Revelation 12:17 Then
the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against
the rest of her offspring--those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
There’s a 2000-year-old war going on
this planet which most people do not know about. It started when Christ came
into the world to shake things up and give humanity one last opportunity to get
right with God. When is happened historically, it appeared to be a minor event,
but universally, it is a cataclysmic point where Heaven confronts Humanity in
order to establish God’s Kingdom and let everyone know of His uncompromising
sovereignty.
The war exists between good and evil,
faith and fantasy, orthodoxy and heresy. The Truth of God in the person of
Christ is embattled with the temptation of sin, manifested by Satan. This constant
struggle over the souls of men, women, and children has continued for almost
2000 years. In this war, we must take sides. Humanity has been given a crucial
choice; if we fail to choose Christ, then we lose everything.
The conflict is not dualism where
both sides are equal in power, influence, and strength. The devil is fighting a
losing battle - all that he wants to do is to take down as many confused,
bitter, and unbelieving souls as he can in order to spoil God’s plan of
salvation. The purpose of the Church is to be a shield against Satan’s
displeasure. However, as we enter into what chess players call the ‘End Game,’
the devil’s works within the Church become more outrageous, more unorthodox,
and more unrepentant. Sadly, good people are losing their hold on Christ’s
testimony; church people are wavering in the apparent victory of wickedness
over the world.
The Book of Revelation was given to
the Church in order to help Christians recoil from their folly and recover
their faith. The trouble is this: so many people never read it, or instead reject
it, or casually treat it as biblical science fiction which will never come to
pass. That’s exactly what the devil wants; that’s exactly his intention. The
more that people are actually ignorant of the Word of God and the testimony of
Christ, which is plainly revealed in Revelation, the more lost souls the devil
can take to be doomed along with him. In warfare, this is called a scorched
earth campaign; biblically speaking, this is an Armageddon of the damned.
I make no apology for the severity
of today’s message. I’ve tried to be conciliatory, positive, and nice for
years, but it’s made no difference. People do what they want to do, and believe
what they want to believe. Ultimately, all of our choices will have eternal
consequences. Heaven is not meant for those who refuse to repent; or as CS
Lewis once wrote, “There is no one in Hell who did not choose to be there.”
If we let go of the testimony of Jesus, then
know this: we let go of everything that is eternal.
Question for personal reflection
Have I honestly read
the Book of Revelation? Do I understand the consequences of its message for me?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, faith is a serious
commitment because it constantly challenges who we are and what we do. The
world is caught up in its own wickedness and the Church is constantly being
challenged from within and without, about what is true, faithful, and Christian.
Keep us from letting go of Your testimony, and help us to endure the turbulence
that is coming. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.
John
Stuart is the pastor of Erin Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like
to comment or ask questions about today’s message, please contact him by email
at Traqair@aol.com.
Today’s
image is one of John’s latest religious drawings called “Passion Flower.” If
you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: Passion
Flower.
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