Have people gone crazy? Nope. Read Revelation17:17

It shouldn't be a surprise.  There is plenty of warning in Scripture.

 

I have to admit though that the depth and breadth of the total ludicrousness and depravity in our country and world astounds me at times.  It seems to me that some people have lost total touch with reality.  We have actual doctors testifying to Congress that men can get pregnant and deliver babies. 

We have cities that no longer keep their criminals locked up.  The cities arrest them and then let them right back out on the streets.  And then they complain that crime is out of control.  Well duh!!!

Have people gone absolutely crazy???  How can their view of the world be so completely different than mine?

 

I ran across this verse in Revelation today and it answered that question for me. 

 

Revelation 17:17(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. 

 

There is the explanation.  This isn't something that is "just happening".  It is part of God's plan.  It leads to Armageddon and the return of Jesus. 

I sometimes wonder though why we have to build to this mighty battle?  God is all powerful.  He could, right this minute, crush the opposition and send Jesus back to earth to start the 1,000 year reign…..but He doesn't.

Why not? 

What is the purpose of putting the human race through this?  What is it we are supposed to learn?  
 

Not sure I have the answer.  I have a guess or two, but they are only guesses.  I just trust God and I will add this to the list of questions I have for Him when I get there! 

Hope you all have a blessed day!  :)

 

 

 

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?  :)

Is this where "mansplaining" originated? :)

I ran across these verses today. Check it out.

 

1 Kings 10:2-3(NKJV)

She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart. 

So Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing so difficult for the king that he could not explain it to her. 

 

If this happened today I think  Soloman would be hounded by some for "manplaining"!  :)

I hope you all have a great week.  Look to God first in all you do and you can't go wrong!

One of my biggest questions for God is…

 

Want to know what it is?

 

Why is there no condemnation of slavery in the Bible? 

 

The whole idea of slavery seems evil to me.  The idea that one human being can own another human being and do anything they want  with that human being is simply abhorrent in my opinion.

 

Yet, I don't see it condemned in the Bible.  In fact the Bible mentions slavery or "forced labor" as a if it is the natural order of things.  Here is the verse from today that prompted this question. 
 

1 Kings 9:20-21(NKJV)

All the people who were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who were not of the children of Israel—

that is, their descendants who were left in the land after them, whom the children of Israel had not been able to destroy completely—from these Solomon raised forced labor, as it is to this day. 

 

The next verse goes on to say that Solomon didn't enslave and of his countrymen, only his enemies.  So according to Scripture it is A-OK to enslave those whom you defeat in battle?

 

In the NT there is the admonition for slaves to obey their masters and for masters to treat their slaves well.  How come their isn't an admonition to abolish slavery all together?

Just gonna have to add this to the list of questions to ask God when I get there!

He who overcomes!

 

I'm sensing a theme in Revelation 2.  See if you can pick up on it.  :)

 

Revelation 2:7(NKJV)

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’

 

Revelation 2:11(NKJV)

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’

 

Revelation 2:17(NKJV)

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’

 

Revelation 2:26(NKJV)

And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—

 

He who overcomes!

Overcomes what? 

 

Overcomes the trials and tribulations of life.  Overcomes the attacks on our spiritual lives.  Overcomes the mental battle that we fight between our ears every day.  That battle between faith and fear.

 

What does it take to overcome?  It takes faith!  Faith that if you keeping battling and working God's plan things will work out!  And not just faith in a general cosmic way but faith  in God and Jesus.  Faith that God has your back!

 

Do you have faith in Jesus?  Is he leading your life?  If not maybe it is time to have a little talk with Him.  "Dear Jesus…….."