Rev 17: Babylon the Great

Rev 17 NIV
Who is Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth? I have heard many theories. Some say that it is Iraq; others have said Rome; and others I've heard claim that it is either New York or Washington D.C.. There are many theories. It does appear; though, that the angel makes it clear that kings and indeed people from all over the world will follow Babylon. They will not worship the Lord. They will join in persecuting those who do worship the one true God.

All the surmising over who or what Babylon the Great is will not bring us any closer to God. It will only detract from what we are called to do and that is to proclaim the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ our Lord for all who would believe.

Worship the Lord your God and do not bow your knee to any false god, no matter what kind of riches or pleasures they might promise you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Rev 10: Sweet as Honey; Yet, Bitter to Swallow

Revelation 10 NIV

Prophecy is often a "bitter pill" to swallow. We don't like to hear that we have a need to make changes in our lives. We usually don't care to hear that there are consequences to everything we do. Sometimes, those consequences are good. Sometimes, they are not. A lot depends on whom or what we choose to serve.

The angel who stood with one foot on the sea and one on the land holding a tiny scroll announces to John that the seventh trumpet is about to sound and "the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets." (vs 7) This could well be a "bitter pill" for those who  refuse to hear the message of the prophets.

John is told to take and eat the little scroll from the angel. He eats. The scroll tastes as sweet as honey; but, it turned his stomach sour. He has swallowed the words and it is sweet to taste; yet, bitter to stomach. It sounds good and it is good; but, with the words that were delivered to John on the scroll will come many anxious and troubling times. Events and times that will be very difficult to stomach.

John must go out and prophesy with the words that he has swallowed about peoples, nations, languages and kings. It may well be that to those who believe in the Son of God and anxiously wait for the mystery of God to be accomplished that the word is sweet; yet, a very "bitter pill" to those who reject the Lord. But, it will not be easy for John. With the sweet word of the Lord will come much persecution from the world to those who love him.

May God help us to hear the word and receive it no matter what kind of changes it asks us to make in our lives.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Rev 8:13, 9:1-12 - Fifth Trumpet And Locusts

Revelation 8:13, 9:1-12 NIV

A great eagle flies in midair calling out "Woe! Woe! Woe!" The last three trumpets are about to sound ushering in even more destruction. The fifth angel sounds the trumpet opening up the Abyss so that locusts ascend upon the earth to afflict those who do not bear the seal of God on their foreheads.

The vision is reminiscent of the plague of locusts that descended upon Egypt (Ex 10:13-15) except that the locusts in Egypt attacked plant-life that was needed to sustain the people and the locusts in John's vision actually attack and torture the people who do not worship the Lord. The locusts will cause so much fear and pain that people would rather die than endure the attack. But, they will not die. Death will elude them.

The vision of these locusts is most unlike the grasshopper-like locusts from Exodus. These locusts are terrifying creatures to see. They look like horses prepared for battle; yet, their faces resemble human faces. They have hair and upon their heads is something like a gold crowns. Teeth like lions' teeth and breastplates like iron make them formidable attackers. It is hard to imagine what these locusts might actually look like or be. They are sent, we are told, by their King Apollyon (Destroyer), who is the angel of the Abyss. We will know exactly what this vision means for us when we see it with our own eyes. Until, then we would do well to remember that even God saved His people from slavery in Egypt; He is with those who love Him today.

The fifth trumpet has sounded and the first woe is passed. But, it is not over. There are more woes to come.

God's Peace - Pr. J
 

Acts 12:1-19 Free Indeed!

Acts 12:1-19 NIV
The church had been earnestly praying for Peter. Peter could hardly believe it. He thought he was dreaming. But, it was no dream or vision. An angel of the Lord released him from prison.

When Peter showed up at Mary's doorstep they could hardly believe it. Believe it! God can open the chains that bind us. He can unlock the doors that keep us locked up no matter whether those doors are physical or spiritual. "When the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!" (John 8:36)

You will be free; just as Peter was, to go and tell the world what the Lord has done for you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 2:1-20 - The One Who Brings Peace

Luke 2:1-20 NIV
Fear not! Don't be afraid! We read an awful lot in scripture that we are not to fear. We are not to be anxious about anything. Angels showing up and bringing you a message of peace actually would probably cause a little anxiety just in the fact that angels have shown themselves to you.

Yet, in the midst of anxious times, we can have peace. The angels proclaimed to the shepherds, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2: 14) This peace that God brings is kind of amazing. As we grow in the LORD, we will find that we do know a sense of peace no matter what kind of chaos is around us. It may still be troubling, but we can be at peace knowing that God has a good plan for it all.

A few years ago, I was in the pulpit preaching as usual on a Sunday morning. All of a sudden, I could no longer read my notes. All that I could see was a white light and light shadows of people sitting in the pews. It was a bit disconcerting. But, I did not panic. I kept on preaching, even as St. Paul's vision that brought him to repentance and to follow Jesus came to my mind. I wondered if maybe there was something I needed to repent of even as I kept on preaching; everyone around me unaware of what I was seeing. I was a little anxious about the situation; but, at the same time at peace knowing that God was with me and there was a good purpose for it all. I just didn't know what. I went to the eye specialist that week and was told that I had eye strokes due to the steroid that was in the medication (Advair) for my COPD. I got off the prescription medication and am taking only an herbal, all natural medication. Lo and behold, there was a good purpose. My breathing has improved greatly.

The point is sometimes things happen in our lives that might cause a little anxiety; but, we should know that God is with us and in that knowledge we can know peace no matter what is going on in our lives. Can you imagine a pregnant young woman and the man she was engaged to traveling cross country to sign up to pay taxes? When they get to their destination there is no place for them to stay so they stay in a barn where the baby is born. Can you imagine sitting in a field with the guys watching the sheep settle in for the night and you have this heavenly host singing in the heavens? I'm thinking it was probably, at least, a little unsettling. Yet, the shepherds listen to the angel and go and see this baby that is to bring peace to the world.

Anxiety and peace - sometimes you can have them almost simultaneously. Being anxious about something is human nature; yet, in the midst of anxiety, we can know that God is with us and we can know His peace. Thanks be to God!
God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 28 - Go And Tell

Upon arriving at the tomb, the two Marys an angel of the Lord sitting on the stone that had been used to seal the tomb. But, now the tomb is no longer sealed. Jesus is not there. He is risen and on his way to Galilee! The women are a bit fearful, but filled with joyful excitement, as the angel tells them to go and tell the disciples what has happened. The guards are also there. They appear to be in some sort of shock at the sight of the angel and the empty tomb.

Mary and Mary meet Jesus as the hurry to tell the disciples what they have heard and seen. "Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (Matt 28:10 NIV) Go and tell!

The guards go and tell the chief priests what they have seen and heard. The chief priests respond by telling the guards to go and tell everyone that you fell asleep on guard duty and Jesus' followers came and stole his body. The chief priests, a bit fearful of the truth that Jesus had taught would continue on and change their lives forever, wanted the truth stopped. Go and tell! Go and tell a lie!

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt 28:16-20)

Go and tell! We all share stories of our lives of our loves and of our fears. What is the story you share with others? Without sharing the story of Jesus life on earth; his gift of life to us; how can disciples be made? Go and tell!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 2 - Magi, Children, Martyrs. and Moves

From the very beginning, attempts were made to do away with Jesus. Today we have the popular Christmas story of the Magi's visit to Jesus. Unfortunately; King Herod, heard that that they were seeking the king of the Jews, who was due to be born, so that they could worship him. Herod became anxious over the possibility of another "king" and plotted to kill the infant Jesus.

He did not succeed. But, in his attempts every boy child, two years old and under, in the region of Bethlehem was slaughtered. These babies became the first martyrs for Jesus.

Fortunately; an angel was sent to warn Joseph that Jesus' life was in danger. So he took Mary and Jesus into exile in Egypt to protect his family. They moved to Nazareth upon hearing that Herod was dead.

I often listen in amazement when I hear people say that they will not leave the area where they are born in. I know people who have never left the Upper Peninsula of Michigan even for a vacation. They simply will not leave what they know. Yet, Jesus, including the trip he made, still in the womb, to Bethlehem, was moved three times in a course of a few years.

Yes, I love Upper Michigan, too. But, there has been more than once in my life that I have been uprooted and called to move. I recall very vividly arguing with God about yet another move. When we are called to go; when God sends us a message to move... it's just a really good idea to do that. He has His reasons; whether, we like them or even know them. He was with Joseph and Mary and Jesus and was guiding them (i.e. sending his angel messengers) through these early years so that Jesus would be around for the purpose that he was sent for. No matter what it is that God calls us to do; no matter how hard it may seem; He has a good purpose for it. Listen and follow...

Take just a minute to thank the LORD that we have no Herods in power, in this country, today! There are, after all, still places and people in various regions of the world that do not seem to have a problem massacring even the children.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Zephaniah 1 - Fence Sitting Complacency

“I will sweep away everything
    from the face of the earth,”
declares the Lord.
“I will sweep away both man and beast;
    I will sweep away the birds in the sky
    and the fish in the sea—
    and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.” (Zeph 1:2-3a NIV)

Just imagine, for a minute, God with a big broom sweeping clean the earth. That's the picture Zephaniah provides this morning. The prophecy is a warning to those who worship false idols. It is a warning to those who worship false gods as well as feign to worship God. It is also a warning to those who are complacent; to those who think that God might be complacent.

"At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps
    and punish those who are complacent,
    who are like wine left on its dregs,
who think, ‘The Lord will do nothing,
    either good or bad.’" (Zeph 1:12)

There is only one God, either we are for Him or against Him. There is no in between. Therefore; worship the one true God with your whole hearts, soul, and mind. Do not be distracted by the pleasures the false gods would tease you with, which end up being not pleasures; but, troubles. For many years, I believed that to say that "I believe" was enough to save me. But, saying something isn't necessarily believing it with our whole hearts, minds, and souls. Complacency and sitting on the fence is about as useful to salvation as non-belief. At least that is the conclusion I came to for myself years ago, after reading, in the Revelation of St. John, the letter to the church in Laodicea.

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." (Rev 3:14:19)

 

Maybe, it's time to consider whether the church on earth (we) has become complacent. Are we sitting on the fence? 

 

May the God of all grace and glory fill us with a desire to worship and serve Him above all others.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

 

Isaiah 42 - The Light Is With You, Even Now

"I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison   
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness." (Isa 42:6-7 NIV)

Isaiah prophesied the release of God's people from captivity. This prophecy relates not just to release of the Israelites, but all whom He loves. For generations, God's faithful people waited for this coming Messiah. According to the New Testament, the prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus the Christ.

^"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”  (Luke 2:25-29)

 

A light for the Gentiles has come. Jesus Christ is that light. He is our way. He is our truth. He is our life. (John 24:6) He was, He is, and He is to come. He is with us now. He is with us always. Follow in the way that the light reveals to you so that you might live life and live it abundantly.

 

I find it most uncomfortable when I hear people talking about the light which we are to follow to the Kingdom of God after we die physical deaths. I am uncomfortable with unbelievers who come back from near death experiences, having seen a light, proclaiming that there are many paths to the Kingdom. As I remember the words of St. Paul to the Corinthians in his second letter to them (vs 14) "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light."  We must ask ourselves, was this a trick of evil one? Will the light really be revealed to us only after we die physical deaths?

 

St. Paul died a spiritual death in his encounter with Jesus. He died to self on the road that day so that Christ might live in him. He became blind so that His eyes could be opened to see the true light. Once having seen the light, St. Paul was no longer concerned with his death. He was willing to sacrifice his whole life so that he could proclaim the light that reveals the path to the Kingdom of God. That light is Jesus the Christ.

 

The light has come into the world. You do not have to wait until you die physical deaths to see the light and to to follow in His way. In fact, it would be foolhardy to think that you can wait until after death to know the light that has come into this world. I think there is something key to remember in those words: "Light has come into the world." St. John wrote (John 3:19) "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." The light has come into the world. Is there something better in this world that we would seek first something other than the light in the here and now?

 

Simeon saw the light, who is Jesus the Christ, before he died. Once seeing it, Simeon was ready to die. He was prepared to die in peace.

 

May God open our eyes to see the light of Jesus who has come into the world to shine upon and for and within us.

 

God's Peace - Pr.

Isaiah 14 - The Fallen Morning Star

Hate to disappoint you all this morning, but I need to hit the road to do a long distance hospital visit so don't have the time to research chapter 14 as well as I would like to. Maybe, you would like to?

Verses 12 through 15, in particular, leaves us with a question. Who, exactly, is this "morning star, son of the dawn" that has fallen from heaven?

"How you have fallen from heaven,
morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
You said in your heart,
“I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.”
But you are brought down to the realm of the dead,to the depths of the pit." (NIV)

First choice is the king of Babylon is the fallen morning star, as in our previous chapter that is what is being prophecied. We need to take a look at these verses in context.

Second choice would be Satan. These would be some of the verses that some Christians traditionally use to support the concept of the fallen angel.

Third choice; although, not a good one... would be the one that some use to deny the deity of the Christ and that is that the morning star refers to Jesus the Christ. See 2 Peter 1:19, Rev 2: 28, and Rev 22:16. These all refer to the Messiah as the morning star. However, we need to remember that the evil one is quite capable of disguising himself as the angel of light. "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." (2 Cor 11:14)

Overall, it is difficult for me not to see the fall of Satan in this reading, mainly because this is what has been engrained in me from early years. Satan, the anti-Christ's, desire is to be seated above the throne of God. On the other hand, this prophecy can be legitimately said to have been fulfilled with the fall of the last king of the Babylonian empire,  Belshazzar. (See Daniel 5 for his fall). I personally am thinking that this prophecy could well have two meaning - two fulfillments.

The good news here in this chapter is that God's ways will not be thwarted. He will have compassion and He will save His people and that His people (according to this prophecy is Israel) will be united in peace with foreigners (this I am reading as you and me - all who believe in salvation through Jesus the Christ).

Got to get moving! Have a blessed day!

God's Peace - Pr. J