Torment as a spectator sport!

 I love how different things come to my attention every time I read the Bible.  I saw this verse in a whole new way this morning, especially the highlighted part.

 

Revelation 14:9-11(NKJV)

Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 

he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

 

Did you catch that?  Those who accept the mark of the beast will be tormented "in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb."
 

I had always thought of the punishment/torment taking place down in hell while Jesus was up above in Heaven.  It's kind of weird thinking of Jesus and the angels sitting there watching the torment actually happen.  Seems like shades of the Old Testament to me.  That isn't a bad thing in my opinion.

To be clear I am not criticizing God in any way about this.  I think in this day and age it might be good to teach more about this side of Jesus.  Too many people, in my opinion, think of Jesus as peaceful and all forgiving and they don't really believe there is a final punishment coming to those who don't accept Jesus.

According to Scripture they are in for a big surprise!  Not only is there punishment coming but Jesus and the angels are going to watch the punishment!

 

So here is a question.  Have you accepted Jesus yet?  If not, why not accept Him right now.  Just have a quiet conversation with Jesus.  Let Him know what you are looking for and He will lead you from there.  "Dear Jesus….."

Amen!

"…a still small voice."

Do you hear the still small voice?  Do you hear God whisper in your ear? 

 

1 Kings 19:11-12(NKJV)

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 

and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

 

In the cacophony of life you have to make an effort to hear the still small life.  How do you do that?  By SEEKING God.  By making an intentional effort to communicate with God throuhg prayer and the study of His word.  By listening to God instead of talking at Him. 

Make an intentional effort to find the still small voice and I guarantee you will hear it! 

 

Who ya going to listen too?

 

This seems like common sense to me.  When God takes the time to communicate with you directly, why would you listen to anyone else on the same matter if it differed from what God told you?

 

In the passage below you have a man of God (prophet) who confronted the king.  Afterward the king invited the man of God to stay and eat with the King.  See the response below.

 

1 Kings 13:6-10(NKJV)

Then the king answered and said to the man of God, “Please entreat the favor of the Lord your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.” So the man of God entreated the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored to him, and became as before. 

Then the king said to the man of God, “Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.”

But the man of God said to the king, “If you were to give me half your house, I would not go in with you; nor would I eat bread nor drink water in this place. 

For so it was commanded me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘You shall not eat bread, nor drink water, nor return by the same way you came.’” 

So he went another way and did not return by the way he came to Bethel.

 

Seem simple enough.  So the man of God heads out.  Then another guy approaches the man of God and this guy invited the man of God to his house to eat.  The man of God tells him no, God told him not to eat there.  This new guys claims to be a prophet and he says that an angel told him to tell the man of God it was OK if he went back and ate.

Here is my question.  If God is speaking to you directly, why would you listen to what some other person claims an angel told him that directly contradicts God? 

In the story of Joan of Arc, the one time she listened to people instead of God was the time that led her to be burned at the stake. 

So how did it work out for the man of God?  He got killed by a lion!  :)

Who ya going to listen too?  :)