Category: sin

Aerial Attack! #11

Wednesday, July 16, 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!

Remember Psalm 68 enumerates Jesus Christ’s Second Coming, to redeem Israel and restore His headship in the Earth. Notice verses 17 and 18: “[17] The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. [18] Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.”

The Apostle Paul quoted Psalm 68:18 in Ephesians 4:8. Understand that these two verses are not describing the same event, but two similar events in two separate programs.

Read Ephesians 4:7-10: “[7] But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. [8] Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. [9] (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? [10] He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)”

After Jesus Christ ascended into heaven (Acts chapter 1), He then “ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.” He began the Body of Christ with Saul of Tarsus (the Apostle Paul) in Acts chapter 9, and “gave” (notice, past tense) the members of the early Body of Christ spiritual gifts (listed in Ephesians 4:11), gifts to disseminate a body of doctrine (verses 12-16) that would form a group of mature saints (Body of Christ) who would fill up “all things” (governmental offices in heavenly places [see Colossians 1:16-20] which Satan has polluted [Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 6:12]).

Jesus Christ will restore His headship in the heavenly places, similar to how He will reestablish His authority on Earth….

Aerial Attack! #10

Tuesday, July 15, 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!

While we have only briefly scratched the surface, we can list some of the various weapons Jesus Christ will bring with Him at His Second Coming, as He majestically flies over the Middle East on a white horse to fight for His nation Israel (Revelation 19:11):

  • Plague and pestilence (Habakkuk 3:3-5) will afflict His enemies (those who have fought against Jerusalem), instantly consuming their flesh, eyes, and tongues (Zechariah 14:12).
  • A consuming fire will wipe out His enemies (Psalm 97:3,5; Isaiah 66:14-16), especially those who have united against Israel and assembled in her land to overrun Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:12), it will burn up Israel’s idols and all the other elements of pagan religion (Micah 1:3,4,7), and it will expose (subterranean) hell (Psalm 97:3,5; Deuteronomy 32:22) so that Christ’s enemies can be cast into it. God’s memorial against sin will be erected so that, in the Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 14:9-11), believers can view those wicked souls burning (Isaiah 66:23,24; Mark 9:43-50). Jesus Christ will control this fire with His spoken word, instructing it where to go (Revelation 19:15; cf. Amos chapters 1 and 2), eventually causing it to overtake the Antichrist himself (2 Thessalonians 2:8) and his false prophet (religious leader) and instantly whisking them away into everlasting hellfire (Revelation 19:20).
  • Lightning (Psalm 97:4), strong winds (Jeremiah 25:32), thunder (Isaiah 29:6), and storms and hailstones (Isaiah 30:30) will be useful in fighting against Satan’s angelic and human allies.
  • Tens of thousands of angelic soldiers will also accompany Jesus Christ back to Earth (Jude 14; Revelation 19:14). One angel slew 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in a single night (2 Kings 19:35; Isaiah 37:36)—just imagine an army of tens of thousands of angels!

Before we conclude this devotionals arc, we will briefly examine how we have an appointment for a similar future battle, but in the heavenly places….

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! #5

Thursday, July 10, 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!

John the Baptist (Matthew 3:7-12; Luke 3:7,16,17) and even the Apostle Paul warned of “the baptism with fire,” “the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10), when the Lord Jesus Christ would return to Earth “in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:8). Let us search the Old Testament prophets to see what the Holy Spirit had already foretold centuries earlier.

Firstly, consider the following, written 700 years before Jesus’ earthly ministry: “[27] Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:… [30] And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones. [31] For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian [the Antichrist] be beaten down, which smote with a rod…. [33] For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it” (Isaiah 30:27,30,31,33).

Having been treated so shamefully at Calvary, so ridiculed and snubbed for 2,000 years, the mighty Lord Jesus Christ has returned, in undiluted wrath and righteous anger, to the planet that is rightfully His. He will take it by force from Satan, his evil world system, and all of its participants. Let us see what else the prophets have to say about this fire….

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….

Liberated to Serve

Friday, July 4, 2014

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13 KJV).

Today, as we in the United States celebrate the 238th anniversary of our nation’s independence, we invite our Christian brethren worldwide to rejoice with us concerning our freedom in Jesus Christ.

When we proclaim Romans 6:14—“Ye are not under the law, but under grace”—people tend to assume “loose living.” Does “grace living” really mean we can now live any way we want? Lest anyone be misled in that regard, God the Holy Spirit moved the Apostle Paul to write in the next verse, “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid [May God never let that happen!]” (Romans 6:15). Grace living is not Law-keeping, but it certainly is not Law-breaking either.

God still cares how we live, albeit He is not operating the “weak and beggarly” system of “bondage” (Law) that He once did with Israel (Galatians 4:9). God proved to the entire world that since Israel could not keep His commandments perfectly, no other sons of Adam (the Gentiles) could either: “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them [Israel] who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world [Gentiles] may become guilty before God” (Romans 3:19).

We sinners cannot keep the Law. However, God in His grace provided us a way to escape that condemnation by sending Jesus Christ to offer Himself on Calvary’s cruel cross to pay for our sins. By simple faith in Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as the fully-satisfying payment for our sins, we can now be “made the righteousness of God in [Christ]” (2 Corinthians 5:21). We can be delivered from the penalty of sin (hell and the lake of fire) and the power of sin (flesh-walking).

Why are we Christians free? To selfishly live any way we want? NO! Today’s Scripture says we are liberated to now serve others, especially our Christian brethren, just as Jesus Christ selflessly served His Father and selflessly died on our behalf. That is grace living!!!!

Please see our 2011 Fourth of July Bible study “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land,” which can be watched here or read here.

Cain Came and Brought Shame #10

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

“And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD” (Genesis 4:1 KJV).

Can you identify the very significant phrase our King James Bible contains in today’s Scripture, and why it was said?

The Bible student understands what began in the book of Genesis is brought to its ultimate fulfillment in the book of the Revelation. God’s purpose and plan for creation initiated (and delayed) in Genesis is thus brought to fruition in the Revelation; Satan’s evil world system that began in Genesis is destroyed in the Revelation.

One of the primary ways that God will comfort believing Israel during those most difficult years—the horrors of the seven-year Tribulation—is to teach them using types, previews of their situation, found in the Holy Bible’s historical narratives. All of the Old Testament Scriptures about enduring hardship (especially the Psalms) will be critical to believing Israel’s spiritual edification as Satan tries their faith.

Israel will particularly benefit from the Bible’s accounts of how their ancestors were delivered from Pharaoh (a type of Antichrist), how David was delivered from Saul (a type of Antichrist), how Daniel’s three friends were delivered from Nebuchadnezzar (a type of Antichrist), how Daniel endured the lions’ den (a type of the Tribulation), how Job survived his awful ordeals (a type of the Tribulation), and so on. JEHOVAH was faithful to all of these saints, and He will be faithful to Israel’s believing remnant now facing the Antichrist’s wrath.

Regarding the story of Cain and Abel, Israel will learn how Abel gave his life for the very God they will now be serving to the Antichrist’s hatred. They need not be discouraged; they need not marvel that the world hates them (1 John 3:11-13). Even if they lose their lives (and many Messianic Jews will perish; Matthew 10:39; Revelation 20:4), Abel’s testimony still affirms that God is faithful (Hebrews 11:4). After all, Jesus Christ will return to defeat Satan, the Antichrist, and all of Earth’s wicked, and believing Israel will be resurrected bodily, to enter God’s earthly kingdom (Revelation 19:11–20:6).

Cain brought shame, but the real Messiah, Jesus, what joy and hope He will bring! 🙂

Cain Came and Brought Shame #9

Monday, June 30, 2014

“And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD” (Genesis 4:1 KJV).

Can you identify the very significant phrase our King James Bible contains in today’s Scripture, and why it was said?

Daniel 9:26,27 says, “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary…. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease….”

Firstly, the Holy Ghost moved the Prophet, 600 years in advance, to predict Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. Secondly, Daniel foretold that “the prince,” someone after Messiah (a false Messiah), would arise and make a covenant with “many” (chiefly Israel, but probably with her Middle-East enemies also). The Apostle John indicates that this “one-week” covenant, or peace treaty, is actually a week of years (that is, seven years; see Revelation 11:3 and Revelation 12:6, which divide the seven years into two 1260-day periods).

There has not been a Jewish Temple operating in Jerusalem since A.D. 70 (when the Romans destroyed it), so the Antichrist will rebuild it and resume the sacrifices as commanded in the Old Testament (which sacrifices God forbade after Jesus Christ’s “once-for-all” sacrifice of Himself; Hebrews 10:1-31). Israel’s believing remnant will recognize the Antichrist’s religion as satanic, but the rest of Israel will be duped, captivated by its “godly appearance,” thinking they are serving JEHOVAH (after all, the Antichrist will be quoting Moses’ books as proof of his religion’s “godliness!”).

Halfway into those seven years, the Antichrist will force all sacrifices to cease (Daniel 9:27, quoted above). As Paul wrote, he will then sit in the Temple, “shewing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:4). The Antichrist will demand worship (Revelation 13:1-18), and just as Abel refused to convert to Cain’s “sacrificial system,” so believing Jews will decline to partake of Antichrist’s wickedness. Hence, we read about the saints “beheaded for the witness of Jesus” (Revelation 20:4; cf. Revelation 6:9-11).

While we have merely scratched the surface, let us summarize this devotionals arc….