The Final Avenging Wrath Of God

The saints are secure. The 144,000 are safe. They are the living temple of God and He dwells in them (1 Cor. 3:17; 6:19). The beast has been conquered and these saints sing the songs of victory beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands (Rev. 15:2-4). So we watch as yet another revelation unfolds and "the seven bowls of the wrath of God" are poured out on the earth (Rev. 16:1-21).

1. Sores, harmful and painful, come upon the worshipers of the beast
2. Sea becomes like the blood of a corpse
3. Rivers and springs of water become blood
4. Sun scorches all with fire
5. Darkness over the throne of the beast and its kingdom 
6. Euphrates dries up so three unclean, demonic spirits may come out to assemble at Armageddon
7. Babylon split into three parts by lightning and thunder and a great earthquakes as every island and mountain disappear and hundred pound hailstones rain down

How does this list compare with earlier lists portraying the wrath of God? Start with the ten plagues in Egypt as Moses confronted Pharaoh when he would not let God's people go (Exodus 7:20-10:30)

Teach with Bible Cartoons: water into blood

1. Water made into blood
2. Frogs
3. Lice
4. Flies
5. Cattle infected
6. Boils and blains
7. Thunder and hail
8. Locusts
9. Darkness
10. First-born slain

Then move on to the terrors following the sounding of the seven trumpets (Rev. 8:7-9:31)

1. Hail, fire and blood wither a third of the trees and all grass
2. Flaming mountain cast into the sea, turning it to blood
3. Wormwood star falls, turning the waters bitter and poisonous
4. One third of the sun, moon and stars darkened
5. Abyss unlocked by the star so that smoke and terrible demonic locusts pour forth
6. Four angels bound at the Euphrates released so that 10,000 x 10,000 mounted troops pour forth to kill a third of mankind

Compare the lists. See how many things they have in common: hail, darkness, blood in the waters, ulcerous sores and boils, terrible Parthian hordes from across the Euphrates. But note the difference between this final list and the two earlier. Now all the horrors and terrors are gathered together as the avenging wrath of God is hurled upon the unbelieving world in one last terrible deluge of disaster. So the slain saints and their leaders are avenged. And the third angel in charge of the waters says, 

"Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!" 

Earlier the souls of those slain for the word of God and the witness they had borne were under the altar, crying with a loud voice for God to avenge their blood. Now He has and they proclaim His judgments just (Rev. 6:9-11).

And I heard the altar saying, "Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!" - Rev 16:5-7 ESV

All of us grow weary of war, killing, bloodshed and death. When will it end? And when will the blood of God's holy ones be avenged? This chapter again urges us all to cling to God's Word in faith. He is not slow to fulfill His promises as some count slowness. Rather He is patient, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance (2 Pet 3:9). But the day of the Lord is coming, coming like a thief. And then the heavens will indeed pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed (2 Pet 3:10).

The final battle of Armageddon awaits. More on that next time.

Judging According To The Flesh

Yesterday as I wrote about the rapidly changing views on marriage and sexual license here in the United States I was painfully aware of how different my views are from those self-styled enlightened voices calling for such changes. To most of us who follow Jesus, it seems so very obvious. The definition of marriage is clear : one man and one woman for life! Period, end of discussion. This is what Jesus teaches clearly in his Word. This is how he, our Creator, Master and Lord designed human life. We have no choice but to follow his way of life. He is LORD. He brings light. He is the Light of the world. And when we follow this Light our personal, family and community lives are blessed.

But my conclusions are not at all obvious to those outside Christ's Kingdom, to those who do not accept his authority nor that of the Scriptures as God's Word. You can see this clearly as we pick up the conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees. Jesus has just declared himself to be the light of the world.

So the Pharisees said to him, "You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true." Jesus answered, "Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. - Jhn 8:13-16 ESV

"You judge according to the flesh!"

Like the talking heads who decided which candidate won the recent series of televised presidential debates here in the United States, the Pharisees brought their own personal agendas into this conflict between themselves and Jesus. They judged him, says Jesus, "according to the flesh!" And as a result they did not accept him nor the light he brought into the world.

Flesh in Jesus' usage refers not to the soft substance that covers the bodies of men and beasts. Rather, it refers to that sensuous, sinful nature of a man or woman with a self-centered agenda. To "judge according to the flesh" is decide on the basis of "what's in it for me." The apostle Paul puts it this way:

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. - Rom 8:7-8 ESV

In the minds of the Pharisees, Jesus was nothing more than some self-promoting carpenter from the nothing-town of Nazareth. "You are bearing witness about yourself," they shouted. "The claims you make are empty and meaningless."

Jesus countered, "Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me." 

They said to him therefore, "Where is your Father?" 

Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also." - Jhn 8:16-19 ESV

Earlier in the Gospel of John we hear Jesus equating the Scriptures to the voice of his Father.

And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. - Jhn 5:37-40 ESV

The Pharisees and learned Scribes rejected the witness of the very Scriptures they so highly treasured. Driven by their flesh, they persisted in the belief that they could earn the blessings of God by their righteous lives. In this belief they were blind to what these same Scriptures say about sin and about Jesus as the only Savior from God's judgment upon sin. They continued to "judge according to the flesh!"

Bottom line: when we Christians despair about how the morals of this world are changing, let us remember that that this is the world of men and women who "judge according to the flesh!" It has always been so. It will always be so until Christ returns. Until and unless they are reborn by the power and working of the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-6), there will be no changing of their minds. We must ever be conscious of this truth. Jesus' kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36).

Leaping Like Calves From The Stall

Thanks for joining me as I continue my study in preparation for my sermon on the Second-last Sunday of the church year, the 25th Sunday after Pentecost. Today I will look at another of the lessons for that day, Malachi 4:1-6.

Martin Luther wrote that Malachi's book contains beautiful sayings about Christ and the gospel. "He calls it a pure offering in all the world, for by the gospel the grace of God is praised, and that is the true pure thank-offering. Again he prophesies of the coming of John the Baptist, as Christ himself in Matthew 11:10-14 interprets that of which Malachi 3:1; 4:5 writes, calling John his messenger and Elijah." 

Luther's comment takes us to the lesson for this Sunday. Quick overview: Malachi lived and worked some 430 years before Christ in Judah. The name "Malachi" literally means "my messenger," and the prophet's identity is never revealed. He was likely a priest who witnessed the corruption and indifference he rebukes.

Malachi expresses the deep love of God for His people. That's why he calls on the Judeans to repent. The LORD does not want to punish you, he said. Yet they were indifferent to his warning. The priests and levites continued to live immoral lives, divorcing their wives and being unfaithful in their duties. The people did not support the worship of God with their tithes. The message is harsh. Arrogant evildoers will be stubble thrown into a blazing oven. Everything will be burned. Nothing will be left.

However there is good news for those who "fear" the LORD. They will leap like calves turned out from their stalls on that awesome day of the LORD. I love that image. Because I grew up on a farm I can see in my mind the young calves locked up in their stalls in the winter. When my Dad would turn them loose on a mild day they'd go out into the barnyard, jumping high into the air, racing around with their tails sticking straight out. How great it was to be set free.That's how all of the LORD's people will feel when "the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings."

So another warning and another word of hope for these last days. God will tolerate immorality, godlessness, unbelief and hatred only so long. The "awesome day of the LORD" is coming; that great moment in history when Christ returns as Judge of all is upon us. Yet for those who humbly repent and accept His sacrifice, this will be a day of great rejoicing. They will finally be set free. All pain, suffering and sorrow will cease. All wounds will be healed. And all will go leaping out into the new world our LORD Christ has prepared like calves turned free from their stalls.

Of Specs and Planks

In the realm of politics I am a Reagan conservative (formerly known as Republican). I mention this, not because this Blog is about politics, but because of the confusion of terms that floats around in things religious as well as political. The tags we attach to ourselves and others are not at all clear, especially since we are all overwhelmed by so much information and misinformation. I suppose, therefore, that anything I may write here will only contribute to the same. But I press on.

Here are some of the terms that are all mixed up in the realm of Christianity (even that term is ambiguous):

+Evangelical
+Protestant
+Lutheran
+Conservative
+Confessional
+Charismatic
+Biblical
+Inspired
+Grace
+Faith

The list is seemingly endless.

If I were to define what I mean by any of the above I stand a very good chance of disagreeing with many of my good friends, at least on some points. So what is my point? It's quite simple. The first task I have is not to condemn and fault those around me. My first task is to prayerfully examine my own heart and what my own understanding is. Our Lord put it this way in His sermon:

"For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:2-4)

Mind you, if you've ever had a speck of sawdust in your eye you know from personal experience how painful that is. Unattended, it can lead to serious consequences for one's eye. So my attempts to remove the speck from my brother's eye may be very well attended. I only want to help.

Or do I? That leads me to consider planks, a word sometimes also translated as beams. I do it in the light of the ancient story of Samson and Delilah (Judges 16). Samson certainly had some deep faults and they led him frequently into sin. The man was gifted with almost unbelievable strength, but uncontrolled libido at the same time. So he ended up in bed with the Philistine. She ultimately led him to forsake his Naziritic vow by permitting his hair to be cut off.

The purpose of the Nazirite vow was to express a desire to draw close to the LORD and to separate from the comforts and pleasures of the unbelieving world. The word Nazirite is a transliteration of the Hebrew verb Nazir, meaning "set apart" or "consecrate." The process is outlined in Numbers 6:1-8:

"The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of separation to the LORD as a Nazirite, he must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or from other fermented drink. He must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. As long as he is a Nazirite, he must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins. prostitute Delilah.

" 'During the entire period of his vow of separation no razor may be used on his head. He must be holy until the period of his separation to the LORD is over; he must let the hair of his head grow long. Throughout the period of his separation to the LORD he must not go near a dead body. Even if his own father or mother or brother or sister dies, he must not make himself ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of his separation to God is on his head. Throughout the period of his separation he is consecrated to the LORD."

Notice all the musts to accomplish: no alcohol, no barbers, not even a funeral in your own family. Who could do it? Samson thought he could. He was strong, but this very strength, together with his uncontrolled passion was the ignored plank in his eye and it became his downfall.

Those of us who claim to be evangelical, conservative, confessional, Lutheran, Biblical, etc. do well to examine our own hearts and what we truly believe before we attempt to remove specks of sawdust from our brothers' eyes.