National Repentance

What Angers God?

Ken

“God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalm 7:11 KJV). It is only fair to warn, God is a just God and does become angry with the wicked so that He will execute irreparable judgment, if He must. We have been rightly taught, “God is love” (1John 4:8, 16), but He is also a holy God. 

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). 

UCRT Cross Reference note on Hebrews 12:14:

“Holiness is an absolute requirement for salvation in this life.” The Greek verb underlying ‘holy’ does not occur in the future tense in the New Testament. Therefore, complete sanctification or holiness is a requirement in this life, not the other side of the grave (cf., Malcolm L. Lavender, The Fallacy of the ‘Sinning Christian,’ p. 95, and Lavender’s New Testament: A Literal Translation).

God’s anger is completely justifiable against wickedness, but humanity’s frustration about holiness is also recognizable. 

If we have been taught humankind is inescapably sinful, then only the grave would cure sin. However, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9). Cleansing from all unrighteousness is then present holiness. 

If we have been taught that flesh is sinful, then again, only the grave can cure that. However, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1Peter 3:21). Baptism does not represent taking a bath for our flesh, but a good conscience toward God, which saves us. 

If we have been taught that obedience to God is a good work, then we are not saved by good works. However, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:21-24). Dead works and the works of faith must be carefully distinguished to walk in complete sanctification and holiness. 

After the Cross, the greatest discovery is to find the Promised Spirit of the New Covenant is for the express purpose of inspiring us to walk in obedience to the Living God. “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). Now, Peter’s inaugural sermon for the Church becomes more apparent. “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). The Spirit of Christ inspires — not forces — us to obey God. Once forgiven, we again can walk with God. 

Father, we are so desirous not to make You angry. We understand our obedience is not a tribute to us, but homage to You that You work in us to will and to do of Your good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). May we learn to walk in Your Spirit to Your glory and to put to flight the enemy. Return quickly, Lord Jesus. In Your name, we pray. Amen. 

earth

Demonic Locusts From the Abyss (Revelation 9:1-12)

Ken

Terrorizing only the ungodly with unimaginable pain without the release of death for five months is Satan unmasked, revealing his malevolent intentions upon his own in the Fifth Trumpet Judgment. “And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit” (Revelation 9:1 KJV). The game is up and the hand of the wicked one is forced by the Almighty, incentivizing repentance 
to those previously not so inclined in this latter part of the Tribulation Week, but why then not sudden and total mass defection from the wicked one? The chains of bondage to sin go to the depths of humanity’s normal inaction in the face of divine displeasure. The hidden curses upon all has piled up, where ‘every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword,’ as observed by Abraham Lincoln (March 4, 1865), who further declared, “The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether” (Psalm 19:9). Father, it is our unimagined delight to so petition You with this affection of Your parentage. We have such tangled webs of curses ensnaring us, we find it bewildering to address. Abba Father, deliver us! Show us Your glory! In Jesus’ sin delivering name, we pray. Amen and amen. 

Waters Became Wormwood (Revelation 8:11)

Ken

Fresh water contamination of a third of earth’s rivers and water sources takes place from a burning heavenly body falling to earth with the Third Trumpet Judgment. This could be a meteor breaking up upon entry into the earth’s atmosphere, precisely aimed by Jehovah at the drinking water supply. “And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter” (Revelation 8:10-11 KJV). Since 96.54% of earth’s total water is from its oceans, seas, and bays, 68.7% of its freshwater is from its polar ice caps, glaciers, and snow, 30.1% of its freshwater is from groundwater, 0.26% of its freshwater from lakes, and only 0.006% of its freshwater from rivers, then making bitter a third of water from rivers and freshwater sources becomes devastating to an already parched planet, where one in four people already do not have access to safe drinking water. Humans can survive only a matter of days without water. Wormwood is an emblem of poisonous bitterness promised by the Almighty, “the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink” (Jeremiah 9:15). This He prophesied to do to His people Israel to punish and cure them of treacherously departing from the Living God. In this Third Trumpet Judgment, humanity also experiences the bitterness of wormwood; and, those that survive will be encouraged to repent. LORD, we pray even now for all those who will experience the bitterness of thirst that cannot be assuaged by man or government. Give them repentance unto the acknowledging of the truth as it is in Jesus. Especially be merciful to Israel. Reclaim from the enemy all those prisoners held captive by the lie that there is salvation in someone other than Messiah Jesus. We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen. 

Great Mountain Burning (Revelation 8:8)

Ken

The Second Trumpet Judgment is “as it were a great mountain burning with fire [that] was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood” (Revelation 8:8 KJV). The most likely explanation is a Yucatán type meteor impact on the ocean, or possibly a Krakatoa type eruption of a volcanic mountain ejecting immense debris into the sea. The immediate result is a third of the sea becoming blood, which indicates an impact area the size of a mountain killing and poisoning the “third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed” (8:9). The scale of death of sea life and destruction of shipping is consistent with impact in an area of major shipping lanes and not in a region of the ocean deserts. Rogue waves or tsunamis are hard to model and predict, except for the Perfect Mind of God. It truly is a “fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). Limiting the devastation to a third gives opportunity for reflection and repentance. “When He slew them, then they sought Him: and they returned and enquired early after God” (Psalm 78:34). Devastation has worked before for some. LORD, we know You as a Good God, but we know You can be righteously aroused to be an Angry God. In wrath, remember mercy. Grant some repentance in that Day of Trouble. We claim as intercessors, such a benefit in Your Courts of Heaven. Grant us now peace before the storm. Return quickly, in Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. 

Identity Crisis: Who Are You?

Ken

LORD, I am who You say I am (John 1:12). You are the Most High God (Genesis 14:18), the “High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity” (Isaiah 57:15 KJV), who has condescended to dwell with mankind (Revelation 21:3). You have created me in Your image (Genesis 1:27) that I may magnify You in choosing to walk with You in obedience (Genesis 17:1) and reverential trust (fear of the LORD: 2Chronicles 19:9). I am saved by Your grace through faith in You to walk in holiness (Ephesians 2:8-10). As a nation, we are blessed to be called by Your name to humbly pray and seek Your face and turn from our wicked ways that You may turn (2Chronicles 7:14) and rain righteousness upon us (Hosea 10:12). As a Church, we are Your mirror to reflect Christ’s righteousness, love, and saving grace to the world (2Corinthians 3:18). A husband represents the headship of Christ to their wife (Ephesians 5:23). Parents represent Christ’s lordship to their children (Ephesians 6:1). Men ought to respect the biological uniqueness of women to bear the seed of humanity (1Timothy 2:15), as women need to respect the biological necessity of man providing the seed for the propagation of the human race (Genesis 2:18). LORD, may we understand who You are that we would know who we are. Magnify Your name. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.