Revelation
Revelation is describing the exodus of God's people from an unjust man who considers himself a God. This is the story of Moses, and Daniel and His friends, Jesus, Peter and Paul. It is the story of the success of God's people despite great pressure. It is the book of "Acts II" on a global level. It is the story of supernatural signs and wonders following those willing to be thrown in the fire that the "fourth man", who looks like the Son of God might dwell in the furnace with us for a minute so that those watching would humble themselves. It is the story of the great commission finally being fulfilled!
The story of Revelation is our story told in advance. It is the story of the wedding of the glorious Groom to the pure and spotless Bride who has "made herself ready" in the greatest time of tribulation earth has ever seen.
Revelation 19:7-8 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.” 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.
If you don't like the idea of yourself in the Exodus story, or yourself in the exploits of the disciples in the Book of Acts. If you don't like the story of yourself in the fiery furnace supernaturally saved by God, or in the place of Stephen seeing the glorious king and having that glimpse overcome any fear of rocks hitting you....if you don't like yourself in these stories, then you don't like yourself in God's stories...
None of these stories are about defeat. They are all about great victory despite what it looked like here on earth. I believe Revelation is beginning to unfold all around you. These stories are coming our way, like them or not.
This requires preparation if you live in the land of over-comforted people! This is the preparation I am talking about:
...not food and guns...not an underground bunker...NO!
I am talking about spending yourself in the place of prayer and worship, night and day. Learning what the Bible says is sure to happen, praying that you will be counted worthy to endure. I am talking about shedding comfort now...first in your plans...in your mind...so the removal of comfort by the end time evil king cannot touch you. This is the plan of "being ready" that moves the human heart into the place where we are willing to say this:
Daniel 3:15-18 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
Daniels three friends got ready for this day in Daniel 3 by fasting and praying in Daniel 1.
People get ready, Jesus is coming. He's not a baby in a manger anymore. He's not a broken man on a cross. He didn't stay in the grave, and he's not staying in heaven forever. He's alive, and He wants His father's vineyard back...now.
Luke 12:49-56 “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?
The story of Revelation is our story told in advance. It is the story of the wedding of the glorious Groom to the pure and spotless Bride who has "made herself ready" in the greatest time of tribulation earth has ever seen.
Revelation 19:7-8 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.” 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.
If you don't like the idea of yourself in the Exodus story, or yourself in the exploits of the disciples in the Book of Acts. If you don't like the story of yourself in the fiery furnace supernaturally saved by God, or in the place of Stephen seeing the glorious king and having that glimpse overcome any fear of rocks hitting you....if you don't like yourself in these stories, then you don't like yourself in God's stories...
None of these stories are about defeat. They are all about great victory despite what it looked like here on earth. I believe Revelation is beginning to unfold all around you. These stories are coming our way, like them or not.
This requires preparation if you live in the land of over-comforted people! This is the preparation I am talking about:
...not food and guns...not an underground bunker...NO!
I am talking about spending yourself in the place of prayer and worship, night and day. Learning what the Bible says is sure to happen, praying that you will be counted worthy to endure. I am talking about shedding comfort now...first in your plans...in your mind...so the removal of comfort by the end time evil king cannot touch you. This is the plan of "being ready" that moves the human heart into the place where we are willing to say this:
Daniel 3:15-18 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
Daniels three friends got ready for this day in Daniel 3 by fasting and praying in Daniel 1.
People get ready, Jesus is coming. He's not a baby in a manger anymore. He's not a broken man on a cross. He didn't stay in the grave, and he's not staying in heaven forever. He's alive, and He wants His father's vineyard back...now.
Luke 12:49-56 “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?
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