The Seven Trumpets - Part 6

REVELATION 11 v 15-19
How often in life do we wait for the final trumpet to glorify God?
The seven trumpets wasn't the final warning, it was the final. It signals the arrival of the king. There is no turning back. The coming judgments are no longer partial but complete destruction. God's full judgment against the evil world. A significant that the angel said is - “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”, we are called to build God's Kingdom (Matthew 6 v 33) on earth but this passage would suggest that we never finish building the Kingdom God comes down to finish it. Jesus put the foundations in and God finishes it off.

In life a lot of us leave things to the last minute, just before the whistle blows or before the trumpet is sounded. Some people may leave to the last minute to give their lives to God. But I think the key for us as Christians is that we don't leave glorifying God till the last minute. Daniel and Revelation have a lot of similarities in the prophecies Daniel has against the people and nation of Babylon and other nations too. In Daniel 2 v 44 it says - "In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever." This is key because it shows God's kingdom is sovereign and the rule and reign of God will overcome all the powers of evil on this earth. I would say that is something great to give God glory for.

Daniel's worship was glorifying to God, Daniel 6 v 10-16 - "¹⁰ Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. ¹¹ Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. ¹² So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”
The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” Daniel worshipped no matter what this glorified God. The 24 elders worshiped God - they represented the redeemed of God. They were showing that Gentiles and Jews come together under the sovereignty of God.

Another similarity of Daniel and Revelation is the saving power of God. Daniel 6 v 16-23 - "¹⁶ So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” ¹⁷ A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. ¹⁸ Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. ¹⁹ At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. ²⁰ When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
 ²¹ Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! ²² My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.” ²³ The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God." God chooses to save those who call on His name and believe. The world is full of evil and sometimes we are surrounded by vicious lions of situations or people or powers. But God chooses to save us. Jesus died on a cross so we didn't have to be devoured by the evil of this world, we can throw off our sinful nature and live in and under the sovereignty of God. Daniel stood firm against sin and evil, God honoured this by saving him. People do get killed for their faith in God all around the world but God protects them spiritually. What Daniel did glorifies God and we can too in the hard times we can continue to praise God and fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith.

Daniel didn't wait till the last minute to glorify God. Neither should we.
Let’s not wait till the last minute to glorify God, let our whole lives glorify Him.

The Seven Trumpets - Part 5

REVELATION 11 v 1-14
How willing are we to stand against sin?
In this passage where we see these two witnesses of God, John is told to measure the temple. Now the temple is symbolic of the church. It symbolises God's protection around those who call upon His name, protection from the spiritual evil that is in the world. Unfortunately those outside of the temple would face great suffering. This is a way of saying that true believers will be protected through persecution but those who refuse to believe will be destroyed. Revelation is full of sobering truths; do I want any of my family or my friends outside of the temple? NO, this is one of the things twinned with the Great Commission which spurs me on to see them come to know and be in relationship with God.

The two witnesses represent Moses and Elijah. Moses who with god's power brought the plagues upon Israel and set God's people free, Exodus 8-11. Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal, 1 Kings 18. The key thing that places these two men together is that they appeared together in Matthew 17 v 1-7 - "¹ After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ² There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³ Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

⁴ Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus." These two witnesses were willing to stand against sin and the world hated them for it. The world doesn’t like those who stand against sin. Jesus stood against sin and the world hated Him so much they nailed Him to a cross.

Jesus calls us to be His witnesses to the entire world – Acts 1 v 8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” It takes guts and boldness to stand against sin, but God believes in you and He believes in me. Elijah and Moses stood against sin. The devil hates it when God’s people stand against sin and so it says he rises from the abyss (or one of his agents) to attack the two witnesses and kill them. People of the world rejoice at them dying, it says their bodies lay in the streets of Sodom and Egypt; they represent evil and symbolise the evil place Jerusalem has become. But God restores them back to life and they go up to heaven.

All over the world God’s messengers are being killed for their faith but God protects them spiritually. When we stand against the sin of the world it won’t be easy. But thank God we don’t have to do it alone, with the help of the Holy Spirit and other Christians.

Are you willing to stand against sin?

The Seven Trumpets - Part 4

REVELATION 10 v 1-11

Can we stomach what God has to say to us? Can we stomach what God wants us to do?

The purpose of the mighty angel is to declare the final judgments on the earth. He stands with his right foot in the sea and his left on the land to show the judgments cover all creation, in comparison to the seals and the trumpets which just dealt with parts of creation. The seventh trumpet which this angel will blow will allow the seven bowls to begin and the end of the present world. When these final judgments come God's truth will prevail. God has revealed all we need to know about the end of the present world, enough so that we can live for Him.

Here’s one key thing I notice about this angel, as he comes down from heaven it very much resembles Jesus' transfiguration, Matthew 17 v 2 - "There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light." This similarity clearly defines the angel as from God. Not just that but God has given him the authority to declare this message.  

After the angel brings the message he gives the scroll to John for him to eat. Ezekiel had a very similar experience with the presence of God which is what the angel in Revelation represents. Ezekiel 2 v 8 - 3 v 3 - "⁸ But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious people; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” ⁹ Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll, ¹⁰ which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.

 ¹ And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” ² So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

 ³ Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth."

Ezekiel was asked to eat the scroll so he had the revelation of God deep down inside of himself. John was the same; the angel wanted him to be full of the revelation of God to go and prophecy to all nations. 

There are two key elements to eating of the scroll. 

1. It tastes like honey on the lips. Sometimes God calls us to things and it has a nice title or a nice salary which all tastes great and is all part of God's plan for our lives. When we start something new and exciting it is like honey on our lips.
2. It will sour the stomach. But if we don't realise that with a powerful position will come great challenge and anguish as we work through situations with people and in our own lives which sometimes we wish these situations would go away. Then we will end up in a mess. The angel warns John of the turmoil to come after eating it in his stomach.

The overriding factor is that God doesn't allow us to be in turmoil for the whole journey, there will be ups and downs. The blessing that comes from stomaching what God has got for us and getting on with it is the most exciting journey I know. I believe the sour stomach John had at the start wasn't something that lasted forever but it was a reminded of what he was called to do.

Are you ready to stomach what God has for you?

The Seven Trumpets - Part 3

REVELATION 9 v 12-21

Why do we ignore the warning signs?

This the sixth trumpet, just as the fifth one was an army of demons. The sixth is these four fallen angels. They are held down by God and released by God only to do what God allows them to do. The key thing about all the trumpets, seals and bowls is that God is in control, He has authority over everything. In these trumpets God's judgments takes away of third of the entire world has. But this is still not enough of a warning - verse 20 - "The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk." Do we see the warning signs God gives? If we see them how often do we ignore them?

In this trumpet it refers to the judgments as plagues, to destroy the world and free the Children of God from the choke hold of the world. This scenario has already been played out and I know how it ends. Exodus depicts what happens when Pharaoh has God's people in a choke hold and he sends 10 plagues. Even then the evil (Pharaoh) still comes after them and God just has to say enough is enough and destroys the evil that is chasing the Israelites. What does want to free you from? If we are still living in the sinful nature God will help us out but if we ignore His help then he will send warning signs.

Moses says these words to the people of Israel - "For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster will fall on you because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD and arouse his anger by what your hands have made." (Deuteronomy 31 v 29). They ring so true because that is what the people went on to do and so have we. Except for us it may be a leader in our lives that moves on or dies, we don't have another mentor or leader already in our lives there is chance we could drift from God. The key thing is the accountable. Moses and the people we accountable to each other. We are all accountable to God at the end of the day. But to walk a life full of faith we need to support each other in the Church. Who are you accountable to?

The warning can come from all sorts of different places...

• Other People
• The Bible
• Prayer
• In Worship

Daniel was straight to the point with King Belshazzar and his family about worshipping the true God of heaven and not false gods - "Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honour the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways." (Daniel 5 v 23). We can end up worshipping the wrong things because of how we distribute our time. If we spend a lot of our time in a place that isn't God's presence then this can become where our worship is. I don't we all bow down to the TV, or books, or the internet. But we do give if more time than God. A lot of what we do in our spare time is great but what is our true focus? God or something else? 

To be honest I don't want to be in a place where the major warning signs a happening but I want to MOT myself regularly so I look for the small signs in myself. If we go ahead and ignore the signs then this will frustrate God and life will not be to the full as we drift away from God.