It should not surprise us that the pride and presumption that corrupted the nation of Israel before Jesus was born is still at work today among God’s professed people. It is the same pattern, regardless of the era.
Read MoreHave you been chastened by the Lord? What will you answer when you are corrected? Do you perceive His mercy as severe? A severe mercy that brings a sinner to repentance is an inexplicably wonderful gift! Pray to be willing to accept corrections.
Read MoreThose who dread seeing Him will attempt to hide from Him … reminiscent of Adam and Eve hiding from Him who had been their Friend before. Their Friend had not changed, but they had.
Read MoreGod, in His forbearance, deals with sinful man methodically and with a deliberate “slowness” in order to provide opportunity for conversion. Oh yes, He promises to take vengeance on those who harm His people, but remember that there are those who did indeed cause much harm to God’s people who famously “switched sides.”
Read MoreThese beneficiaries of the excellent work of the Protestant Reformers made the mistake of driving their denominational stakes into the ground in the name of a man (whoever their favorite reformer was), effectively bringing spiritual growth to a halt. They leapt onto the path of learning only to squander the additional opportunity to grow in grace and truth.
Read MoreIf apparent contradictions arise in Scripture, the true student of God’s Word will regard them as invitations to go deeper.
Read MoreThe last three seals are very different from the first four. While the horsemen of the first four seals exclusively concern God’s people, the remaining three seals describe judgements that are to fall upon those who oppress God’s people.
Read MoreIt is significant that the fourth letter from Jesus (to the church at Thyatira) is the first letter that mentions His return: “hold fast … till I come.” This means that this church will continue to operate until He comes again. The fourth horse and rider, the pale horse ridden by Death and followed by Hades, corresponds to this church which has established itself in nearly every country.
Read MoreBecause of the damage done to the gospel message during the Dark Ages, the world is still in a state of recovery and reformation.
Read MoreAcceptance of an altered (polluted) gospel results in a famine of the Word of God. Early on, God had promised that obedient Israel would have food in abundance. Notice that the rider of the black horse has scales in his hand. To see a careful weighing of grain denotes great scarcity, found among the covenant curses for disobedience.
Read MoreBloodshed! The fiery red horse and its rider show us that the gospel divides. Some accept it and others reject it. While its acceptance brings inner peace, its rejection results in a loss of peace.
Read MoreFollowing the anointing of the disciples by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the pure and powerful gospel message went forth into the world, imparting to receptive hearts the message of “new life!” and “victory over sin and death!” The symbolic rider on the white horse has a connotation of a military general’s victory ride.
Read MoreThe heavenly throne room scene in Revelation 4 and 5 was shown to the apostle John just after he was given the letters from Jesus to the seven churches on earth. This scene in heaven gives brilliant details related to the enthronement of Christ following His victory on the cross of Calvary.
Read MoreJesus could see down through the corridors of time, and everything He did and said was not only for the benefit of His hearers at the time, but also for everyone who would seek to learn of Him until “the end of the age.”
Read MoreThe last church exists in unique and peculiar times…. times of great secular, political, and religious upheavals. The church—in the midst of its self-sufficiency and lukewarmness—is struggling with its authenticity. The warnings of Christ to today’s church have far-reaching implications for all of God’s professed people at the close of earth’s history.
Read MoreGod deals with people both corporately and individually. He is capable of communicating powerful truths to large groups at one time while simultaneously speaking one-on-one to individuals. A vitally important distinction to make is that He is saving people individually. Individually only.
Read MoreThe last church on the mail route corresponds with the state of the church in the last days. We still have opportunity to “buy” what we need to persevere in our stand with Jesus. Prior to His return, a time will come when true believers will not be allowed to “buy and sell” (Revelation 13:17). At that point, those enforcing this prohibition have missed their opportunity to “buy” what they need more than any earthly thing!
Read MoreEven among various denominations who wrote their creeds on solid, valid points of theology, there is a trend of moving away from those very teachings and slipping back toward false doctrines from which they had earlier escaped. The worldwide ecumenical movement is emphasizing unity, albeit in error, above a personal relationship with the “Faithful and True Witness.” But God’s people are to be unified in truth.
Read MoreIt was a spirit of pride that fragmented God’s people in a way heretofore unprecedented. The modern-day Philadelphia, with its “little strength,” is given an open door of opportunities that Jesus Himself will hold open.
Read MoreGod has made it clear that, while He offers the privilege to take part in building His kingdom, He cannot indefinitely tolerate hesitation and reluctance by His professed people.
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