 |
| "Close up of a Waterfall" It sounded like an incredibly loud roar, booming.
© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.
|
The richest things in life are free.19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."(Matthew 6:19-21)
Revelation Chapter 19
Heaven Exults over Babylon
1 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! 2 For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” 3 Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” 4 And the twenty- four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!” 5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!”
Wow! This would be so amazing to witness! At Church one day a woman was describing how she wished she could sing better like in a Choir. The Pastor and I smiled and said in Heaven you won't have to worry. People won't be so picky with each other. Each voice will sound beautiful.
46 Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. 47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, 48 and said to them, “ Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.We've all been around people who are obsessed with "ME, me, ME!" Sometimes I am guilty of this. Luke 9:46-48 describes how we should seek to be His servants and not try and grab the glory. It belongs to Him. But a funny thing happens when I'm humble... I get extra blessed!!! It's all gonna work out in the end.
(Luke 9:46-48 NKJV)
6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
These verses describe the angels, God, the Lamb, "Jesus," everyone raising the roof of Heaven. Their song is so loud it sounds like a huge waterfall crashing to the ground. What a great rock concert that's gonna be! Right? Drifted off just imagining lol! Jesus is the bride of the Church and the marriage is after our works are done on earth. It's a forever deal.
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.We've all failed in righteousness. None of us are perfect enough to be with God. So instead of wiping us all out, He chose to become the sacrifice for us instead. We are clean! It's our faith that makes us righteous now.
(Romans 3:21-24 NKJV)
9 Then he said to me, “Write:‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb! ’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
We are not to bow down to anyone other than Jesus.
Christ on a White Horse
11 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. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
These verses really sum up so much of the New Testament. Jesus is faithful and true. All of this was done so He could draw us to Him. He loves us so much He doesn't want anyone to miss out on His plan. His robe was dipped in blood at the crucifixion. White is the symbol of purity. The armies in heaven wearing fine linen represent the Church. We will be completely clean, sparkling white : )
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
(John 1:1-5 NKJV)
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two- edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
(Hebrews 4:12-13 NKJV)
The Beast and His Armies Defeated
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.”
Evil is never really pretty is it?
19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.
This is Armageddon. The final battle on earth. Evil will be no more.
(Revelation 19:1-21 NKJV)
Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank and praise You for all that is good. I lift up Ukraine and those in need. Please help us be aware of the needs around us. I tend to be so busy thinking I forget to do something. Grant us wisdom and compassion. I pray for Your blessing on our nation that You will guide us in the right path. Please bring peace to Jerusalem. It is so amazing how long they have survived : ) You have plans in place. Speak to us through Your Word Father, so we might gain understanding.
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
10 Set the world right;
Do what's best––
as above, so below.
11 Keep us alive with three square meals.
12 Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
13 Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes .
(Matthew 6:9-13 Message)
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
This is a great song from Delirious, "Majesty" (link)
Here are Pastor Chuck Smith's, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, notes. I am having a lot of fun and get excited when my thoughts align with his notes : ) If you'd like to dig deeper into the Bible you can get what's called a Bible Handbook from a Christian book store. Only the Holy Spirit can interpret the complete meaning of God's Word but we do have access to a lot of great resources. My favorite is Christianbook.com . Just think how amazing it will be at the aha moment when it all is perfectly clear in Heaven.
v.7 The "Lamb" is Jesus Christ, "wife" is the Church, and the wedding is finally taking place.
v.8 The "righteousness of the saints" is their faith in Jesus Christ.
v.10 John was so overwhelmed by what the angel was revealing to him that he began to worship the angel, who immediately stopped him. When the Holy Spirit speaks, He exalts Jesus Christ, never the instrument or the man. This is the sign of the true movement of God's Spirit. "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" means that all prophecy has to do with Jesus Christ. He is the heart and soul of the Scriptures.
v.14 This army on white horses is the Church.
v.15 The Word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword.
v.19 This is the "war" of Armageddon.
v.20 "Lake of fire" is referring to the Greek Gehenna.
No comments:
Post a Comment