Author: Ken

Retirement Planning

Ken

Retirement is leaving one’s occupation permanently, usually because of age and diminished capabilities or inabilities to perform job functions. Before the Flood of Noah, human life expectancy was considerably longer, as can be seen by Methuselah’s exceptionally long age of 969 years (Genesis 5:27). After the Flood, Moses indicates a significantly shorter life expectancy of 70 years, maybe 80. “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10 KJV). Modern health care and living standards in developed countries indicate longer life spans, such as Japan, where 100 years is increasingly common. Yet, falling birth rates, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease have become increasingly more significant factors, affecting annuities, pensions, and end of years quality of life. But still, for the righteous, our expectation is from the LORD. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever” (Psalm 23:6). 

Remaining useful and active to the end of life expectancy is the correct understanding and attitude of the godly. “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18). Though retiring to circumstances appropriate to our age is understandable, our short term goal should not overshadow the long term reality of eternity. “16 And He spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:16-21). Never lose sight of the reality of God. 

(The following is a longer read, but hopefully, not too long. Scan ahead to preview.) 

All of this prepares us for the Parable of the Unjust Steward, which is the Parable of the Dishonest Manager (Luke 16:1-13). Christ’s parable begins with a rich man, whose steward or manager had unscrupulously managed his financial affairs (16:1). Rightly, the rich man demands, “Give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward” (16:2). The scoundrel employee “said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses” (16:3-4). Since he had already stolen from his employer, he hatched a plot to further steal from him, to curry favor with his benefactors, hoping they would remember him in the future, after he lost his current employment. “5 So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? 6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. 7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore” (16:5-7).

Most commentators agree, the “rich man” is the “lord,” who commends the “unjust steward,” therefore, it is not Christ commending the wicked steward. So, Christ does not condone the unscrupulous conduct of the steward. But, why would the defrauded employer commend someone stealing from himself, unless he would craftily do the same thing to his boss? “And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light” (16:8). Here, Jesus adds God’s estimation of the unjust steward’s actions. The world is smarter at being unscrupulous than the godly are at being godly. This can only mean, ‘Laodicean-sometimes-hot-sometimes-cold’ discipleship makes no gain for the kingdom of God, while the ‘unabashed-take-everything-for-yourself’ world seems to be winning. The godly seem to be continually laying again the first foundation and not going on. “1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment” (Hebrews 6:1-2).

Jesus Directs His Disciple-Employees’ Conduct (Luke 16:1-13)

First, diligently use your present circumstances to prepare for the future, i.e., “And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations” (Luke 16:9). 

“Make yourselves friends by how you use your worldly wealth” (16:9 NET). This time, the Boss is sanctioning our use of His money to make friends, while doing His business. Only be sure your actions are primarily for His gain. He doesn’t mind, if others become our friends. In fact, He encourages it. 

As far as preparing for the future is concerned, we are not to become anxious about the uncertainties of the future. We are to literally have no anxious thought about the future. “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” (Matthew 6:31). 

Prudent planning has long been the wisdom taught in the Scriptures. Diligent labor is the example of the ant. “6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest” (Proverbs 6:6-8 ). 

“When ye fail” (Luke 16:9) means our ability to provide for ourselves comes to an end, e.g., by old age, failure of health, accident, etc. 

“They may receive you into everlasting habitations” (16:9) does not mean any earthly means can gain for you Heaven, but God will use those means to ensure you will safely enter into Heaven. Fear, uncertainty, and doubt motivates the world to tightly clutch their security for the future, e.g., money belts with $100 dollar bills, clutching purses with money while laying on their death bed, accumulated goods, property, annuities, and savings accounts with no inheritors but the state. But, seeking God’s Kingdom first ensures God will provide your earthly means. You look after His business, and He will look after your business. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). 

Second, faithfulness in your dealings with the small things of the LORD’s business will be reciprocated to you in His dealings with your affairs. And, your faithfulness in small things will increasingly grow to larger things. “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much” (Like 16:10). 

Unfaithfulness in handling “unrighteous mammon [Greek, mammōnas, wealth]” (16:11) indicates untrustworthiness to handle “true riches” (16:11), which are the “unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8). How much wealth would you trade for understanding the wisdom of God? Remember, man may sell education, but only the Holy Spirit can grant you understanding. “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1Corinthians 2:13). 

Third, we serve our Lord, not for any other reason than He is worthy (Revelation 4:11). Any other motivation is wrong. “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). 

What our sovereign God chooses to give us is entirely His choosing, and not for us to dispute. “And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?” (Luke 16:12). If He awards us a mansion (John 14:2), we would be grateful for a job as a simple doorkeeper in His house (Psalm 84:10). If He grants us a position to make decisions about how He judges angels (1Corinthians 6:3), we would wonder how He could be so gracious to share His affairs with us. We do not labor for reward, because we have been purchased by the blood of Christ, as His purchased possession (6:20; 7:23). If He should choose to reward us for serving Him, we would receive it with gratitude as an honor of His affection for us (Matthew 25:21, 23). We love Him and would serve Him simply because He is worthy. “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 4:11). 

Fourth, we serve God with a singleness of heart that allows not for holding on to God and wealth simultaneously, since it is impossible to do so. “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Luke 16:13). 

Perhaps this is one of the most insidious lies to be promoted by the Father of Lies, that we can be both holy and sinful at the same time. That we can serve both God and mammon simultaneously. He must have told himself that lie, when he committed the first sin. Holy sinfulness or sinful holiness is not only confusion, but a lie. When Christian doctrine becomes interpreted by the confusion of blaming a sinful nature for our commission of sin, then the enemy has succeeded in neutralizing the godly. When we confuse Physical Depravity with Moral Depravity, then we become confused about the nature of sin. Notice Adam and Eve were still physically alive after they sinned, but Yahweh promised they would die. True, they experienced spiritual death, and they were spiritually restored by Yahweh’s covering of their sins through the shed blood of an animal to cover their nakedness. If the covering of their sin made them spiritually alive, how were they still dead? Because their physical flesh was now dying. Physical Depravity is simply dying. That is Physical Depravity, which is simply the tendency of physical bodies to die, started the moment they sinned, has continued after the Fall of Man, and is physically passed on to all succeeding generations, until the Almighty declares, “There shall be no more curse” (Revelation 22:3). On the other hand, genetics and physical flesh are not Moral Depravity, since Moral Depravity is simply sinning. We are sinners, when we are sinning. When we are forgiven, we are no longer sinners, unless God forgives us, while we are still impenitent and in rebellion against Him. The Gospel only authorizes God’s love to forgive us after we lay down our weapons of rebellion. Only the Holy Spirit working in a human heart could cause anyone to repent. “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (2Timothy 2:25). 

In conclusion, Retirement Planning must first take into consideration the Kingdom of God, since everything else depends on it. The best plans requires the greatest understanding, which only the Holy Spirit can provide. May God bless you as you consider His plans for your future. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossians 3:23). 

How You Know You Are A Christian

Ken

You are what you are in the present. Not because of what you did in the past or will do in the future. John said that we know that we know Him because we are obeying Him. “And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments” (1John 2:3 KJV). In other words, when we are obeying Him, we know that we know Him. The opposite is true, when we are not obeying Him, we are not knowing that we know Him. Spiritual testimony and intellectual testimony are not necessarily the same. The head can lie to the heart, but the heart will never lie to the head. 

People call themselves Christians based upon an intellectual remembering of past events reinforced by their emotions. When their actions cease to be Christlike, their emotions refuse to let go of their claim to being a Christian. “He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (2:4). In other words, anyone who claims to know Jesus Christ, while not obeying Him, is a liar. Later, John reminds us, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8). 

Total Recall (2012) [Colin Farrell not Arnold Schwarzenegger] is a sci-fi movie about a dystopian earth where memories can be implanted in your mind. Hauser (known also as Douglas Quaid) has an important conversation with Matthias (the Resistance leader) two-thirds of the way through the movie. Matthias gives advice to Hauser (1:58:19/38:41 left). 

Hauser: I want to remember. 

Matthias: Why? 

Hauser: So I can be myself, be who I was. 

Matthias: It is each man’s quest to find out who he truly is, but the answer to that lies in the present, not in the past, as it is for all of us. 

Hauser: But the past tells us who we’ve become. 

Matthias: The past is a construct of the mind. It blinds us. It fools us into believing it. But the heart wants to live in the present. Look there. You’ll find your answer. 

Blindness of the Church (Part 2)

Ken

The most profound but simple truths are like Christ’s Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount, while the more complicated truths are like Paul’s explanation for Israel’s blindness. “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” (Romans 11:25 KJV). God is not finished with Israel, but His primary focus is presently on the Church, until the Church has been raptured. Doctrinal blindness separates the Church, such as the “doctrine of baptisms” (Hebrews 6:2). Some Church of Christ identify the necessity of water baptism for salvation in a First Principles studies in preparation for discipleship. “1 Therefore leaving the principles [literally, first principles] of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God: 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment” (6:1-2). 

My opinion, the doctrinal chasm between mainline evangelicals and the Church of Christ lies in the social significance of baptism as His appointed means: (1) for the Body of Christ to identify those who claim loyalty to Christ, i.e., “no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” (1Corinthians 12:3), (2) for the new disciple to publicly claim his loyalty to Christ, i.e., “because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9 NET), and (3) for God’s supernatural-but-not-omniscient enemies to become informed, this disciple has switched loyalties to Christ, so ‘Keep your hands off,’ i.e., “Touch not Mine anointed, and do My prophets no harm” (1Chronicles 16:22; Psalm 105:15 KJV). The Father already knows who believes, but He requires us to be baptized before we can claim the Holy Spirit as our right of sonship, i.e., “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).

LORD, may the Body of Christ’s understanding allow us to get beyond the “doctrine of baptisms” (Hebrews 6:2) and “go on unto perfection” (6:2). Let us see our similarities in Jesus are more than our differences. Return quickly, in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Vial Producing Malignant Sores for Beast Worshippers (Revelation 16:2)

Ken

Malignant sores result from the first of the Seven Vial Judgments poured out upon Beast Worshippers in this series of Seven Vial Judgments. “And the first went, and poured out his vial [Greek, phialē, bowl] upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image” (Revelation 16:2 KJV). God’s angels begin pouring out these final judgments, each vial spaced about a day apart in this final “hour of temptation” (3:10) of approximately 15 days. This First Vial Judgment targets the Beast Worshippers with agonizing pain from sores that will not heal, not simply because they are worthy, but apparently there is astonishing wisdom in Jehovah’s conduct. The sum of the other Vial Judgments would kill the entirety of the planet in only a matter of days, but pain must have persuasive value, or it would not be used so profusely by the Almighty — or, His adversary. 

Can Any Repent Who Receive the Mark of the Beast?

First, if the Mark of the Beast is Antichrist’s registration of ownership of his property, then small children and others can be marked without their willingness or permission. “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads” (Revelation 13:16). 

Second, worship of the Beast is required, in addition to reception of the Mark of the Beast. The reception of the Mark of the Beast “and” (Revelation 16:2) worshipping his image signifies two conditions to be fulfilled for the First Vial Judgment to target the recipient. 

Third, for those with both the Mark of the Beast and who worship his image, the First Vial Judgment’s pain is guaranteed; but, why does the Angel preach the Gospel to everyone, if they cannot repent? “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people” (Revelation 14:6). 

Fourth, who will Christ rule over during His Millennial Reign on earth? Israel as a nation must be reborn spiritually, in a literal day, at Messiah Jesus’ Second Coming. “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Isaiah 66:8). Gentiles will also enter the Millennium, for the devil will be released to “deceive the nations [Greek, ethnos, gentiles]” (Revelation 20:8). 

Fifth, in no way does this sanction anyone to think they should willfully take the Mark of the Beast and worship the devil, so they can survive to enjoy the Millennium. God is not to be mocked! “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:12-13). 

In short, yes, it may be theoretically possible to repent after taking the Mark of the Beast and worshipping his image; but, be warned, Don’t count on it! “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:26). 

A Little Bird Told Me

Ken

Speaking maliciously of a king or powerful rich person has repercussions. “Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter” (Ecclesiastes 10:20 KJV). Simply testifying of evil conduct is not so much implied, as speaking maliciously with intent to harm, and certainly not “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). “A little bird told me” would more be like gossip, for obvious political purposes, when speaking of a person of power. Moses wrote, “Thou shalt not revile the gods [Hebrew, elohim, as in lesser gods of the Divine Council, Psalm 82:1 ESV ], nor curse the ruler of thy people” (Exodus 22:28). Even the archangel Michael refused to speak boastfully against the devil from the Unseen Realm, but carefully watched his heart and directed his speech. “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee” (Jude 1:9). Paul vilified Ananias the high priest for ordering him to be struck, contrary to the law, for simply speaking the truth. When informed his words were directed against a high priest, Paul respectfully replied, “I wist [knew] not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people” (Acts 23:5). He quoted again Moses, closing the circle of the argument, especially dealing with the powerful but lesser gods of the Unseen Realm, we need to be like Michael the archangel, by humbly resisting the devil “and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). LORD, we know You have already won the game, so we know how we play the game is the only thing of importance. Help us to remember to watch always our heart, that none can ever tattle on us, ‘A little bird told me.’ May our hearts stay pure in the midst of the political posturing and wrangling, of others. In Jesus’ name, we pray, for “Thou God seest me” (Genesis 16:13). Amen. 

Thy Judgments Are Made Manifest (Revelation 15:4)

Ken

A dramatic pause before the final battle climax, where already victorious Tribulation Saints extol the Almighty for His judgment upon the Antichrist, even as the concluding Seven Vial Judgments are prepared for outpouring. “Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? for Thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before Thee; for Thy judgments are made manifest” (Revelation 15:4 KJV). By this time, the Church has shed all reluctance to see God’s judgments poured out upon the earth, realizing what the Psalmist always knew. “The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether” (Psalm 19:9). Judgment alone has never been the real enemy, but unrighteous judgment (John 7:24) is always to be hated. All differences among brothers and sisters about the rightness of judging one another would have been melted away by the Holy Spirit, as we sanction the Lord God Almighty to judge the Earth. “O our God, wilt Thou not judge them?” (2Chronicles 20:12). The “wrath of God” (Revelation 15:1) readies itself to be poured out as the Translated Saints stand upon the “sea of glass mingled with fire” (15:2), signifying the judgment of God. Lord God Almighty, cause us not to judge according to man’s judgment by outward appearance, but to judge righteous judgment. LORD, especially open the eyes of Your Church that they may not receive the testimony of anyone, who claims to know You, while walking in disobedience. May all our objections to judge be already melted away, as we sanction and call upon You to judge the god of this world, his Antichrist, the False Prophet, and all the minions of little gods, who plague this earth, even now. Return quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen and amen. 

Gift of Physical Life

Ken

The ability to sense our surroundings gives us self-awareness, and acknowledging God’s presence is essential to appreciating God’s gift of physical life. “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28 KJV). Laying down our physical life for a selfless cause is both loving and heroic. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). But, the hopeless taking of our own life is both suicide and unpardonable. What then is the best thing to do with our gift of physical life? “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2). LORD, You are the giver of all good gifts. May we not consider ourselves as our own, but to be used for whatever gives You the greatest benefit, for then we will have our greatest happiness. Return quickly, and accomplish all your will on earth as it is in Heaven. Amen. 

Final Harvest of the Earth (Revelation 14:14-20)

Ken

Harvesting means saving to the uttermost those who come to God by Christ Jesus (Hebrews 7:25), but the opposite must also be true in the judgment of the wicked. “And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in Thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe” (Revelation 14:15 KJV). No more the rejection of Christ and His truth can be tolerated. This is what the adversary has always feared would happen. “The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him” (Proverbs 10:24). The utter irrationality of sin must be paid for to the uttermost. Christ has the diadem and sickle (Revelation 14:14) to fulfill His role as the Harvester of the Earth. No more will evil seemingly triumph unopposed and unchallenged. “And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God” (14:19). 

“And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs [Greek, stadion]” (Revelation 14:20).  

If a stadium is a Greek measurement equivalent to 606 feet 9 inches, then 1,600 furlongs would be 183.86 miles  (Easton’s Bible Dictionary, 1897).

What is the manner of the Lord Jesus Christ’s Second Coming?

First, Christ will descend to the Mount of Olives outside of Jerusalem, as promised by the angel at Christ’s Ascension (Acts 1:11-12), which was prophesied by Zechariah. “Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle. And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south” (Zechariah 14:3-4). 

Second, Christ will pursue His enemies slaying them with blood “unto the horse bridles” Revelation 14:20) down to Bozrah, which is approximately 58 miles southeast of the Mount of Olives. “The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea. And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness” (Isaiah 34:6-7). 

Third, Christ will then continue His pursuit and slaying of His enemies from Bozrah to Megiddo, which is the ancient city close by the final conflict at Armageddon — approximately another 128 miles. “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in His apparel, travelling in the greatness of His strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art Thou red in Thine apparel, and Thy garments like Him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with Me: for I will tread them in Mine anger, and trample them in My fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon My garments, and I will stain all My raiment. For the day of vengeance is in Mine heart, and the year of My redeemed is come. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore Mine own arm brought salvation unto Me; and My fury, it upheld Me. And I will tread down the people in Mine anger, and make them drunk in My fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth” (Isaiah 63:1-6). 

Fourth, Combining the distances from the Mount of Olives to Bozrah of 58 miles with the distance from Bozrah to Megiddo of 128 miles, is a distance of 186 miles, which is approximately 1,600 furlongs (Revelation 14:20).

LORD, our calculations and approximations lack the precision of Your Word. If You say the distance is 1,600 furlongs, then You would know best. If You say the blood will be “unto the horse bridles,” then we can only say, Amen. Even as You have faithfully saved to the uttermost, may You be justified in judging altogether as You have prophesied. Magnify Yourself in holiness and judgment. Let not one jot or tittle of Your Word fall to the ground unfulfilled unto 1,600 furlongs. Return quickly, deliver Your people, and judge the impenitent. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen and amen. 

Joy of Our Heart

Ken

God’s words are our unspeakable joy. Are they not? Or, can they be? Even when commanded to bring the difficult message of coming judgment to fellow Judeans, Jeremiah reminded himself of the unwavering joy that comes only by embracing God’s words. “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:16 KJV). Spirit of God, work to make Your words the joy and rejoicing of my heart. In the film “The Rookie” (2002), Dennis Quaid plays an older baseball rookie (Jimmy Morris) trying to make it into Major League Baseball (MLB) through the minor leagues, but he was getting discouraged. Watching a little league field of young players, he remembers his enjoyment of the game and is inspired to make another (and successful) attempt into the major leagues. The next morning, he announces to his friend, “Brooks, you know what we get to do today? We get to play baseball!” Pray that God’s Spirit would give us that kind of enjoyment in seeking Him, His Word, and His message. 

Messages From Three Angels (Revelation 14:6-13)

Ken

The Gospel, judgment for Babylon, and personal judgment are the messages of the three angels from God to the world. With the removal of the 144,000 and the Two Witnesses at the Pre-Wrath Rapture, no other outward testimony for the LORD exists on planet earth, but these three angels, before the handfuls of days left for the completion of the Seven Vial Judgments at the end of the Tribulation Week. “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people” (Revelation 14:6 KJV). The Gospel is the Greek euaggelionor good news, but it is only good news, if you repent. The second angel announces, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” (14:8). This warns of the soon and sudden demise — “in one hour” (18:17) — of the Beast’s religious and economic systems detailed in Revelation 17 and 18. And finally, the third Angel warns of the “wrath of God” (14:10) for all worshippers of the Antichrist, and blessing for those who “die in the Lord from henceforth” (14:13). The stage is now set for the final judgment of the earth. LORD, we can barely imagine the scope of what You have set for Your program of dealing with humanity. How You have wisely designed all these interactions and prophesied their fulfillment, knowing that You will bring them to pass contrary to the best efforts of the Devil, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet. Glory to Your name. We magnify You for Your mercy and grace in salvation. And, we praise and extol You for Your righteousness and judgment of the earth. Fulfill all Your prophecies and keep all Your promises. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen and amen.