October 26, 2022
Now, after the three-and-a-half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. Revelation 11:11-12
Whenever the world believes it has silenced the voice of God’s word and His witnesses, exoneration is portrayed as resurrection and ascension. A fresh and powerful wave of interest in the study of God’s word swept through the old world and the new following the “public execution” of the Bible. The phrase the breath of life from God carries the reader’s mind back to the creation of Adam (Genesis 2:7) and the dry bones of Ezekiel 37. God is the source of all life. Only He has the power to bring life out of lifelessness. This is exactly why John’s vision included this instruction: “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.” (10:11) for these are the ones with whom we are directed to share the Gospel message, the very ones who gloated over and celebrated the death of their “tormenters” (11:9-10).
In every age, the Biblical message of repentance and those who preach it are viewed as “tormenters” because of the unsettling of the conscience that results when the hearer does not intend to trust and obey what he has heard. The “resurrection” of this message of repentance and faith, as they stood on their feet, was like murdered victims walking into the room of their killers and looking them directly in the face.
Beloved, may your witness and prayers for those who dwell on the earth (many peoples, nations, tongues) bring into focus the purest love, found in the face of Jesus Christ and in His persistent message of salvation. Such recognition can yet open the doors of hearts in need of forgiveness and a new start. We have all participated in putting to death the Son of God by our sins. Now He is extending the opportunity to live eternally in a love relationship with Him. Our authentic, genuine love for Him is imbued with power to dispel the terror (great fear) of our opening verse and replace it with humble reverence and awe and love toward Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood (Revelation 1:5).
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry . . . and put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. Colossians 3:5,10