Introduction to Rev. 14:14-20 (Rev. 14: 14-20)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/25/2015 8:39 AM

My Worship Time                                                               Focus:  Introduction to Rev. 14:14-20

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                            Reference:  Rev. 14:14-20

                 Message of the verses:  “14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe." 16 Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. 18  Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe." 19 So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. 20 And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles.”

                 As we look at these verses we will see that they are about the judgment at the end of the Tribulation period, a judgment that is seen in different parts of the Bible, some of them we will look at today.  First let us compare the first coming of Jesus Christ to the earth with the second coming of Him to the earth at the end of the Tribulation period.  First we can look at a section from the book of Philippians, a section that speaks of the humiliation of our Savior when He first came to planet earth:  “6 Who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”  (Phil. 2:6-8)

                 John MacArthur summarizes the two appearances of Jesus Christ to planet earth:  “Jesus came the first time as a servant; He will return as the sovereign King.  In His first coming, He came in humility; in His second coming, He will come in majesty and splendor.  The first time He came to earth, ‘the Son of Man [came] to seek and to save that which was lost’ (Luke 19:10); when He returns, to will be to ‘judge the living and the dead’ (2 Tim. 4:1).  Jesus came the first time as the sower; He will come again as the reaper.”  As we begin to study these verses from the book of Revelation we could say that the theme of them is reaping, reaping the lost who, although they have had time to repent, they have not and now judgment is coming to them.  We can even say that what we are looking at in this passage can be defined as “The Day of the Lord,” and this is not the only place where this is spoken of in the Word of God.

                 Let us take a look at some of the verses in the Word of God that speak of this time of judgment beginning with what John the Baptist said in Matthew 3:7b “"You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”  We can see here that John knew of the judgment that would come upon the earth.  Next we can look at some of the things that Jesus said about this coming judgment:  Matthew 10:15 “"Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.’”  Matthew 11:22 and 24 “22 “Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.”  “24  "Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you."”  Matthew 12:36 and 41-42 “36  "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.”  “41 “The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42  "The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.”  John 5:28-29 “28  "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29  and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”  Romans 1:18 “18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,” and Romans 2:5-6 “5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.”  2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 “6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.”  Hebrews 10:26-27 “26  For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27  but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.”  Next we will look at 2 Peter 2:9 and also 3:7 “9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,”  “7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”

                 Now we will look at some OT verses that speak of this judgment:  Isaiah 13:11-13 “light. 11 Thus I will punish the world for its evil And the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud And abase the haughtiness of the ruthless. 12 I will make mortal man scarcer than pure gold And mankind than the gold of Ophir. 13 Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, And the earth will be shaken from its place At the fury of the LORD of hosts In the day of His burning anger.”  Next Isaiah 24:21-23 “21 So it will happen in that day, That the LORD will punish the host of heaven on high, And the kings of the earth on earth. 22 They will be gathered together Like prisoners in the dungeon, And will be confined in prison; And after many days they will be punished. 23 Then the moon will be abashed and the sun ashamed, For the LORD of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, And His glory will be before His elders.”

                 John MacArthur writes that “Two Old Testament passages present striking parallels with Revelation 14.  Isaiah 63:1-6 records a fascinating soliloquy of Messiah as He comes to execute the bloody final judgment of the unbelieving world:  ‘1 Who is this who comes from Edom, With garments of glowing colors from Bozrah, This One who is majestic in His apparel, Marching in the greatness of His strength? "It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save." 2 Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like the one who treads in the wine press? 3 “I have trodden the wine trough alone, And from the peoples there was no man with Me. I also trod them in My anger And trampled them in My wrath; And their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments, And I stained all My raiment. 4 “For the day of vengeance was in My heart, And My year of redemption has come. 5 "I looked, and there was no one to help, And I was astonished and there was no one to uphold; So My own arm brought salvation to Me, And My wrath upheld Me. 6  "I trod down the peoples in My anger And made them drunk in My wrath, And I poured out their lifeblood on the earth."

                 “This passage, like Revelation 14:19-20, uses the metaphor of trampling grapes in a winepress to depict the devastation of God’s final judgment.”

                 “The prophet Joel recorded the devastation caused in Israel by drought, fire, and a massive invasion of locusts (Joel 1:1-2:11).   Then the prophet used those temporal judgments to warn of even more devastating judgment of the Day of the Lord (2:18-3:21).  In Joel 3:12-13 that judgment is described using the same imagery found in Revelation 14:  ‘12 Let the nations be aroused And come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, For there I will sit to judge All the surrounding nations. 13 Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the wine press is full; The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great.’”

                 Next we want to look at a parable that the Lord gave in the book of Matthew about the wheat and the tares.  It is found in Matthew chapter 13 and after the parallel is given the disciples asked the Lord to explain it and He said the following in Matthew 13:39-42 “39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. 40 “So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. 41  "The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42  and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

                 John MacArthur concludes his introductory commentary with the following paragraph which gives us the outline we will follow as we conclude this 14^th chapter of the book of Revelation, a chapter we began to look at on the 5^th of July.  “This passage pictures the final harvest of divine wrath in two agricultural motifs:  the grain harvest (vv. 14-16) and the grape harvest (vv. 17-20), raising the question as to why John recorded two visions of the same event.  There are many depictions of this event by the prophets, including those mentioned above, so it is not unusual for John to record two visions of it.  But there is also a specific situation at this point in the book of Revelation that suggests a purpose behind the repetition.  As the Tribulation nears its climax, two main aspects of God’s eschatological wrath remain to be poured out on the sinful world.  The first aspect involves the seven bowl judgments 16:1-21), a rapid-fire sequence of frightening and deadly worldwide judgments that will destroy the final Babylon—the Antichrist’s empire.  The second aspect in the Battle of Armageddon, at which point Jesus Christ returns to judge and destroy His enemies (19:11-21).”

                 Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I can’t help but look again at a verse from the book of Second Peter who after writing that there will come a day when the entire universe will be burned up with fire he writes “11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12  looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!”

My Steps of Faith for Today:  To live that way that Peter describes.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Italy” (Acts 27:6).

Today’s Bible question:  “What woman and her family were saved when Jericho was destroyed?”

Answer in our next SD.

7/25/2015 10:08 AM

                

How They Died (Rev. 14:13)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/24/2015 8:47 AM

My Worship Time                                                                                     Focus:  How They Died

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                            Reference:  Revelation 14:13

            Message of the verse:  “13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, ’Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’" "Yes," says the Spirit, "so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them."”

            As we begin to look at this verse we see that John hears a voice from heaven and this is the sixth time that he has heard a voice from heaven and in the rest of the book he will hear a voice from heaven three more times.  He is told twelve times to write and we remember one time when the seven peals of thunder spoke that he was about to write that he was told not to write what they said.  John is under a divine mandate to record the visions that he saw writes John MacArthur.

            What he is told to write is “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.”  Who is John including or who is God including in this beatitude?  MacArthur writes “This includes martyrs such as Antipas (2:13), t hose seen underneath the heavenly altar (6:9-11), and the ‘great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes…the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb’ (Rev. 7:9, 14).  These martyrs are blessed not only because they lived life to the fullest in obedience and trust, but also because they ‘died in the Lord.’  They will experience in death the fullest reward, because ‘Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones’ (Ps. 116:15).  With Paul, they will be able t cry out triumphantly, ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ (1 Cor. 15:55).”

            So we learn that not only those who have already died in the Lord, but also those future tribulation saints that will die in the Lord will be blessed, comforting them that they have nothing to fear.

            I find it interesting that the Holy Spirit is only quoted here and also in 22:17 where we read “The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.”  Now as we look again at verse thirteen here we see the word “Yes” and then it goes on to say “says the Spirit,” and John MacArthur writes “His emphatic ‘Yes’ ( the Greek particle nai indicates strong affirmation) shows that He agrees with the heavenly voice that the dead are blessed.  As their sustainer and comforter, who loves them is grieved by their pain, the Holy Spirit longs to see that suffering end.  He adds two further reasons for the Tribulation martyrs ‘blessedness.”

            The second reason is that “they may rest from their labors.”  MacArthur adds Kopos describes hard, difficult exhausting toil.  It can also refer to bother, annoyance, or trouble.  Certainly the Tribulation saints will experience the whole gamut of the word’s meanings.”  As we read the tragic things that will happen to people during this time period we can surely understand the pain and suffering and the mourning that these people will go through as they not only suffer, but also their family and friends will suffer greatly.  We can understand how death will be a relief to them as even in today’s world when a person is suffering and they know that they are a believer that they long to leave this world to go to heaven to be with the Lord.  Because these people do not have the mark it will make life very difficult for them and many will lose their lives.

            The last reason for their blessedness that the Holy Spirit gives here is that “their deeds follow with them.”  MacArthur writes “Era (deeds) refers to their service to the Lord.”  I remember many year ago when my wife and I were heading to Chicago to attend Founders Week at the Moody Bible Institute that I was listening to a sermon on the way there.  What the man was talking about was the rewards that people will get when they get to heaven and he made a point that the rewards of Mr. Moody would still be accumulating as his work on earth continued even while he was in heaven.  The Bible teaches us that we will receive rewards for what we have done in the body while here on earth and my belief is that the Lord has certain things for all of us to do and as we faithfully do those things that we will be rewarded for them when we get to heaven.  The Bible also teaches that we can lose our rewards too and so we must be faithful all the way to the end of our lives so we can finish strong so we will not lose any rewards.  Paul writes to his son in the faith, Timothy the following which comes from his second letter to Timothy which is the last letter he wrote and was written shortly before he died:  “7  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8  in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”  What a wonderful thing to write at the end of his life as he did do the things that God wanted him to do, and much of that included suffering for the Lord, but now as his time draws near his death will be a blessing to him as he is ushered into the presence of the Lord.  I have mentioned the rewards that we can get and there are a number of them, but according to 1 Cor. 3:12-15 which states “12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”  We see here that men’s works will be tested and there is a chance that they can be lost as we have already written about.

            MacArthur concludes “The dead who have lived in obedience and trust will be blessed with rest and reward after they die.  Those who live now for wanton pleasures are dead even while they live. (1 Tim. 5:6).  Being ‘dead in [their] trespasses and sins’ (Eph. 2:1), they face the horror of eternal damnation in hell.  The sobering truth is that the choices people make in their life will irreversibly chart the course of their eternal destinies.  A Christless eternity of unrelieved torment or the blissful rest and reward of heaven:  that is the choice faced by every person.”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It is my desire to finish the race strong like the ones spoken of in this passage and also the example of the apostle Paul.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  To love the Lord with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to better understand the love that the Lord has for me.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Isaac” (Genesis 27:4).

Today’s Bible question:  “Where was the ship planning to go on which Paul suffered shipwreck?”

Answer in our next SD.

7/24/2015 9:35 AM

 

             

How the Tribulation Saints Lived PT-3 (Rev.14:12)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/23/2015 8:42 AM

My Worship Time                                                Focus:  How the Tribulation Saints Lived PT-3

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                            Reference:  Revelation 14:12

            Message of the verse:  “12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” 

            As mentioned we are looking at one of the few doctrines that is found in the book of Revelation, the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, or as some have put it the doctrine of eternal security.  We have look in yesterdays SD at two of the five points that this doctrine rests on and today we want to continue to look at points three through five.

            John MacArthur writes “A third proof of the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints is that God’s power guarantees it.  God’s power that transforms believers into new creations (2 Cor. 5:17) will sustain them, so that they can never be lost.  In John 10:27-29 Jesus stated emphatically that God’s power keeps believers secure:  ‘My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.’”  I would like to look at a verse or two from the book of Romans and chapter eight:  “35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED." 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39  nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:35-39).”  As we are learning it is the power of God that keeps us, and so nothing can separate us from His love for us.

            The fourth proof of the perseverance of the saints is found in Ephesians 2:8-9 which reads “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  We see that it is God’s grace that saves us through the faith that He gives us to believe in Him for the salvation He gives to us.  Paul goes on to say that it is nothing we can do to receive it, as we cannot work for our salvation for it is a gift, however after we are saved as verse ten tells us we do work to show that we are saved, a new child of God:  “10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Let us look at another verse from 1 Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Paul then goes on to explain how the Thessalonians’ safekeeping would be accomplished in verse 24 “Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”

            John MacArthur writes “To argue that saving faith can die, or be lost, contradicts God’s promise, purpose, power, and grace.  Believers have been ‘born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for [them], who are protected by the power of God through faith for a ssalvation ready to be revealed in the last time’ (1 Pet. 1:3-5).”

            Now we come to the part of this doctrine that shows us that we too have a responsibility to preserve too.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:22 “"You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.”  Next we look at Matthew 24:13 “"But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”  Barnabas tells the people in Antioch, as he began to encourage them “Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; (Acts 11:23).”  Paul writes to the Romans (God)“6 who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.”  John MacArthur writes “Colossians 1:21-23 clearly reveals God’s part in salvation and man’s responsibility to persevere.”  “21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach- 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.”  MacArthur continues “Christians are redeemed, ‘although [they] were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds’ because God ‘has now reconciled [them] before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.’  But that does not obviate believers’ responsibility to ‘continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that [they] have heard.’  In a similar vein the author of Hebrews wrote ‘For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end’ (Heb. 3:14).  The apostle John described Christians as overcomers (2:7, 11, 17, 26-28; 3:5, 12, 21, 1 John 5:4-5).

            “Believers persevere faith (1 Pet. 1:5; 1 John 5:4-5), fear (Jer. 32:40), love (Eph. 6:24), obedience (John 8:31), and by turning away from sin (2 Cor. 7:1; cf. Rom. 6:12-14).  All those means are granted by God—who then exhorts believers to manifest them in their lives.  The doctrine of perseverance must not be misconstrued as teaching that believers will be eternally saved regardless of their belief, or behavior.  What it does teach is that, as noted above, true believers will continue in the faith.  Justification will be followed by sanctification that leads to glorification.”

            A question arises as to what happen to those who once professed faith in Christ, but the fell away.  The Bible teaches us that those who do fall away were never saved in the first place.  Judas is surely an example of this as he walked with the Lord for three years and then in the end showed that he never truly believed what the Lord was teaching in his heart, thus he never was a believer.  I have mentioned that people who told me all about the Lord when I was saved in 1974 have later said that we are not into this anymore which tells me that they never were really saved in the first place.  All we have to do is look at Jesus’ parable of the seeds from the gospel of Mark when He gives His disciples the explanation of it in Mark 4:16-20 “16  "In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; 17  and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away. 18  "And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, 19  but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 “And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."”  In my Spiritual Diaries on the book of Mark I covered this from the one dated March 13, 2012.  Jesus also spoke along these lines in the 15^th chapter of the book of John when He was talking to His disciples about the vine and the branches.  I remember studying about this and listening to a sermon by John MacArthur on this study and he stated that this scene happened right after Judas went out to betray Christ and so this could have been the reason as to why Jesus talked to His disciples about this parable.  Jesus states that He is the vine and believers are connected to Him through the branches, but He also teaches that some of the vines have to be cut off and burned up and this is what MacArthur said were the “Judas branches;” the ones that never were truly believers.  “They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us (1 John 2:19).”

            I have never read “Pilgrims Progress,” but have heard some things about it to give me a desire to read it someday or at least listen to it.  At any rate John MacArthur quotes a small portion of this book in his commentary that illustrates the fact that true Christians persevere under trials, while false believers fall away from faith.  Even though this SD is fairly lengthy I have decided to quote this portion of that book.

            “I saw then in my dream, that when CHRISTIAN was got to the borders of the shadow of death, there met him two men, children of them that brought up an evil report of the good land, making hast to go back (Num. 13:32), to whom CHRISTIAN spake as follows:

Chr. Whither are you going?

The two men. They said, ‘Back, back; and we would have you do so too, if either life or peace is prized by you.’

Chr.  ‘Why, what is the matter?’ said CHRISTIAN.

Men. ‘Matter!’ said they; ‘we were going that way as you are going and when as far as we durst; and indeed we were almost past coming back, for had we gone a little further, we had not been here to bring the news to thee.’

Chr.  ‘But what have you met with?’ said CHRISTAN.

Men.  Why, we were almost in the Valley of the Shadow of Death (Psa. 44:19; 107:10); but that by good hap we looked before us and saw the danger before we came to it.

Chr.  ‘But what have you seen?’ said CHRISTIAN.

Men.  Seen! Why the valley itself, which is as dark as pitch.  We also saw there the hobgoblins, satyrs, and dragons of the pit; we heard also in that valley a continual howling and yelling, as of a people under unutterable misery, who there sat bound in affliction and irons; and over that valley hangs the discouraging clouds of confusion; death also doth always spread his wings over it; in a word, it is every whit dreadful, being utterly without order (Job. 3:5; 10:22).

Chr.  Then said CHRISTAI, ‘I perceive not yet, by what you have said, but that this is my way to the desired haven.’

Men.  ‘Be if thy way, we will not choose it for ours.’

So they parted, and CHRISTIAN went on his way; but still with his sword drawn in his hand, for fear lest he should be assaulted.”

Two more things in which I will briefly state that the perseverance of the Tribulation saints will be evident because they will keep the commandments of God.  There is a second reason and that will be though faith in Jesus as verse 12 states.

            MacArthur finishes his comments on this section:  “Why are these faithful dead believers blessed?  Because they lived pure, noble, purposeful, obedient, rich, joyous, exemplary lives.  They live life to the fullest in faith and obedience to God.  Even if there were no heaven, that would still be the best way to live.  But there is heaven to follow this life for God’s people; therefore the deaths of the Tribulation saints will also be eternally blessed.”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  As things grow more difficult in the country that we live in and as I read about what will happen to those who live in the Tribulation period I pray that my faith will increase to be able to live as these people lived.  I remember a statement that I read in Cory Ten boom’s book “The Hiding Place,” in which her father was talking to her about faith and he said to her “when do I give you the ticket to get on the train?”  She replied “When I am about to get onto the train.”  God does not give us faith today for what we need tomorrow, but gives us faith to live each day, after all He knows what we need and when we need it.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Believe that God will give me the faith that I need for today to live for His glory.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Readiness” (Matthew 25).

Today’s Bible question:  “Who said ‘Make me a savory meal, such as I love…that my soul may bless thee before I die?’”

Answer in our next SD.

7/23/2015 10:12 AM

 

How the Tribulations Saints Lived PT-2 (Rev. 14:12)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/22/2015 8:07 AM

My Worship Time                                               Focus:  How the Tribulations Saints Lived PT-2

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                            Reference:  Revelation 14:12

            Message of the verses:  “12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”

            We have been talking about “the perseverance of the saints,” and have described it in terms like once saved always saved or eternal security.  What this doctrine says is that in eternity past the Lord chose people for eternal salvation, and then when Christ came to earth He died in their place, and then at some time in the lives of these people the Holy Spirit of God gave them an effectual call to salvation that they would answer and at that point confess that they are a sinner in need of salvation trusting the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord to save them and to give them eternal life.

            John MacArthur writes of this doctrine, the perseverance of the saints that it rests on five solid, unshakable pillars, and then goes on to explain them which is what we will attempt to do in this SD.

            The first proof of this truthfulness of this doctrine is that God has established it, and then MacArthur sites Psalm 37:23-34 which we will now look at.  “23 The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way. 24 When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand. 25 I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken Or his descendants begging bread. 26 All day long he is gracious and lends, And his descendants are a blessing. 27 Depart from evil and do good, So you will abide forever. 28 For the LORD loves justice And does not forsake His godly ones; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off. 29 The righteous will inherit the land And dwell in it forever. 30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, And his tongue speaks justice. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; His steps do not slip. 32 The wicked spies upon the righteous And seeks to kill him. 33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand Or let him be condemned when he is judged.  34 Wait for the LORD and keep His way, And He will exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.”

            Next we will look at some different verses from the book of Isaiah and see how he also celebrated this great truth:

            “1 But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! 2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. 3 “For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place. 4 "Since you are precious in My sight, Since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life. 5 “Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, And gather you from the west. 6 “I will say to the north, ’Give them up!’ And to the south, ’Do not hold them back.’ Bring My sons from afar And My daughters from the ends of the earth, 7 Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made’ (Isa. 43:1-7).”

            “17 Israel has been saved by the LORD With an everlasting salvation; You will not be put to shame or humiliated To all eternity (Isa. 45:17).”

            “14 But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, And the Lord has forgotten me." 15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. 16 “Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me (Isa. 49:14-16).”

            6 "Lift up your eyes to the sky, Then look to the earth beneath; For the sky will vanish like smoke, And the earth will wear out like a garment And its inhabitants will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not wane (Isa. 51:6).”

            Now we will move to the New Testament to show that God promises eternal salvation there also.  We begin with John 3:36, which is one of my all time favorite verses.

            “36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."”

            Next we look at one of the most famous verse in all of Scripture, John 3:16 “16  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

            Next is John 5:24: “24  "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”  John MacArthur writes “This is the promise which He Himself made to us:  eternal life. (1 John 2:25).

            He then writes “A second truth upon which the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints rests in that God’s purpose assures it.  Jesus declared:  “37 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38  "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39  "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day’ (John 6:37-40).”

            God’s promise will totally rest upon His sovereign purpose or plan, and we have seen this stated in the above verses, and that is none of those that He gives to the Son should be lost, and then in John 6:44 we see this again:  “44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.”  As I stated in my opening comments that God in eternity past chose some for salvation, which is His plan, and then He gives them to His Son who died for them on the cross.  I realize that when we look at this from a human perspective that we may think that this is not fair, however since sin entered into the world as seen in the third chapter of Genesis the only thing that is fair is that all sinners go to hell, however God has a plan to save sinners and this was accomplished through His Son who died on the cross for those who believe in Him.  John MacArthur writes “All who come to saving faith in Jesus will be part of the ‘resurrection of life’ (John 5:29); now will be lost.  Romans 8:28-30 also teaches that there are no breaks in the process of salvation:  “28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”   MacArthur concludes this thought “All those whom God foreknew are predestined, called, justified, and glorified.  From its beginning in eternity past to its conclusion in eternity future, the salvation process is an uninterrupted continuity; there is no possibility of anyone dropping out along the way.  ‘For I am confident of this very things,’ wrote Paul, ‘that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus’ (Phil. 1:6; cf. 1 Cor. 1:7-9).  In Romans 11:29 he added, ‘The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.’  What God purposes, He will carry out.”

            What we are looking at is something that is not too common in the book of Revelation, and that is doctrine, but as we take a look at this doctrine of eternal security it is important for all of us to understand it completely and I believe that is why MacArthur includes this in his messages on Revelation and thus in his commentary too.  We have three more proofs to look at, which we will continue in our next SD.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I am thankful that the Lord called me to salvation, as this was the most important thing that has ever happened to me in my life, and it is my desire to learn all that I can about this doctrine and apply it to my life.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  To love the Lord, and to better understand more about His great salvation that He has bestowed upon me.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “The Macedonians” (2 Corinthians 9:2).

Today’s Bible question:  “What made the wise virgins wise?”  Hint:  look at Matthew 25.

Answer in our next SD.

7/22/2015 8:56 AM

How They Lived (Rev. 14:12)

 

SPIRITUA DIARY FOR 7/21/2015 7:55 AM

My Worship Time                                                                                    Focus:  How They Lived

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                            Reference:  Revelation 14:12

            Message of the verses:   “12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”

            We begin our study on what probably is a testimony of all the saints who are in the Tribulation period who have died for the cause of Christ, who have died because they refused to take the mark of the beast or to worship the idol that was set up, and in Today’s SD we will look at their perseverance, the attitude they had when things began to get very rough for them and the mindset they had similar to what our Lord said in Matthew 5:10-12 “10  "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

            I believe it is important for me to quote the beginning paragraph from John MacArthur as this expresses a wonderful doctrine:  “The phrase ‘the perseverance of the saints’ introduces one of the most important and most comforting doctrines in Scripture.  It expresses the truth that all those whom God has elected, called, and justified will never lose their faith, but will persevere it until death.  That reality provides assurance, hope, and joy to every true believer in Jesus Christ and brings an end to fear and doubt.  It also reveals that believers’ deaths are blessed because death ushers them into the glories of heaven.” He goes on to write about this doctrine “That statement emphasizes the reality that God keeps His own saints by sustaining their faith to the very end, no matter what occurs.  True saving faith in its very nature is eternal and cannot be lost or destroyed.”

            John, in this verse is speaking of those who have and continue to go through the worst time on the history of earth.  Jesus spoke of this in Mt 24:22 “Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.  Mt 24:24  "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.”  We see in these verses the truth that John MacArthur is conveying in his statement about what some call eternity security of the elect.

            This group of believers has in it both Jews and Gentiles who many of them will be saved through the ministry of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists and also the two witnesses.  This will be the most intensified period of persecution that has ever taken place on planet earth.  We are reminded of what happened to the Jews during the horrible time of WWII when the demon possessed Hitler tried to kill off all of them, but this will be a small picture of what will be going on, not just in Europe, but around the entire globe during the Tribulation Period.  Satan has desired to be worshiped and for these last three and a half years that will happen, and because he knows that his time on earth will be short the persecution will be great and many will die in the Lord.  Paul’s letter to the Corinthians chapter ten and verse thirteen states “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (KJV).”  The word “temptation” can also mean tests and that is what it will be speaking of when applied to the saints in the Tribulation period.

            I want to conclude this portion of this SD by giving another quote from John MacArthur and since this section from verse twelve is so long we will divide it up into different SD’s.  “The encouraging message of verses 12 and 13 forms a brief respite in the revelation of God’s judgment against unbelievers.  Verses 9-11 painted a terrifying picture of the damnation of the unrepentant worshipers of Antichrist.  The narrative of God’s judgment resumes in verse 14 and continues through the rest of the chapter.  In the midst of all that carnage, with unprecedented disasters taking place all around them, the Tribulation saints will remain faithful and loyal to Christ.  Even the prospect of martyrdom will not persuade them to abandon their faith.  Their persevering loyalty to Jesus Christ forms the bright spot in the darkness of the Tribulation.  It also answers the question of the unbelieving world, ‘The great day of [God the Father’s and Christ’s] wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’ (6:17). The Tribulation believers will stand until the end.”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  There are a couple of verses that the Lord has begin to use in my life, and these two verses in Revelation chapter fourteen along with Hosea 13:6 help me to understand better things that are important to me.  Hosea 13:6 seems to me to speak of what is going on in our country and in the church in our country to a certain extent:  “As they had their pasture, they became satisfied, And being satisfied, their heart became proud; Therefore they forgot Me.”  Could it be that we in the church in this country have become satisfied so much from the gifts that we have been given from the Giver that we have become proud and forgotten the Lord?

My Steps of Faith for Today:  To remember to worship the Giver of the gifts and not the gifts that the giver has given to me.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “One young bullock and two rams” (Exodus 29:1).

Today’s Bible question:  “To whom did Paul boast of the work in Achaia”

Answer in our next SD.

7/21/2015 9:01 AM   

 

Introduction to Rev. 14:12-13 (Rev. 14:12-13)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/20/2015 10:31 AM

My Worship Time                                                               Focus:  Introduction to Rev. 14:12-13

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                Reference:  Revelation 14:12-13

            Message of the verses:  “12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.  13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, ’Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’" "Yes," says the Spirit, "so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them."”

            I wrote the following in my Spiritual Diary from September 1, 2005 “John has been writing about those who are earth dwellers and who follow the antichrist, and will continue to follow him all the way to hell.  Those who are believers at this time in history will be sought out and killed if they are caught because of their faith in Jesus Christ and their refusal to take the mark of the beast.  John now writes about those who will follow the Lord Jesus Christ, even unto death in verses 11 and 12.  There is a difference in these people from the earth dwellers that will determine where they will spend eternity and in verse 13 John writes what the angel had said about this:  "Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from all their toils and trials; for their good deeds follow them!"   Those who are believers are blessed and will spend eternity in heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ, and those who are earth dwellers and follow antichrist will spend eternity in hell with antichrist, the false prophet and Satan.

            “It is good to remember at this time that some of those John was writing this letter to were being persecuted and these words would have been a great comfort to them, and not only those people but those who have been or are being persecuted even today for their faith in Jesus Christ.  Revelations in not just a book of things that will soon take place, but it is a book that has brought comfort to many people throughout the Church age.”

            I was listening to John MacArthur’s sermon on these two verses on my way to church yesterday and one of the things that spoke to me was that he would not only have a message on these two verses alone, but in his commentary there is a whole chapter dedicated to these two verses.  Another of the things that caught my attention was the word blessed and how we find it throughout the Bible and so as we look at the introduction to these two verses we will look at this word and some of the places that it is found in the Scriptures.

            John MacArthur writes “The Bible has much to say about happiness.  The familiar New Testament word mararios (blessed) refers to spiritual joy, bliss, fulfillment, and satisfaction.  It describes an inner joy that is the fulfillment of every longing, a serene, untouchable, unassailable contentment and peace.  The Old Testament and New Testament reveal much about such blessedness.”  With this we will look at some different passages from both the OT and NT that have this word in it.

“1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night (Ps. 1:1-2).”

“How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! (God’s Son) (Ps. 2:12b).”

“1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! 2 How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!(Ps. 32:1-2; cf. Rom. 4:7-8).”

“4 How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood (Ps. 40:4).”

How blessed is he who considers the helpless; The LORD will deliver him in a day of trouble (Ps. 41:1).”

“4 How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You To dwell in Your courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple (Ps. 65:4).”

“4 How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You. Selah (Ps. 84:4).”

“5 How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, In whose heart are the highways to Zion! (Ps. 84:5).”

“3 How blessed are those who keep justice, Who practice righteousness at all times! (Ps. 106:3).”

“1 Praise the LORD! How blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who greatly delights in His commandments (Ps. 112:1).”

“2 How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart (Ps. 119:2).”

“32 "Now therefore, O sons, listen to me, For blessed are they who keep my ways (Ps. 8:32).”

“34 “Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts (Pr. 8:34).”

“3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matt. 5:3-12).”

“29 Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed’ (John 20:29).”

“12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12).”

“14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, 14  If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you (1 Peter 3:14; 4:14).”

John MacArthur writes “But the most startling pronouncement of blessing in all of Scripture is found in verse 13.  Amazingly, this second of seven beatitudes in Revelation (cf. 1:3; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14) pronounces blessing on the dead.  Such a thought is incomprehensible to most people, who view death as something to be avoided.  ‘Blessed are the living’ who seem a more appropriate motto for most people.

“The obvious question that the text provokes is ‘Why are these dead blessed?’  The answer it presents is twofold:  The dead in view here are blessed because of how they lived and because of how they died.”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  As we live in a country that began because of the persecution that believers endured in Europe, so the fled there to begin a country where people could worship the way they wanted, we in this country are beginning to come full circle and so we as believers, I as a believer are in need of trusting in the God of the Word and the Word of God to see me through the upcoming difficult times.

My steps of Faith for Today:  To love the Lord with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to understand better how to live in His love.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Esther and Song of Solomon.”

Today’s Bible question:  “When Aaron was consecrated as priest, what animals were offered?”

Answer in our next SD.

7/20/2015 11:07 AM

 

3rd Angel: Promising Damnation (Rev. 14:9-11)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/19/2015 9:32 PM

My Worship Time                                                          Focus:  3^rd Angel:  Promising Damnation

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                Reference:  Revelation 14:9-11

            Message of the verses:  “9  Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10  he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11  "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."”

            I have already quoted from John MacArthur on his belief that these angels as far as how they come in order in this chapter are not in chronological sequences.  He writes more on this in this section:  “The rejection of the gospel preached by the first angel results in the pronouncement of judgment by the second angel, which will be carried out in the damnation described by the third angel.  The third angel will deliver his warning with a loud voice, so that all will hear and understand his message.  God, being perfectly holy and righteous, judges people because they reject what they know to be true.  That is why everyone sentenced to hell will be without excuse (Rom. 1:20-21).”  These angels appear in a logical order, but not chronological sequence.

            We can see who the message of the third angel is for in verse nine, which are those who have received the mark of the beast, and those who worship the beast.  Once a person has decided to take the mark and worship the beast there is no turning back for they have stepped over the deadline, which is illustrated in a song that I included in an earlier SD.  People do this same thing today as they have been doing it since the beginning of time, that is they reject the truth of God and believe the lie of Satan, and there comes a point in their lives when like God did to Pharaoh, He hardens their hearts.  Satan causes his people to bring up something that is usually made into a law that true believers cannot do, and in this case it is the worship of the beast and receiving his mark.  In our country today something has just happened along these lines that I believe is just the beginning of what will amount to persecution for believers, and that is what the Supreme court did a few weeks back in making same sex marriage the law of the land.  In our sermon today our Pastor spoke on three verses in the book of Matthew:  “10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matthew 5:10-12).”  He had already given a sermon on the Supreme Court decision on same sex marriage last Sunday night, and since he has been going through the Sermon on the Mount these are the verses that were next in line.  He also mentioned a website, www.Americanthinker.com where he had read an article from that sight dated May, 10, and in that article the author gives a kind of a roadmap on the steps of persecution and how they begin. 

            As we look at what will happen to those who take the mark of the beast and those who worship him it causes our hearts to break over their blindness.  I want to quote a verse from the book of Acts that was used in our church service this evening and it speaks of what the Apostle Paul did, something all believers should do so that when we read of the judgment that is spoken of by this third angel we can say that we have done the right thing to help people like this who are alive in our world today.  “16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols.”  This is what is going to  happen during the tribulation period, as when people receive the mark and worship the beast they will be worshiping an idol.  Now what did Paul do about the uneasiness in his heart for these people?  “17 So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present.”  Now we can’t witness to those who will receive the mark of the beast at this time, but we can witness to those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord today.

            John MacArthur finishes his commentary on these verses by writing:  “The third angel concludes his message with a final sobering thought about the punishment of those who worship the beast, declaring that ‘the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night.’  This angel would strongly disagree with those who deny the eternality of hell.  His description of hell as the place those where the smoke of the torment of the wicked goes up forever and ever (cf. 20:10) is consistent with the rest of Scripture.  Isaiah (Isa. 66:24), Daniel (Dan. 12:2), John the Baptist (Matt. 3:12; Luke 3:17), and the apostle Paul (2 Thess. 1:9) also affirm that hell is eternal.  But no one taught that sobering truth more clearly than did the Lord Jesus Christ.  He spoke of hell as the place of ‘eternal fire’ (Matt. 18:8; 25:41), of ‘unquenchable fire’ (Mark 9:43), where ‘the fire is not quenched’ (Mark 9:48).  And in Matthew 25:46, Jesus clearly taught that the torment of the lost in hell will last as long as the blessedness of the redeemed in heaven.  Though human sensitivities may balk at the doctrine of eternal punishment, it is both the explicit teaching of the Bible and demanded by God’s justice and holiness.

            “So these three angels deliver God’s last call to repentance before the final judgments fall and the Lord Jesus Christ returns.  But God’s gracious warnings will go unheeded by most of the sinful world.  There is perhaps no clear illustration in Scripture of the sad truth that ‘men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil’ (John 3:19).”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I desire to be ready to tell others of the hope that is in me, to tell others of the love that God has for them, and that Jesus paid it all.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  To love the Lord with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to live in the love of the Lord.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Pharaoh’s baker and butler” (Genesis 40:5).

Today’s Bible question:  “Which two books in the Old Testament do not contain the name of God?”

Answer in our next SD.

7/19/2015 10:19 PM