Woman Clothed With the Sun (Revelation 12:1)

The nation of Israel is portrayed as the “woman clothed with the sun” (Revelation 12:1 KJV), which is the first of seven main characters of this parenthetical section of the Book of Revelation 12-14. Like identifying constellation pictures in the night sky, we won’t be able to understand God’s narrative of future history, which is prophecy, unless we can appreciate the plot’s characters in this meant-to-be-understood story. The “woman clothed with the sun” (12:1) alludes to Joseph’s dream: “Behold, the sun [Jacob] and the moon [Rachel] and the eleven stars [heads of the tribes of Israel] made obeisance to me” (Genesis 37:9). Israel is there depicted. “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars” (12:1). The second two main characters now appear, Christ, who is the “child” (12:2) to be delivered; and a “great red dragon” (12:3), our adversary. “And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads” (12:2-3). LORD, may we be among those who have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. Help us to understand the story of the Book of Revelation. May it not be as words wasted upon us. Help us to intelligibly pray for the fulfillment of prophecy that we may be co-workers with You, if we could aspire to such a position. Return quickly, in Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. 

We Be Brethren

Ever been around someone hard to get along with? No matter what you do or say, they are contrary? Or, they continually must show you what they know? They are right, and you must be mistaken? Welcome to life! This could happen in extended family circles, church family circles, work, society in general, national, and international. “And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren” (Genesis 13:8 KJV). Jesus blessed the peacemakers. Is everyone going to heaven as brothers? No, but in a larger sense, every man is a brother. Every woman is a sister. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God” (1John 4:7). John continues the power and simplicity of the thought. If you cannot love someone who is present that you can see, then how could you love God whom you cannot see? “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (4:20). Check your religion with the reality of the Holy Spirit’s testimony. Father, remove the blinders from our interpretation of Your Word. Help us to practically grasp the obvious, yet not become universalists. Draw Your Church together. Cast the wicked one out of family circles. Bind up the wounds of our nation. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name, we petition it in the Courts of Heaven. Amen and amen. 

My Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:3)

More power than Moses and Aaron over Egypt, the LORD’s “two witnesses” (Revelation 11:3 KJV) will prophesy 42 months or 1,260 days, the second half of the Tribulation Week. Who are they? Neither Enoch nor Elijah died, since both were personally raptured Home. Perhaps it will be them. Fire will proceed out of their mouths to devour their enemies (11:5). They will have unprecedented power. “These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will” (11:6). The Almighty, not the wicked one, controls the narrative for the story to conclude as prophesied. Both will be martyred like many true witnesses, will lie dead three days in the streets of Jerusalem, but will be resurrected for all the world to see, when a Great Voice from heaven calls out, “Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them” (11:12). All of this transpires as the Seventh Trumpet sounds (11:15). LORD, You control the narrative. You determine the fulness of time for all things. May our awe of You far surpass our apprehension about the enemy. May our understanding of You transcend our understanding of not just man’s power but all the supernatural power of wickedness in high places. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. 

Secret of Our Obedience

The Spirit of God is the secret of our obedience. “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 KJV). In the action movie, “Shoot to Kill” (1988), Sidney Poitier portrays an FBI agent aided by an outdoorsman, Tom Berenger, who both pursue a murderous, diamond thief in the Pacific Northwest. At one point, Berenger (up above) has instructed Poitier stuck (down below) to fasten himself to a rope to assist him climbing up a crevice. Poitier fastens the rope around his waist and holds open his hands, informing Berenger, “Ready!” Berenger, in anger and frustration shouts, “You’ve got to climb, too! I’m not going to do all the work!” Crudely, this illustrates the importance of the Holy Spirit’s assistance and empowerment, while emphasizing our need of cooperation. He is working obedience in us. We understand our necessity to obey, but concede our pathetic tendency not to conform. To be sure, God has given us the capacity for obedience, but we are prone not to comply. The reception of God’s Spirit (Acts 2:38) causes us to keep His commandments, while not forcing us. God remains sovereign, yet we still possess free will. Priceless! Or, as Jesus put it, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17). 

Measure the Temple of God (Revelation 11:1)

John the Beloved may return to administrate the Seven Thunders (Revelation 10:3-4). What? That’s crazy. No more than you judging angels (1Corinthians 6:3). The Almighty directed John: “Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not” (Revelation 10:4). Then, he directed John to eat the “little book” (10:10), which was sweet in the mouth and bitter in the stomach. John was next given a cryptic promise, “Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings” (10:11). Thereafter, he was directed, “Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein” (11:1). What the Almighty measured, did He not exercise dominion over (Isaiah 40:12)? Temple worshippers during this time worship Antichrist. Whatever surprise the LORD delivers with the Seven Thunders, it may become significant for John, just as Malachi projected for Elijah. “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD” (Malachi 4:5). Who would ever see this coming? LORD, fulfill Your prophecies that You may be justified, whatever we may predict. Return quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen. 

Practice the Presence of God

When sin is cast out of our lives, it must be replaced with the holiness of God, which is another way of saying, ‘We must practice the presence of God.’ “Christ is all, and in all” (Colossians 3:11 KJV). Nature abhors a vacuum, and so our heart finds necessary the presence of God. Humanity was never created to exist apart from God. Our greatest liberty is to dwell with God. In past, this has often been called simply the ‘Providence of God’ or ‘walking in the Spirit’ (Romans 8:1; Galatians 5:16), but is now referred to as “keeping in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25 NIV). Elementary Christianity deals with the first “principles of the doctrine of Christ” (Hebrews 6:1 KJV) of repenting of the “dead works” (6:1) of self-trust, returning to confidence or “faith toward God” (6:1), “baptisms” (6:2) to confess our repentance and to oath our loyalty to Christ, “laying on of hands” (6:2) to give and affirm the presence of the Holy Spirit and His gifts, teaching our hope of the “resurrection of the dead” (6:2), and certainty of “eternal judgment” (6:2) of reward for the righteous and punishment for the damned. But, we are commanded, “Let us go on unto perfection” (6:1). And, who is the Perfect One, but God? We are commanded to go on unto the maturity of practicing the presence of God, and “this will we do, if God permit” (6:3). Father, let us elevate our thinking in returning to practicing the presence of God. In Jesus’ name, we pray, return quickly, amen. 

God’s Surprise (Revelation 10:4)

Why write an entire book about revealing the future, only to tell us, ‘I know something you don’t know’? “And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not” (Revelation 10:4 KJV). We can all speculate about it, but His creative mind will not be laid bare by our probing. To be sure, whatever He does will magnify Him, ensure the success of all His judgments, and draw all His children to Himself. LORD, cause confusion to all Your enemies, and grant us admiration for all Your wonderful works, as we pray for the success of Your Seven Thunders. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. 

Absolute Joy Only From God’s Presence

The world declares their joy of sex, money, and their enjoyment of inflicting pain upon their enemies; but, only the godly have access to absolute joy. “Thou wilt shew [shōw] me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy [Hebrew, simchâh, joy, gladness, mirth, pleasure]; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11 KJV). Our Creator has so constituted us to experience joy in His presence. Have you noticed? Should we not be expecting it? Shouldn’t we be grateful? Joy is the presence of God. Think on these things. “For Thou hast made him most blessed for ever: Thou hast made him exceeding glad [Hebrew, simchâh, joy, gladness, mirth, pleasure] with Thy countenance” (21:6). Just as modern science declares stress adversely affects our physical body, joy strengthens us. “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy [Hebrew, chedvâh, joy, gladness] of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). LORD, may we measure our joy by Your presence. And, may we cultivate Your presence as our most treasured Guest. We look forward to Your soon return and presence. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen and amen. 

Demonic Horsemen Kill 1/3 of Humanity (Revelation 9:13-21)

Every third person in the world will be burned alive in the Fifth Trumpet Judgment. “By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths” (Revelation 9:18 KJV). The “brimstone” is the fuel, the “fire” is the combustion process, and the “smoke” is the exhaust; but, wicked men are the targets of the flame. The LORD is the Righteous Judge. Satan is the villain. The enemy executes a burning, which makes insignificant the six million murdered in the Holocaust. Yet, the survivors “repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk” (9:20). Insanity! O the depths of the depravity of the human heart! Will any finally repent to enter physically into the Millennial Reign of Christ? Yes. Will Israel finally be saved? Yes. “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). Everything that happens during this seven year Tribulation Week, must happen, for they “are determined upon thy [Daniel’s] people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy” (Daniel 9:24). LORD, You alone have clean hands. You have pleaded by the prophets with Your prophecies, and the unrighteous would not repent. Why do they cling to the one murdering them? Insane! Continue Your righteous and mysterious work of judgment. Secure for Yourself a people. Reclaim Israel. In Jesus’ reconciling name, we pray. Amen. 

The Countenance of My Health

“I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright” (Leviticus 26:13 KJV). From the notes of a long departed sister, a testimony of hope and faithfulness.

My teeth are healed.

They are white and strong.

My incision is firm

As I sing my song.

I am healed and whole

From my head to my feet.

My family has health

And plenty to eat.

“The Lord is my portion!” [Psalm 119:57]

Saith my soul.

He took my infirmities

And made me whole.

“Faith is substance!” [Hebrews 11:1]

I shout this call.

For I am made perfect

In the presence of you all.

Father, may we all have such bold, quiet confidence in You, that You would never deny us. Grant that all Your people will say, You are the “health of my countenance and my God” (Psalm 43:5). In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.