Category: God’s omnipotence

Aerial Attack! #12

Thursday, July 17, 2014

“And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines” (2 Samuel 5:24 KJV).

Some 3,000 years ago, Israel had aerial military support, and it is only a preview of the “fighter jets” yet to come!

Jesus Christ will ultimately return to Earth in an “aerial attack” to purge it of Satan and his policy of evil (typified in today’s Scripture); He will cleanse the heavenly places of that wickedness with a similar war.

The Apostle John commented in Revelation 12:7-9: “[7] And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, [8] And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. [9] And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

At the middle of the seven-year Tribulation, Michael, the archangel (chief) of God’s angels, will lead an angelic army in outer space to purge it of Satan and his evil angelic cohorts. When Satan and his angels are cast down to Earth, we, the Church the Body of Christ, will then fill those “places” vacated in the heavens (see Ephesians 1:3,20-23; Ephesians 2:6,7). Once God casts Satan and his angels down to Earth, Christ’s Second Coming and the battle of Psalm 68 will only be 42 months away. Satan and his minions will be cast to Earth in order to be defeated at Jesus Christ’s Second Coming, and then Earth will be cleansed of Satan’s wickedness (Revelation 20:1ff.).

Redeemed Israel will accept Jesus Christ, He will resurrect her Old Testament saints, and they will all enter His earthly kingdom, to do His will in the Earth. We, the Church the Body of Christ, will reign in the heavens (outer space) for Jesus Christ’s glory! “[God’s] will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10b). 🙂

Aerial Attack! #9

Monday, July 14, 2014

“And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines” (2 Samuel 5:24 KJV).

Some 3,000 years ago, Israel had aerial military support, and it is only a preview of the “fighter jets” yet to come!

Zephaniah the prophet wrote: “Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land” (1:18).

The Prophet Isaiah (34:8-10) explained: “[8] For it is the day of the LORD’S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. [9] And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. [10] It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.”

The Prophet Amos further discussed Jesus Christ’s Second Coming in wrath and vexation: “The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem….” (1:2). Throughout chapters one and two, the Prophet delineates the “flight path” Messiah will take as He returns to the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4): Damascus (Amos 1:3), Gaza (Amos 1:6), Tyrus (Amos 1:9), Edom (Amos 1:11), the land of the Ammonites (Amos 1:13), Moab (Amos 2:1), Judah (Amos 2:4), and Israel (Amos 2:6). Amos also prophesied that Christ would send a “fire” into each of these wicked areas.

Psalm 97:1,3-5 foretells Jesus Christ’s return to Earth to reign as King: “[1] The LORD reigneth;…. [3] A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. [4] His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. [5] The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the LORD of the whole earth.”

Let us now summarize this devotionals arc….

Aerial Attack! #7

Saturday, July 12, 2014

“And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines” (2 Samuel 5:24 KJV).

Some 3,000 years ago, Israel had aerial military support, and it is only a preview of the “fighter jets” yet to come!

“Thou [Ariel /Jerusalem, verse 1] shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire” (Isaiah 29:6). At His Second Coming, Messiah (Jesus) will come with “flaming fire” to cleanse His land and His nation Israel of apostates/unbelievers, those who have followed Satan’s policy of evil (Psalm 97:3-5; Ezekiel 20:38; Zechariah 13:8,9; Matthew 3:7-11; Luke 3:7-9,16,17).

Through Moses, JEHOVAH prophesied in Deuteronomy 32:22: “For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.” (See also verses 35-43, which speak of God’s vengeance.) The fire that will attend Jesus Christ will burn into the Earth’s surface to expose a shaft leading into hell itself. Christ will toss His enemies, Israel’s enemies, right into hell (Revelation 14:9-11), and His people on Earth will see those carcasses/souls suffering in hell (Isaiah 66:22-24; Mark 9:42-50).

The Prophet Micah wrote: “[3] For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth. [4] And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place. … [7] And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate:…” (1:3,4,7). Using this fire, Jesus Christ will purge the world of its idols.

Indeed, the fire at Christ’s Second Coming will throughly cleanse the world of everything that pollutes and opposes Israel….

Aerial Attack! #6

Friday, July 11, 2014

“And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines” (2 Samuel 5:24 KJV).

Some 3,000 years ago, Israel had aerial military support, and it is only a preview of the “fighter jets” yet to come!

The Old Testament prophets provided many glimpses of Jesus Christ’s Second Coming “in flaming fire.” It will be a most glorious event when the King of kings and Lord of lords comes to judge and pour out His wrath on wicked mankind, and to establish His eternal, earthly kingdom of righteousness:

  • “Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him” (Psalm 50:3).
  • “Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God” (Psalm 68:1,2).
  • “…[A]nd the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his enemies, and his indignation toward his enemies. For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD will be many” (Isaiah 66:14b-16).
  • “God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power. Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet” (Habakkuk 3:3-5).

Hence, the Bible speaks of “the brightness of [Jesus Christ’s] coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:8). This fire will light up our planet’s atmosphere, and then it will burn down into the Earth’s surface to expose hell….

Aerial Attack! #4

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

“And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines” (2 Samuel 5:24 KJV).

Some 3,000 years ago, Israel had aerial military support, and it is only a preview of the “fighter jets” yet to come!

Just as David and Israel’s army heard their God flying overhead to defend them against the Philistines (today’s Scripture), so Israel and her enemies will hear similar rushing or marching sounds above, as Jesus Christ returns to planet Earth to defend Israel and defeat her adversaries, abolish Satan’s evil world system, redeem Israel from sin and death, and establish His literal, physical, visible, earthly kingdom. While the Apostle John merely summarized Christ’s Second Coming in Revelation 19:11-21, the Old Testament prophets detailed it.

Consider Jeremiah 23:19,20: “Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly” (cf. Jeremiah 30:22-24).

Read the Prophet Zechariah’s words that speak of Messiah’s coming to save Israel: “[14] And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south. [15] The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar. [16] And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land” (9:14-16).

In addition to whishing sounds (due to whirlwinds, violent air movements caused by Jesus Christ passing through Earth’s atmosphere), a consuming fire will precede the King of kings as He returns for battle….

Aerial Attack! #3

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

“And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines” (2 Samuel 5:24 KJV).

Some 3,000 years ago, Israel had aerial military support, and it is only a preview of the “fighter jets” yet to come!

Isaiah 31:5 says, “As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.” The context indicates this is Messiah, the Lord Jesus, returning to planet Earth at His Second Coming, to deliver Israel from the Antichrist’s oppression. Compare this with Deuteronomy 33:26 and Psalm 68:4,33 (which we read earlier). Jesus Christ will fly over Israel’s land, to defend His nation against—and rescue it from—Satan and his policy of evil.

Over 700 years later, the Apostle John continued Isaiah’s narrative: “[13] And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon [Satan], and out of the mouth of the beast [the Antichrist, a global political leader], and out of the mouth of the false prophet [the Antichrist’s global religious leader]. [14] For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. … [16] And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon” (Revelation 16:13,14,16).

Psalm 83 speaks of 10 Middle-Eastern nations that will unite against Israel during the seven-year Tribulation to “cut [Israel] off from being a nation” (verse 4). The Antichrist will head these nations, and they (along with other kingdoms), in the final months of the Tribulation, will gather their armies in the Valley of Megiddo (also called the Plain of Esdraelon, or Jezreel Valley, southwest of the Sea of Galilee) to destroy Israel. John called this “the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:14). What a battle it will be, as it will dwarf that of today’s Scripture….

Aerial Attack! #2

Monday, July 7, 2014

“And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines” (2 Samuel 5:24 KJV).

Some 3,000 years ago, Israel had aerial military support, and it is only a preview of the “fighter jets” yet to come!

Moses, just before death, spoke prophetically, “There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun [another name for the nation Israel], who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them” (Deuteronomy 33:26,27). Centuries before David, Moses described JEHOVAH as riding upon the heavens and on the sky when He delivers Israel from her enemies.

Now, consider the first four verses of Psalm 68, written by King David (who, interestingly enough, witnessed God’s aerial attack against Israel’s enemies in today’s Scripture): “[1] Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. [2] As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. [3] But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. [4] Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.” Verse 33 continues, “To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.”

Some Messianic Psalms describe His First Coming in meekness and lowliness, but Psalm 68 is Messiah’s return in power, great glory, and wrath. Psalm 68 describes Jesus Christ’s Second Coming, an event that will parallel His actions with David battling the Philistines. Israel’s enemies are God’s enemies, so when Psalm 68 speaks of God destroying His enemies (still future from our day), it parallels the account of when God defeated Israel’s enemies in today’s Scripture. Let us briefly survey this forthcoming “aerial attack….”

Aerial Attack! #1

Sunday, July 6, 2014

“And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines” (2 Samuel 5:24 KJV).

Some 3,000 years ago, Israel had aerial military support, and it is only a preview of the “fighter jets” yet to come!

Having just slain King Saul in battle (see 1 Samuel chapter 31 and 2 Samuel chapter 1), the Philistines now hear of King David’s reign over Israel, and they attack him; JEHOVAH God gives David and Israel victory (2 Samuel 5:17-21).

Let us proceed to today’s Scripture and its context: “[22] And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. [23] And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass [circle them and go] behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. [24] And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself [get to moving to attack them]: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. [25] And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.” (The companion passage is 1 Chronicles 14:13-17.)

When David asked JEHOVAH what action to take concerning the approaching Philistine armies, He promised David that He would be with Israel. More than that, Israel’s God would attack the Philistines before Israel’s army would. He would attack from the air, and Israel’s troops would literally hear their God flying above them and defending them against their enemies! Because of JEHOVAH’S faithfulness, Israel won yet another military victory.

Lest we conclude that this is “just another boring history lesson,” consider the fact that today’s Scripture is actually a rehearsal for Jesus Christ’s Second Coming, when He completely defeats all of Israel’s enemies. Yea, it will be another “aerial attack….”

Heart Service #12

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you” (Romans 6:17 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is the key to being delivered from and guarded against today’s apostate Christendom.

Carefully consider Galatians 3:1-3, Paul’s rebuke of the churches in Galatia who had trusted Christ, and then abandoned God’s grace for performance-based acceptance (false teachers misled them with works-religion): “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”

The moment we each trusted Jesus as our personal Saviour, the Holy Spirit placed us into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). Instantly, we were “blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). Everything that God could ever give us, He gave us in Christ, and we have it all now in Christ! What can we weaklings possibly do in religion to “enhance” our Christian life, that will improve upon what the Almighty Holy Spirit did?! “O foolish Christendom, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth?!”

Colossians 2:6,7 amplifies today’s Scripture and Galatians 3:1-3: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” How did we become Christians? Our efforts? Nay, “[our] faith in Christ” (Colossians 2:5)—our faith, not our works (Romans 4:5). Christ’s works, not ours. The Bible says the Christian life will operate likewise. The same Holy Spirit who made us righteous in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21) will take the sound (rightly divided) Bible doctrine we study, are “taught,” and most importantly believe (trust), and He will work in us (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

But, the Holy Spirit will not work in us until we learn the Bible doctrine He wants to apply to our lives…

Heart Service #8

Saturday, May 3, 2014

“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you” (Romans 6:17 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is the key to being delivered from and guarded against today’s apostate Christendom.

Religion—that is, ceremonies, rites, rituals, et cetera—is very appealing to our flesh—that is, our natural tendency to rebel against God’s Word and will. Israel was guilty of “being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness” and having “not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:1-3). The Apostle Paul knew this firsthand. When he was a Jewish religious leader—and a lost man!—he had done more religious works than probably anyone else in his day. Read his “worthless religious résumé” found in Philippians 3:4-6. If anyone could brag about all his achievements in religion, it was Saul of Tarsus!

Now, writing as a saved man—that is, saved from himself, his useless religion, his sins, eternal hellfire, and Satan’s policy of evil—the Apostle Paul informed: “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead” (verses 7-11).

On the road to Damascus, in Acts chapter 9, Saul of Tarsus had died to self, and he submitted to God’s righteousness. Jesus Christ Himself appeared to Saul from heaven, and he relied exclusively on the Gospel of Grace revealed to him there. Over 30 years later (the context of Philippians), Paul was still attempting to fathom Christ’s resurrection life given him….