God's respect for free will.

As I am finishing up Revelation again I was struck by this thought.  Read this passage and Ill share what struck me.

Revelation 22:9-11(NKJV)

Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” 

And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 

He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”

What struck me is God's total commitment to respecting our free will.  Even after Jesus' return, the people living at the time as well as the people born after still have the free will to believe or not believe.  Incredible!

No more sea? I wonder why?

There are several places in Scripture where details seem to be randomly inserted with no additional explanation.  Those sometimes just leave me wonder what the heck?  Here is one of those instances.

Revelation 21:1(NKJV)

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 

It's almost like an afterthought.  Oh by the way, in the new Heaven and the new Earth I am getting rid of the seas.

No explanation of why or anything.  It's just going to happen.  I wonder why? 

Oh well, something else to ponder!  :)

2 resurrections? Yep!

Yep.  You read that correctly.  Two resurrections! 

Revelation 20:4-6(NKJV)

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 

But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

I know I had always envisioned one resurrection, everybody rising together.  As you can see from the Scripture above; not true.  There will be two resurrections.  The first one when Christ returns and the second one a little more than 1,000 years later. 

Here is the other thing I noticed.  It confirms something I have written about before.  We are saved by faith but our rewards in Heaven are based on service to God.  Here we see that those who rise in the first resurrection are those who suffered for God.  Those who refused the mark of the beast. 

They rise before the rest.  The other special treatment they get is this.
 

Revelation 20:6(NKJV)

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Those in the first resurrection will be priests of God and Christ and will reign with them in the Thousand Year Reign.  Those who rise in the second resurrection will not receive that honor.  So as I said, not all will be treated equally in Heaven. 

Some might say that isn't fair but to my way of thinking, saying it isn't fair is the same as accusing God of being unjust.  How many really want to make that claim?  Hmm?  :)

"…and in righteousness He judges and makes war."

Who is this verse referring to?

Revelation 19:11(NKJV)

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 

Jesus of course. 

For all of those who think Jesus is a pacifist I call your attention to the highlighted part.  It says very plainly that Jesus judges and makes war.  That is a funny thing for a pacifist to do isn't it?  But it is even better than that.  It says that Jesus judges and makes war righteously! 

Let's take a look at the definition of righteous.

righteous

]adjective

1. characterized by uprightness or morality: a righteous observance of the law.
2. morally right or justifiable: righteous indignation.
3. acting in an upright, moral way; virtuous: a righteous and godly person.

From <http://www.dictionary.com/browse/righteous>

So the wars Jesus wages are morally right or justifiable.  Hmm.  For all of those who say war is NEVER the answer, it appears that Jesus would disagree with you!

Rejoice in others misery???

I ran across this today and found it interesting.  Generally we are told not to take pleasure in the suffering of others.  That isn't a Christian thing to do.  And yet that is exactly what Jesus tells us to do in Revelation 18:20. 

Revelation 18:20(NKJV)

“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!”

Now let me be clear.  I'm not suggesting that we routinely do this or that we become uncompassionate.  Not at all.  I'm just pointing out that a person is not always wrong or sinful for doing so.  Apparently there are times when it is appropriate. 

Fulfilling God's purpose

I find it interesting that God uses both the saved and the unsaved to fulfill His purpose.  I wonder if those who reject God know or get the feeling that God still uses them? 

Revelation 17:17-18(NKJV)

For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 

And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

Just and true are your ways!

Revelation 15:3(NKJV)

They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:      “Great and marvelous are Your works,     Lord God Almighty!     Just and true are Your ways,     O King of the saints!

Do you think that is true?  Is God a just God?  Does the outright rejection of God by many people justify God's response to those people?  In other words, is it "fair" that the people who reject God are punished as severely as they are going to be punished? 

I believe that answer is yes!  If you believe that God is the creator of the universe as I do then He wrote all of the rules.  He is the very one who determines what is just and what isn't. 

God gives us free will.  He allows us to use our intellect and make our choices freely.  But that freedom to choose does not protect us from the consequences of those choices.  We will still be held accountable.  I believe that is totally fair because God makes the choice very clear in His word.  The consequences are known up front.  The people rejecting God made their choice knowing beforehand what the consequences would be.  They can't claim "I didn't know" because they did.  Therefore I think it is totally fair.