Storm Before Peace: 7 Trumpets -- Readiness Answered The Call

The American people and the world watched in great disbelief when terrorist attacks took down the two World Trade Towers on September 11, 2001.  Ten years later we are still learning new things about that day. 

The towers were on Manhattan which is an island.  The bridges that connect it to New York City were immediately closed; trapping everyone on the island.  Hysteria broke out when nearly the entire island became engulfed in a cloud of dust from the two massive towers imploding.  Most had no idea of what was happening. 

They ran to the area where the ferry docked to try to get off the island.  It became immediately evident that the ferry boats would not be enough.  A call went out to boat operators to help shuttle people off of the Island.  It is not known how many boats came to the rescue of the people of Manhattan; but around 500,000 people were evacuated off of the Island in about 9 hours; by thousands of boats.  As one witness said, “If it floated, it responded!”  An eleven minute; very well done professional quality documentary narrated by Tom Hanks has been circulating through emails, twitter and Face Book this week.  If you haven’t seen it; check out the link to it below.

9/11 has taught us that catastrophe can strike at anytime.  There is very little that we can do to be prepared physically for these types of attacks.  No preparation would have physically saved anyone in the Towers who was above the point of impact.  Saving our physical lives is instinct and we will all fight to the death to save ourselves; our family and our friends.  Some have shown reckless abandonment for themselves in order to save a stranger.  Jesus Christ says that there is no higher love!

John 15:13 ESV   Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

How many of those who died in 9/11 were saved eternally?  How many of them were ready to meet God face to face that day?  It didn’t have to be from terrorist attacks because 150,680 people die every day worldwide; that is almost 2 people every second.  How many are saved?  How many of them are immersion baptized in Jesus’ name; blood washed, Holy Ghost filled Christians?  Jesus said that we have to be born again!  These are not my words.  Being born again, means to be born of both the water and of the spirit; once again; the LORD’s words!

John 3:3-5 ESV Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."  (4)  Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"  (5)  Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

When asked by His disciples; Jesus told them to watch and know the times so that they would be ready for His return and the “End Time.”  However, it is not just for the “End Time;” that we need to be ready.  The end of our lives can come as quickly as it did for those who died upon impact that day at the World Trade Center, Pentagon and that field of heroes where the third plane crashed.  Those who had time to contemplate their eminent death had the time to say a prayer and prepared to meet their maker; not everyone is given such a chance.

In April of this year, after becoming delirious suddenly; from a septic infection; my wife called paramedics and they rushed me to the hospital and doctors braced my wife for my death which seemed most certain.  Although it appeared that I was conscious, I have no memory of that day; three weeks later I awoke from my coma. 

Praise the LORD that He saved my physical life and healed me.  Thankfully, my walk with the LORD is 24/7, 365; worship, prayer and Bible study are my daily habit.  An older and very wise man, Pastor John W. Grant; taught me to dwell in heavenly places daily through prayer and worship with the speaking in the tongues of the Holy Ghost.  I love the LORD with all of my heart, mind and soul.  Christianity is not a religion and church is not a place to go; being a Christian is who I am and church is what I am as well.  Three times in the past three years; death was knocking at my door and doctors expected me to die.  Each time; thank the LORD; I was ready.

Being ready for the return of Jesus does not mean merely waiting.  There are many people who have prediction addiction who are always setting dates or following some guru who sets dates and these people have actually stopped living life to wait.  We each need to live everyday as if it were our last; living in His righteousness and holiness; but LIVE!  Live and prepare as if you are going to live until age 105!

There are many professing Christians that believe that they can be steeped in the world; committing adultery and fornication; lie, steal and cheat; totally ignore God and spend as little time as possible in worship, prayer, Bible study and church; and they believe that they are going to heaven!

Friends, you need to know your Bible, because only through your Bible are you going to know God.  There is a warning going out from God in the form of world events that have been happening in greater proportion and magnitude.  The Four Horsemen of The Apocalypse/Revelation are here.  They are the first 4 of 7 seals that have been opened.  You want to be on the right side of God when 5 and 6 are opened.  When the seventh seal is opened, it will be too late for the backslider and the unbeliever! 

Revelation 15:1 KJV And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

The seventh seal will unleash seven blasts of the trumpet in succession; each trumpet will unleash unimaginable catastrophic plagues that will culminate with three final woes and the return of Jesus Christ to punish this world and put it on a Godly path of His Righteousness.

Beginning of Sorrows: Part 11 -- Prelude to Trumpets

You may love surprises and have all of the patience in the world to look at gifts under a Christmas tree and be happy to wait to open your gift.  Surprises and patience to wait has never been my strong suit.  My mind does not work well not knowing!   In fact, it will drive me stark raving mad!  Surprise me as long as you don’t tell me that something is coming; that is the worst!  If you can plan it all out; without me having a clue; that is O.K.  What is not known can’t bother me.

Along with wanting to know is also my need to prepare and set goals.  Some people never set goals; they just take life as it comes.  My administrative nature knows that less gets done without setting goals and planning.  At the end of a vacation nearly twenty years ago; prompted in the middle of the night; God led me to write down on the hotel stationary; ten goals and their timelines for achieving them over the next five years.  The paper got lost and was never consciously thought about until it emerged a little over five years later.  To my great surprise; all ten of the items were accomplished according to their individual time frames.

God’s Perfect Timing

God has perfect timing and that is not by accident.  Our material universe runs better than a Rolex watch.  We can all count on God’s planning and preparation that makes the universe work perfectly.  In His perfect order and timing; He will return to earth as Jesus Christ once again; not as the little LORD in the manger; but as the Almighty God; the King of kings and the LORD of lords!

God’s Perfect Plan

We have been looking at the “End Time Events;” those things that will happen just before the LORD’s return.  Because of mankind’s vain and rebellious nature; Jesus will have to take back; by force; the rule over the nations.  Unfortunately; the world will not welcome Jesus Christ and the peace that He will bring!  The world has been ignoring all of the LORD’s messages and signs.  We need to know the LORD’s plan; if we are going to make any sense of the current and upcoming world events. 

Prophecy:  God’s Plan is Changing History  

The statistics sited below are a repost from earlier articles.  The first ten years of the new century are unprecedented in world history.  The twentieth century ended as the bloodiest period of time for genocide; some of the bloodiest was at the end of the century in Africa.  

Skulls from mass graves in Rwanda

These are not war casualties; but just mass murders for race, nationality or political view.  Add those killed in wars and the death toll is more than 300,000,000!  The new century and new millennium started out with some of the greatest natural disasters ever.   

Revelation Becoming Our Reality

The catastrophic events that are detailed in the Book of Revelation have become a reality in our lifetime.  We can ignore the facts or justify them away by saying that we have more media available to report current events.  Even without statistics to back up gut feelings; there is a sense that we have never seen such dramatic proportions of political unrest and weather upset and disaster.  Along with the increase of sexual immorality; not heard of sin Sodom and Gomorrah; we have definitely reached new levels of chaos, confusion and the extinction of the nuclear family as defined by God’s WORD.

Around 160,000,000 people were killed in wars during the 20^th Century

For detailed statistics; log on to http://www.scaruffi.com/politics/massacre.html

Around 150,000,000 people who were murdered for their race, nationality or political view.  This is just for the 20^th Century!

For detailed statistics; log on to http://www.scaruffi.com/politics/dictat.html

The Children and People are Still Mourning
Their Loss.

Nearly 1 Million People Were Murdered
in 90 days in 90 days of genocide. 

  

  

The first ten years of the new century brought the following:

3,852 disasters killed more than 780,000 people over the past 10 years, affected more than 2 billion others and cost a minimum of US$960 billion.  March 3, 2010 Reported CRED:  Center for Research on Environmental Disasters.

 

In 2010 alone the world experienced the following:

Earthquakes, floods, a heat-wave and cold-wave were among the 373 natural disasters recorded in 2010. Together, they killed over 296,800 people, affected nearly 208 million others, and cost almost US$110 billion.  January 25, 2011 Reported by CRED:  Center for Research on Environmental Disasters.

We Haven’t Seen Anything Yet!

We have spent the last eleven days looking at the beginning of the Book of Revelation; calling it the Beginning of Sorrows.   The events prophesied next will effect every man, woman and child.  The initial war between Lucifer and God knocked all of the planets out of orbit.  The war between Man and God, will change the face of earth!

Next is the Seventh Seal.  It will announce; with Seven Trumpets;  catastrophic events that are beyond comprehension.  These will culminate with Seven Last Plagues; that will usher in the return of Jesus Christ as the 7^th Trumpet Sounds.  I have been living the past 40 years in anticipation of this time and I hope to see it in my lifetime.  Many await in their graves for the return of Jesus Christ and many of us are hoping to see Christ before we see the grave.  The Kingdom of God will put an end to all suffering and injustice!  This is what fuels true Christians; “A Better World in Christ!”

Revelation 8:1-4 KJV And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.  (2)  And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.  (3)  And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.  (4)  And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

Christians around the world and through the ages have been praying for this devastating day of man and victorious day for Christ!  Since the Garden of Eden, the clock has been ticking down nearly six thousand years; awaiting the time when the Fall of Man will be totally righted and humans will once again live in a Garden Paradise.  Unfortunately, there will be great suffering and great travail as the kingdoms of this world are birthed into the Kingdoms of Christ!  

Now is the time to prepare our hearts and minds to change our mindset from worldliness to Holiness; exchange sin for a season for an Eternal Crown!  Your eternal future will depend upon your readiness for the events that may lie just shortly ahead.  The people of Haiti repented in mass.  Over 1 million people surrounded the Presidential Palace for 3 days of Prayer and Fasting after an earthquake killed 316,000 people and destroyed the country; injuring over 300,000 and leaving 1 million people homeless.  Now is the time to Repent and be Baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  The warning is going out.  Soon the Heavenly Trumpet Blasts will be sounding and it will be too late.  Now is the Day of Salvation!  

Click on the video below for the video of Haiti's Revival.

Anointings is a sponsored ministry of

Crystal Lake United Pentecostal Church

Lake in the Hills Illinois 60156

CLUPC.Org

Bro. Thomas C. Blake

CareMinister.Org
Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014

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Beginning of Sorrows: Part 10 -- 144,000 & The Great Multitude

We have been looking at the End Time events as depicted by the seven seals of the great scroll that was in the hand of the One who sits on the throne and how it could only be opened by the LAMB of God who is the only one worthy.  The First four seals are depicted as four horses and their riders.  They are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse; and represent events that correlate with Matthew chapter 24; “the signs of the end of the world (age).”   Seal five revealed the saints who were martyred who cry out “How long until our blood is avenged?”  The LORD says, “Wait just a little longer.”  The events of the sixth seal are great and horrific; a time of the Great Tribulation to occur just before the seventh seal and the return of Jesus Christ. 

144,000 Sealed and Protected From Tibulation

It is at this juncture that a 144,000, thousand from all of the tribes of the children of Israel are sealed in Christ.  They are true Christian believers.   Four angels from all four corners of the earth hold back the four winds from harming the earth, sea or any tree; until the servants of the LORD are sealed; this is the 144,000 (12,000 from each tribe of Israel).  These specifically chose; twelve thousand from every tribe of Israel are sealed.  The Greek word means to be stamped for preservation (literally or figuratively) and by implication; to keep secret; to seal up, attest.  Since the New Testament Jew is one inwardly; whose heart has been circumcised; these 12,000 from every tribe may represent each tribe.  Seeing how God directed the genealogy of Mary and Joseph to give Jesus the direct descent from both the house of Aaron (High Priest) and David (Royal Kingship) as well as Jew and Gentile;  It would be in keeping with how God orders things to make every Christian of the 144,000 to perfectly have a direct genealogy that will perfectly represent 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes; regardless of which race may seem physically dominant.  After all; this would be the perfect fulfillment to Abraham and preserve Abraham’s direct lineage as God’s chosen people for all eternity.

Revelation 7:1-4 KJV  And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.  (2)  And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, (3) Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.  (4)  And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Once the servants of God of Israelite descent, are sealed and protected (12,000 from each tribe); then the Tribulation; and the fullness of the End Time events will be unleashed. 

The Great Multitude of Believer’s Saved

Out of the Great Tribulation, God will call and save a Great Multitude of people from all nations, from all tribes and peoples and languages.  This will fulfill Joel’s prophecy that  whosoever will call upon the name of the LORD shall be delivered and Paul’s prophecy that whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved.

Joel 2:31-32 KJV The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.  (32)  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Romans 10:13 KJV For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

These are people who will have washed their lives in the blood of Christ and will be clothed in the white linen of Christ’s own righteousness.  They will have had to endure the Great Tribulation.  They are the people left behind to witness during the Great Tribulation.

Revelation 7:9-10 KJV After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;  (10)  And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

Revelation 7:13-15 KJV And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?  (14)  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  (15)  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

7 Messages to the 7 Churches of Asia Minor

We Studied the Messages to the seven churches earlier this year.  These were actual churches at the writing of the Book of Revelation.  They are also seven types of church (good & bad traits); they also represent seven attitudes and possibly seven eras with Laodicea being the church of the Great Tribulation and Philadelphia being the church of brotherly love of the Rapture.  It is clear that all seven types and all seven attitudes will be extant at the return of Christ.

The Church at Ephesus – They Lost Their First Love.

The Church at Smyrna – Was rich in God’s grace in terrible tribulation & persecution.

The Church at Pergamum – Allowed members to be pagans and Nicolaitans.

The Church at Thyatira – Practiced sexual immorality & idolatry.

The Church at Sardis – Was a church of dead works; weary of well doing.

The Church at Philadelphia – Had a little faith and was known for brotherly love.

The Church at Laodicea – Was lukewarm and was going to be tried in the fire.

Friends; we could be 200 years away from Christ’s return or it could happen at any time.  God will choose His perfect timing.  You don’t want to be cut short; you don’t want to be tried in the fire of the Great Tribulation; you certainly don’t want damnation for all eternity.  NOW IS THE TIME TO GET RIGHT WITH JESUS CHRIST!

Beginning of Sorrows Part 9 the Sixth Seal

It was a Thursday night, August the 2^nd in 1990 when a special news report broke into regular programming to announce Saddam Hussein’s attack on Kuwait.  Within days, hundreds of Kuwaiti oil wells and fields were set ablaze by Iraqi forces and the sun became as sackcloth.  As a child, growing up in a church that believed in “End Time,” events; this was starling!  It seemed that Revelation chapter 6 was beginning to happen.  We believed that the Gospel had gone to the entire world as prophesied in Matthew 24:14.  That was the one thing that could hold back the End Time.  We knew to look to the Middle East for the culmination of world events; but this was not that event.  As we have been going through the Book of Revelation, and have looked at the first five seals of the scroll of Revelation chapter 6; today we are going to look at the sixth seal which is about Heavenly Signs.

The First Six Seals

First Seal -- False Prophets

Second Seal -- Wars

Third Seal -- Famine

Fourth Seal -- Pestilence

Fifth Seal -- Tribulation and the Rapture

Sixth Seal -- Heavenly Signs and Wonders

Revelation 6:12-17 KJV And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;  (13)  And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.  (14)  And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.  (15)  And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;  (16)  And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:  (17)  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

7 Great Events will take place as part of the Sixth Seal

The following seven events take place after the fifth seal Rapture of God’s people and the beginning of the Great Tribulation.  The events will climax with the seventh seal events that unleash the seven last trumpet events.  The seventh Trumpet blast will signal Christ’s return.

1.     Great Earthquake

2.     Sun becomes black as sackcloth of hair

3.     Moon becomes as blood

4.     Stars (celestial bodies) fall to the earth in great number

5.     Heaven departs like a scroll when it is rolled together

6.     Every mountain and Island is moved out of its place

7.     All men; kings and slaves alike try to hide from Christ, in the rocks.

Who will stand when the Day of the LORD comes?

The Prophet Malachi speaks about the return of Jesus Christ in the Day of the LORD; when He shall return as the refiner’s fire!  The LORD’s appearing will be so great and upon such horrific events that Malachi asks; who shall stand.

Malachi 3:2-4 KJV But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:  (3)  And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.  (4)  Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

We have the choice to be refined by God now; willing subjects to His way; or we can go through hell on earth and the Great Tribulation and be refined by force.  Either way; every knee will bow to Jesus Christ the LORD.

Isaiah 45:22-23 KJV Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.  (23)  I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

Romans 14:11 KJV For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

If you have not been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ the LORD; and received the gift of the Holy Ghost; then you are gambling with your eternal life!  Those who believe and are baptized shall be saved while the unbeliever shall be damned!  Now is the time to make sure that your spiritual house is in order; now is the time to revive your relationship with Jesus Christ; now is the time to awake and take action in your life!

Beginning of Sorrows: Part 8 -- The Fifth Seal

As a kid growing up in the 1960s; television for both adults and children was all basically built upon unrealistic life scenarios (the perfect families of the Cleavers, Father Knows Best and the Donna Reed Show) or they were westerns (Gun Smoke, Wagon Train, Raw Hide and Daniel Boone).  There were also some detective shows like Mannix  and Hawaii 5-O.  One absolute about all of those shows was that Good always won out over evil.  There was another underlying theme; that was that justice had to be served.  Even though this was supposed to be carried out by “The Law;” there was a constant theme of getting even that was programming young minds like my own. 

Television was greatly restricted and regulated by Dad.  Even movies that we went to as a family; it was not uncommon for Dad to make us get up and leave the theater at the first questionable language or theme.  With Dad, there was no compromise!  Whatever liberal and non-Christian value that was being taught through school, classmates and the media; Dad was there holding the line on Holiness which is God’s standard.

As a youth, forgiveness was taught countless times in sermons and Bible Studies.  Through all of this; God has blessed me with a soft and forgiving heart.  Vengeance belongs to God as His WORD says.  Forgiving seventy times seven seems to suggest that there is no end to God’s forgiveness; and indeed there is no end.  Looking at forgiveness and mercy seemed to make eternal punishment in hell fire seem out of character for the God of love.

The Bigger Picture

We were created to endure great sorrow and suffering.  It truly is through our trials that we grow in God’s character.  God has promised us that we would never be tried more that we can bear.  God does allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear; but He gives us greater ability to bear it or He makes a way of escape.  It is only through bringing us to the breaking point that we are stretched so that we can grow. 

1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Muscle training is common knowledge.  If you want greater strength, then you have to stretch the muscle just to the braking point.  An every other day exercise regime is recommended; because it takes a day to recover and rebuild.  The constant process; of ripping and healing muscle mass; increases strength.

Ripping and healing our spiritual, emotional and mental fiber makes us stronger and more like Jesus Christ.

We must remember that we were created for God’s good pleasure; and we have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.  We belong to God and He wants to give us eternal life with Him.  The less than 100 years that any of us suffer in the flesh is preparing us to live for a billion years and beyond.  The value of eternal life would be very little if it were not so costly to prepare for it.

My daughter spent 5 years going to college fulltime and she had to sacrifice her time and a great amount of money to achieve her diploma from Loyola University in Chicago.  She went beyond; sought out the best school for her chosen field and she landed the perfect job; her dream job working for one of the world’s largest and most prestigious law firms in Chicago.  She paid a high price to reach the first level of her career.  If she had chosen just any college, she would not have landed the job.

One of my favorite scriptures in the Bible is that, “God will not be mocked.”

Galatians 6:7 KJV Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Justice will prevail!  Not just any justice; but Godly Justice!  It seems that evil wins out over good; but we haven’t seen the fires of hell yet.  We haven’t seen who is going to be in hell.  People can amass great wealth in this life; at the expense and suffering of others.  Some day they will pay.  That is what the fifth seal is all about.  Justice is coming, just wait a little longer.

Revelation 6:9-11 ESV When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.  (10)  They cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"  (11)  Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

Those who have been martyred for the Gospel so that we could believe; those saints are the foundation of our Christian sacrifice today.  They cry out from under the altar for justice; but their number is not complete.  Some of us will be martyred before Jesus returns; but God promises justice; innocent blood will be avenged by God!  Only God knows the full story of ever person who has ever lived.  Only God knows who has accepted and who has rejected His call; but the value of the glory that will be revealed in us demands justice be paid by those workers of iniquity.  Only God knows all!  This is certain; no innocent, Godly person will ever go to the lake of fire!

We live in exciting times.  God is holding out to each of us an invitation for an eternal gift and also a reward.  We can’t earn the gift which is eternal life; that comes by grace; but we can earn an eternal reward.  What we will do for all eternity will depend upon the character that we develop now in the flesh.  Belief and baptism are how we accept the gift of grace; we must claim our gift.  Works of faith and living, growing and being transformed in Christ will earn us a reward.  Do not lose hope; overcome the world just as Jesus Christ overcame the world!  Glory awaits you!

Beginning of Sorrows: Part 7 -- Worthy is the Lamb

Beginning of Sorrows Part 7

We have been looking at prophetic events of the End Time; in particular; The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in Revelation chapter 6 and their correlation to Matthew chapter 24.  We have called this series “Beginning of Sorrows;” a quote from Matthew 24:8.  This is now part 7 in the series and we are going to back up to look at the scroll that has contained the seals that have revealed the Four Horsemen prophecies.  Let’s review the overview of the writing of the book of Revelation.  It was written by the Apostle John while in exile on the Island of Patmos.

Chapter 1 is an introduction that establishes that the writing is a message from Jesus Christ, the Alpha and Omega; the beginning and the end; and that the message is to be taken to the seven churches in Asia.  John received it in a vision; in the Spirit and it was a time in the future; the End Time which is the Day of the LORD.

Revelation 1:10-11 KJV I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,  (11)  Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Jesus states that He holds the keys to death and Hell

Revelation 1:18 KJV I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Chapters 2 and 3 are the seven messages to seven churches in Asia.  These churches represent 7 attitudes and possibly 7 eras of the true church.  They were referred to as the seven golden candle sticks; and each has an angel referred to as a star in chapter 1.  The candle stick with seven lamps was originally part of the Tabernacle of the congregation of Israel.

Revelation 1:20 KJV The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Chapter 4 describes the throne of God and John is taken there in his vision.  John is shown the four beasts that sit at the throne saying, continuously; Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come; and there are twenty-four elders that worship the LORD continuously, saying Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created

Revelation 4:8-11 KJV And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.  (9)  And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,  (10)  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,  (11)  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

It is in Revelation chapter 5 that John sees the book; the scroll with seven seals and it is in the hand of God and that the book could only be opened by the Lamb of God who was slain.  There are many things that we only partially understand now because it is not meant for us to fully understand at this time.  We must become worthy just as the Lamb of God; Christ Jesus made Himself worthy.  Jesus said, “to him that overcometh…even as I overcame…”  Jesus is the captain of our salvation (Hebrews2:10)…He leads us on His path; He is the WAY, Truth and Life (John 14:6).         

Revelation 3:21 KJV To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Our understanding will become complete when we have overcome the flesh and have completed our course; our race.  Our overcoming is not complete until death or the return of Jesus Christ.  Then our eyes will be fully opened and given fullness of understanding.  The bread of life is Christ; the bread that came down from heaven; the hidden manna is the fullness of understanding.

Revelation 2:17 KJV  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

As the Apostle Paul said; “What we only see as reflections in a mirror, shadows of what is to come; we will see face to face in fullness.”

1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

The Book of Revelation contains the mortar that holds all of the Gospel and the Truth together and erects the house for us to see.  Jesus came for more than healing and salvation.  The greatness of our potential along with the grandeur of the mansion that awaits us; this and all of their proportions and that which our son-ship in Christ portends; is revealed in the Book of Revelation; that is if we overcome!  The clarity of the consequences of rejecting our calling is also revealed along with the torment of the devil’s fate.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are the first four seals of the book that only the Lamb of God is worthy to open.   

Revelation 5:1-5 KJV And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.  (2)  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?  (3)  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.  (4)  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.  (5)  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Revelation 5:12-13 KJV  Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.  (13)  And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Chapters 1 through 5 of Revelation are the introduction that prepares the setting and stage; of all of the fulfillment of God’s plan that begins with the End Time.  This course of events commences with the opening of the first seal; the White Horse and culminates in the seventh trump of the return of Jesus Christ.  The chart below is a map through these events.

You need to fully understand the events that are unfolding on the world stage.  Your future is at stake.  Pray for understanding; pray that the LORD would lead you into His righteousness.  Now is the time to make your calling an election sure!