Angels – Page 3 – Praying Pint

14.t. “How do you know me?”

John 1:43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Jesus found Philip. Would this indicate that Jesus was looking for him, or that Jesus came upon him, or that Jesus tracked him down? This is Jesus the Son of God and I am sure He knew exactly where Philip was. Philip, like Andrew, followed and told someone else. Philip tells Nathanael “we have found Him” and then tells him who they have found, “Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph”. The one who Moses in the Law and the prophets wrote. It would appear that Nathanael is a bit of a cynic. “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Note that Philip did not argue with Nathanael, he just said come and see. A good point for us to remember is that it is Jesus who will soften the heart and open the eyes not us. We share but at no time is a person coming to Christ a result of us, it is all of God and His calling. The fact that we shared is actually the direct result of the Holy Spirit of God working through us. Never us, never about us, and never to be claimed by us.

Somewhere in this calling, softening, and eye-opening a person either responds to the Gospel or rejects it. I can tell you this is a mystery to me. I had heard the gospel for over a year but never had an understanding in my heart or have my eyes opened. Then, one special day a neighbor across the street who we hardly knew invited us (my wife and I) to hear an evangelist speak. It was a Thursday night 22 March 1979. On that day my heart understood the need for forgiveness, redemption, and salvation. My eyes were wide open and when the offer to come to meet Jesus at the altar was given. I could not say no. There was no way to say no. No, was not even a thought. It was as if I had no choice. I did not even have to think about it. It was more like having a severe cut to your jugular vein and a doctor being present and asking if you want to be saved. You don’t give any thought to saying no. The urgency in responding yes to be saved left no room for that thought at all.

I am sure there are those who Jesus has softened their heart to understand and has opened their eyes but they do choose to not believe the urgency of their impending eternal death and separation from God. This is a big mystery to me. I could not have said no and yet there are others who easily say it. I am not sure how many times a person will be allowed to reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Could it be once or 1,000 times? Some hearts are softened and other hardened – this I do not understand. I am sure the more times the offer of salvation is rejected the easier it is to reject the offer the next time. I guess this is why Jesus said narrow is the path the eternal life and broad is the highway to hell.

It is up to us to share the Gospel. It is up to us to speak of Jesus Christ, forgiveness, redemption, salvation, and repentance. It is up to us to live and speak in such a way that people see Jesus. It is up to us to honor, glorify, worship, follow, trust, and obey Jesus. Be a willing servant to be used and led by Jesus and allow Him to do the work of softening or hardening. Our task is to say “Come see Jesus”

8.x. I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.

Revelation 22:12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

We should never be so easily fooled by our culture and the lukewarm, complacent, and self-approving approach it seduces people to believe toward what it means to be a Christian and follower of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ came from heaven to redeem those He called and those who responded to this call with belief, repentance, faith, and trust He. This call for repentance and turning away from sin also calls us into action, putting our faith into action, living for and to honor Jesus Christ in all that we do, think, and say. Yet many stop at the call and accept deliverance but over time are seduced by the ways of this world and completely lose sight of Jesus Christ. Their lives mimic what is approved by the culture they live in rather than by and through the Word of God. If we are not in His word, then His word is not in us. If His word is not in us how are we to know and do what is pleasing, honoring, and glorifying to Him. We so easily accept what the world says it is rather than spend time in His word and let it speak into our life. We do well to be in His word and seek to be led by Him, to be used by Him, and to do that which honors Him.

7.w. Seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

Revelation 15:1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

“Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

We have had the seven seals with the seventh seal bringing on the seven trumpets and the seventh trumpet ushering in the seven bowl judgments. We have read of the seals and power given to man to inflict judgment, the trumpets and power given to Satan to inflict judgment, and now the bowls of God’s judgment are to begin. These judgments on mankind are the result of God’s wrath and anger against all who have chosen to reject His grace, mercy, and love. They have chosen the beast, it’s image, it’s mark, and it’s number over God. They willingly choose to deny God, eternity in heaven, Jesus Christ, and their destiny for this choice. All of what we have read in Revelation has been given so that we know and future people will know God’s plan, purpose, love, grace, mercy, wrath, anger, and judgment. It has been both a warning and proclamation to all generations; “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.”

Time is near and urgent. All are blessed who read and hear what is written.

7.n. But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

Revelation 12:7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

The roaring lion, father of lies, deceiver, accuser, tempter, murderer, destroyer, stumbling block, crafty, and schemer all describe Satan. He is now cast out of heaven and turned loose on earth. He knows his end is near and comes in great wrath. Can you imagine what it will be like on earth with the Holy Spirit removed and Satan turned loose? We will see in later chapters what it will be like for those who are living during this period of the tribulation time. Everything God had done previously in terms of His anger and wrath was done by His power and might. Now He has released Satan for a time on earth, and earth will experience his wrath too.

There are many fictional movies that try to give a picture of what life is like at the “end of the world” scenarios. They show very hard times, murderous times, and strange happening and people in the worst conditions possible. These will not even come close to revealing what it will be like during the time of God’s wrath and the time of Satan’s wrath. Just know that these end times come upon mankind for the rejection of Christ and the intentional choice of self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and self-satisfaction. The acts of wrath that come on earth and the people of the earth will get more and more intense and severe. Each progression throughout the tribulation period will be worse than the previous. Each act of wrath brings the final judgment seat of Christ closer, where those who have been born again will live eternity in heaven and those who have rejected Him (have not sought forgiveness of their sin, redemption, and salvation through Christ, repentance) are cast into the lake of fire that burns forever and ever. where there is constant torment beyond what we can imagine forever. Denying that this will happen will not stop it from happening. Denying Christ into your life will usher in this judgment at your death and there is nothing you can do to change this outcome. Now is the time of salvation. Now is the time to seek forgiveness of sin, repent, and trust in, rely on, follow, and obey Jesus Christ.

6.z. “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Revelation 7:9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

“Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

During the Tribulation period when the church is gone and the seals are open and the anger and wrath of God are upon the earth, we see God in grace and mercy reaching out. He seals the 144,000 who are His witnesses and these who are clothed in white robes are those who have believed and been saved and died because of and during the tribulation period. “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” I still have to wonder how many have died during this time without believing, and in so doing, sealed their eternal destiny in hell. Isn’t it the same today? Rejection of Christ and finding their pleasure, satisfaction, and hope in things of this world instead of the Creator of it. Today, the Holy Spirit of God is still present. God’s Holy Spirit, to guide, direct, encourage open ears, open eyes, soften hearts and proclaim truth to our hearts is present. And even though His Spirit is present we still resist and close our eyes and ears, harden our hearts, and stiffen our necks. We resist His active presence in our lives and intentionally choose to follow what seems right in our own eyes. We neglect His Word and desire things of this world more than humbly serving, honoring, following, obeying, and trusting in Him. Notice how those who come through the tribulations and worship Him day and night. They serve Him. We do well to grow in His Word, and desire and seek to live, act, think and speak in ways that honor and glorify Him every moment of every day.

6.q. “Worthy are you”

Revelation 5:9 “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

When John first saw the scroll he looked at it with anticipation and desire to know what it contained. It was important. It was a scroll that was in the presence of Jesus Christ the Lamb of God and God Himself. No one in heaven or earth was found worthy. John wept. Then one of the elders said do not weep any more for there is one who can open the scroll and its seals. The one who could open it had been slain and with His blood, He ransomed people for God and His kingdom. These people will reign with God on earth. John heard praises and saw the worship of God and the Lamb. Worthy are they of our true and deepest worship. Worthy are thy of our devotion. Worthy are they of our humble service before them. Worthy are they of all our heart, soul and mind. Worthy are they or our time and possessions. Worthy are they of all we have. And yet we seem to keep too much of this world and its influences in our lives. We get distracted by busyness and whatever else this world has to offer and lose sight of our God and Savior. We are given a recorded revelation by God through John on the worthiness of God and the Lamb that was slain. This is not something we should take lightly. It should fill our thoughts so that what we think, say, and do are worthy of the price that was paid through the grace, mercy, and love of Jesus Christ.

6.g. People who have not soiled their garments,

Revelation 3:4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Isaiah 52:1    Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean.

Isaiah 59:6   Their webs will not serve as clothing; men will not cover themselves with what they make. Their works are works of iniquity, and deeds of violence are in their hands.

Isaiah 61:10   I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Isaiah 64:6     We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Jude 1:23    save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

Luke 21:36    But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

We read of those who have not soiled their garments. They walk in a way worthy of Jesus Christ and what He has done and is doing. They conquered any fleshly desire to follow others in false teaching. Do you ever wonder if your garments (your works, faith, thoughts, and words) are soiled? Do you wonder if you have adopted what is culturally acceptable and are living in filthy garments before the Lord? Do you think about what is clean and acceptable? Do you think about doing what is worthy of the price that was paid for your sins?

Soft living, comfortable living, self-centered self-reliant living, and neglecting God’s Word are no help in keeping your garments unsoiled. We would do well to be less influenced by the world and what it has to offer and be ever seeking and desiring to walk worthy of Jesus Christ. Who would want your bride to come to the wedding in a dirty and messed up wedding dress? The church (each of us) is the bride and we should want our garments to reflect our love and devotion to Jesus Christ the groom.

6. Write therefore the things that you have seen

Revelation 1:19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

John is told to write about what he has seen, those that are and those that are to take place. To see something our eyes have to be open and be willing to see what is there and not just what we want to see. How many times in scripture do we read about people and nations who were blinded from seeing the truth because their hearts and minds were on things apart from God? They were unable to see the wonders of God. They were unable to see His awesome power through creation. In Romans it says “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” They were unable to see His grace, mercy, and love through scripture. It is as though they chose to let the light of this world expose things of this world and overshadow the Light of Jesus Christ. In their heart, they say; “I know what I just saw but I don’t believe it”

What do you see as you go about your day? Do you see things of God, God’s power, God’s control, God’s revealing, God’s blessings, God’s directing, God’s discipline, God’s wonders, God’s creation, God’s grace, mercy, and love, God’s answer to prayer, and the work of the Holy Spirit? Let the light of Jesus Christ fill your vision with awe, wonder, and praise. It is when our heart, mind, and soul are intentionally committed to living in the light of Jesus Christ that our eyes will be opened and then like the hymn says; “morning by morning new mercies I see” We can not expect to see the light of Jesus Christ while we choose to walk in darkness that is caused by neglect and complacency to God’s Word. Choosing to walk in the light will expose new understanding and knowledge of Jesus Christ. It will light your path and give you direction for every moment of every day. It will give you the courage to face whatever you are facing that day. It will give you a refuge from the fiery darts from Satan. It will give you hope in the midst of trials and trouble. It will give you strength when you are weak. It will be a place of refuge. It will confirm the awesomeness of Jesus Christ. It is when we choose and commit to walking in the light of God’s word that we will reflect the light of Jesus Christ for others to see. It is then we will be able to see things as they are and things that are to take place.

5.w. But you are the same, and your years have no end.

Revelation 1:4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come,

Exodus 3:14    God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

Psalms 90:2    Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Psalms 102:25-27     Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.  They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,  but you are the same, and your years have no end.

Isaiah 41:4     Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.

Hebrews 1:10-13     And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;  they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment,  like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”  And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?

Hebrews 13:8    Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

James 1:17     Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

We all change in some way or another. We make up our minds and then learn something new and we change it. We have a great love for someone and then something happens and we change how we feel about them. We have friends who come into our lives and then for some reason or another, our connection to them changes. We make decisions and say we will stand firm on them and change our stance. We design a home or some other project only to find that we would make changes because of what something we missed. The fact of the matter is that we change and there is variation in what we think and do. Our stance changes, our firmness changes, our commitments change, and our love changes. Do we ever wonder if God is like this? Do we even have a concept of a never-changing God, who was, is, and is to come. The “I AM”. The same yesterday, today, and forever? The One who there is no variation. The first and the last.

We do well to remember our unchanging God and walk worthy of who He is. Our God is never changing. Always loving with outstretched arms. Always offering grace, mercy, and Love. Always wanting us to open the door to our heart to Him. All things are in and of Him alone.

4.r. How unsearchable are his judgments and how incomprehensible his ways!

Job 4:12 “Now a word was brought to me stealthily; my ear received the whisper of it. Amid thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, dread came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake. A spirit glided past my face; the hair of my flesh stood up. It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence, then I heard a voice: Can mortal man be in the right before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker? Even in his servants he puts no trust, and his angels he charges with error; how much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed like the moth. Between morning and evening they are beaten to pieces; they perish forever without anyone regarding it. Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them, do they not die, and that without wisdom?’

Romans 11:33   Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

Romans 9:20     But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?”

Ecclesiastes 7:20    Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

Jeremiah 17:9   The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Matthew Henry: “Eliphaz relates a vision. When we are communing with our own hearts, and are still, Ps 4:4, then is a time for the Holy Spirit to commune with us. This vision put him into very great fear. Ever since man sinned, it has been terrible to him to receive communications from Heaven, conscious that he can expect no good tidings thence. Sinful man! shall he pretend to be more just, more pure, than God, who being his Maker, is his Lord and Owner? How dreadful, then, the pride and presumption of man! How great the patience of God! Look upon man in his life. The very foundation of that cottage of clay in which man dwells, is in the dust, and it will sink with its own weight. We stand but upon the dust. Some have a higher heap of dust to stand upon than others but still it is the earth that stays us up, and will shortly swallow us up. Man is soon crushed; or if some lingering distemper, which consumes like a moth, be sent to destroy him, he cannot resist it. Shall such a creature pretend to blame the appointments of God? Look upon man in his death. Life is short, and in a little time men are cut off. Beauty, strength, learning, not only cannot secure them from death, but these things die with them; nor shall their pomp, their wealth, or power, continue after them. Shall a weak, sinful, dying creature, pretend to be more just than God, and more pure than his Maker? No: instead of quarrelling with his afflictions, let him wonder that he is out of hell. Can a man be cleansed without his Maker? Will God justify sinful mortals, and clear them from guilt? or will he do so without their having an interest in the righteousness and gracious help of their promised Redeemer, when angels, once ministering spirits before his throne, receive the just recompence of their sins? Notwithstanding the seeming impunity of men for a short time, though living without God in the world, their doom is as certain as that of the fallen angels, and is continually overtaking them. Yet careless sinners note it so little, that they expect not the change, nor are wise to consider their latter end.