Rev 8:6-12 First Four Trumpets

Rev 8:6-12 NIV
As the angels sounded the first four of the seven trumpets there came destruction to a third of the
land, water, and sky. There are many theories as to how this could occur. God could directly bring destruction. It could come in the way of a meteor or some other such catastrophe. The destruction might also could come through the work of man or rather the lack of the conscientious work of man by not caring for our natural God-given resources and continual polluting of the air, land, and water.

There are many theories. The reality is; though, that we have not done a real good job caring for those things that God made us stewards of. We have not taken real good care of those things that we and future generations need to survive.

May God help us to better care for all things He has created.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Rev 6:1-8 The Four Horses

Rev 6:1-8 NIV
The white, red, black, and pale horse are sometimes referred to as the four horses of the apocalypse. The four horses and their riders signify conquest, war, famine, death. Some would say that these four horses and their riders will lead the charge at Armageddon at a great and final battle just prior to the day of the Lord. It will be a most horrific day.

I am a bit more cautious about considering this to be just a future event as I am well aware that we are already in a battle with the forces of evil. The desires to control others for our own purposes (conquest), wars, famines, and death have been very present with us for a very long time. We may feel relatively safe here in the United States. There are of these horsemen all around us; but, until it directly affects the individual; sometimes, the eyes are closed to what others are living.

Open your eyes and see. See how the world strives to control others; see the wars; see the famine; and see the death. If we cannot see the pain that others are suffering; then, maybe, as a teacher friend use to remind her students often, "If you're not part of the solution; you're a part of the problem." See the suffering and then see what you can do to help those who are in need. Fight the good fight, while staying firm in your faith. Don't wait 'till that final day of judgment to help those who are suffering or Jesus might say to you, "...Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me." (Matt 25:41-46)

God's Peace - Pr. J 

Malachi 4 - Rising Sun

Years ago, I was helping a group of teen-agers form a church youth group. It was their idea to start meeting regularly as a group and they wanted to have a name for the group. There were quite a few suggestions, which I do not recall. But, there was one suggestion that I will always remember. One teen-age boy suggested they should call themselves "The Rising Sun." My mind immediately went to "The House of the Rising Sun," a song, by the 60's band, The Animals, whose lyrics are not exactly fitting for a church youth group. The other "Rising Sun" that came to mind was Japan.

So, I asked him why he thought that would be a good name. I was surprised when his response took us directly to Malachi, chapter four. He actually knew book, chapter, and verse.

"But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves." Malachi 4:2

That a Jr. High youth would even know this verse, I found quite astounding! Who taught this child? It certainly wasn't me! How many adults have read this verse and then actually remember it if they have read it? It is certainly not one of those verses that I had committed to memory. But, he had. I spoke with him not long ago via a chat box on the internet. He is happily married and happily a father. And, to my delight he is still studying his Bible and actually knows about and what some of our great theologians of the past (and present) taught. God has put His Spirit in that young man (everyone seems young to me lately). The "Rising Sun," "The Sun of Righteousness," has shone upon him. Thanks be to God!

May the sun of righteousness rise with healing in its wings and shine upon all of you.

God's Peace - Pr. J. 

Zechariah 1 - Four Horses

Zechariah had some awesome visions. Whenever I read of them, I am also reminded of St. John the Evangelist's visions. Today, we have the four horses.

The four horses (two red horses, one white, one black) of Zechariah's vision seems to have been sent out on a reconnaissance mission of sorts. The horses report back that they have gone throughout the world and have found it living in peace. But, this is not so for God's people. They are struggling under the rule of Persia and know no peace.

The four horses of the Revelation of St. John (Rev 6:1-8) are white, red, black, and pale (whatever color pale is!). Their mission is to conquer the world; bringing hardship, destruction and death. In fact, the red horse is sent specifically to take away the peace of the world - the very peace that is found in the world that the four horses of Zechariah's vision makes report of.

It is understood that the peace that is taken away is a worldly peace. It is not the peace that we experience when we abide in God's presence; for He is our peace. His peace is not dependent on the world's peace or lack thereof. It does not matter whether the world around us is in turmoil; it doesn't matter if the world claims peace when they, in reality, do not live in the peace of God. It just doesn't matter. All who abide in the Christ and He in them; know the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7) no matter what level of peace or war the world is in. There seems to be times, when this peace of God seems to elude us, even His children. We fall back out of fear or anxiety when we begin looking to the world for comfort and peace; rather than God.

The vision from Zechariah is there to remind us that we are not to fear. God will save His people. The LORD will comfort us. We shall live in His peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Amos 1 - Three Sins and Four

Amos, the shepherd was not a timid man. He warned people vehemently of the coming disaster. He prophesied about the same time as Hosea and Isaiah did. If those two were disliked, Amos was most hated. You will hear very little good news from Amos. He just declares what is going to happen and it's not good. For three sins and for four sins... there will be consequences. He's not talking about different sins. He's talking about the fact that after one sins once; rather than repent, they continue sinning.

How often do we sin and not only not repent; but, make excuses for ourselves as though the sin was not a sin; rather it was something good? I'm thinking probably all too often. Just as no one wanted to hear Amos in his day, no one would probably listen to him today, either. We just don't want to be reminded that we could possibly do anything wrong

Turn to the LORD for He is God and there is only one God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Daniel 7 - Four Beasts

First, I want to point out that the Book of Daniel is definitely not in chronological order. Two chapters ago, Belshazzar was King; in the last chapter Darius was king following Belshazzar's death; and now we are reading about a vision that Daniel had during Belshazzar's first year of reign.

Just as it is hard to decipher what happened in what order in Daniel, it is also difficult (no impossible) to discern what, if anything, has already occurred from Daniel's dream regarding the four beasts. We cannot tell for sure if some or all of this prophecy as already been fulfilled or how much of it is yet to be fulfilled.

Daniel writes: “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.” (vs 28) Even after receiving the interpretation of the dream, Daniel is troubled. It can indeed be very troubling trying to figure out what the interpretation of the dream means. It will not be good. But, then again, it will be very good, because Jesus will reign.

I have heard so many interpretations of the interpretation found in this seventh chapter of Daniel (as well as in books like Revelation), I cannot even begin to count them, let alone sort them out. It is quite troubling to hear these interpretations as though they are fact. There are fiction books out there based on this prophecy and I would ask anyone who reads them to remember this that these books are not Holy Scripture: They are FICTION! Some of it can be quite fascinating fiction; but, it is fiction, nonetheless. No one, but God, knows for sure how the details will be played out. The interpretations that I speak of are those that would put the fear of death and of Hell and not the love of God into your hearts and minds.

But, there is one thing, for sure, that we can take from this dream that will give us hope. Daniel writes: "Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him." (vs 28)

Let not your heart be troubled by the imaginations of men. The LORD is with you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ezekiel 10 - In God's Glory

"Then the glory of the Lord departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim." (Ezekiel 10:18 NIV)

Ezekiel describes the movement of God's glory to the outside of the temple. This movement occurs in concert with the cherubim, the four living creatures, of Ezekiel's visions. These cherubim were amazing creatures. "Each of the cherubim had four faces: One face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a human being, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle." (Ezekiel 10:15) Four faces, wheels whirring in multitudes of directions beneath the; yet, amazingly, they all move in one direction. They all move in the same direction at the same time. They do not deviate from the course. They leave the temple with the glory of God in unison - together.

They leave the temple in order for the man clothed in linen that sits above them can scatter burning coals over the city. "The Lord said to the man clothed in linen, “Go in among the wheels beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And as I watched, he went in." (Ezekiel 10:2)

He went in among the wheels and one of the cherubim handed him the fire. They worked in unison, they went straight ahead, all with one mission, according to God's will, in the glory of God.

May it be so for the church on earth, that whatever God wills for His people, it is done, for His glory.

God's Peace - Pr. J