cities in the valley had run out.  Judgment against their wickedness would come swiftly and totally.

When he realized this would affect Lot and his family, Abraham began to intercede on their behalf.  Finally, Abraham's request is reduced to a number equal to that of Lot, his children and their spouses.  Sadly, only three escaped alive.

Was God allowing Abraham to negotiate the souls of these people?  No.  God already knew what He was going to do.  But Abraham did not.  One result of earnest prayer is surrendering our wills to what God wants done in the area of our requests.  Then, we must trust Him fully for the outcome.  Our belief in prayer is not based upon getting our way but in the One who is worthy of our trust.  

 

Believing God for the Impossible

 Read Genesis 17.

After Abram's disbelief and failure in chapter 16, the LORD appeared to Abram again to reaffirm the everlasting covenant.  This is the third time God promised him innumerable descendants and the land.  Despite the fact that more than thirteen years had passed, God would indeed keep his promise.  The LORD waited until Abram and Sarai believed it was humanly impossible for them to conceive a child.  In this way, everyone would know that the LORD alone would receive the credit.  It would be a miracle!

Several things were about to change.  For all these years his name has been Abram, which means father.  A man with no children named father would be laughable in itself, but at age 99 it was more embarrassing than amusing.  Then, God changed his name to Abraham, which means father of a multitude.

Sarai, who name means princess, will now be called Sarah.  This is only a slight change in meaning, but it is enough to give her something to live up to.  Here at about age 90, God foretold that she will give birth to a son.

Such declarations caused Abraham to laugh.  How incredible this seemed to him!  God instructed the child to be named Isaac, which means laughter.  

In commenting on this very passage, the Apostle Paul wrote: "...God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist....No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised." (Romans 4:17-20)

Humans only see the past and the present.  God sees the end from the beginning.  In His plan for our lives, the LORD sees not only the way things are but as they can and will be.  It is the essence of faith to believe in life and eternity according to God's word and His will. 

 

6 insights from a runaway Girl

Read Genesis 16.

Abram had been on the land God promised for ten years and he was prospering.  But the second part of God's covenant to him had not happened.  There were no children, let alone innumerable descendants.  At ages 85 and 75, he and Sarai reasoned that God was not meeting their need.  Times of little faith or loss of faith in God causes us to be vulnerable to selfish, silly and even satanically influenced decisions.

So, they decided not to wait on God.  Instead, they took matters into their own hands.  Hagar was an Egyptian servant to Sarai, who was probably given to them by Pharaoh in chapter 12.  It turned out to be one bad decision followed by another.  Jealousy and abuse caused Hagar to flee. 

The angel of the LORD appears to her.  This is a preincarnate appearance of Jesus Himself! 

Do not miss the character of God displayed toward Hagar.

1. The LORD found her.  It is a picture of God pursuing those who need Him.

2. The LORD questioned her.  Doesn't He already know the answer?  Yes.  But will she listen to His voice and respond?  God wants us to admit or confess the truth of our condition back to Him.

3. She responded.  She confessed that she was running from her problems.  It is most often a turning point in one's life, when they can admit this.  Running from issues, rather than facing them, only worsens the situation.  In addition, no one can out run God.

4. The LORD's message to her was to turn around.  The word repent means to turn.  It is a turn from going the wrong direction and turning to God's way for life.

5. The LORD made a promise to her and described a future for her descendants.  He did not have to do this.  It is called grace.  When God made the promise to all of us of eternal life through faith in Jesus, it was solely provided to us by His grace.

6. The result was a personal relationship with the God of heaven and earth.  Surely, she witnessed Abram's worship, but now this relationship had become hers.  She had her own encounter with the living God.  Ishmael means "God hears".  Then, she declared, "You are a God of seeing."  God sees.  More than that, "Truly here I have seen him who looks after me."  God cares. 

This same One pursues us today, to show His grace, as He hears, sees, and cares about the needs in our lives.

 

4 steps to seeing God Act

 Read Genesis 15.

Genesis 15 is one of the linchpin chapters in understanding the Bible.  This is the first mention of God appearing in a vision.  It contains the first mention of "I am" in reference to God.

The Lord moved from making a promise to Abram in chapter 12 to sealing it with an everlasting covenant.  He also foretold, about 500 years in advance, of the future suffering of the yet-to-be nation.  They will be enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. 

Note that the covenant is not a mutual agreement.  It is not dependent upon Abram or his descendants.  It is from God, for God, and made by Him alone.  It is from Abram's response to God that we learn a timeless Biblical principle.  Verse 6: "And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness."  Abram stood righteous before God because of simple faith.  The New Testament quotes and upholds this as a basic tenet for establishing a personal relationship with the LORD. 

Regarding the promises of God, Abram asked a great question: "How am I to know that I shall possess it?"  God then gave him clear instructions.

1. Abram sacrificed.  He gave to God what God asked. 

2. Abram obeyed.  He did what God said to do.

3. Abram waited.  This may have been the toughest part.

4. God acted. 

Our human nature wants the four steps above in reverse order.  We want God to prove Himself, answer our prayers, and bless us in some manner first.  Then, we will trust and obey Him.  And, certainly, we do not want to wait. 

Sometimes God calls us to immediate action.  Many times we are called to wait.  If the latter is true, waiting is not inaction, but obedience.  Psalm 27:14-"Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!"  And, watch what He alone can do.  

 

A demonstration of selfless Gratitude

 Read Genesis 14.

Genesis 14 contains the third recorded test of Abram's faith.  Because of the capture of his nephew, Lot, Abram quickly assembled a small army of his own trained servants and completely overturned the disaster with a great victory.  Abram could have claimed rulership of the entire area, along with all their possessions, for himself.  The people would have made him a king.  Instead, it appears from verse 22 that he had made a prior commitment that if God gave him success he would take nothing for himself.  In an act of humble gratitude, he honored God as the Owner of all things and in worship gave a tenth of everything.

Upon Abram's return, he met the king/priest of Salem (later known as Jerusalem).  Melchizedek did three things in this encounter:

1. He blessed Abram, giving God the credit.

2. He acknowledged God's ownership of heaven and earth, giving God the glory.

3. He received a tenth of everything, giving God worship.

True worship of God and giving are inseparable. 

This the first mention of tithing in the Bible.  Here are some modern questions about tithing:

A. "Should I give a tenth of the gross or the net?"

The verse says "everything."

B. "Should I give a tenth before or after I pay my bills?"

Abram gave in verse 20 and paid his bills in verse 24.  Proverbs 3:9 underscores this priority.  "Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce."  It is a matter of trust in God.  Honoring Him with the first means I trust He will bless the rest.

C. "But isn't tithing Old Testament Law and we are no longer under the law?"

Note that Abram did not live under the Law of Moses.  He lived at least 450 years before Moses received the Law at Mount Sinai.  The Law did not initiate tithing.  It only codified the existing practice.

Abram did not give in worship because he felt he owed God 10% of his gain.  Rather, he gave in acknowledgement that God owns it all and that the LORD had blessed him.  The first lesson of stewardship is that God is the rightful Owner of everything.  "The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1)

 

Learning life lessons from Conflict

 Read Genesis 13.

When Abram sinned and was ousted from Egypt, notice what he did.  He went back to where he had started and worshiped the LORD there.  This land that God gave to him is where he should have been all along.

The next test of Abram's faith came in the form a family conflict.  God had blessed Abram and his nephew Lot so much that they needed to separate.  In the culture of the day, being the patriarch of the family, Abram could have pulled rank and made certain demands.  But to his credit, he viewed this challenge in a much larger perspective.  Lot was not an enemy but family.  Abram's commitment was more than just to appease the strife.  He desired to resolve the conflict and trust God for the outcome.

As the leader of the family, he immediately put an end to the fighting.  "Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen." (v.8)

Next, this leader was willing to let Lot make the decision about where to live.  The Jordan River valley appeared to be the prime place for his herds.  What he did not consider was the spiritual environment.  "Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD." (v.13)  What appeared to be the best choice will turn out to cost Lot dearly.

Demanding one's rights is one way to start a fight.  Humbly and voluntarily yielding one's rights may pave the way toward a peaceable and equitable resolve.

In verses 14-17, the LORD encouraged Abram for the way he handled this test of faith by repeating two of three parts to the covenant made in Chapter 12.  God promised the land of Canaan to him and his descendants.  His descendants would be innumerable.  And then he built an altar to worship God. Three life lessons from Abram's responses:

1. He humbled himself when he could have stood up for his rights.

2. He trusted God to work rather than choosing his own way.

3. He worshipped God when the decision was made.  

Building an altar and worshipping at these strategic times had now become a habit of his life.   

Lot’s decision should prompt us to ask three life questions when faced with major decisions:

1. Am I viewing this decision with spiritual insight or only physical eyesight?

2. Am I making spiritual goals my priority rather than material goals?

3. Am I more concerned with developing eternal prosperity or temporal prosperity?  

A blessing for All

 Read Genesis 12.

The end of Genesis 11 and chapter 12 are turning points in world history.  The story of the Bible tells of God initially working with one man, Adam, and then one man, Noah.  Here, the rest of the Bible's story line will be affected by this one man, Abram.  

The family of Abram lived with the Chaldeans in the city of Ur.  It was out of this pagan environment that God called Abram.  Of all humanity, God chose this man and sovereignly made a covenant with him and his descendants.  The covenant contains three parts: God will give Abram and his family a land for their own; God will make Abram a great nation of people; God will bless Abram to such an extent that the entire world will be blessed through him.

For the better part of history the land has been in some dispute with Israel's enemies.  In spite of many satanic attempts to annihilate the descendants of Abram and the nation of Israel, by God's grace they have survived.  Matthew 1 provides the genealogy to prove that Jesus, the Messiah, is humanly a direct descendant of Abram.  Indeed, the blessing to all the world has come and He will come again.

Such a promise to a man with no children humbled him.  Like other incidents in his life, his response was to build an altar and worship the LORD. 

That did not mean that Abram lived a perfect life.  The rest of chapter 12 displays his humanity.  And, like all humans, he sinned when he got out of God's will.  Sin may be characterized by one or more of the following from Abram's bad example: 

In the wrong place (Egypt, instead of the place God provided)

With the wrong thinking (fear, instead of faith)

With the wrong speech (lying, instead of truth)

With wrong actions (instead of being a blessing, he became a curse)

With wrong results (instead of building relationships, he was asked to leave in disgrace).

But God's promises were not dependent upon Abram's behavior.  In further reading of this book we find that God blessed Abram.  God still kept His promises.  Abram was still God's friend.  That is an example of God's grace and gives hope to all who trust Him.  

 

Making sense of the Confusion

 Read Genesis 10-11.

After the flood, the only humans on earth were Noah and his family.  From his three sons came three strains of peoples of which all today trace their heritage.  Genesis 10 is a genealogy and overview.  Three times it is mentioned that each "clan" spoke their own language.  Chapter 11 explains why and how separate nations and language groups began.

God commanded in 9:7, "And, you be fruitful and multiply, increase greatly on the earth and multiply it."  But instead of spreading out to steward the earth, the population chose to stay as one.

In defiance and open rebellion against God, the population decided to stay together.  Nimrod founded a city called Babel.  There the people built a tower symbolizing their rejection of God's word to them.  Archaeologists have discovered in that part of the world a style of construction called ziggurats; a type of tall temple pyramid, often decorated with symbols of the sun, moon and stars with an altar for false worship on top.

Babel (modern day Babylon), then, is the birthplace of astrology and all other false religions that worship the host of heaven, instead of the God of heaven.  They looked to the creation for signs, instead of the Creator and Sustainer of the universe.  In response to Babel, God intervened by giving them different languages so they can no longer work together in such united rebellion.  To this day the word Babel refers to confusion. 

With the confusion of languages the people could no longer easily communicate.  They were forced to separate.  "And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth." (11:9b)

Arrogant independence and open defiance against God will only lead to destruction of a nation and an individual's life.

Psalm 9:17-"The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God."

Proverbs 14:34-"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."

Psalm 2 should strike such a fear of God that all humble themselves before Him.  Verse 4 states, "He who sits in the heavens laughs."  God does not laugh because sinful rebellion is humorous, but because a human being thinking of challenging Almighty God and living without Him is absurd.  It is spiritual insanity.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 2:10 that one day-"at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  

 

Visible evidence of God's Character

 Read Genesis 9.

One timeless lesson to be learned from the opening chapters of Genesis is that the God of the Bible is a God of justice and judgment.  His word is to be respected and He is to be feared when there is disobedience and rebellion against Him.  At the same time, the Lord is also compassionate and loving, even providing the means of atonement for a broken relationship with Him.  At every turn, God made a caring provision for those who responded to Him by faith.

 Here we discover that He is a God of new beginnings and second chances.  After the flood, life on earth began again.  The atmospheric environment had changed.  Natural responses between humans and animal life changed (v.2).  Population growth started anew from Noah's family.

 With the conclusion of this worldwide judgment, God made one of His covenant promises.  Never again would He destroy all the earth with flood.  Then, He established a visible sign that mankind could see as a reminder of this covenant (v.13).

 By definition: A rainbow is an optical and meteorological phenomenon that causes a spectrum of light to appear in the sky when the Sun shines on to droplets of moisture in the Earth's atmosphere. It takes the form of a multicolored arc. Rainbows caused by sunlight always appear in the section of sky directly opposite the sun.

 From reading Genesis 9, it is clear that the rainbow did not always exist.  The best scientific explanation is found in the writings of Dr. Henry Morris.  But the Creator of the universe states here, "I have set my bow in the cloud."  Yes, it is always a captivating sight for us to see.  The rainbow belongs to Him and He put it there for a specific reason.    

 In addition, a rainbow is a teachable moment for every human being.  It reminds us of God's judgment.  It reminds us that God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things.  It reminds us that God keeps His promises.

 There are plenty of other evidences of His loving care surrounding each of us all the time.  We must look for them in order to appreciate them.  Be sure to praise and thank Him when you do. 

 

Great is His Faithfulness

 Read Genesis 8.

The vast reservoirs of water beneath the earth's surface and the waters in the atmosphere were all unleashed in torrents to flood the entire earth.  This involved much more than the 40 days and nights of rain.  Not only did Noah have to wait until the rain stopped, but he had to be sure that the earth was dry.  Genesis 8 records the 1 year and 17 days that Noah's family and all the animals were on the Ark.

All who entered the Ark did so on God's command (7:16) and the LORD shut them in (7:17.  It was not until the earth was completely dry that the LORD commanded them all to leave the Ark (8:16).  From the mountains of Ararat, all air breathing life began to disseminate on earth.

In an act of thanksgiving for their safety, Noah worshiped God.  He built an altar for offering sacrifices to the LORD.  Blood sacrifices had been mentioned since Genesis 3:21, but this is the first mention in the Bible of a formal altar.  God had prepared for this in advance by having these particular animals enter the Ark in seven pairs, rather than just two (7:2-3). 

God then made a promise.  He had destroyed the earth because the overwhelming evil of human intentions and actions.  The LORD said He would never again "strike down every living creature as I have done" (v.21).  That part of the promise protects the earth.  The second part of the promise provides for the earth.  To this day God sovereignly regulates "seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night" (v.22).  Indeed, our food sources and life itself depend upon the LORD being faithful to this commitment made to Noah.   

 The hymn writer took this portion of Genesis 8 when he wrote the second verse of Great is Thy Faithfulness:

 "Summer and winter, and spring-time and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,

Join with all nature in manifold witness,

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love."

His trustworthiness and faithfulness to us are evident every day, all around us.  Take notice to respond in worship and obedience.

 

2 prime examples of God's Patience

 Read Genesis 7.

Because of the total pervasive wickedness on earth, God intervened.  "I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them.  Behold, I will destroy them with the earth." (6:13).  His judgment was announced 120 years in advance (6:3).  This patience on the part of God did two things: 1) It gave every person on earth more than ample time to repent of their sin and turn to the LORD; 2) It gave ample time for Noah and his family to prepare the Ark.

 The dimensions of the Ark were 450' long, 75' wide, and 45' high with 3 decks.  Indeed, it looked more like a barge than a boat.  It was designed for floatation and maximum storage.  Studies confirm that indeed there was enough space to house couples of all the world's animals that the LORD wanted to preserve, along with their food. 

 Genesis 7 is very detailed in its description of the world-wide flood.  "And the waters prevailed so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered.  The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them 15 cubits deep (nearly 23 feet).  

-Imagine Mount Everest 23 feet underwater!  

-Imagine the topographical changes of the earth with that much water carving its surface.

-Imagine the rapid burial of living matter required to produce what are now underground fields of oil.

-Imagine the environmental change with no more mist from the earth to water it but an occasional rain instead.  

 Given the description of the flood, the totality of this judgment should be self-evident.  "And all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, livestock, beasts, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all mankind.  Everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died." (7:21-22)

After 120 years of preaching the coming judgment of God to his generation, the only ones who responded and were saved from the flood were members of his own family.  

 The Apostle Peter used this real life example to warn of the coming final judgment from God.  "...if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly,...then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment..." (2 Peter 2:5 and 9)  Why has God delayed that coming final judgment?  "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

 

How to find favor with God in a corrupt Culture

 Read Genesis 6.

 "If there is a God in heaven why doesn't He do something about the evil in this world?"  The answer is He has, He is, and He will.  Such interventions by God may come immediately or may be implemented later at the final judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).  The absolute truth is that no sin goes unnoticed by the Omniscient God of heaven.  There is abundant evidence of this in the Bible.

 God does not overlook the evil behavior in the world.  In Genesis 6, the sinful condition of the world reached a point of being ripe for God's intervening judgment.  For an unspecified period of time, the LORD endured the corrupt condition of the culture (v.3) but no more.  "The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (v.5)  "Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence." (v.11)

The creation had become a grief to the Creator.  People refused to acknowledge, let alone, worship Him.  They had rejected any semblance of His moral code of behavior.  Such cultures have only one alternative and that is to become a law unto themselves, acting to please themselves, with no regard for the immediate or eternal consequences.  In addition, without spiritual understanding, such people unknowingly fall prey to the schemes of Satan.

 "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD."  In a world that was totally corrupt, one man stood out from all the rest of the world's population.  

 What were those transferable characteristics that set Noah apart?  The text in verse 6 does not leave us in doubt.

1. He was "a righteous a man."  He lived according to what was right in God's sight, not the world around him.

2. He was "blameless in his generation."  This is how he behaved toward others.  No one had anything bad to say about him.

3. He "walked with God."  Like his great-grandfather, Enoch, he maintained a continual awareness of God's presence.  This guided everything he did.

 4. He "did all that God commanded him" (v.22).  Noah had respect for God's word and obeyed it completely.

Insights for believers.

1. God protects His own.  His wrath is not for those who put their trust in Him, but, rather, is reserved for those who reject His loving offer of grace.  (John 3:36)

2. God prepares for His own.  He gave Noah the plans for an Ark.  In John 14, Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:2)

3. God promises to take care of His own.  In verse 18, He made a covenant with Noah about the future.  Jesus said, "I will come again and receive you to Myself." (John 14:3)

4. God provides His own with all that is needed to carry out His will.  He made sure that Noah had skill, wood, food, and even brought all the creatures to him at just the right time to enter the Ark.  "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

 

What do you want on your Tombstone?

 Read Genesis 5.

It is common practice to inscribe on burial headstones the person's name, dates, and, perhaps, a few words of remembrance.  The question we should be asking is: How do we want to be remembered when we are gone?

 Genesis 5 records the genealogy from Adam to Noah.  Immediately, the reader's attention is captured by the incredibly long life of each one.  How was it possible that humans were able to live for centuries?  "Both the biblical record and the Sumerian King List from Mesopotamia attest to the longevity of the ancient people.  Apparently the environment before the Flood enabled people to live longer." (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, p.35)  

 Twice, in v. 22 and in v.25, we read the words, "Enoch walked with God."  In other words, this man lived in a way that pleased God and that is how he is remembered in perpetuity.  We do not know anything about his work, his accomplishments, his physical attributes, his personality, his social skills, his financial net worth, his possessions, or what he left in his estate.  Evidently, nothing else was worth mentioning because he left it all behind.  His relationship with God remains eternal to this day.

 

Jude 14-15 records that he was somewhat of a prophet and preached the coming judgment on those who reject God.  In Hebrews 11, where Enoch's name appears again in the Bible, the epitaph is simply that he "walked with God." 

 There is a vast, eternal difference is "making a living" and living for God.

 The French monarch, King Louis XIV, called himself "the Great".  But when he died in 1715, Bishop Massillon officiated the funeral.  It is reported that he snuffed out the candle and declared, "Only God is great."

 Song writer C.T. Studd put it this way:

"Only one life, twill soon be past.

Only what's done for Christ will last."

 

Understanding why people do evil against the Innocent

 Read Genesis 4.

Here we have the third recorded sin and the first murder on earth.  How did this happen?  And, the greater question is why do people do evil?

What is self-evident in this chapter is that the LORD had made clear that to worship Him involved a blood sacrifice.  Such an understanding establishes the rest of the Bible's teaching regarding forgiveness and one being accepted in a relationship with God.  "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." (Hebrews 9:22)  "But as it is, he (Jesus) has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." (Hebrews 9:26)

However, Cain wanted to his conduct life and his worship on his own terms.  The results were disastrous and they still are today.
1. Cain disregarded what God said to do.

2. Cain decided to do what he wanted instead.  And, to add insult to injury, he actually expected God to accept his wrong behavior.

3. Cain became angry at God when his choices were rejected.

4. When God pursued Cain to confront his anger and his wrongdoing, Cain refused to repent.

5. Cain became jealous of Abel and turned his hatred of the LORD on his brother.  Instead of dealing with his sin, Cain compounded it by taking evil action against an innocent person.  Why did he murder Abel?  "Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous." (1John 3:12b)  This, then, is the first mention of the persecution of those who are accepted by God. 

6. God pursued Cain again, giving him every opportunity to repent and experience forgiveness.

7. But Cain lied and his refusal to submit himself to God brought about a curse on his life.

Do it yourself religion has never worked.  God's statement in verse 7 is key: "If you do well, will you not be accepted?"  How different life is when one simply responds to God's word and His promptings.

 

Where did sin come from?

 Read Genesis 3.

Comedian Flip Wilson was well-known for his skits that used the punchline, “The devil made me do it.”  Some even blame God for their sinfulness or the evil perpetrated by others!  "If there is a God in heaven, why does He allow such awful things to happen?"

 In the perfect environment of the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were given complete freedom.  Then Satan slithered in as a serpent.  Revelation 12:9 calls him "...that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan."  Jesus called him a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).  Do not miss here is Chapter 3, Satan is the source of all questioning of God and His word.  Satan is the one who casts spiritual doubts, who presents wrong desires, and finally outright disagreement with what God has said.  The temptation is there but the choice to obey or to disobey God is human responsibility.

 James 1:14 states clearly, “each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.”  There is no one else to blame but the sinner.

 Sin separates us from God.  When Adam and Eve sinned, their guilt prompted them to hide from God, attempting to avoid Him.  Their own efforts to cover themselves would not do.  Humans are incapable of restoring that eternal relationship.  All the positive thinking and man-made philosophies, religious and otherwise, may serve as temporary salves or cover-ups for a guilty conscience, but only God can forgive sin and take it away.  

 He offers the one and only remedy.  In verse 15, God proclaimed the first prophecy of a coming Messiah who would destroy the devil and his work.  That is why Jesus came. Matthew 1:21 "...you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."  He was born to die; born to pay the price for our sin on the cross.  He restores our relationship with Himself through faith Jesus.

 

Is belief in Biblical creation Optional?

 Read Genesis 2.

This chapter reviews and provides some details of the account in chapter one.

The Ownership of creation.
The God of the Bible claims full and final credit for the creation of all things.  Note in the opening 3 verses that three times the phrase "his work that he had done" appears.  All of creation is His personal property.  "The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers." (Psalm 24:1-2) 

The Stewardship of creation.
 "There was no man to work the ground" (v.5).   "Then the LORD God formed the man of the dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature." (v.7)  The source of human life is a Person (God), not a process.  According to this chapter, Adam stood as an intelligent, discerning man, able to speak with an extensive vocabulary, and well able to understand the world around him. 

Seven times in chapter 1, God looked at what He had made and called it good.  The first time a negative appears in the Bible is found in 2:18.  "It is not good that the man should be alone."  God's solution for the companionship, the completeness, and the counterpart for man was a woman.  She was formed out of the elements of Adam's creation and, therefore, called wo-man.  The two enjoyed unashamed intimacy and partnership "in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it" (v.15).  It was God's garden and they were charged to manage it for Him.

The Completeness of creation.
Verses 1 and 2, state that on the seventh day, God rested from His work.  The holiness of the seventh day was observed in the Old Testament Law as the Sabbath, from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown.  The LORD God "finished" the creation.  It is not an on-going process.  The Hebrew word means completed, ended, accomplished, done.

Creation is the universal and basic presentation of who God is and one's individual accountability to Him.  "For what can be known of God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  For his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.  So they are without excuse." (Romans 1:19-20)

 

7 essentials concerning the origin of Life

 Read Genesis 1.

This is the only definitive record of origins.  Everything else is merely human speculation of alternative faith systems.  God has provided all the essentials we need to know.

1. God created.

"In the beginning God..."  The account begins with the Who of origins not a process.  The Hebrew word is Elohim; a plural that is stated in verse 26.  The God of the Bible is one and reveals Himself in three distinct personalities of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Each is present in creation.  Colossians 1:16 credits the Son (Jesus) as the Creator of all things in heaven and earth.  Jesus, then, is fully God. 

 

2. God's method of creation.

"And God said..."  He called things into existence out of nothing.  He spoke and "it was so."  This method is not only stated in Genesis but is consistently upheld throughout the Bible.  God "...calls into existence the things that do not exist." (Romans 4:17b)  "By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible." (Hebrews 11:3)

 

3. God's timing of creation.

After calling light into existence, each period of His work is indicated by "evening and morning."  Earth's 24-hour rotation was already active.  This is authenticated in the 10 Commandments.  "For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day." (Exodus 20:11a)

 

4. God's created things with maturity.

When God called something into existence it was already mature and functional.  He did not create seed and then wait for it to grow or eggs and hope they would hatch on their own.  He created vegetation, creatures, and humans with seed within their kind to reproduce.

 

5. God created with uniqueness.

Referring to reproduction of living things, no less than five times in this first chapter the phrase "according to its kind" appears.  In other words, sea life did not produce human life, etc.  "...to each kind of seed its own body.  For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish." (1 Corinthians 15:38b-39)

 

6. God created human life after Himself. 

When God created humans, it was a unique work over all previous creation.  There are distinct characteristics about human life that separates this work of God from all others.  Adam was a special creation in God's image.  Humans were charged with having dominion over and a stewardship of the Owner's creation.  Humans are the only ones of with the capacity to know and have a personal relationship with God.  Humans are the only ones with an eternal soul.  Each person will spend eternity somewhere, depending how they respond to God in this life.  

 

7. God is the source of all that is good.

When God created, each day was followed by the same declaration, "And God saw that it was good."  And, at the completion in verse 31, "God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good."    God is good.  It is His nature.

 

5 questions every person should be Asking

 Read Revelation 22.

The closing themes of the Bible answer some of the most important questions humans need to be asking.

What is Life?
The Bible tells us about real life and how we can have it.  In the New Testament, eternal life is often simply called "life" as opposed to temporal physical existence.  Those who do not believe in Jesus "shall not see life" (John 3:36).  Jesus said, "Come to me that you may have life." (John 5:40).  "I came that they may have life." (John 10:10b).  "...by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:31)

 

Chapter 21 closes stating that only "those who are written in the Lamb's book of life" will be living eternally with God.  The subject of life continues in chapter 22.  Here we are told that in the New Jerusalem there will be a river of the water of life and the tree of life.  That tree of life has not been seen since God banned Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3.

When will Jesus return?
Jesus said, "And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again..." (John 14:3)  At his ascension back to heaven, angels announced, "This Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11)  In Revelation 22, three times Jesus is quoted as saying, "I am coming soon."  Concerning this book, the angel told John that these things "must soon take place" (v.6) and "the time is near" (v.10).  Indeed, the opening verses of Revelation state, "...the time is near." (1:3)

But it has now been nearly 2,000 since the Apostle John wrote those words.  Concerning these prophecies there is nothing preventing the next steps in God's future plans from taking place.  They are imminent and could begin at any moment.

Who is Jesus? (v.13)
Don't miss the clarity of Jesus' identity.  "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."  Compare that statement with Revelation 1:8.  "I am the Alpha and Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."  Jesus clearly claims to be God Almighty.  Those who say Jesus never said He was God have never read this book.

What is the warning? (vv.18-19)
Those who believe the Bible is God's written word understand that it has been supernaturally preserved for us as infallible, is complete, and is without error.  According to verses 18-19, there is no new revelation to add to it.  Beware of false prophets who claim to have a new "prophetic word".  One of the cults even claims to have "another gospel" of which Galatians 1:6-9 condemns outright.  There are no lost books of the Bible as advertised occasionally on television.

The punishment for such falsehoods is "God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book."

What should be our response to this book? (vv.17, 20-21)
The Holy Spirit speaks to every human heart, and the primary communication of God's people to the world, is "Come" to Jesus.  Every person has a crying need to deal with their sin and guilt.  That sin debt has been paid on the cross.  The spiritual thirst within every person may only be satisfied with the eternal life giving soul refreshment that Jesus offers to us.

"Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus!"

 

Welcome Home!

 Read Revelation 21.

The future continued to be revealed to the Apostle John.  He saw a new heaven and new earth with a beautiful bejeweled city called New Jerusalem.  What is described in this chapter is how many people envision heaven.  Keep in mind that chronologically this new city will not be seen until the 7 years of Tribulation and the 1,000 of the earthly kingdom are completed.

What will our eternal home look like?

1. New Jerusalem.
The city will be astonishingly beautiful.  It will be constructed of precious gemstones with gigantic pearls for gates and streets of gold.  The size will be a cube measuring 1380 miles in length, width, and height.  The walls will be about 216 feet thick.

In honor of our spiritual heritage, the 12 gates will have the names of the 12 tribes of Israel.  The city will be based upon 12 foundations with the names of the 12 Apostles.

While these stunning things will certainly catch our attention, the focus will not be on what is there but Who is there.  It will be the dwelling place of God and we will live with Him. (v.3)

2. The Environment.
There will be no more tears.
There will be no more death.
There will be no more mourning.
There will be no more crying.
There will be no more pain.
There will be nothing unclean, detestable, or false.
Why?  Because there will be no more sin.

There will be no temple for we will be in the very presence of God for worship.
There will be no night and no need of lights.  "The glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb." (v.23)

Two eternal questions are answered in this chapter.
1. Who will not be living in this city?
"If anyone's name was not found in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." (20:15)  "...the lake of fire burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." (21:8)
Verse 8 explains the clear warning to those who do not turn to Jesus.
-The cowardly or fearful.  This is the opposite of faith.  They just cannot bring themselves to trust in Jesus so they chose to do nothing.
-The faithless or unbelieving.  They doubt the truthfulness of the message.
-The detestable or sinful.  They would rather pursue their temporal pleasures instead of dealing with the reality of their eternal fate.
-The sorcerers.  They place their faith in evil spiritual activity instead of God and His word.
-The idolaters.  They put their faith in their own made up religion.
-The liars.  They are committed to false thinking about sin and eternity.

2. Who will be living in this city?
"...only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life." (v.27b)
These are the ones who heard the good news of Jesus and personally placed their faith in Him.  "...whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.  He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." (John 5:24)

 

And God's great kingdom shall come to Earth

 Read Revelation 20.

Armageddon will not be the end.  There is much more ahead. 

1. Satan temporarily Contained. (vv.1-3)
When Jesus returns He will put down the rebellion and deal with the chief instigators (19:19-21).  Satan will then be "bound", "shut", and "sealed" for a time until his final judgment takes place.  Jesus will establish His earthly rule and reign, sitting on "the throne of his father David" (Luke 1:32).  How long will Satan be restricted and how long will the earthly kingdom last?  Six times in the first seven verses the time is stated to be 1,000 years.  There is no hint anywhere in the Bible that this is a grammatical hyperbole or that this is a comparative statement such as 2 Peter 3:8.

2. God's kingdom on Earth. (v.4a)
A number of thrones will be set up for those who will judge matters during this 1,000 years of earthly reign.  Who will these judges be?
-Believers in Jesus-"Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world?" (1 Corinthians 6:2 
-12 Apostles-"...that you may...sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Luke 22:30)
-Jesus-"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne."

All believers in Jesus "will be priests of God and of Christ, and they shall reign with him for a thousand years." (v.6)

3. The first Resurrection. (vv.5-6)
These events complete the stages of what is called the first resurrection.
-Jesus was the first to be resurrected, guaranteeing the rest. (1 Corinthians 15:20-23)
-The dead who belong to Christ will be raised at the "catching away" according to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.
-Tribulation believers will be last (Revelation 20:4b).

4. The final War. (vv.7-10)
At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be released again.  He knows he is a defeated foe.  He knows he cannot win, so he will try to take as many people with him as possible to eternal punishment.  The global rebellion will come from a group called Magog whose leader is Gog.  As in the battle of Armageddon, the fight will be over quickly.  Satan will be thrown into the Lake of Fire to be tormented forever and ever.

5. The final Judgment. (vv.11-15)
It is clear that believers in Jesus have already been judged for their works and rewarded previously.  This judgment is for all those who throughout earth's history have never repented and turned to God.  The first death is physical.  Being thrown into the Lake of Fire for the purpose of eternal torment is called the second death.

Jesus said that people need a second birth.  In order to "see the kingdom of God" we need to be born spiritually into God's family.  Physical birth gives us temporal life.  The second birth gives us eternal life.

 

What the return of Christ will look Like

 Read Revelation 19.

This is the real Hallelujah chorus!  The word only appears four times in the New Testament and all four are contained in the chapter.  It means praise Jehovah.

The vision of the coming Great Tribulation has been revealed.  Meanwhile in heaven, the believers have been welcomed home, rewarded, and assembled for the marriage supper of the Lamb.  Jesus, the Lamb of God, sacrificed Himself on the cross "so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:27).

Verse 10 provides a wonderful summary statement of this entire book.  "For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."  The focus of Revelation is not about events.  It is "the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1:1a)  Those who brush aside prophecy as unimportant to the Christian life, brush aside Jesus.  Dismissing some parts of the Bible as not important questions God's integrity and exposes one's laziness.  "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."  The spiritual maturity of each believer is dependent upon being fully equipped by the "whole counsel" of the Word of God (Acts 20:27).

At this point, Jesus is now ready to be revealed to the unbelieving world.  As describe here, He will come again literally, visibly, personally, and victoriously.  Jesus taught in Matthew 24:29-30, "Immediately after the tribulation...Then...they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

He will return wearing multiple titles.  Jesus is Faithful.  He is True.  He is the living Word of God (John 1:1-5).  He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  He even has a name no one knows but Jesus Himself (v.12).

The initial purpose of His return will be to put down this worldwide rebellion.  No meek and mild Jesus here.  "He will rule them with a rod of iron.  He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty."  This will fulfill the message of Psalm 2.  The chief weapon will be His spoken word that like "a sharp sword" comes out of His mouth. (19:15)  It is the same method Jesus used in creation, "And God said..." (Genesis 1), when He spoke the world into existence (Psalm 33:9, Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 11:3).    

Today, God has graciously allowed us to have the written word of God.  The Apostle Paul called it "the sword of the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:17).  It is the believer's only offensive weapon in our daily spiritual warfare.  

 

The beginning of the End

Read Revelation 18.

A rebuilt city of Babylon will serve as both the headquarters of the world's government and its religious system.  The one in charge of enforcing the worship of the Antichrist is called the second beast in chapter 13 and depicted as a great prostitute in chapter 17, living in opulence with far too much influence.  The angel announced that God will destroy Babylon in a single hour (vv.10, 17, 19).  The merchants of the world will mourn greatly.

The sins of this city "are heaped up high as heaven" (v.5).  An identified voice calls out, "Pay her back as she herself has paid back others" (v.6).  Exactly what are those sins?

1. Sexual Immorality. (17:2)  
Once a person or a culture disregards or eliminates the moral teachings of Scripture, they will run rampant sexually.  Anything will eventually be considered acceptable because each one will be a standard unto themselves.  During the Tribulation, no behavior will be out of bounds, except perhaps, certain edicts from Babylon.

2. Commercial Immorality. (18:3)
With the one-world government controlling all buying and selling (13:17), approved merchants and other leaders will make themselves wealthy.  They will bedfellows for personal pleasure and ill-gotten financial gain.

3. Pride. (18:7) 
When one's heart is in rebellion against God, there will arise a false belief that life may be lived on their own terms without consequence.  But the ancient wisdom of Proverbs 16:18 is still true.  "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." 

4. Demonic Spiritism. (18:23)
The world will be religious.  They will be involved in spiritual worship.  At issue is that their system of religion will originate and be empowered by Satan himself.  As the ultimate liar, deceiver, and counterfeiter, he will offer the world a false messiah.  Sorcery and witchcraft will be included.  The Greek word for sorcery has to do with drugs.  Historically, Babylon is the founding place of astrology and all false religions.

5. Murders. (18:24)
The target of the government's hatred will be anyone who is committed to Jesus.  In a culture that will pride itself in the tolerance of anything, Christians will not be tolerated.  Their godly lifestyles, their beliefs, and their refusal to worship the Antichrist will bring persecution and may cost them their lives.  It is this same spirit of antichrist who throughout history has always attempted to thwart the plans of God by annihilating God's people.  "And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth."

God's call to His people also has not changed throughout history.  "Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins..." (18:4).  Believers are to live separated lives.  We are in the world but we are not of the world.   Protecting ourselves from sinful influences and practices is key to influencing our world for Christ.  The Apostle Paul made this same point in his day.  "Therefore go out from their midst and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you..." (2 Corinthians 6:17)

 

2 lessons for us from Armageddon

 Read Revelation 17.

The battle of Armageddon will not be an international war as many have used the term.  Nor will it be the end of the world and human life on earth.  It is most helpful to go to the one and only definitive source that describes Armageddon for a clear understanding.  The nations of the world will not be at war with each other.  In fact, they will unite in order to wage war against their common enemy. 

To explain this to the Apostle John, images are shown to him.  There was no need for John, or us, to be confused by these or to speculate as to their meanings.  Each is explained within this chapter.

The great prostitute.
The symbolic woman is identified as one who lives in opulence.   She has intimate relationships with all the world's leaders.  Her actions are called immoral as she has sold herself to these leaders in exchange for money and power.  Her influence over these leaders is akin to drunkenness.  Her relationship with the peoples of earth is she sits on them, as a picture of oppression.  She is guilty of killing believers in Jesus (v.6).  This describes the religious system, established by the false prophet in chapter 15.  Empowered by Satan, the object of worship is the Antichrist. 

She wears the label of Babylon.  Babylon is the mother or source of all rebellious belief systems against God.  The city may be traced to Genesis 10-11 when founded by Nimrod.  It was the place of defiance against God in constructing the infamous tower of Babel.  All false religion and idolatry may be traced back to this one city.  "The woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth." (v.18)  Here we are told that the religious system will have power over government, at least for a time.  Verse 16 indicates that world leaders will reach a point where they will reject this religious control, strip her of her authority, and destroy her once and for all.

The kings.
These leaders from various parts of the globe are described as heads and horns on the prostitute.  World leaders are often labeled as heads of state.  They wield horns of power.  Verses 2, 10 and 12 make clear who they are.  They will be of "one mind".  Collectively, they will submit their authority and military might to her for the purpose of waging full scale war against the Lamb of God. (v.14).

The beast.
He is the 8th leader mentioned in verse 11.  This is the Antichrist, the beast of chapter 13. 

So, what does this have to do with us?
1. How ludicrous for human beings to think they can rebel and fight against the God of heaven!  Jesus is "Lord of lords and King of kings" (v.14b).  He is omnipotent.  They cannot win this war.  This demonstrates the demonic inspired insanity that results from rejecting Jesus.  Yet, people today reject Jesus and do not think there will be any consequence.  It is a loser's belief.

2. All of these prophecies underscore that God is actively at work in this world.  "For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled."  (v.17)  And, more importantly for today, He has a plan and purpose for each of our lives that He is working out right now.  Pursue Him.

 

Preparing for Armageddon

 Read Revelation 16.

The 7th trumpet blew in 11:15.  But the judgments of that alarm are not unleashed until chapter 16.  7 more angels will appear each with a bowl full of God's wrath to be poured out on the earth.  The Lord has delivered similar plagues as these in Egypt to humble that pride-filled pagan nation, preparing the exodus of the Jews.  And, some similar events have already taken place in Revelation.  The difference here is that these plagues will be worldwide, building toward the end of the Tribulation and the return of Christ.

Bowl #1 (v.2)
Previously, such a plague only affected 1/3 of mankind.  Here, these boils will come upon all those who have received the mark of the Antichrist and worship him.

Bowl #2. (v.3)
Again, when this happened before in Revelation, only 1/3 of sea life died.  Here, "every living thing died that was in the sea."

Bowl #3. (vv.4-7)
Next, all the sources of fresh water will be turned to blood.  John was even told why this specific judgment will happen.  "For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink.  It is what they deserve!"

Bowl #4. (vv.8-9)
The sun's intensity will be so great that it will burn people.  The prophet Malachi spoke of this day.  "For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble.  The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch." (Malachi 4:1)

Bowl #5. (vv.10-11)
This plague of darkness is directed right at the center of the Antichrist's power and worldwide control.  The prophet Zephaniah described this event hundreds of years before the birth of Christ.  "A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against lofty battlements." (Zephaniah 1:15-16)

Bowl #6. (vv.12-16)
The Lord will cause the Euphrates River to dry up in preparation for the armies of the east to easily cross.  These, along with a trio of demons, will be headed toward a place called Armageddon.

Bowl #7. (vv.17-21)
The sights and sounds of this judgment are unimaginable.  From thunder, lightning and great hailstones from the sky to earth-splitting quakes, God will be demonstrating His omnipotence over His creation.

What is the point?  It is two-fold.  On one hand, these judgments are meant to humble those who have rebelled against the Lord and cause them to repent.  But instead, their stubborn hearts are so hardened by personal sin and satanic deception that they curse the very One who is able to save them.  The second purpose is to bring the Tribulation to a climactic conclusion.  It will culminate with the glorious appearing of Jesus.

 

How to overcome extreme Circumstances

 Read Revelation 15.

The 7th angel blew his trumpet back in chapter 11.  The resulting judgment is announced here as having seven parts, called bowls of God's wrath.  They will begin to be poured out in the next chapter.

The Apostle John saw a glassy sea in heaven.  This is surely the same one he saw in 4:6 before the throne of God.  And, this group of conquerors is the same as he saw in chapter 7.  They are believers in Jesus who died in this horrific part of the Tribulation.  Several questions are in order.

How did they overcome the tyranny of the Tribulation?
The environment will be three-pronged.  Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet will command control of everything and everyone.  But those who know the Lord will not participate in evil or in false worship.  Their commitment is stated in 12:11-"And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death."

Their personal faith in the shed blood of Christ on the cross provides eternal forgiveness and eternal life.  Such assurance helped them to remain faithful and endure any temporal sufferings.  Their true home and true life could never be taken from them.

What were they doing in heaven?
Around the throne, they were playing harps and singing.  This particular song is called the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.  There are three songs of Moses in the Old Testament.  His original song took place by the Red Sea and seems appropriate here.  It is a song of God's miraculous deliverance of His people.  Moses composed and sang it when the most powerful army in the world ("horses and rider") drowned.  Here in the Tribulation, martyrs will be singing after the army of the Antichrist will be destroyed (14:20).

The song of the Lamb would be about God's eternal deliverance and, perhaps, the same or similar to Revelation 5: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain."

What were they singing?
This is a classic worship hymn, praising the God of heaven for who He is and what He has done.
1. His deeds are great and amazing.  When one stops to consider the creation of the universe, life in all its various forms, the demonstration of His power throughout history and in these prophecies, how can we not stand in awe?

2. His ways are just and true.  There is no injustice with God.  His judicial actions may be delayed on our time table, but they are certain to come.  There is no falsehood in what He does or has said.  His word is totally reliable and without error.  Every word has meaning and may be trusted completely.

3. His nature is holy.  He alone is holy.  All purity, all holiness, all sacredness emanates from the Lord God Almighty.  When we become part of His faith family by faith in Jesus, we are partakers of His holiness and declared holy.

4. His actions are right and have been revealed.  There is no wrongdoing or mistake made by God.  On this side of heaven, we may not understand and, indeed, may even question what God is doing.  But much like Jesus said to the disciples before the crucifixion, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand." (John 13:7)  In heaven, such concerns will either be made plain or they simply will no longer matter.

The question for us is, "Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name?"

 

What will God be doing during the Tribulation?

 Read Revelation 14.

While Satan, his world ruler, and his false religious leader try to govern the world by force, God will be very active and in ultimate control.  The earth will be experiencing systematic and planned judgments from God in order to demonstrate His power and to give every opportunity for unbelievers to respond.  If they do not, they will be the targets of these temporal judgments with an eternal judgment to come.

So, what will God be doing to further show His sovereignty and to lovingly continue His call for repentance?

1. He will continue to protect the 144,000. (vv.1-5)
One evidence of His power is seen the protection of these 144,000 Jewish (7:4-8), sexually virgin men who are committed followers of Jesus (v.4), who speak only the truth, and are blameless before the Lord.  Their ministry of proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah will continue unharmed despite the enormous pressure of the Great Tribulation.

2. He will send a heavenly messenger of hope. (vv.6-11)
This is the first of three angels in this chapter.  With all the rejection of Jesus that has taken place up to this point, the Lord will send out the good news message again to every man, woman, and child on earth.  There is only one eternal Gospel.  The Old Testament looked forward to a time when God would ultimately provide for the removal of sin and Messiah would come.  This redemptive plan came to fruition when Jesus paid the price on the cross as God's sacrificial Lamb and our substitute.  The Gospel is defined in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.  "Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures."  There is no other Gospel.  "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8) 

This angel will not only proclaim the good news that there is eternal life for believing in Jesus but this is the means of escaping God's wrath.  In providing every opportunity, the angel will give an invitation for people to respond.  "Fear God and give him glory"-it would be insane and spiritual suicide to not respect the Lord for who He is and what He is saying to them.  "The hour of his judgment has come"-these earthly displays are only precursors for the eternal judgment that is waiting.  "Worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water."  Acknowledging who God is means bowing down before Him as the Creator of all things, including humanity.  He is the Owner, the Redeemer, and the One who will hold each individual accountable for how they respond to Jesus.

3. He will send a heavenly messenger of warning. (vv.7-16)
The second angel will proclaim that "the earth is fully ripe" for God's wrath to begin an unprecedented reaping of those who have rejected Him to worship the satanic world leader instead.  Please note that while believers experience God's discipline for correction, the wrath of God is reserved for those who do not turn to Jesus for salvation.  This is consistent throughout Scripture.

4. He will send a heavenly messenger to implement God's wrath. (vv.17-20)
In Revelation 9:16, the army mentioned may not have seemed to be literal.  But as it turns out, here that army definitely is.  For 184 miles the blood will be "as high as a horse's bridle".

In a word of encouragement to believers in Jesus, the Holy Spirit had John write verses 12-13.  Though the principle statements certainly apply to other followers of Jesus, specifically, this promised blessing is to those martyrs of the Tribulation.  We will be blessed with eternal life, rest from our labors, leaving a legacy of faith and ministry for Christ, and receiving rewards for faithful service to our Lord.