Lamb – Page 3 – Praying Pint

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.

7.a. There was silence in heaven for about half an hour

Revelation 8:1 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

It would be natural to stand in silence when awaiting the outcome of the last seal being opened. Imagine seeing all the visions of 1-6 and knowing there are only 7 seals and the last one is now opened. What is to come from this last seal? John had just seen the sealing of the 144,000 and those who were clothed in white robes and was told by an elder that these were ones coming out of the great tribulation. Would the last seal be that of the New Heaven and Earth and the end of all earthly things? Would this last seal be the final judgment and consummation of the earthly and usher in the heavenly?

What John sees after this seal is opened is 7 angels, each given a trumpet. He sees an angel standing at a golden altar with a golden censer burning incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints. After this, the censer was filled with fire from the altar and threw it on earth. Upon this censer being thrown, there is a warning as if it is like a tornado siren warning. This warning sound came like thunder, rumbling, lightning, and an earthquake. Know this, there is something coming and it is not going to be good. There are warnings given by the Word of God and either heeded or rejected. During this time of great tribulation, as now, warnings from God should be taken very seriously.

7. “The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Revelation 7:17 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.”

John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Jeremiah 2:13 for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

Two very different approaches to salvation, 1. believe in, rely on, trust in, devoted to, and acknowledge with acceptance. 2. refuse, reject, turn down, turn away from, and disbelief. For those who believe, Jesus Christ, (the Lamb of God), will become an ever in-dwelling spring of living water that brings a refreshing and renewing to their soul. Some have tasted this water and, for practical terms, have spit it out. Others have heard of it and saw no need for this living water for they were satisfied with something else. These are the ones who made an intentional choice to gather water that will never satisfy or quench the thirst their soul is so desperately searching for. Joh 1:11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

But to those who drink of this Living Water, to them Jesus Christ, (the Lamb of God), John 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Do you ever wonder what parts of your life you have kept to yourself and have carved out cisterns of self-reliance and self-satisfaction? When we commit to reading the Word of God with a thirst for it’s Living Water, our lives will ever be growing in humble service, honor, glory, worship, praise, obedience, and reliance on Him who is the only one that can quench the thirst of our soul.

6.s. And I looked, and behold, a white horse!

Revelation 6:1 Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.

The rider on this white horse is not to be confused with Jesus Christ in chapter 19. This rider is released with the removal of the first seal. This rider is given might (bow) and power (crown). He will come out waging war (conquering) and will win those wars and battles (and to conquer). This is a time on earth when the tribulation will start and will continue in increasing measure until the return of Jesus Christ.

The White horse given to this rider seems to indicate that he will have the ability to deceive people and make them think he is something more than what he is, an agent of Jesus Christ’s judgment on the earth and to those who have rejected salvation through His sacrifice.

When we talk of Jesus Christ and His grace, mercy, and love (“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever should believe in Him shall not perish but will have everlasting life”) many don’t give enough thought to this and what it means to believe. Believing means; clinging too, relying on, and trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for their sins. They give little to the thought of their sin and need for salvation but rather just on the gift of everlasting life. With this thought, they truly do not see the fullness of their sin and because of this, they do not fully see a need to cling too, rely on, and trust in Jesus Christ. “Wide is the path that leads to hell and narrow is the door that leads to everlasting life”. Those that are remaining on earth during the time of this first seal being released will be those who flat out deny the need of Jesus Christ and as well those who do not deny the need but have not given their whole heart, mind, and soul to cling too, rely on, and trust in Him. Many are going to find their place on earth during this time without hope, without peace, without rest and it will only get worse. There is no better time than right now to make an intentional choice to fully believe in Jesus Christ, confess you are a sinner, lost and without hope, repent and turn away from sinful ways, and cling too, rely on, and trust in Jesus Christ with your whole heart, mind, and soul.

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.p Stricken for the transgression of my people?

Revelation 5:6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Isaiah 53:7-8   He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.  By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?

John 1:29     The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:36    and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

1 Peter 1:19-20     but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.  He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

The Lamb of God, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the Lamb without spot or blemish, the Lamb led to the slaughter, the Lamb cut off fro the land of the living, the Lamb stricken for the transgression of My people. Jesus was the Lamb of God sent to redeem those who, aware of their sin, aware of their need for redemption, and aware of their need for forgiveness, believe (trust in, cling too, and rely on) in Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for their sin.

We see Jesus as the Lamb stand and as though it had been slain, and ever a reminder of the price that was paid and that He lives. The church in Ephesus was scolded for the loss of their first love. That first love would be the purest grateful, thankful, and relieved heart realizing their sins had been forgiven. We will do well to remember the Lamb of God that was slain for our sin with this first love forever remembered in our daily lives.

3.o. When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Ezra 6:19 On the fourteenth day of the first month, the returned exiles kept the Passover. For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were clean. So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves. It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by every one who had joined them and separated himself from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to worship the Lord, the God of Israel. And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

Proverbs 16:7     When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Proverbs 21:1     The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.

Nehemiah 1:11  O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.

Daniel 4:35     all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”

We serve a mighty and awesome God. He is not stopped or limited by anything in creation. He is not limited by the wicked, mean, proud, hateful, or greedy. His will will be done. In Him, we can rest and find peace knowing He can move mountains as well as hearts of men to do His will and accomplish his purpose.

We do not need to fear what seems impossible. We do not need to think all is lost. We do not need to think we have lost the battle. We do not need to think we have no future. All is possible for God. The battles are His alone. Our future is in His steadfast and loving hands. There are no doors closed so tight that God can not open. Honor and glorify Him, lay your burdens at His feet believing in is mighty power, plans, and purpose. Be at peace with His will whatever it may be. Trust “that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.” Wait for His will to be accomplished. Watch for His hand at work and give Him all honor, glory, and praise, for He alone is worthy.

131. That people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides Me

2 Samuel 22:31 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. “For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? This God is my strong refuge and has made my way blameless.

Deuteronomy 32:4     “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

Daniel 4:37     Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Revelation 15:3    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!

Proverbs 30:5     Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Psalms 91:4    He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

Isaiah 45:21    And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me.

Isaiah 45:5-6   I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me,  that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other.

If we are to believe in, honor, worship, submit to, follow, obey, cling to, rely on, and trust in the one and only God, it is not enough to have a vague notion that there is some higher power out there, even if we concede that there is only one such higher power. We must seek to know who this God is. The Bible presents us with this one true God in a specific and detailed self-revelation(s). The God of the Bible makes very clear His identity as the one, self-existent, eternal, living God. The very first verse of the Bible announces that it was He who created both the heavens and the earth. If we are to know God, it can only be through God willfully making Himself known to us, and He has done so in the Bible, through His Spirit, and in the person of Jesus Christ.

Luke Wayne: “The God of the Bible is not just one culture’s version of every other god. The great I AM of Holy Scripture is the unique Creator, Governor, Provider, and Redeemer to whom all men of every nation must come to on God’s terms and not on our own. While this might be “narrow” and “exclusive,” it is true and is, in fact, quite good news! God has made Himself known to His creation and provided a way for us to come into true fellowship with Him! Not only is there one true and living God to believe in, but you can also know and commune with that God! You can stand is His awesome power, unfailing justice, and everlasting love.”

12. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.

Exodus 32:30 The next day Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.” But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book. But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them.”

Then the Lord sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf, the one that Aaron made.

Ezekiel 18:4    Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.

Psalms 109:13-14     May his posterity be cut off; may his name be blotted out in the second generation!  May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD, and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out!

Revelation 13:8     and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.

Revelation 20:12     And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.

Psalms 69:28    Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous.

These are some serious words of judgment for those who disregard God. I was speaking with a seminary student recently and they made a comment that got me to thinking. They said “Christianity today spells out our walk with God in the big moment choices, being born again and baptism, but our walk is more than a big moment choice. It is a life of sacrifice of self for unity, for showing love, for being generous, for being kind, to allow ourselves to be wronged and forgive the act against us.

I wonder if preaching today speaks to the big moments and does not talk of the daily walk that humbly serves, honors, glorifies, follows, and obeys God over self and society pressures. You don’t have to look far to see the lives of those who claim the big moment choices but you see no fruit in their lives. In fact, there is very little difference in their life from those who do not believe in God. Fruit of the Spirit is cultivated over a lifetime of daily walking with God, daily spending time in His word, daily seeking to hear Him, daily desiring to be led by Him, daily wanting to honor and glorify Him, daily wanting sin in their life exposed so they can confess it and be forgiven, daily wanting to be used by Him, daily surrendering self-wants and desires, daily seeking to show the light of Jesus Christ into a dark world, daily looking for God moments with the lost, daily seeking to make disciples.

Every day is a choice of self or God. One leads to being blotted out and the other to eternal life.

Securing an eternal redemption

“Remember his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,”

Psalms 111:9 He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!

Psalms 130:7-8 O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.

Exodus 15:13 “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.

Isaiah 63:9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

Matthew 1:21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Luke 1:68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

Ephesians 1:14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Titus 2:14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Hebrews 9:12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

1 Peter 1:18-20 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

Exodus 15:11 “Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

Our redemption came at a cost, in an act of love, full of grace and mercy. What action would you associate in the form of thankfulness for this great gift of remotion? Would it come in the form of trust, hope, patience, love, faith, and peace? Would it inspire actions of good works. Would it come out in the from of praise? Would it sing songs of praise? Would it speak kindly? Would it seek to be nearer and nearer to God’s presence? Would it promote forgiveness? It does us good to consider all that is found in Christ and live so that His light is seen.