Reading Revelation chapters 19, 20, 21 and 22 this morning and these last chapters of the scriptures are just so profound. Jesus takes a bride and then He goes to war.
"Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords." - Revelation 19:11-16 ESV
The era of darkness is coming to a close... now it is victory after victory.
"Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.
Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years." - Revelation 20:1-6 ESV
I don't know what you think when you read these passages but to me this is the weight of glory that makes life bearable.
"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV
This isn't a pie in the sky with harps on a cloud vision of what is to come. This is storming the castle Christianity.
While on one hand I think I live in the best time to be alive it is also a time where we need courage. Courage to act but most of all courage to believe.
"And he who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.' Also he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.' And he said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
But as for the COWARDLY, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.' " - Revelation 21:5-8 ESV
What tops the list? The coward does. Interesting isn't it.
The one who lets emotion master the will turned back when self is in perceived peril. Not a cowardly act. Perhaps we have all been guilty of those. Adam has a cowardly nature. Christ straps a name to His thigh and goes to war. That is His nature. He is trustworthy and true. That is the nature believers have been given. They are born with a victorious nature.
Are you sick and tired? Read the end of the Book. It will give you courage.
Believe in the darkness. Believe in your weakness and in your strength. Believe today.
God, Today we look up and into the future so that we can really live in present. Help us... we know You will.
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