Merry Christmas Eve,
Like all great books, the last chapters in God’s Word are “hold-your-breath” exciting. Today we’ll talk about “The King” who was born as a babe but will one day return in power and glory. The climax will be a great battle where the fighting will be so fierce that the blood will be four feet deep in places and cover an area of 200 square miles. We’ll, also, talk more about the Tribulation and how people will be given one last chance to believe the gospel. But if they take the mark of the beast, their eternity will be sealed for all time. We, too, must decide in this life because there’s no Purgatory, no opportunities to earn our ticket to heaven, and no last chance to realize, “Oops, I made a mistake!” So we must choose wisely.
The Greatest of All Books
Speaking of great books, did you know that the Bible is the best-selling book of all time? Of course, it’s not just any book. It’s God’s revelation of Himself to mankind, penned by men, but breathed out from the heart and mind of God. How will you get to know this greatest of all books better? This time next year would you like to say, “I read it all!”? If so, you can sign up here.
I pray that today will be a restful day without too many last-minute things to do. Let’s all remember to take time tonight and tomorrow to think about what it really means … which is so much more than all the commercial hustle and bustle. And I hope you will make time to attend a worship service.
On to today’s readings …
Today’s Readings:
Zephaniah 1-3
Psalm 147.1-6
Proverbs 30.18-19
Revelation 14
The King, Last Chances, Purgatory & God’s Wrath
Zephaniah 1-3:
He’s the King and He is good!
When my husband Mike and I were talking about the book of Zephaniah, we were reminded of a scene in the first Narnia movie. In the book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the conversation went like this:
“Is – is he a man?” asked Lucy.
“Aslan a man!” said Mr. Beaver sternly. “Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-beyond-the-Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion – the Lion, the great Lion.”
“Ooh!” said Susan, “I’d thought he was a man. Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”
“That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver; “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”
“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
He’s Not Safe
When you read the book of Zephaniah and see God’s wrath and judgment on sin, you know, like Aslan, He is not “safe,” but even the meaning of the prophet’s name reminds us that He is good! Zephaniah means, “the Lord hides.” Chapter 2.3 says:
3 Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the LORD’s anger.
Even though He does not rescue us from every earthly calamity or difficulty, He never gives us more than we can handle without sinning, if … we belong to Him and respond in a godly way (1 Cor. 10.13). And … if we belong to Him, no one can snatch us out of His hand (Jn. 10.28-29) and nothing can separate us from His love (Rom. 8.38-39) no matter what the circumstances in the world around us.
Revelation 14:
The Lamb of God
If you would like to read more about the Book of Revelation starting with chapter 1, you can use the search bar and search by date starting with December 11 or click the date on the calendar in the sidebar (probably, at the bottom on your phone).
Chapter 14:
Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion … (v. 1).
Jesus, the Lamb of God, will return in power and glory.
Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water’ (vv. 6-7).
The NASB translates “in the midst of heaven” as “mid-heaven.” This is when the sun is at its highest point in the sky. Everyone will see and hear the message of salvation offered by this angel. But this is their last opportunity because …
Babylon is Fallen
… another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication (v. 8).
Babylon represents the world’s and Antichrist’s system—its government, religion, and economy. It will all be destroyed. And gone will be any more opportunities for salvation.
Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name’ (vv. 9-11).
This is a picture of hell and explains its eternal nature. We are eternal beings and will all live forever. As I said a couple of days ago, the question is … where? Once a person receives the “mark of the beast” or his number, his or her decision will be sealed.
The Winepress of God’s Wrath
Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, ‘Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.’ So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs (vv. 17-20).
This is the winepress of God’s wrath and the wine is blood. Near the end of the Tribulation, Jerusalem will be attacked. As several great armies come near, the battle will look hopeless, but Christ Himself will intervene, even determining where the battle will take place. Called the Battle of Armageddon, this bloodbath will be so great that the blood will be four feet deep in places—“up to the horses’ bridles”—and over an area of “one thousand six hundred furlongs”—two hundred miles.
No Other Way
God’s love, care, and mercy are real and available to anyone who will believe. But His wrath and justice are real, too. Like those living during the Tribulation, most of us today have had numerous opportunities to hear and accept the gospel. But if we don’t, there is no other way to avoid His judgment, no “plan B” through good works, no Purgatory.
Not Sacraments, Not Good Works, Not Purgatory
We cannot be saved by our church attendance, by belonging to any particular church, by taking certain sacraments, or by performing any kind of good deeds.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast (Eph. 2.8-9).
No one can pray us into heaven while we suffer in Purgatory. Neither can we atone for our own sins after death.
In answer to the question, “What does the Bible say about Purgatory?” the website GotQuestions says this:
The very idea of Purgatory and the doctrines that are often attached to it (prayer for the dead, indulgences, meritorious works on behalf of the dead, etc.) fail to recognize that Jesus’ death was sufficient to pay the penalty for ALL of our sins. Jesus, who was God incarnate (John 1:1, 14), paid an infinite price for our sin. Jesus died for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3). Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 John 2:2). To limit Jesus’ sacrifice to atoning for original sin or sins committed before salvation is an attack on the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. If we must, in order to be saved, pay for, atone for, or suffer because of our sins, then Jesus’ death was not a perfect, complete, and sufficient sacrifice.
If you have been led to believe that Purgatory is a second chance or that there are other ways to God, please read the Scriptures for yourself.
Choose Wisely
There are only two kingdoms and only two spirits in the world. We are either God’s children (Rom. 8.16), purchased and washed in His blood, sanctified and made righteous or we are children of the devil (Jn. 8.44). There are no “good people” hovering somewhere between (Rom. 3.10). And there is no Purgatory where we get a second chance to accept His gift of salvation and eternal life.
There will come a point at the end of this age when salvation is no longer available and judgment has come. And if we die before that time, we will immediately enter into our eternity. It will be too late to wake up and decide we have made a mistake ( 2 Cor. 5.6-8; Heb. 9.27; Matt. 7.21-23)!
We must choose wisely and warn others.
Today’s Other Readings:
Psalm 147.1-6:
Why Would We Doubt?
These 6 little verses are packed with several wonderful promises. First, “He gathers together the outcasts …” (v. 2). Here it speaks specifically of Israel, but He is a Father to all who feel alone and cast out. “He heals the brokenhearted” (v. 3). The New Testament says He is the God of all Comfort (2 Cor. 1.3).
“He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name” (v. 4). His omniscience—His care and knowledge of every man, woman, and child, every bird, beast, and creature, everything ever formed or created, even extends beyond our universe to eternity—“His understanding is infinite” (v. 5). Why would we ever doubt that He knows our needs and concerns?
“Great is the Lord, and mighty in power” (v. 5). He is not only omniscient, that is all-knowing, but He is omnipotent, all-powerful! All the power of heaven and earth and beyond is His to command! (“He’s the King, I tell you,” as Mr. Beaver said.)
He “lifts up the humble” (v. 6). When we humble ourselves and acknowledge our need for Him and allow Him to be, not just Savior, but Lord and Master, He will lift us up. But we must be willing to submit our will to His. Too often, we act as if we know best. We are discontent with His plan and His timing. We call Him Lord, all the while trying to run things ourselves. But no one can serve two masters (Matt. 6.24), even when one of them is “self”!
Proverbs 30.18-19:
How a Man Seduces a Woman
There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yes, four which I do not understand, the way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a virgin.
The writer points out three natural things that are difficult to understand, how an eagle glides fluidly through the sky, how a snake slithers across a rock, and how a ship navigates the ocean, to explain a human experience, how a man seduces a woman.
Sadly, it’s not always as mysterious as it seems. Often we fall into the devil’s traps because we fail to be wise and follow other commands and principles in Scripture.
Coming Up:
In the next few days, we’ll talk about priorities, the responsibility involved in being a true friend, how Scripture needs to act as a lens as we view the world, and how to face tests and trials. I hope you’ll join us.
Get Ready for the Coming Year with a Plan for Your Bible Reading
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Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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