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Introduction
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In my many years as a
believer, (some 60 years),
and having heard hundreds of
messages on various aspects
of biblical truths, yet
after visiting and
ministering to the saints in
twenty-two countries I find
a decrease in the outliving
of spiritual realities.
After World War II one of
the major focuses in
assembly writings was the
coming of the Lord, yet over
the years that decreased.
From what I have observed,
the Lord’s coming has come
to the fore again due to the
Corona Virus. I am thankful
that the theme is taking up
focus again. When I take a
look in my spiritual mirror,
I am aware, albeit in a very
small degree, the dullness
of vision which I have with
regard to spiritual things.
It would seem to me a very
long time since I've heard a
message given with tears on
the subject of the eternal
damnation of the
unbeliever. I wonder, is it
possible that we who are
Christians can live life in
a
rather atheistic way? We
can go through the motions
of spirituality, reading our
Bibles, praying, going to
church, but in the normal
day-to-day activities of
life and actions it may be
there is little of God
consciousness or presence.
When this happens, the
reality of the judgment seat
of Christ for the believer,
the great white throne
judgment for unbelievers,
and of the fearfulness of a
literal lake of fire is
almost like a cold clinical
piece of data. Is it
possible that there has come
very slowly and subtly the
lifestyle of the ungodly so
that there is very little,
if any, outward distinction
between them and the child
of God? Perhaps the coming
of the Lord, either for us
or when He comes in
judgment, is so remote that
we like the unsaved live
with the mindset of, “Where
is the promise of his
coming? for since the
fathers fell asleep, all
things continue as they were
from the beginning of the
creation” (2
Pet.
3:4). |
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a) |
How different we can be from
Daniel who, when he heard of
God's coming judgment, even
though he had not
heard the message, caused
him astonishment (Dan.
4:19). Daniel was greatly
perplexed and his thoughts
troubled him and this was
the discipline of God on a
man on an earthly level. To
Daniel it was a dreadful
thing that this great and
glorious person would become
like an animal, even though
the stump would be left in
the ground which would
indicate a future hope. It
grieved Daniel greatly. |
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b) |
When it comes to myself and
with the people of God, if
we could only see the
unsaved perishing and going
into hell for eternity, or
see ourselves standing
before the Lord of heaven,
surely it would cause tear
filled eyes because of
grief,
and an unrelenting burden
and zeal for the spiritual
welfare and development of
people for the glory of God.
Just the awareness of a
coming message from God
caused him to fall and be
astonished. Would to God
that we, who know what lies
ahead both for the believer
and those who are not saved,
would know what it is to
enter into something of the
fear of the Lord. In this
meditation I am thinking
about the coming of the Lord
to the earth and the
horrificness of that
manifestation.
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The Chronological Order
After the marriage supper of
the Lamb (Rev. 19:6–10),
then begins this section in
(v. 19:11) that goes through
to (v. 20:3). It is divided
into three distinct
sections,
verses
11–16; 17–21; 20:1–3. The
first section deals with the
coming of the Lord, the
second section deals with
the gathering of the birds
to eat the flesh of those
who die and then the removal
of the beast and false
prophet, the third section
deals with the binding of
Satan for the 1000 years.
The subject of the
Lord’s return in glory is
mentioned in many passages
of the Scriptures, yet no
doubt Revelation 19:11–20 is
amongst the best known and
most graphic of them all. |
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a) |
The opening clause of
Chapter 19:11 causes a
thinking individual to draw
back in reverential fear.
This is the first time in
Revelations we read, “And I
saw the heaven
opened”; chapter
4:1
informs the readers, “A
door was opened in heaven”;
in
chapter 11:19 we are told,
“the temple of God was
opened”;
in
chapter 15:5, “the temple of
the tabernacle of
the
testimony
in
heaven was opened”.
However,
in chapter
19 the wording is changed.
It is not now something
opened in Heaven, as in the
previous references, but
heaven itself is opened.
John wrote, “I saw the
heaven opened” (Rev. 19:11). |
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b) |
In some translations the
wording is, “the heaven was
opened” (ASV; Darby; RV;
Young’s Literal). In the
“linguistic Key to the New
Testament”, Reinecker and
Rogers observe that the
tense is perfect past
participle which indicates,
“Heaven has been opened and
now stands open”. This is
not the door of proffered
fellowship (Rev. 3:20), nor
that of translation (ch.
4:1), but the heavens being
rolled like a vesture
causing a frightening sight
which, despite how one
feels, cannot be turned away
from. I am sure for some of
the ungodly armies of men,
they will feel somewhat like
a criminal taking the last
walk, then they see the open
door to the death chamber.
It is stark cold, the end is
near, no hope of a repeal.
The execution of judgment
for what they have done
near, no escaping. Yet,
ultimately in utter defiance
humanity will stand against
the Lord of Hosts. |
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c) |
Such
is the far reaching effects
of immediately after the
heavens being opened all
shall see the Lord coming.
Not only those who are
alive, but those who are
long since dead, those who
crucified the Lord (Rev.
1:7), the chief priests
(Matt. 26:64)
all
shall see Him. This is
astounding, the very spirits
of the lost will be aware of
this momentous event. |
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d) |
There had been the “seven
golden vials, full of the
wrath of God” (Rev. 15:7)
and they were severe. In
the first a dreadful sore
fell on those who had taken
the mark of the beast and
worshipped his image. In
the second the sea became
like the blood of a dead man
and everything in the sea
died (Rev. 16:3). Leaving
the third vial, the fourth
poured out his vial on the
sun and men were scorched
with fire (Rev. 16:9). Yet,
the worse is yet to come.
These were the voice of God
in mercy, as through adverse
circumstances of which he
has no
control
over, seeks to warn humanity
of the foolishness of
defying God. The door of
salvation was still open for
it reads, “And I saw another
angel fly in the midst of
heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach
unto them that dwell on the
earth, and to every nation,
and kindred, and tongue, and
people, Saying with a loud
voice, Fear God, and give
glory to him; for the hour
of his judgment is come: and
worship him that made
heaven, and earth, and the
sea, and the fountains of
waters” (Rev. 14:6-7). All
the previous judgments,
seals, trumpets, thunders,
vials are but the
methodical introduction to
the unfolding of the great
day of the wrath of God. |
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i) |
Everything has been working
up to this point. To this
point in time God has been
exceedingly long-suffering,
but at this moment of time
the patient endurance of God
has come to an end.
There is no longer any mercy
from God for those who have
taken the mark of the
beast. For these
individuals, upon them is
the wrath of God (Rev.
14:10, 19; 19:15), the wrath
of the Lamb (Rev. 6:16) is
about to fall . |
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ii) |
To these guilty Satan
worshippers (Rev. 13:4, 8;
19:20) there is no more
grace, no more mercy, no
more compassion. Never
again will God let them hear
the blessed entreaties of
mercy. Humanity will have
refused to bow to the slow
steps of God in judgments in
the seals, trumpets and
vials.
Man blasphemes against the
God of power over the
plagues. There will be no
longer any delay, the time
has come for those who
harden their heart to be
“suddenly cut off without
remedy” (Prov. 29:1). This
is the beginning of the day
of the vengeance of our God,
the beginning of the day
when man will drink of God’s
wrath, a cup that shall
never be emptied. |
Conclusion
Do we believe the reality of this,
or is it as a tale that is told,
interesting but intellectual? Do we
not
understand
that there may very well be millions
of people at this moment on the 1st
of November 2021 and this is about
them? Surely, which of us could say
before God, “I am not Laodicean, I
have full sight?”
Rather would we not confess with
brokenness that we are blind, in a
spiritual coma?
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