EVERYTHING NEW! 

Posted on June 3, 2022 by randscallawayffm

As a young kid growing up in a suburb of a larger city, we were so excited when a grand new discount grocery store moved into the neighborhood.  It was bigger than all the other grocery stores. The manager was an extreme bargain hunter who searched for the “best price” for every single product.  He was so driven; he was hard on all the vendors he dealt with on a daily basis.  He told them what he was going to pay or their product didn’t get put on his shelves.  We got to know the owner, learned how obsessive he was because my brother worked there and later my son.  I would like to say that all he did was for our benefit as customers, but it was solely to make a buck for his pocket.  He outsold, outpriced and outmanaged all his competitors around him.  We went there begrudgingly because times were financially challenging and he did have the best price and he knew it.

But that’s not all!  This grocery store manager made a vow that no matter what, the store would be open 24/7.  He even ceremonially buried the keys to the doors into the concrete threshold to “make his point”.  No holidays were observed.  The store never closed.  His family, (bless their hearts), were part of the management team.  His two sons had to work their way up from stockmen to management, working long hours.  The owner always had the last word.  He was a hard man.  No one wanted to make him mad or irritated.

A life-changing event happened in this man’s life one day.  His beloved son was killed in a warehouse accident.  The manager became even more hardened and bitter.  We rarely saw him smile.  Most were afraid of his arrogant, intimidating manner.  As I look back, remembering this man and his family, it makes me sad about what could have been.  We moved away years ago.  The grocery store successfully opened three more locations around the city, but at what cost? The man and his family gave their lives for riches that will fade away.  He thought he was in total control of his destiny.  But was he?

There is a love that cannot be replicated by any other human.  We can come close if we dedicate our lives to this love, but we cannot reach the depth, width, or heights of this love.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  His Son, Jesus, fulfilled his Father’s mission and gave up his life for us.  What kind of love is this?

But that’s not all!  Jesus has so much more in store for those who declare Him Lord of their lives no, here on earth.  All who believe, repent and follow Jesus receives help with life here while preparing for eternal life in a new place!  Anyone reading this can be “managed for our best interests” by the One and Only who laid down his life for you and me by following Jesus as Lord of our lives! 

And get this…He paid the ultimate price for our souls, declaring us free from all debt of sin that enslaves us.  He didn’t try to strike a bargain for us, there were no manipulations, no arrogant ploys of deception lodged against His accusers for us.  No, He was willing to pay the full price to give us new life in Him!  This new life still gives and gives and gives some more.  Each new day brings a fresh look into His word coupled with His Holy Spirit who speaks to our heart, mind and soul with words of comfort for us, challenges for adventure with Him, while reminding us of His never-ending, 24/7 love, mercy and grace.  He too, is always open, 24/7, to hear from us!

AND NOW, we learn that not only is Jesus is coming back for His own, like He promised, God is creating a NEW place for us to live, also open 24/7!  We, whose names are in His Book of Life will experience life forever in a place that can only be imagined, maybe, in our dreams!  John is told that all he is hearing and seeing must be written down for all of us to read, believe and be encouraged!  This is Truth, “each word dependable and accurate.”

Believe and be saved—forever!

REVELATION—JESUS IS COMING BACK!

Revelation 21, The Message

I saw Heaven and earth new-created. Gone the first Heaven, gone the first earth, gone the sea.

2I saw Holy Jerusalem, new-created, descending resplendent out of Heaven, as ready for God as a bride for her husband.

3-5 I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: “Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They’re his people, he’s their God. He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone.” The Enthroned continued, “Look! I’m making everything new. Write it all down—each word dependable and accurate.”

6-8 Then he said, “It’s happened. I’m A to Z. I’m the Beginning, I’m the Conclusion. From Water-of-Life Well I give freely to the thirsty. Conquerors inherit all this. I’ll be God to them, they’ll be sons and daughters to me. But for the rest—the feckless and faithless, degenerates and murderers, sex peddlers and sorcerers, idolaters and all liars—for them it’s Lake Fire and Brimstone. Second death!”

The City of Light

9-12 One of the Seven Angels who had carried the bowls filled with the seven final disasters spoke to me: “Come here. I’ll show you the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb.” He took me away in the Spirit to an enormous, high mountain and showed me Holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God, resplendent in the bright glory of God.

12-14 The City shimmered like a precious gem, light-filled, pulsing light. She had a wall majestic and high with twelve gates. At each gate stood an Angel, and on the gates were inscribed the names of the Twelve Tribes of the sons of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, three gates on the west. The wall was set on twelve foundations, the names of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb inscribed on them.

15-21 The Angel speaking with me had a gold measuring stick to measure the City, its gates, and its wall. The City was laid out in a perfect square. He measured the City with the measuring stick: fifteen hundred miles, its length, width, and height all equal. Using the standard measure, the Angel measured the thickness of its wall: seventy-two yards. The wall was jasper, the color of Glory, and the City was pure gold, translucent as glass. The foundations of the City walls were garnished with every precious gem imaginable: the first foundation jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate a single pearl.

21-27 The main street of the City was pure gold, translucent as glass. But there was no sign of a Temple, for the Lord God—the Sovereign-Strong—and the Lamb are the Temple. The City doesn’t need sun or moon for light. God’s Glory is its light, the Lamb its lamp! The nations will walk in its light and earth’s kings bring in their splendor. Its gates will never be shut by day, and there won’t be any night. They’ll bring the glory and honor of the nations into the City. Nothing dirty or defiled will get into the City, and no one who defiles or deceives. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will get in.

TRY TO IMAGINE OUR NEW CITY OF RESIDENCE—

No more crying.  No more tears.  Nothing to worry about or be concerned.

No electric bills for God’s Glory is the Light and the Lamb is the Lamp.  No night there!

No death.  No funerals.  No funeral dinners.

Nothing ugly or dirty, defiled or deceiving can get in.

And the best part?  “Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women!

The beauty and splendor of the jewels and gold streets are surely impressive, but to be with the Lord and all who love the Lord is the best part of all! 

Lord,

There is no one like you!  There is no one I would rather spend my days with on earth or in eternity!  You have brought me through hard trials and troubles with lessons that were hard but necessary for me to grasp.  You have given me power to grow in your character, learning to be more and more like you and less like imperfect me.  You have humbled me while loving me supremely, like no other.  You have given me so many adventures with you to tell your story!  I could spend another lifetime on earth just remembering them with gratitude and praise!  Thank you for saving my soul and making me whole.  Thank you for new life, renewed Spirit, refreshed soul, and restored joy.  That is all you, the One who manages my life with care, compassion and completeness.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen!

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THE BOOK OF LIFE

Posted on June 2, 2022 by randscallawayffm

Some of us torment ourselves by rewinding the tape on hurt by others or hurt we caused, sins of our youth, along with other regretful times of our lives.  Some of us are always looking back, second guessing, worrying over things we cannot change, bringing undue, unhealthy stress to our hearts, minds, bodies and souls. 

Some of us are merely calloused people who just move on, seemingly careless about what he/she has done, gossip about others to lift ourselves up a little higher, but on the inside unrepented sin corrupts and causes the calloused to be sarcastic to others.  Hurting people hurt people is a true statement of life today. 

Some of us love like our lives depended on it.  We see the hurt of others and come to their aid as a friend.  We pray, asking God for wisdom while repenting of our own sin.  We live for God, with Jesus in us, guided by His promised Holy Spirit to keep us focused on Him.  We worship God alone and give all our cares and concerns to Him.

All beliefs and behaviors are recorded in The Book of Life.  We need to stop and evaluate what will be seen of our unrepented sins?  We wonder what deeds are recorded?  What will get the “Well done, my good and faithful servant” nod from God?

This thinking goes way beyond the “wait until your Father comes home”!

When we repent, asking God for forgiveness of our sins with sincere hearts of remorse, we are promised that sins repented will be “remembered no more.”  We can count on that.  “Each man and woman was judged by the way he or she had lived” may have more to do with our hearts, attitudes, current lifestyle that reflects who and what we really believe.  The review of our lives may be more about judging the formation of our spiritual lives.  Did we conform to the world, as Paul writes in Romans 12:1-2, or did we allow our waking up, walking around lives to be transformed by Jesus each day we lived?  Transformation by Jesus means becoming more and more in every way like Him. 

Who will we look like when the Book of Life is opened? 

REVELATION—JESUS IS COMING BACK!

Revelation 20, The Message

A Thousand Years

1-3 I saw an Angel descending out of Heaven. He carried the key to the Abyss and a chain—a huge chain. He grabbed the Dragon, that old Snake—the very Devil, Satan himself!—chained him up for a thousand years, dumped him into the Abyss, slammed it shut and sealed it tight. No more trouble out of him, deceiving the nations—until the thousand years are up. After that he has to be let loose briefly.

4-6 I saw thrones. Those put in charge of judgment sat on the thrones. I also saw the souls of those beheaded because of their witness to Jesus and the Word of God, who refused to worship either the Beast or his image, refused to take his mark on forehead or hand—they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years! The rest of the dead did not live until the thousand years were up. This is the first resurrection—and those involved most blessed, most holy. No second death for them! They’re priests of God and Christ; they’ll reign with him a thousand years.

7-10 When the thousand years are up, Satan will be let loose from his cell, and will launch again his old work of deceiving the nations, searching out victims in every nook and cranny of earth, even Gog and Magog! He’ll talk them into going to war and will gather a huge army, millions strong. They’ll stream across the earth, surround and lay siege to the camp of God’s holy people, the Beloved City. They’ll no sooner get there than fire will pour out of Heaven and burn them up. The Devil who deceived them will be hurled into Lake Fire and Brimstone, joining the Beast and False Prophet, the three in torment around the clock for ages without end.

Judgment

11-15 I saw a Great White Throne and the One Enthroned. Nothing could stand before or against the Presence, nothing in Heaven, nothing on earth. And then I saw all the dead, great and small, standing there—before the Throne! And books were opened. Then another book was opened: the Book of Life. The dead were judged by what was written in the books, by the way they had lived. Sea released its dead, Death and Hell turned in their dead. Each man and woman was judged by the way he or she had lived. Then Death and Hell were hurled into Lake Fire. This is the second death—Lake Fire. Anyone whose name was not found inscribed in the Book of Life was hurled into Lake Fire.

WHAT WE KNOW—

One last battle will be fought briefly with Satan and his demons, but he will lose and be put away forever.  Anyone who follows him will go to the Lake of Fire with him.  Don’t be deceived.  Don’t sit and stew over sin, repent now.  Then worries about what happens when Jesus comes are gone!

Those who call on the name of Jesus Christ, believe Him, repent of all sins are saved to live forever with Him.  Yes, and Amen!

Lord,

I give my life to you as an offering of worship to you.  Only you can turn my repented messes into a message of glory to You.  I believe.  I trust in you, dear Jesus, to continue to transform my life for your glory.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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HERE HE COMES!

Posted on June 1, 2022 by randscallawayffm

Let’s just praise the Lord today! Along with this chapter of Hallelujahs, Today’s praise songs play in the background of my mind.  THIS is the day of rejoicing to all who believe and follow Jesus, abiding in Him, never giving up on His promises to us…

These are the days of Elijah
Declaring the word of the Lord,
And these are the days of Your servant, Moses
Righteousness being restored

These are the days of great trials
Of famine and darkness and sword
Still we are the voice in the desert crying
Prepare ye the way of the Lord!

Say, behold He comes, riding on the clouds
Shining like the sun, at the trumpet’s call
Lift your voice, (it’s) the year of Jubilee
Out of Zion’s hill, salvation comes!

By Don Marsh

REVELATION—JESUS IS COMING BACK!

Revelation 19, The Message

The Sound of Hallelujahs

1-3 I heard a sound like massed choirs in Heaven singing,

Hallelujah!
The salvation and glory and power are God’s—
    his judgments true, his judgments just.
He judged the great Whore
    who corrupted the earth with her lust.
He avenged on her the blood of his servants.

Then, more singing:

Hallelujah!
The smoke from her burning billows up
    to high Heaven forever and ever and ever.

4 The Twenty-four Elders and the Four Animals fell to their knees and worshiped God on his Throne, praising,

Amen! Yes! Hallelujah!

5 From the Throne came a shout, a command:

Praise our God, all you his servants,
All you who fear him, small and great!

6-8 Then I heard the sound of massed choirs, the sound of mighty rapids, the sound of strong thunder:

Hallelujah!
The Master reigns,
    our God, the Sovereign-Strong!
Let us celebrate, let us rejoice,
    let us give him the glory!
The Marriage of the Lamb has come;
    his Wife has made herself ready.
She was given a bridal gown
    of bright and shining linen.
The linen is the righteousness of the saints.

9 The Angel said to me, “Write this: ‘Blessed are those invited to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.’” He added, “These are the true words of God!”

10 I fell at his feet to worship him, but he wouldn’t let me. “Don’t do that,” he said. “I’m a servant just like you, and like your brothers and sisters who hold to the witness of Jesus. The witness of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

A White Horse and Its Rider

11-16 Then I saw Heaven open wide—and oh! a white horse and its Rider. The Rider, named Faithful and True, judges and makes war in pure righteousness. His eyes are a blaze of fire, on his head many crowns. He has a Name inscribed that’s known only to himself. He is dressed in a robe soaked with blood, and he is addressed as “Word of God.” The armies of Heaven, mounted on white horses and dressed in dazzling white linen, follow him. A sharp sword comes out of his mouth so he can subdue the nations, then rule them with a rod of iron. He treads the winepress of the raging wrath of God, the Sovereign-Strong. On his robe and thigh is written, King of kings, Lord of lords.

17-18 I saw an Angel standing in the sun, shouting to all flying birds in Middle-Heaven, “Come to the Great Supper of God! Feast on the flesh of kings and captains and champions, horses and their riders. Eat your fill of them all—free and slave, small and great!”

19-21 I saw the Beast and, assembled with him, earth’s kings and their armies, ready to make war against the One on the horse and his army. The Beast was taken, and with him, his puppet, the False Prophet, who used signs to dazzle and deceive those who had taken the mark of the Beast and worshiped his image. They were thrown alive, those two, into Lake Fire and Brimstone. The rest were killed by the sword of the One on the horse, the sword that comes from his mouth. All the birds held a feast on their flesh.

Friends, these older songs come to mind right now…

O soul are you weary and troubled
No light in the darkness you see
There’s light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace

ALL the things of earth that is not of God will be destroyed in preparation for the return of Jesus Christ to come back and claim His own.  Are you one of His?  Am I?  Really? 

In times like these you need a Savior,
In times like these you need an anchor;
Be very sure, be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

 This Rock is Jesus, Yes He’s the One,
This Rock is Jesus, the only One;
Be very sure, be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

Lord,

I’m sure you are the One and Only who saved by soul for eternity.  In times of trouble you are there with me, teaching me, while hold my hand and sometimes dragging me out of what hurts me.  You are the One I cling to, the One and Only I worship, trust and want to obey.  You are God and I am not.  I need you every hour of every day.  And you are there.  I trust in you, dear Jesus.  You are the Lamb of God and we are your bride! 

In Jesus Name, Amen

Hallelujah!

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WHEN IT ALL FALLS…

Posted on May 31, 2022 by randscallawayffm

I remember reading and learning in our history books about the great Stock Market Crash of 1929.  It brought disastrous results to those at the top who thought they had the world by the tail.  The stock market crash of 1929 was a collapse of stock prices that began on October 24, 1929. By October 29, 1929, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had dropped by 30.57%, marking one of the worst declines in U.S. history. It destroyed confidence in Wall Street markets and led to the Great Depression. 

Shocking I know, media fed the frenzy that soon took place.  People who worked hard to accumulate their wealth in this way became paralyzed in fear, realizing life as they knew it was gone, being in control of their destiny was no longer theirs to control.  The “self-made man” experienced extreme humiliation.  Some could not imagine losing their lifestyles of elegance, legacies of wealth and took the suicidal route. These once important men who “had it all” jumped out of their New York skyscraper offices to their death because they felt they had lost it all. 

All their hopes were on money and power.  Satan loves that for he knows that if he can lure us to think we hold all the cards in life and control every move that is made, placing all hope on self, he can easily take us down.  His goal for us.

The opposite is true of God.  Our hope in Jesus is eternal, never-ending, unchanging. It is not based on manmade wealth, stock markets, or trades. It doesn’t matter what you have or hold in savings.  All God wants is you and me loving Him back, fully devoted to Him, walking in His ways, protected and provided for by Him, relying fully on His wisdom, insight and understanding.  The One who knows us best what His best for us!

No matter what happens next in our world right now, if we have Jesus Christ at the center of our being, we will be ready for His return.

The devasting Crash of 1929 followed by the Great Depression was a very small event compared to what will happen when God has had enough of those who rely completely on self, led by the Enemy.

REVELATION—JESUS IS COMING BACK!

Revelation 18, The Message

Doom to the City of Darkness

1-8 Following this I saw another Angel descend from Heaven. His authority was immense, his glory flooded earth with brightness, his voice thunderous:

Ruined, ruined, Great Babylon, ruined!
    A ghost town for demons is all that’s left!
A garrison of carrion spirits,
    garrison of loathsome, carrion birds.
All nations drank the wild wine of her whoring;
    kings of the earth went whoring with her;
    entrepreneurs made millions exploiting her.

Just then I heard another shout out of Heaven:

Get out, my people, as fast as you can,
    so you don’t get mixed up in her sins,
    so you don’t get caught in her doom.
Her sins stink to high Heaven;
    God has remembered every evil she’s done.
Give her back what she’s given,
    double what she’s doubled in her works,
    double the recipe in the cup she mixed;
Bring her flaunting and wild ways
    to torment and tears.
Because she gloated, “I’m queen over all,
    and no widow, never a tear on my face,”
In one day, disasters will crush her—
    death, heartbreak, and famine—
Then she’ll be burned by fire, because God,
    the Strong God who judges her,
    has had enough.

9-10 “The kings of the earth will see the smoke of her burning, and they’ll cry and carry on, the kings who went night after night to her brothel. They’ll keep their distance for fear they’ll get burned, and they’ll cry their lament:

Doom, doom, the great city doomed!
    City of Babylon, strong city!
In one hour it’s over, your judgment come!

11-17 “The traders will cry and carry on because the bottom dropped out of business, no more market for their goods: gold, silver, precious gems, pearls; fabrics of fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet; perfumed wood and vessels of ivory, precious woods, bronze, iron, and marble; cinnamon and spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; wine and oil, flour and wheat; cattle, sheep, horses, and chariots. And slaves—their terrible traffic in human lives.

Everything you’ve lived for, gone!
    All delicate and delectable luxury, lost!
    Not a scrap, not a thread to be found!

“The traders who made millions off her kept their distance for fear of getting burned, and cried and carried on all the more:

Doom, doom, the great city doomed!
    Dressed in the latest fashions,
    adorned with the finest jewels,
    in one hour such wealth wiped out!

17-19 “All the ship captains and travelers by sea, sailors and toilers of the sea, stood off at a distance and cried their lament when they saw the smoke from her burning: ‘Oh, what a city! There was never a city like her!’ They threw dust on their heads and cried as if the world had come to an end:

Doom, doom, the great city doomed!
    All who owned ships or did business by sea
Got rich on her getting and spending.
    And now it’s over—wiped out in one hour!

20 “O Heaven, celebrate! And join in, saints, apostles, and prophets! God has judged her; every wrong you suffered from her has been judged.”

21-24 A strong Angel reached for a boulder—huge, like a millstone—and heaved it into the sea, saying,

Heaved and sunk, the great city Babylon,
    sunk in the sea, not a sign of her ever again.
Silent the music of harpists and singers—
    you’ll never hear flutes and trumpets again.
Artisans of every kind—gone;
    you’ll never see their likes again.
The voice of a millstone grinding falls dumb;
    you’ll never hear that sound again.
The light from lamps, never again;
    never again laughter of bride and groom.
Her traders robbed the whole earth blind,
    and by black-magic arts deceived the nations.
The only thing left of Babylon is blood—
    the blood of saints and prophets,
    the murdered and the martyred.

THINK ABOUT IT…

Do you really believe what God says to be true really real in your life?  Our behaviors will reflect what we value, respect and are in awe of in our world.

Babylon, “the woman”, was not only an ancient city and a powerful empire, but also the symbol of mankind’s rebellion against God.  It birthed other anti-God religions. 

True unity of the Spirit exists among believers, but we must not compromise by joining forces with that which is opposed to Christ.

What specific sins would God judge?

We have already noted Babylon’s evil influence on the nations of the world, seducing them with idolatry. Another sin that will be judged is pride: “She (Babylon) has glorified herself!” (Rev. 18:7)

A third sin is Babylon’s worship of pleasures and luxury. To “live deliciously” (Rev. 18:7) is to live proudly in luxury while others go without. It means to make possessions and pleasures the most important things in life and to ignore the needs of others. John summarized this attitude as “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16).

In one day, the entire economic empire will collapse! But those who have their citizenship in heaven will rejoice at the judgment of God.

Are we ready to rejoice or lament?  It depends on who we believe and place all our hope and faith upon no matter what is happening around us.

Lord,

It is not what I have accumulated that you want.  You want me.  All of me.  You want a person who will put you first, at the beginning of each new day, asking and desiring what you want from us that will grow and mature us in your love.  I get it.  I want it.  I choose you because you chose me.  I love you because you first loved me.  In a world of manipulations, betrayals, and deceiving behaviors caused by self-pride that idolizes what matters least to you, I choose what you value—people who love you back.  And I am one of them.  Abide in me as I abide in You—as promised.  Forever.In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen.  Yes!  Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

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GOOD VS. EVIL

Posted on May 30, 2022 by randscallawayffm

Books have been written and movies made with two main characters—the good one and the evil one.  They both have their people around them who serve them and are loyal to them.  We read or watch wondering who will win, hoping who will win, and then celebrating the victor.  We are drawn to the ageless storyline time and time again.

The plot rises and falls on the activities of the good one and the evil one.  The story rises to climax when it looks as if the evil one will indeed win.  I have heard booing in the theater or at home!  However, the good one changes everything in the last chapter or last scene.  The good one lives after all, enduring all the hits, disgrace, slaps in the face and being bound up—or so the evil one thought!  The good one was never really bound and fulfills the plot plan of the Author of the Book as the Victor.  The good one celebrates with all who were loyal to him.  He is the Victor!

Admit it, there is seldom a time in our books and movies that evil wins over good.  Where did this plot line begin?  With Adam and Eve, created to live in a perfectly good place, enjoying a wonderful relationship with God, until evil opened the door to all that is not good.  They fell for evil—hard.  But the story did not end there.

We have been writing books and producing movies ever since with this plot sequence.  It is no wonder God gives John this vision for the troubled, persecuted church in this way.  We get it.  All that is evil with perverse, manipulative, torturous, nasty behavior will be dealt with in power over evil with all that is God.  God will not allow evil to win.  In His time, in His ways, evil will be defeated and sent to hell forever.  Evil tries to be king by working through kings on earth, but he will fail.  There is only One King!

Be on the winning side.  Come to Jesus.  Pray, asking for wisdom to think and behave like Jesus. Here is what being like the One who saved us looks like:

“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
    he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:1-11

We all know who wins in the end—If you read the Book! 

Revelation is coming to a climax with the evil one, the whore, who represents all that is evil.

REVELATION—JESUS IS COMING BACK!

Revelation 17, The Message

Great Babylon, Mother of Whores

1-2 One of the Seven Angels who carried the seven bowls came and invited me, “Come, I’ll show you the judgment of the great Whore who sits enthroned over many waters, the Whore with whom the kings of the earth have gone whoring, show you the judgment on earth dwellers drunk on her whorish lust.”

3-6 In the Spirit he carried me out in the desert. I saw a woman mounted on a Scarlet Beast. Stuffed with blasphemies, the Beast had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, festooned with gold and gems and pearls. She held a gold chalice in her hand, brimming with defiling obscenities, her foul fornications. A riddle-name was branded on her forehead: great babylon, mother of whores and abominations of the earth. I could see that the woman was drunk, drunk on the blood of God’s holy people, drunk on the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.

6-8 Astonished, I rubbed my eyes. I shook my head in wonder. The Angel said, “Does this surprise you? Let me tell you the riddle of the woman and the Beast she rides, the Beast with seven heads and ten horns. The Beast you saw once was, is no longer, and is about to ascend from the Abyss and head straight for Hell. Earth dwellers whose names weren’t written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will be dazzled when they see the Beast that once was, is no longer, and is to come.

9-11 “But don’t drop your guard. Use your head. The seven heads are seven hills; they are where the woman sits. They are also seven kings: five dead, one living, the other not yet here—and when he does come his time will be brief. The Beast that once was and is no longer is both an eighth and one of the seven—and headed for Hell.

12-14 “The ten horns you saw are ten kings, but they’re not yet in power. They will come to power with the Scarlet Beast, but won’t last long—a very brief reign. These kings will agree to turn over their power and authority to the Beast. They will go to war against the Lamb but the Lamb will defeat them, proof that he is Lord over all lords, King over all kings, and those with him will be the called, chosen, and faithful.”

15-18 The Angel continued, “The waters you saw on which the Whore was enthroned are peoples and crowds, nations and languages. And the ten horns you saw, together with the Beast, will turn on the Whore—they’ll hate her, violate her, strip her naked, rip her apart with their teeth, then set fire to her. It was God who put the idea in their heads to turn over their rule to the Beast until the words of God are completed. The woman you saw is the great city, tyrannizing the kings of the earth.”

VICTORY IS NEAR—

Beginning in Revelation 17, John describes the Lamb’s step-by-step victory over “the beast” and his kingdom. In Revelation 17, the religious system is judged; in Revelation 18, the political and economic system fall victim. Finally, the Lord Himself returns to earth; judges Satan, “the beast,” and the false prophet (Rev. 19:19–20); and then establishes His kingdom. 

Keep reading!  We’re almost there!

Lord,

You teach us daily of all that we wonder about real Life.  You give us wisdom for living life well—when we ask.  You gave us your Son to pay the debt for our sin. Thank you, dear Jesus!  We know You will come back again to claim your own.  I am yours, Lord, heart, mind and soul.  Thank you for forgiving me, transforming me daily and making me ready to meet you.  Thank you for renewing my Spirit, refreshing my soul and cleansing my heart while restoring the joy of my salvation.  Someday, we’ll be together.  It will be worth all the trials here to be there with You.  You are the Victor now and then. 

In Jesus Name, Amen

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POURING OUT

Posted on May 29, 2022 by randscallawayffm

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” –Jesus, Matthew 26:28

There is always a limit to how much we can stand or take from those in the world who bring us down, malign our character, lie about the work we do.  Evil people want you to look bad, feel bad and mostly get out of their way so they can get their way.  Some of us respond by silently, keeping our heads down and keep working.  But we begin storing up all the hurt, deceit and eventual anger in our being until we cannot hold it any longer. 

Some of us are lightening quick to judge and judgement.  We pour out our anger on everyone around us whether they are guilty or not.  We are not to judge but think it is required to put others “in their place”, a judgement all on its own. 

Some of us just want to love and be loved but not everyone thinks that way.  We want to get along with each other, work together for peace in gracious ways.  We love God with all that is in us and seek to be guided by Him, knowing He has the best for us who love Him back.  We believe judgement that is right, pure and holy belongs to the One who is perfect in every way.

No matter what we believe, wars break out in families, communities, and throughout the world.  Self-promoted people use God’s name in vain, perform acts of disgrace, working hard to think of more disgusting ways to hurt each people who get in their way or just for the sport of it.  Worship of anyone but God leads to Beastly worship of self. 

John is given the vision of seeing what happens when God has had enough.  God will pour out the wrath He has been storing up upon those who are marked by sin.  He has every right to do so.

REVELATION—JESUS IS COMING BACK!

Revelation 16, The Message

Pouring Out the Seven Disasters

16 I heard a shout of command from the Temple to the Seven Angels: “Begin! Pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on earth!”

2 The first Angel stepped up and poured his bowl out on earth: Loathsome, stinking sores erupted on all who had taken the mark of the Beast and worshiped its image.

3 The second Angel poured his bowl on the sea: The sea coagulated into blood, and everything in it died.

4-7 The third Angel poured his bowl on rivers and springs: The waters turned to blood. I heard the Angel of Waters say,

Righteous you are, and your judgments are righteous,
    The Is, The Was, The Holy.
They poured out the blood of saints and prophets
    so you’ve given them blood to drink—
    they’ve gotten what they deserve!

Just then I heard the Altar chime in,

Yes, O God, the Sovereign-Strong!
Your judgments are true and just!

8-9 The fourth Angel poured his bowl on the sun: Fire blazed from the sun and scorched men and women. Burned and blistered, they cursed God’s Name, the God behind these disasters. They refused to repent, refused to honor God.

10-11 The fifth Angel poured his bowl on the throne of the Beast: Its kingdom fell into sudden eclipse. Mad with pain, men and women bit and chewed their tongues, cursed the God-of-Heaven for their torment and sores, and refused to repent and change their ways.

12-14 The sixth Angel poured his bowl on the great Euphrates River: It dried up to nothing. The dry riverbed became a fine roadbed for the kings from the East. From the mouths of the Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet I saw three foul demons crawl out—they looked like frogs. These are demon spirits performing signs. They’re after the kings of the whole world to get them gathered for battle on the Great Day of God, the Sovereign-Strong.

15 “Keep watch! I come unannounced, like a thief. You’re blessed if, awake and dressed, you’re ready for me. Too bad if you’re found running through the streets, naked and ashamed.”

16 The frog-demons gathered the kings together at the place called in Hebrew Armageddon.

17-21 The seventh Angel poured his bowl into the air: From the Throne in the Temple came a shout, “Done!” followed by lightning flashes and shouts, thunder crashes and a colossal earthquake—a huge and devastating earthquake, never an earthquake like it since time began. The Great City split three ways, the cities of the nations toppled to ruin. Great Babylon had to drink the wine of God’s raging anger—God remembered to give her the cup! Every island fled and not a mountain was to be found. Hailstones weighing close to a hundred pounds plummeted, crushing and smashing men and women as they cursed God for the hail, the epic disaster of hail.

THINGS TO CONSIDER—

Reviewing these three chapters, we see the encouragement they give to suffering Christians. The sealed 144,000 will arrive on Mount Zion and praise God (Rev. 14:1–5). The martyrs will also be in glory, praising God (Rev. 15:1–4). John’s message is clear: it is possible to be victorious over “the beast” and be an overcomer!

Every generation of Christians has been able to identify with the events in Revelation 14—16. There has always been a “beast” to oppress God’s people and a false prophet to try to lead them astray. We have always been on the verge of an “Armageddon” as the nations wage war.

“But in the last days, these events will accelerate and the Bible’s prophecies will be ultimately fulfilled. I believe the church will not be on the scene at that time, but both Jewish and Gentile believers will be living who will have to endure Antichrist’s rule.

The admonition in Revelation 16:15 applies to us all: “Behold, I [Jesus] come as a thief. Blessed is he that watch, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” Jesus Christ may return at any time, and it behooves us to keep our lives clean, to watch, and to be faithful.” –Warren Wiersbe, Bible Commentator and Theologian

Lord,

I’m listening, learning and preparing.  It is so easy to be drawn away from your care but that is not what I want.  It is easy to be righteously angry but only you are the judge.  Cleanse our hearts of all that offends you.  Renew a right Spirit in us—Your Holy Spirit.  Refresh our souls.  Restore the joy of your salvation in us.  Make us ready, shoes on, ready for your coming.

In Jesus Name, Amen

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” –Jesus, Matthew 26:28

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HEAVEN PAUSES TO PRAISE!

Posted on May 28, 2022 by randscallawayffm

THE BACKSTORY—

We were created to worship God, only God.  “Put no other gods before Me.”  It is the first commandment of The Ten given by our Creator to Moses, “written in stone” which means irreversible and unequivocally to be followed!   Remember Moses? Moses led God’s people to Mount Saini where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, as well as the other laws for right living. He also provided the blueprint for building a Tabernacle. God was forming a Holy Nation prepared to live for and serve Him.  

Now we see the song of Moses, (same deliverance praise song sung by the Red Sea), servant of God, is now sung by the faithful, the saved by grace followers who indeed lived for God and served God. The Song Moses sang to God is also the Song of the Lamb of God.  This is pure, loving, in awe, “not about me but all about God” worship to God almighty!  In the midst of what is about to happen, (the releasing of God’s wrath), heaven pauses to praise God! 

Yes, before the angels pour out their judgments, there is an “interlude” of praise! Before sending the “third woe” (Rev. 11:14), God once again reassures His faithful people.  John saw the believers from the tribulation who had overcome “the beast” and his system.  Praise is coming from the voice of victors!  Yes!

REVELATION—JESUS IS COMNG BACK!

Revelation 15, The Message

The Song of Moses, the Song of the Lamb

I saw another Sign in Heaven, huge and breathtaking: seven Angels with seven disasters. These are the final disasters, the wrap-up of God’s wrath.

2-4 I saw something like a sea made of glass, the glass all shot through with fire. Carrying harps of God, triumphant over the Beast, its image, and the number of its name, the saved ones stood on the sea of glass. They sang the Song of Moses, servant of God; they sang the Song of the Lamb:

Mighty your acts and marvelous,
    O God, the Sovereign-Strong!
Righteous your ways and true,
    King of the nations!
Who can fail to fear you, God,
    give glory to your Name?
Because you and you only are holy,
    all nations will come and worship you,
    because they see your judgments are right.

5-8 Then I saw the doors of the Temple, the Tent of Witness in Heaven, open wide. The Seven Angels carrying the seven disasters came out of the Temple. They were dressed in clean, bright linen and wore gold vests. One of the Four Animals handed the Seven Angels seven gold bowls, brimming with the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. Smoke from God’s glory and power poured out of the Temple. No one was permitted to enter the Temple until the seven disasters of the Seven Angels were finished.

GOING DEEPER STILL—

Warren Wiersbe comments:

“The tribulation saints whom John saw and heard were standing by the “sea of glass” in heaven (Rev. 4:6), just as the Israelites stood by the Red Sea. They were singing “the song of Moses” and also “the song of the Lamb.” “The song of Moses” is recorded in Exodus 15, and its refrain is: “The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation” (Ex. 15:2). The 144,000 sang a song that nobody else could sing, but this is a song all saints can sing.”

“This scene would give great assurance and endurance to suffering saints in any age of the church. It is possible to be victorious over the world system! One does not have to yield to the “mark of the beast.” Through the blood of the Lamb, we have deliverance. Our Lord’s work on the cross is a “spiritual exodus” accomplished by His blood. (Note Luke 9:31, where the word “decease” is exodus in the Greek.)”

In their song, the tribulation faithful praise God’s works as well as His ways.  Do our songs today seem more about God or more about our need for God?  I have pondered that of late, wondering if our songs of worship need to emphasize more the greatness of God versus our woe-is-me frailties that draw attention to ourselves.   It would save us a great deal of sorrow if we would acknowledge God’s sovereignty in this same way of Moses song today! “The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works” (Ps. 145:17).

Lord,

I pause to worship You.  Life is all about You because You are Life everlasting.  You give life, save life and sustain life.  You are God.  Only you are God.  We are not.  There is no one like You. We worship you alone because you are the One and Only we should worship, adore, give all our attention to while living our lives for you.  I love you with all that is in me.  Great and mighty, all knowing, compassionate and loving are you, Lord.  To you be all glory, honor and praise today and forevermore.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

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SOUL REST

Posted on May 27, 2022 by randscallawayffm

“God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.”  Genesis 1:27

LET’S HAVE A LITTLE SOUL TALK—

God created humans “in His image”.  In His image God created them.  When we ponder this, we need to think less about our physical body and more about God’s spiritual image being created inside our souls, housed in a meticulously formed created body.  The body will wear out and be cast aside but believing, redeemed souls live on forever with God. Healthy souls contain the heartbeat of God.  To all who believe Him, love God back and walk in His ways, a relationship with God grows and flourishes, bearing the fruit of God’s labor of instilling His character in us. 

Our souls were created to hunger and thirst for God and only God can satisfy.  When we feel “something missing” from our lives, it is probably that we have not filled our souls with all of God—in his image of all that is good.  “Seek and you will find”, says Jesus.

John Piper writes,

“The imago Dei (image of God) is not a quality possessed by man; it is a condition in which man lives, a condition of confrontation established and maintained by the Creator.  The imago Dei is that in man which constitutes him as him-whom-God-loves.  Man’s fall into sin didn’t destroy or remove the image of God. It disfigured it. The New Testament confirms that God’s image isn’t lost by pointing out that all people, not just Christians, ‘are made in the likeness of God’” (James 3:9, ESV).

As theologian Wayne Grudem explains,

“Since man has sinned, he is certainly not as fully like God as he was before. His moral purity has been lost and his sinful character certainly does not reflect God’s holiness. His intellect is corrupted by falsehood and misunderstanding; his speech no longer continually glorifies God; his relationships are often governed by selfishness rather than love, and so forth.”

“Though man is still in the image of God, in every aspect of life some parts of that image have been distorted or lost (Systematic Theology, p. 444, emphasis added).  The image of God is what makes man human; man could not lose the image without ceasing to be what he is. Moreover, it’s only because man keeps his image of God — even in a broken or distorted form — that man is redeemable and worth redeeming. Without it, God would have had no reason to send His Son to die on our behalf.”

SOUL REST BEGAN WITH GOD

“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” Genesis 2;1-3

After six full days of creating all, God rested on the seventh day. We understand that a “day” was measured by God.  We also understand that whatever the measure, there was rest involved after the work was done.

Our souls, created in the image of God, will find “blessed rest” in Him who love and follow Him.

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “and blessed rest from their hard, hard work. None of what they’ve done is wasted; God blesses them for it all in the end.”

I’m in, how about you?

REVELATION—JESUS IS COMING BACK!

Revelation 14, The Message

A Perfect Offering

1-2 I saw—it took my breath away!—the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, 144,000 standing there with him, his Name and the Name of his Father inscribed on their foreheads. And I heard a voice out of Heaven, the sound like rapids, like the crash of thunder.

2-5 And then I heard music, harp music and the harpists singing a new song before the Throne and the Four Animals and the Elders. Only the 144,000 could learn to sing the song. They were bought from earth, lived without compromise, virgin-fresh before God. Wherever the Lamb went, they followed. They were bought from humankind, firstfruits of the harvest for God and the Lamb. Not a false word in their mouths. A perfect offering.

Voices from Heaven

6-7 I saw another Angel soaring in Middle-Heaven. He had an Eternal Message to preach to all who were still on earth, every nation and tribe, every tongue and people. He preached in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory! His hour of judgment has come! Worship the Maker of Heaven and earth, salt sea and fresh water!”

8 A second Angel followed, calling out, “Ruined, ruined, Great Babylon ruined! She made all the nations drunk on the wine of her whoring!”

9-11 A third Angel followed, shouting, warning, “If anyone worships the Beast and its image and takes the mark on forehead or hand, that person will drink the wine of God’s wrath, prepared unmixed in his chalice of anger, and suffer torment from fire and brimstone in the presence of Holy Angels, in the presence of the Lamb. Smoke from their torment will rise age after age. No respite for those who worship the Beast and its image, who take the mark of its name.”

12 Meanwhile, the saints stand passionately patient, keeping God’s commands, staying faithful to Jesus.

13 I heard a voice out of Heaven, “Write this: Blessed are those who die in the Master from now on; how blessed to die that way!”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “and blessed rest from their hard, hard work. None of what they’ve done is wasted; God blesses them for it all in the end.”

Harvest Time

14-16 I looked up, I caught my breath!—a white cloud and one like the Son of Man sitting on it. He wore a gold crown and held a sharp sickle. Another Angel came out of the Temple, shouting to the Cloud-Enthroned, “Swing your sickle and reap. It’s harvest time. Earth’s harvest is ripe for reaping.” The Cloud-Enthroned gave a mighty sweep of his sickle, began harvesting earth in a stroke.

17-18 Then another Angel came out of the Temple in Heaven. He also had a sharp sickle. Yet another Angel, the one in charge of tending the fire, came from the Altar. He thundered to the Angel who held the sharp sickle, “Swing your sharp sickle. Harvest earth’s vineyard. The grapes are bursting with ripeness.”

19-20 The Angel swung his sickle, harvested earth’s vintage, and heaved it into the winepress, the giant winepress of God’s wrath. The winepress was outside the City. As the vintage was trodden, blood poured from the winepress as high as a horse’s bridle, a river of blood for two hundred miles.

Lord,

Thank you for your encouraging words of teaching that leads to our believing and growing in our relationship with You.  My soul finds rest in you alone on earth, so much more so in heaven!  Thank you for this “soul talk” through John’s vision of what will come.  Thank you for continually feeding my soul, making me whole and holy before you.  I cannot do that for myself, only by Jesus’ blood and righteousness am I redeemed and worthy.  No longer is the image of You in me distorted.  My soul has been made new. Thank you, Lord!

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

“Wherever the Lamb went, they followed.”

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DECIDE NOW WHO TO FOLLOW!

Posted on May 26, 2022 by randscallawayffm

I don’t know of anyone on earth who likes to be “handled” by arrogant people who think they know it all with the intention of gaining control over us.  Only God in heaven can be trusted to have our best interests at heart—His heart!  Who we follow and obey is who we trust completely.  Who we believe and learn from with respect and awe shows in our behaviors.  Who we give ourselves to without thinking or contemplating what we will get in return becomes who we worship. 

I pray it is God for only God can save us.  It is God who loves us so much He sent His son to redeem us for Life forever.  It is Jesus, His Son, that tore down the veil between mankind and God and gained our entrance to the throne of God!  It is Jesus who taught us to love God, each other and even our enemies supremely, unconditionally, relentlessly, holding nothing back. 

We’re in this together as long as we stand firm in our relationship with God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  “Fear not!” we are told over and over again in the Word of God who became flesh on earth and moved into the neighborhood of mankind.  If we are with Jesus, leaning on HIS understanding for what lies ahead, really listening to Him with obedient hearts ready to serve with His love in our hearts, we have nothing to fear.

Who hasn’t had a “beast” or two in our lives in the past or currently?  Who hasn’t experienced the evil of beastly assistants who tried to wreak havoc in our lives, pull us away from what we know to be right and good, with the ultimate purpose to get rid of us and our testimony about the God we love?  They seem to rise up out of nowhere when we least expect it—so expect it! All humans (believers and nonbelievers) have experienced this, I am sure!  I’ve heard the stories!

According to John’s vision, it will get worse before it gets better, but it WILL get better.  So, stay strong in the Lord by His strength and wisdom working in us and through us to help others.  Love as if you lives depended on it—for it does!  I want to be on God’s side!

REVELATION—JESUS IS COMING BACK!

Revelation 13, The Message

The Beast from the Sea

1-2 And the Dragon stood on the shore of the sea. I saw a Beast rising from the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads—on each horn a crown, and each head inscribed with a blasphemous name. The Beast I saw looked like a leopard with bear paws and a lion’s mouth. The Dragon turned over its power to it, its throne and great authority.

3-4 One of the Beast’s heads looked as if it had been struck a deathblow, and then healed. The whole earth was agog, gaping at the Beast. They worshiped the Dragon who gave the Beast authority, and they worshiped the Beast, exclaiming, “There’s never been anything like the Beast! No one would dare go to war with the Beast!”

5-8 The Beast had a loud mouth, boastful and blasphemous. It could do anything it wanted for forty-two months. It yelled blasphemies against God, blasphemed his Name, blasphemed his Church, especially those already dwelling with God in Heaven. It was permitted to make war on God’s holy people and conquer them. It held absolute sway over all tribes and peoples, tongues and races. Everyone on earth whose name was not written from the world’s foundation in the slaughtered Lamb’s Book of Life will worship the Beast.

9-10 Are you listening to this? They’ve made their bed; now they must lie in it. Anyone marked for prison goes straight to prison; anyone pulling a sword goes down by the sword. Meanwhile, God’s holy people passionately and faithfully stand their ground.

The Beast from Under the Ground

11-12 I saw another Beast rising out of the ground. It had two horns like a lamb but sounded like a dragon when it spoke. It was a puppet of the first Beast, made earth and everyone in it worship the first Beast, which had been healed of its deathblow.

13-17 This second Beast worked magical signs, dazzling people by making fire come down from Heaven. It used the magic it got from the Beast to dupe earth dwellers, getting them to make an image of the Beast that received the deathblow and lived. It was able to animate the image of the Beast so that it talked, and then arrange that anyone not worshiping the Beast would be killed. It forced all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to have a mark on the right hand or forehead. Without the mark of the name of the Beast or the number of its name, it was impossible to buy or sell anything.

18 Solve a riddle: Put your heads together and figure out the meaning of the number of the Beast. It’s a human number: 666.

CONSIDER THIS—

(Going deeper still with the help of theologian and Bible Commentator, Warren Wiersbe.)

Some texts read, “And he [Satan] stood upon the sand of the sea.” The sea symbolizes the Gentile nations (Rev. 17:15). From one of them, Satan will bring forth his “Super Leader,” the man we call “Antichrist.” Up to this point, Antichrist has headed a ten-nation European league, but now he is about to embark on a new career as Satan’s world dictator.  Yes, it will get worse before it gets better.  But God is in control.  Remember that!

The symbolic description of “the beast” enables us to learn something about his origin and character. God does not see him as a man, made in the divine image, but as a wild animal, under the control of Satan. He is a man (Rev. 13:18), but he is energized from hell, for he comes out of the pit (Rev. 11:7; 17:8). Just as Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, so “the beast” will be Satan in a human body (see John 13:2, 27).  Whoa, be warned and alert!

The ten horns represent ten kingdoms (Dan. 7:24; Rev. 17:12). It appears that “the beast” will head a “United States of Europe,” a revived Roman Empire, before taking over as world dictator. All nations will no doubt admire and thank him for the “peace” he has achieved, little realizing the sorrow and destruction he will bring to the world.

The three animals named in Revelation 13:2 remind us of the four beasts Daniel saw in his dream (Dan. 7): a lion (Babylon), a bear (Media-Persia), a leopard (Greece), and a “terrible beast” (the Antichrist). John saw these animals, or kingdoms, in reverse order since he was looking back, while Daniel was looking ahead. The final world empire will be rooted in all the previous empires and unite in one their evil and power. Added to the ferocity of these beasts will be Satan’s own power, throne, and authority!

“It is best, I think, to apply this prophecy to individual persons. Not only will there be wonder, but there will also be worship (Rev. 13:4). Worship is the one thing Satan has always wanted (Matt. 4:8–10), and he will receive it through “the beast.” The second “beast,” described in the last half of this chapter, will organize and promote the worship of Antichrist, making it the official religion of the world!”  (Wiersbe)

There will also be words (Rev. 13:5–6). Almost all dictators have risen to power by controlling people with their words through great speeches.  Daniel also heard “the beast’s” blasphemous words (Dan. 7:25).

Finally, there will be war (Rev. 13:7–10). God will permit Antichrist to war against His people (“wear out the saints,” Dan. 7:25) and even to defeat some of them. John prophesied that some of the saints will be captured and some will be martyred. But because of their faith, they will have patience, or endurance (see Heb. 6:12; Rev. 1:9), and will not deny the Lord in spite of persecution and death.  No matter what, believers in Jesus stand firm.  I am reminded daily of what Job said during his “hellish” trials of faith, “Yet, will I trust Him”.

The world’s population will be divided: those who are saved, with their names in God’s book, will not submit to “the beast”; those who are lost—the earth-dwellers—will worship “the beast” and do his bidding.  Whose side are we on?  Likewise in every age of the church, true believers have had to take their stand for Christ, come what may.

Keep in mind that “the beast” is a counterfeit Christ. The world would not receive Christ, but it will receive Antichrist (John 5:43). The world would not believe the truth, but they will believe the lie (2 Thess. 2:8–12).  Yikes.  We have been warned. 

In Revelation 16:13; 19:20; and 20:10, the beast from the earth is called “the false prophet.” The dragon or Satan is the counterfeit Father (“I will be like the Most High”), “the beast” is the counterfeit Christ, and the false prophet is the counterfeit Holy Spirit. This completes the satanic trinity.

One of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Christ and lead people to trust and worship Him (John 16:7–15). The false prophet will point to Antichrist and his image and compel people to worship Satan through “the beast.”

Our Lord warned that there would be false prophets (Matt. 24:11, 24), and this one will be the greatest. He will have the “character” of a lamb but the voice of the dragon. What a deceiver he will be—and all the world will listen to him!

The mystical 666—(Thoughts by Wiersbe)

“Since man was created on the sixth day, six is the number of man. Creation was made for man and likewise has the number six stamped on it: twenty-four hours to a day (4 x 6), twelve months to a year (2 x 6). Seven is the number of perfection and fullness, but six is the “human number,” just short of perfection. Despite all man’s imaginative calculations, we must confess that no one knows the meaning of this number and name. No doubt believers on earth at that time will understand it clearly. The ‘satanic trinity’ cannot claim the number seven; it must settle for 666.”

The Bottom Line:  An antichristian system pervades our world, and true believers must not be a part of it (1 John 2:15–17). We must shun false worship (1 Cor. 10:14–22), that we may be found faithful to the Lord in these last days (2 Tim. 3)!  Our decision will decide our destiny!

Jesus is coming back!  Through it all, God has not relinquished His ultimate control!

Lord,

If it were not for you, we would be lost forever.  Thank you for saving us then teaching us your ways to live abundantly, rich in love, mercy and grace, free from sin.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen!

Someday, we’ll be together

Yes we will, yes we will…

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THE WAR

Posted on May 25, 2022 by randscallawayffm

LET’S GO OVER WHAT WE KNOW…

Jesus has already won the war with Satan.  Jesus went to hell and back again, running into battle on Satan’s turf, and defeated our foe—all for us.  Jesus did this for those who repent and believe in the forgiveness of sin and want a true, intimate loving relationship with God, the Father. 

Jesus, our Savior, came to earth, born of a virgin, was both God and Man.  He followed God’s orders each day on earth, fulfilled all the Scripture said about Him and what He would do as Messiah, and ultimately fulfilled the mission of God to save us. 

Jesus was nailed to a cross for our sins, taking all sin upon his himself as the sacrifice for our sins.  He died but the grave could not hold Him. He defeated death and rose again to full life after three days.  In this powerful resurrection act of God, Jesus defeated the one who is death whose sole mission is leading us to torment and death forever. 

Satan, the fallen angel from heaven, is envisioned by John as a Dragon who tries to consume all that is God and comes from God. John “sees” the battle between Satan and God and records it in imagery that is understandable given what we know about our enemy who battles us each day for our attention, allegiance and committed loyalty. 

Though the battle has been won, there are daily skirmishes we must endure with Jesus as our strength and Defender.  Satan knows full well that he has been defeated but scurries to take as many of God’s people down with him before his time completely runs out.  That’s why when we step up our commitment to God, the Enemy steps up his work to defeat us and draw us away from God.  There will be daily skirmishes until Jesus comes.  Count on it, knowing, “I will be with you always, until the end of the age.” says Jesus

In the end, Jesus wins.  We win.  All who believed, repented, and followed Jesus win!  It’s in the final chapter of God’s Book!  This is the revelation of Life with Jesus forever!  Alleluia and Amen!  Yes!

Beware: “…For the Devil’s come down on you with both feet; he’s had a great fall;
He’s wild and raging with anger; he hasn’t much time and he knows it.”

“Helpless with rage, the Dragon raged at the Woman, then went off to make war with the rest of her children, the children who keep God’s commands and hold firm to the witness of Jesus.”

“ I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” –Jesus (John 16:33)

REVELATION—JESUS IS COMING BACK!

Revelation 12, The Message

The Woman, Her Son, and the Dragon

1-2 A great Sign appeared in Heaven: a Woman dressed all in sunlight, standing on the moon, and crowned with Twelve Stars. She was giving birth to a Child and cried out in the pain of childbirth.

3-4 And then another Sign alongside the first: a huge and fiery Dragon! It had seven heads and ten horns, a crown on each of the seven heads. With one flick of its tail it knocked a third of the Stars from the sky and dumped them on earth. The Dragon crouched before the Woman in childbirth, poised to eat up the Child when it came.

5-6 The Woman gave birth to a Son who will shepherd all nations with an iron rod. Her Son was seized and placed safely before God on his Throne. The Woman herself escaped to the desert to a place of safety prepared by God, all comforts provided her for 1,260 days.

7-12 War broke out in Heaven. Michael and his Angels fought the Dragon. The Dragon and his Angels fought back, but were no match for Michael. They were cleared out of Heaven, not a sign of them left. The great Dragon—ancient Serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, the one who led the whole earth astray—thrown out, and all his Angels thrown out with him, thrown down to earth. Then I heard a strong voice out of Heaven saying,

Salvation and power are established!
    Kingdom of our God, authority of his Messiah!
The Accuser of our brothers and sisters thrown out,
    who accused them day and night before God.
They defeated him through the blood of the Lamb
    and the bold word of their witness.
They weren’t in love with themselves;
    they were willing to die for Christ.
So rejoice, O Heavens, and all who live there,
    but doom to earth and sea,
For the Devil’s come down on you with both feet;
    he’s had a great fall;
He’s wild and raging with anger;
    he hasn’t much time and he knows it.

13-17 When the Dragon saw he’d been thrown to earth, he went after the Woman who had given birth to the Man-Child. The Woman was given wings of a great eagle to fly to a place in the desert to be kept in safety and comfort for a time and times and half a time, safe and sound from the Serpent. The Serpent vomited a river of water to swamp and drown her, but earth came to her help, swallowing the water the Dragon spewed from its mouth. Helpless with rage, the Dragon raged at the Woman, then went off to make war with the rest of her children, the children who keep God’s commands and hold firm to the witness of Jesus.

Lord,

Thank your for protecting us in the skirmishes of the ongoing battle for our attention by the enemy.  We see it for what it is, based on what you teach us.  Give us wisdom beyond our thinking to know how to fight the enemy led by you.  Show us your ways and we will walk in them.  We long for the day when the Accuser will be thrown out for good.  But for now, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from all evil and evil’s schemes to bring us down.  Help us to stand firm on your solid ground provided by You.  Thank you for your protection and provision.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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