Counted as sheep for the slaughter.

Psa 44:20  If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;

Psa 44:21  Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

Psa 44:22  Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

Psa 44:23  Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.

Psa 44:24  Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?

Psa 44:25  For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.

Psa 44:26  Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.

*******

Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.

Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God KNOWS US.  We hide nothing from God.

For God's sake we submit to death, is that death to self or death in a literal sense, or death in both ways?  Being counted as a sheep for the slaughter means what?

Biblically in the times of the sacrificial laws - sheep were counted for slaughter in that way. They were also counted for slaughter to feed people. Sheep counted for slaughter- meant to die.  If we as followers of Christ, if we as followers of God the Father are killed all day long - counted as sheep for the slaughter we are sacrifices for others. In Psalms we have a cry for the Lord to awake and not cast off His people, to not hide His face to their affliction and oppression. In Psalms we have God's people bowing to the dust, bellies clinging to the earth and a plea for help, for redemption.  In Romans we are told that we are more than conquerors through Christ, even if we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.  We are then told that neither DEATH(slaughter), nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present not thing to come, nor height, not depth nor any other creature can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

In both of these situations we are truly told our position- sheep for the slaughter- and where our help can be found.  Does this mean we won't be sacrificed, no not at all, but if we are called to sacrifice our hope is in our God and in our Savior Jesus Christ.

We are called to suffer and how can we not suffer in this world ruled by sin, by evil?  Our only hope in the suffering is KNOWING the end results of ALL the suffering no matter what shape it takes in our lives and that is SALVATION IN JESUS CHRIST!

All by HIS AMAZING, WONDROUS GRACE and MERCY, HIS LOVE now and forever.

Amen!

Be simple concerning evil.

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 

Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 

Rom 16:19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. 

Rom 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen

How can we read something like the above and not comprehend that many are going to be deceived? The doctrines we learn through the Lord Jesus Christ, through the word of God in all His truth do we dare deny its these doctrines? People will try and have tried to cause divisions in the truth, they've caused offences contrary to the truth and we cannot ignore this. We need to avoid being taken in by those who would dare to subvert God's truths. When people seek to serve themselves, to pretend to serve the Lord but are in truth only doing so in order to be self-serving, to seek self-glory, these care truly only for themselves and they may have many good words to speak and speeches so fair you can't help but be attracted to them and what do they do? They DECEIVE the simple. They deceive those who want to hear easy things and refuse to hear the hard truths.

We truly do need to be wise to what is good and SIMPLE concerning evil.

We cannot study evil, we cannot seek evil, we truly cannot court evil and evil ways it is much too dangerous! We need to be as simple as possible when it comes to anything evil. By God's grace may we be super simple concerning evil!

Satan is bruised by the God of peace! Satan has lost the battle between good and evil! Satan will not succeed, can't succeed, our Savior has won! Right now we live in a world with Satan as its ruler, but it will not always be that way. Our hope is in the salvation from all evil that our Savior has promised us. We have HOPE in Christ that what He has promised He will perform.

Php_1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ

By His amazing wonderful grace! In Jesus Christ our Lord's name always! Amen!

Love in Sincerity.

Eph 6:24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Too many people believe that all people regardless of their beliefs will be with Jesus upon death. Our hearts are known to God- the good and the bad in them. I do believe that our God knows us and in knowing us loves us and in knowing us, He knows when there is no love in us. Sadly there are those without the love of God. Sadly there are heartless people. Tragically there are those who want nothing to do with love- God's real love.

There is a false love, a false religion, a false Christ, a false belief and these many falsehoods are disguised as truths.

Love, true love, love of God, love from God is our only truth. 

Trusting in Him beyond our own imaginings, our own faulty surmising this is truth. Faith, believing when we have no empirical reason to believe. Knowing there is One we do answer to for our lives. Knowing there is One who beyond all our comprehension truly only wants us in His love, this is faith.

'Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.'

In sincerity.

There are many who love our Lord Jesus Christ in something that is far from sincerity.

Please, Lord Jesus, help us to love you only in sincerity, we need Your grace so desperately! We don't always comprehend the ways of our own lives, Your ways are so much greater than ours. Please, help us to have the faith we need to be only Yours and no other's!

All in Your love, Your name, all in You our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ Only Begotten Son of God the Father now and forever!

Amen.

Watching for Jesus

Psa 130:1  A Song of degrees. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.

Psa 130:2  Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

Psa 130:3  If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

Psa 130:4  But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

Psa 130:5  I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

Psa 130:6  My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning

Crying unto the Lord, pleading for the Lord to hear our voice. Asking the LORD to  make His ear attentive to our cries, our desperate desires. We know if the LORD marked our sins we could NEVER stand, never. There is by the grace of our Lord, FORGIVENESS for all our sins! Forgiveness of the like we can but imagine. Fearing our God, knowing He and He only forgives us as we need we truly must wait for the LORD, our soul must wait and HOPE in the word of God. Our soul must wait for the LORD more than a watchman waiting for the morning to break. 

We know what it is like to wait for day break. We know what it is like to wait desperately for something, all of us do, don't we?  Do we wait with that same desperation, that same eagerness for our Savior? With what longing do we wait for the return of our Lord, Jesus Christ?

Maybe we merely talk about His return, or think about it from time to time. Maybe it's simply a topic that comes up when we attend Bible meetings. Perhaps we only think on it when things go badly in our lives. How often should we be thinking about Christ's return? All the time.  With every prayer we pray.

How often should we pray?

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints

Praying always.

Luk_2:37  And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

Prayers- night and day.

Act_2:42  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

In prayers.

2Ti_1:3  I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day

So how often are we to truly think about our Savior's return? Every time we pray-- for in each prayer we are to say-  "Thy kingdom come."  And for our Savior's kingdom to come He must return. For things to be on earth as they are in heaven, He must return.

Our Savior Jesus Christ will return, we must wait for Him, watch for Him, long for His return for only when He returns will we finally be taken home with Him to His heavenly kingdom!

Please, Lord, please…come LORD JESUS, come!

Our Dead Loved Ones Will Rise from Their Graves and Meet Christ in the Air.

1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 

1Th 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 

1Th 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

We obtain salvation only one way- through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Few who believe in Christ will dispute this claim. Our Savior alone has the power to give us salvation. Our Savior was God in heaven, God who took on flesh becoming the only begotten Son of God the Father. In flesh, our God was faced with all manner of temptations to get Him to submit to the fallen angel, Lucifer who claims his own warped God presence- striving to be like the Most High. Unfailingly our God in human flesh did not succumb to any of the temptations but rather through the relying upon the power of God the Father, He remain true even unto death.  Put to death by agents of the evil one, our Savior was brought up from death's sleep and when He ascended to the Father He obtained full new life, forever alive, forever Savior, forever flesh, forever God. Through our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ we can obtain salvation from the evil angel who would have us on his side.

Our Savior died for us- the evil angel would never consent to death to save any, he is consume by his own survival in the face of knowing his own ultimate demise. Our Savior died for us- and whether we are ALIVE or DEAD when He returns to gather us to Him, we WILL live with Him.

We have to comfort ourselves together, helping each other to realize that we will one day be with our Savior, He will return for us.  The Bible is a huge book of prophecy all geared to this one end- salvation in Jesus Christ our Savior.  Before the earth was created our Savior was foreordained-

1Pe 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1Pe 1:20  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

A Savior named, a Savior chosen, a Savior foreordained should a Savior be needed.

A Savior became needed and was declared.

Psa 2:7  I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

From that decree declared- a time was appointed and the declared Son took on flesh.

Joh_1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

All this to SAVE US from the evil that would possess us at every turn!

We can't know how many have died in Christ, we can't know how many people are sleeping death's sleep right now and will awake when Christ returns and calls them from their graves. We can't know how many will be alive in Christ when He returns and will be called to rise to meet Him in the air, transformed to put on immortality.

1Th 4:13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Christ will raise our dead loved ones who are His from their death sleep before He calls us to Him. When we rise into the air, our bodies being transformed as we rise will be rising to MEET our Savior and with our Savior will be those we've longed to see again.

We truly NEED to comfort each other with these words of truth! 

It's so easy to give in to despair as Satan surrounds us, warring against us constantly, and we do NEED comfort and we can find comfort in the truth of God's word!  We can comfort each other with the knowledge of the future- we KNOW the future! We have been told the FUTURE! We don't have to speculate, to wonder, we KNOW what the future holds- the ULTIMATE future we long for and can be comforted by. We might not know tomorrow's future or next week's or even next year's but we can know the ultimate future as a true REALITY beyond any doubt whatsoever- our Savior will return for us and for our loved ones in Him who have gone to death's sleep.  We may not be able to comfort each other with very much but this is a surety and it does offer comfort, the only true comfort we can have- our Savior and His promise to us- Salvation in Him!

By HIS GRACE, HIS LOVE, HIS MERCY always!!!!

Amen.

God's Instructions

We are TOLD-

Rom 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 

Rom 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

AWAKE out of sleep!

CAST OFF the works of darkness!

PUT ON the armor of light!

Mat 24:42  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Mat 24:43  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

Mat 24:44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

WATCH!

BE ye ready!

Mat 25:5  While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

Mat 25:6  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Mat 25:7  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

A cry made- wake-be ready!

Mat 26:40  And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

Mat 26:41  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

WATCH!

Pray!

Mar 13:35  Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

Mar 13:36  Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

Mar 13:37  And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

WATCH!

1Th 5:5  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

1Th 5:6  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

1Th 5:7  For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

1Th 5:8  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

SLEEP NOT!

Watch!

Be Sober!

Put on- faith love hope of salvation!

Eph 4:22  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts

PUT off …the old man!

Col 3:8  But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

Col 3:9  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds

PUT off …anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication.

LIE not!

Put off the old man!

Jas 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

LAY apart … filthiness and naughtiness.

RECEIVE …the WORD.

1Pe 2:1  Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings

LAYING ASIDE ALL malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies, evil speakings.

Joh 3:19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Joh 3:20  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

Joh 3:21  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

DOETH TRUTH.

Eph 5:11  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

NO FELLOWSHIP with … works of darkness.

Rom 13:14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

PUT ON the Lord.

MAKE NOT provision for the flesh.

2Co 6:7  By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Col 3:10  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Col 3:11  Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Col 3:12  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Col 3:13  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Col 3:14  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

Col 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Col 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Col 3:17  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

1Th 5:8  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 

Watch and Be Sober.

1Th 5:2  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

1Th 5:3  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

1Th 5:4  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

1Th 5:5  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

1Th 5:6  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Satan has made sin so incredibly attractive is it any wonder at all whatsoever that there will be very few who desire Christ's return?  Every which way we turn we are blasted with sin and the results of sin. Every day we are being force fed the propaganda that sin is good, sin is no longer evil in fact, sin was never sin, and there is no such thing as sin. How many Bible reading, God fearing people no longer believe sin is really all that bad?

Listen for just a moment.   If I handed you a book and told you that in that book there would be predictions of the future, many predictions that have already come to pass and some that haven't, what would you do?  You'd take that book and read it eagerly desiring to know what was going to happen. 

We have a book that does exactly that and yet people don't want to read it, they laugh at it and refuse to see any truth in it at all. They take this book of predictions, of prophecy and pick it apart so that there are many wonderful tales in that book, but the prophetic parts they shun.

We've just spent many weeks on yet another prophecy study of the book of Daniel and Revelation and yesterday we finished that particular study. The study ended with the new world come, Christ having redeemed all who would be His, the wicked- including the father of all lies- Satan Himself being destroyed, utterly and irrevocably gone.  This is reality- predicted reality.

We KNOW that the day of the LORD will come unexpectedly for the majority of people- but we also know there will be those who will be watching, they will be sober knowing that things are far from what they seem to most.

Do we have the comprehension we need to be among those watching, to be among the sober?

Do we see through the guises Satan has placed up all around us?  We are called cruel, we are called inhumane, we are called heartless all because we seemingly dare to recognize sin. Even if we REFUSE to judge, or condemn a single person, if we dare to see their sin, to name their sin we are treated as judges and ridiculed as such. People seemingly born into a life geared to sin and only sin are called exempt because they couldn't help being born to sin. Yet we are ALL born in sin, born with sin in our flesh and no matter how that sin presents itself any and all sin are enough to end us. Is someone's sin harder than another's? It isn't for us to decide is it? What may be a devastating sin to one person, may not be a temptation to sin at all to another. Satan would have us believe those sins which would threaten to overcome us are insurmountable.  And they are insurmountable for us on our own, but with Christ nothing is impossible.

More tomorrow, by the grace and will of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ now and FOREVER!

Amen. 

'Wandering an exile in an evil land.'

Revelation 22  -

VERSE 18. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:  19.   And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

(Excerpt taken from Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith 1897-1911 Editions)

What is it to add to, or take from, the book of this prophecy? Let it be borne in mind that it is the book of this prophecy, or the Revelation, which is the subject of remark; hence the words concerning adding to or taking from have exclusive reference to this book. Nothing can be called an addition to this book except something added to it with the intention of having it considered as a genuine part of the book of Revelation. To take from the book would be to suppress some portion of it. As the book of Revelation could not be called an addition to the book of Daniel, so if God should see fit to make further revelations to us by his Spirit, it would be no addition to the book of Revelation, unless it should claim to be a part of that book.

VERSE 20. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  21.   The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

The word of God is given to instruct us in reference to the plan of salvation. The second coming of Christ is to be the climax and completion of that great scheme. It is most appropriate, therefore, that the book should close with the solemn announcement, "Surely I come quickly." Be it ours to join with fervent hearts in the response of the apostle, "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."

Thus closes the volume of inspiration, - closes with that which constitutes the best of all promises, and the substance of the Christian's hope - the return of Christ. Then shall the elect be gathered, and bid a long farewell to all the ills of this mortal life. How rich in all that is precious to the Christian

p 775 -- is this promise! Wandering an exile in this evil world, separated from the few of like precious faith, he longs for the companionship of the righteous, the communion of saints. Here he shall obtain it; for all the good shall be gathered, not from one land only, but from all lands; not from one age only, but from all ages, - the great harvest of all the good, coming up in long and glorious procession, while angels shout the harvest home, and the timbrels of heaven sound forth in joyous concert; and a song before unheard, unknown, in the universe, the song of the redeemed, shall add its marvelous notes of rapture and melody to the universal jubilee. So shall the saints be gathered, to be joyful in each other's presence forever and ever, -

"While the glory of God, like a molten sea,

Bathes the immortal company."

This gathering has nothing in it but that which is desirable. The saints can but sigh and pray for it. Like Job, they cry out for the presence of God. Like David, they cannot be satisfied till they awake in his likeness. In this mortal condition we groan, being burdened, not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon. We can but be "upon tiptoe" for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of the body. Our eyes are open for its visions, our ears are waiting to catch the sounds of the heavenly music, and our hearts are beating in anticipation of its infinite joy. Our appetites are growing sharp for the marriage supper. We cry out for the living God, and long to come into his presence. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. No news more welcome than the announcement that the command has gone forth from the Lord to his angels, Gather together unto me my elect from the four winds of heaven.

The place, of gathering has nothing but attraction. Jesus, the fairest among ten thousand, is there. The throne of God and the Lamb, in the glory of which the sun disappears as the stars vanish in the light of day, is there. The city of jasper and gold, whose builder and maker is God, is there. The river of life, sparkling with the glory of God and flowing from his throne in infinite purity and peace, is there. The tree of

p 776 -- life, with its healing leaves and life-giving fruit, is there. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Noah, Job, and Daniel, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, the perfection of heavenly society, will be there. Visions of beauty are there; fields of living green, flowers that never fade, streams that never dry, products in variety that never ends, fruits that never decay, crowns that never dim, harps that know no discord, and all else of which a taste purified from sin and raised to the plane of immortality, can form any conception or think desirable, will be there.

We must be there. We must bask in the forgiving smiles of God, to whom we have become reconciled, and sin no more; we must have access to that exhaustless fount of vitality, the fruit of the tree of life, and never die; we must repose under the shadow of its leaves, which are for the service of the nations, and never again grow weary; we must drink from the life-giving fountain, and thirst nevermore; we must bathe in its silvery spray, and be refreshed; we must walk on its golden sands, and feel that we are no longer exiles; we must exchange the cross for the crown, and feel that the days of our humiliation are ended; we must lay down the staff and take the palm branch, and feel that the journey is done; we must put off the rent garments of our warfare for the white robes of triumph, and feel that the conflict is ended and the victory gained; we must exchange the toil-worn, dusty girdle of our pilgrimage for the glorious vesture of immortality, and feel that sin and the curse can never more pollute us. O day of rest and triumph, and every good, delay not thy dawning! Let the angels at once be sent to gather the elect. Let the promise be fulfilled which bears in its train these matchless glories. EVEN S0, C0ME LORD JESUS. 

*******

Come Lord Jesus please! PLEASE!

Do you know what is temporary to eternity?

Revelation 22

 VERSE 16. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

(Excerpt taken from Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith 1897-1911 Editions)

Jesus testifies these things in the churches, showing that the whole book of Revelation is given to the seven churches, which is another incidental proof that the seven churches are representatives of the church through the entire gospel dispensation. Christ is the offspring of David, in that he appeared on earth in the line of David's descendants. He is the root of David, inasmuch as he is the great prototype of David, and the maker and upholder of all things.

VERSE 17. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

(Excerpt taken from Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith 1897-1911 Editions)

Thus are all invited to come. The Lord's love for mankind would not be satisfied in merely preparing the blessings of eternal life, opening the way to them, and announcing that all might come who would; but he sends out an earnest invitation to come. He sets it forth as a favor done to himself if persons will come and partake of the infinite blessings provided by his infinite love. His invitation, how gracious! how full! how free! None of those who are finally lost will ever have occasion to complain that the provisions made for their salvation were not sufficiently ample. They can never reasonably object that the light given to show them the way of life was not sufficiently clear. They can never excuse themselves on the ground that the invitations and entreaties that Mercy has given them to turn and live, were not sufficiently full and free. From the very beginning, there has been a power exerted as strong

p 771 -- as could be exerted and still leave man his own free agent, - a power to draw him heavenward, and raise him from the abyss into which he has fallen. Come! has been the entreaty of the Spirit from the lips of God himself, from the lips of his prophets, from the lips of his apostles, and from the lips of his Son, even while, in his infinite compassion and humility, he was paying the debt of our transgression. 

The last message of mercy as it is now going forth, is another and final utterance of divine long-suffering and compassion. Come, is the invitation it gives. Come, for all things are ready. And the last sound that will fall from Mercy's lips on the ear of the sinner ere the thunders of vengeance burst upon him, will be the heavenly invitation, Come. So great is the loving-kindness of a merciful God to rebellions man. Yet they will not come. Acting independently and deliberately, they refuse to come. So when they shall see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of God, and themselves thrust out, they will have no one to accuse, no one to blame, but their own selves. They will be brought to feel this in all its bitterness; for the time will come when Pollok's thrilling description of the condemnation of the lost will be true to the letter: -

"And evermore the thunders murmuring spoke

From out the darkness, uttering loud these words,

Which every guilty conscience echoed back:

'Ye knew your duty, but ye did it not.'

Dread words! that barred excuse, and threw the weight

Of every man's perdition on himself

Directly home -

'Ye knew your duty, but ye did it not."'

The bride also says, Come. But the bride is the city, and how does that say, Come? If we could be strengthened to behold the living glories of that city and live, and should be permitted to gaze upon its dazzling beauty, and be assured that we had a perfect right to enter therein, and bathe in that ocean of bliss and blessedness, and revel in its glory forever and ever, would it not then say to us, Come, with a persuasion which no power could resist? Who of us, in view of this, could turn away, and say, I have no desire for an inheritance there?

p 772 --

(picture omitted)

p 773 -- But though we cannot now look upon that city, the unfailing word of God has promised it, and that is sufficient to inspire us with implicit and living faith; and through the channel of that faith it says to us, Come. Come, if you would inherit mansions where sickness, sorrow, pain, and death can never enter; if you would have a right to the tree of life, and pluck its immortal fruit, and eat and live; if you would drink of the water of the river of life, that flows from the throne of God, clear as crystal. Come, if you would obtain through those glittering gates of pearl an abundant entrance into the eternal city; if you would walk its streets of transparent gold; if you would behold its glowing foundation stones; if you would see the King in his beauty on his azure throne. Come, if you would sing the jubilee song of millions, and share their joy. Come, if you would join the anthems of the redeemed with their melodious harps, and know that your exile is forever over, and this is your eternal home. Come, if you would receive a palm of victory, and know that you are forever free. Come, if you would exchange the furrows of your care-worn brow for a jeweled crown. Come, if you would see the salvation of the ransomed myriads, the glorified throng which no man can number. Come, if you would drink from the pure fountain of celestial bliss, if you would shine as the stars forever in the firmament of glory, if you would share in the unutterable rapture that fills the triumphant hosts as they behold before them unending ages of glory ever brightening and joys ever new.

The bride does say, Come. Who of us can resist the invitation? The word of truth is pledged to us that if we keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, we shall have right to the tree of life, we shall enter in through the gates into the city. And we shall feel that we are at home in our Father's house, the very mansions prepared for us, and realize the full truth of the cheering words, "Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb." Rev. 19:9. 

"Let him that heareth say, Come." We have heard of the glory, of the beauty, of the blessings, of that goodly land, and we say, Come. We have heard of the river with its verdant banks, of the tree with its healing leaves, of the ambrosial

p 774 -- bowers that bloom in the Paradise of God, and we say, Come. Whosoever will, let him come, and take of the water of life freely.

*******

Temporary to eternity- this is the measure we must make constantly.

Jesus came to bring the good news of SALVATION- the promise of eternity.

Jesus DIED to give us SALVATION- the promise of eternity.

We are to live - Christ in us- and Christ is the gospel giver.

We are to be gospel givers.

We are to be the heralds of salvation promise in Christ.

We are to LIVE with that promise- Eternity- SALVATION- ever before us!

All the earthly trappings that would drag us down and keep us tethered here are TEMPORARY to eternity!

The earth as it is ruled by Satan is a sinking ship but no ordinary sinking ship. This ship has many hideaways for people to run to where they think they will be saved from drowning. The doors open and people see what they believe is a safe place, so they run inside and start clinging to their various  security blankets. Then the doors shut and they continue to go down with the ship, happily oblivious to their drowning until its way too late to do anything about it. Satan wants us CLINGING to this earth's many enticing trappings. It doesn’t matter what form a person's trapping takes, Satan LOVES to personalize them. He will study what concerns you most, and boy, will he use that as he personalizes your trap. The things your heart clings to he will use, and even if they are what we consider good things, he will twist it up so that good thing becomes one of several nooses he is slipping about your neck. He loves when we make excuses and choose anything before God, before the salvation plan- Jesus Christ.  Truly can we forsake ALL for Christ? Abraham was asked to sacrifice what he loved the most in all the world. Why do we think we are special and that we won't be called to make the choice of God over whatever it is we love most in this world? Abraham did NOT have to sacrifice what he loved most, but he was put to the test. We are all put to the test. Do we really believe everything here and now is temporary to eternity? Everything but love, our God's love, which He will give to us and use us by His grace to give that love to others.  Our houses, our cars, our computers, tablets, tvs, pets, loved ones, jobs, past times all temporary to eternity. Even we in these bodies we currently possess are temporary to eternity. The fancy hair do we sport, the great lengths we go to in order to appear in a certain way, temporary. No, I'm not saying to throw everything away and stop grooming and dressing yourself, NOT AT ALL!  I'm saying we NEED to put all those things in their PROPER perspective, TEMPORARY TO ETERNITY.  Meaning, NONE of those things should mean more to us than the ETERNITY offered to us by God through Jesus Christ.  And we need to have our sights set on that eternity. Jesus preached eternity during His entire ministry and wanted His followers to do the same- live with His message of eternity.  You don't hide what's most important to you if what's most important to you wants you to share what's most important so others will also come to hold it as most important in their lives too.  While all these temporary things may hold parts of our hearts, the things that mean the most will, by the grace of God, be a part of eternity.  Some people joke about things like- if there is no chocolate in heaven then I don't want to go- but what they don't realize is there is something MUCH better than chocolate in heaven, so much better we can't begin to fully comprehend how wonderful it is.

By the grace of God we will live for eternity not for the temporary.

In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever.

Amen.

Is your father the devil?

Revelation 22 VERSE 13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  14.    Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Revelation 22  VERSE 15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Inside the city or outside of the city…

Inside they keep the commandments of God and through God they have the right to the tree of life. Outside they DO NOT keep the commandments of God, and they have NO right to the tree of life. Outside they are dogs, sorcerers, whoremongers, murderers, idolaters, and those who LOVE and MAKE lies.

This is TRUTH!

All those who will NOT be in heaven, all those who will not love, will not have the right to the tree of life. 

You don't have to be a dog, a murderer, a sorcerer, a whoremonger, an idolaters- all you have to be is a liar and one who loves lies.

Who loves lying? Most would say they don't, but be honest. It's not easy NOT to lie. I'm talking about lying about ANYTHING. Even the tiny littlest lies.

You are asked how you are, and you are anything but fine, and you say you are fine- a lie.  You are  asked to do something you really don't want to do but you say you do want to- a lie.  These lies are labeled- WHITE LIES, these lies are labeled - CHARITABLE LIES.  These lies are spoken NOT to hurt someone's feelings, to spare someone from emotional pain. Are they good lies? Is there such a thing as a good lie? I want to say no, but then I read this--

1Sa 21:12  And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

1Sa 21:13  And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

1Sa 21:14  Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?

1Sa 21:15  Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?

Feigned- David pretended to be something other than he was. David lived a lie of himself as being someone he wasn't.

Gen 12:11  And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:

Gen 12:12  Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.

Gen 12:13  Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

Abraham told Sarah to lie.  Did it work out well? No, especially not for the pharaoh. 

Lying is done, lying may have its place, I don't know, honestly I don't not in these circumstances.  Are circumstances considered? Is there charitable and white lying?  Satan is the FATHER of lies-

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Do we DARE risk lying? Do we dare risk being of the devil, of having the devil as our father and not God?

We read this--

Joh_1:47  Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

1Pe_3:10  For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile

Rev_14:5  And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Being without guile is being without lying,  without deceiving.

Please, Father, please help us be without any guile! Help us not be of the devil and liars like He is! Please, Lord, bless us and keep us in YOU and Your word!

Please, we would take part in the tree of life with YOU!

By the grace of God may we be YOURS! Please, make us YOURS we surrender to YOU and YOUR will, and help us to surrender whatever we hold back. Please

By YOUR grace, YOUR love, in the name of our SAVIOR, Jesus Christ our LORD now and forever!

AMEN.

The horrors of this world do not disappear in our faith, they are magnified.

Do you want to be blessed? Seriously? Do you want to be blessed?  We are blessed if we read and keep the things in this very special book of prophecy. We are blessed if we do our God's commandments. Do we? Are we reading and keeping? Are we doing the commandments?  We know, over and over we've discussed it and it bears going over again and again, that the commandments are the MORAL LAW we have in our lives. This moral law defining our place in mankind, as creatures obeying their Creator.  Yes, many choose to rebel rather than obey and that is their choice, but how glorious it is to obey! To obey is to comprehend that eventually we will be fully and wholly at one with our Creator in a world without sin. To obey is to cling through faith to our Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord. To obey is to finally live in the city whose maker is God! The horrors of this life do not disappear in our faith, if anything they are often magnified. The evil we are allowed to see, to bear witness to is all the more evil in the light of God's love. We cry out- "Come, Lord Jesus, come! We can scarcely bear beholding the evil surrounding us! Evil strikes out at the core of Your love! Evil so cruel our hearts are torn by its unfathomable depths! Please, Lord Jesus, please… we cry out for You! Have mercy upon us! Please, have mercy!"

We would be Yours, wholly, wholly Yours now and forever!

In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, our Lord, the Beginning and the End.  Amen!

Revelation 22 VERSE 13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  14.    Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

(Excerpt taken from Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith 1897-1911 Editions)

Christ here applies to himself the appellation of Alpha and Omega. As applied to him, the expression must be taken in a more limited sense than when applied to the Father, as in chapter 1:8. Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, of the great plan of salvation.

Verse 14, as before noticed, is the language of Christ. The commandments of which he speaks are his Father's. Reference can be had only to the ten commandments as delivered on Mount Sinai, He pronounces a blessing upon those who keep them. Thus in the closing chapter of the word of God, and near the very close of the last testimony which the faithful and true Witness there left for his people, he solemnly pronounces a blessing upon those who keep the commandments of God. Let those who believe in the abolition of the law, candidly consider the decisive bearing of this important fact. 

Instead of the reading, "Blessed are they that do his commandments," some translations, including the Revised Version, have, "Blessed are they that wash their robes." On this point Alford's Testament for English Readers has this note:       "The difference in the readings is curious, being in the original that between poiountes tas entolas autou, and plunontes tas stolas auton, either of which might easily be mistaken for the other."       In view of this statement, it is not surprising, perhaps, that this difference of reading is found. But there seems to be good evidence that the first is the original, from which the latter is a variation by the error of transcribers. Thus the Syriac New Testament, one of the very earliest translations from the original Greek, reads according to the common English version. And Cyprian, whose writings antedate any extant Greek manuscript (Ante-Nicene Library, Vol. XIII, p. 122), quotes the text as reading,        "Blessed are they that do his commandments."       We may therefore safely consider this as the genuine reading.

*******

Jesus said these words-

Rev 22:12  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Rev 22:13  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

And then we read…

Rev 22:14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Our Savior's reward is with Him.

Every man will receive according to work.

If our work is to worship, then we obey the commandments through our worship, through Christ!

If we do not worship, our work will reflect that, and our Savior cannot know us if we do not know Him through our worship.

Keeping the commandments are important and our God did NOT leave us without the ability to discern them through His word.  Our heavenly Father went to great lengths to give us the knowledge of His commandments. And yes, we should study them once more, by the grace and will of God!

If we are blessed if we read the prophecies of the book of Revelation, and keep the sayings there in, we are doubly blessed if we are told we are bless if we DO His commandments.

Please Father, please open our hearts, our minds, our spirit to Your truths, the truth in Your commandments!

In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, our Lord, help us, enlighten us!

Amen!

His reward is with Him- there are no second chances after Christ returns.

Revelation 22 VERSE 3. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him.

This language proves that the great God, the Father, is referred to, as well as the Son. The marks of the curse, the deadly miasma, and the ghastly scenes of desolation and decay, will no more be seen on the earth. Every breeze will be balmy and life-giving, every scene beauty, and every sound music.

VERSE 4. And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

The word his, in the sentence, "And they shall see his face," refers to the Father; for he is the one whose name is in their foreheads; and that it is the Father, we learn from chapter 14:1. This will be a fulfilment of the promise in Matt. 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God."

VERSE 5. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign forever and ever.    6.    And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.    7.    Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Here, again, we have the declaration that there shall be no night in the city; for the Lord God will be the light of the place. Verse 7 proves that Christ is the speaker, a fact which it is of especial importance to bear in mind in connection with verse 14. To keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book is to obey the duties brought to view in connection with the prophecy, as, for instance, in chapter 14:9-12.

VERSE 8. And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things.    9.    Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this

p 768 -- book: worship God.    10.    And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.    11.    He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.    12.    And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

(For remarks on verse 9, see on chapter 19:10.) In verse 10 John is told not to seal the sayings of the prophecy of this book. The popular theology of our day says that the book is sealed. One of two things follows from this:   either John disobeyed his instructions, or the theology above referred to is fulfilling Isa. 29:10-14. Verse 11 proves that probation closes, and the cases of all are unalterably fixed, before the coming of Christ; for in the very next verse Christ says, "Behold, I come quickly." What dangerous and insane presumption, then, to claim, as age-to-come believers do, that there will be probation even after that event! Christ's reward is with him, to give every man as his work shall be, which is another conclusive proof that there can be no probation after that event; for all the living wicked, those "who know not God," the heathen, and those "who obey not the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ," the sinners of Christian lands (2 Thess. 1:8), will be visited with swift destruction from Him who then comes in flaming fire to take vengeance on his foes.

The declaration of verse 11 marks the close of probation, which is the close of Christ's work as mediator. But we are taught by the subject of the sanctuary that this work closes with the examination of the cases of the living in the investigative judgment. When this is accomplished, the irrevocable fiat can be pronounced. But when the cases of the living are reached in the work of judgment, we apprehend that what remains to be done will be so speedily accomplished that all these cases may almost be said to be decided simultaneously. We have therefore no occasion to speculate as to the order of work among the living; that is, whose cases will be decided first, and whose last, nor whether or not it will be known that any are decided before all is finished.

*******

I will study this more in depth tomorrow by the grace of God.

In His love always!

Are you in His light?

Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints

Psa 36:9 ….In thy light shall we see light.

Psa 27:1 …The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

Job 29:3  When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness

Isa 2:5  O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.

Isa 60:1  Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

Isa 60:2  For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

Isa 60:19  The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.

Isa 60:20  Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.

Joh 1:8  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

Joh 1:9  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

Joh 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

2Co 4:6  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Rev 21:23  And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

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