REVELATION: THE SIXTH SEAL

 

THE SIXTH SEAL REVELATION 6.12 I saw when he (Christ) opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became as blood. 6.13 The stars of the sky fell to the earth, like a fig tree dropping its unripe figs when it is shaken by a great wind. 6.14 The sky was removed like a scroll when it is rolled up. Every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 6.15 The kings of the earth, the princes, the commanding officers, the rich, the strong, and every slave and free person, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains. 6.16 They told the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 6.17 for the great day of his wrath has come; and who is able to stand?” -WEB Bible. At last: all the people in the world have finally discovered the Fear of the Lord. It's been a long time coming. Unfortunately, rather than fall on their faces before God in repentance; they try to hide from him. It’s surprising that they know what's coming next: they know the meaning of the Seventh Seal! Apparently, they've read the book of Revelation by this time, and they know that the Seventh Seal will bring the outpouring of the wrath of God. Not only have they read the prophecy in Revelation, they even believe it! But they don't change their ways. Time is running out, and they know it: but they continue to defy God. Sensible people would try to figure what they need to do to escape God's wrath, but these sorry folks are still trying to control their own destinies. They are no better than the ancient Pharoah of Egypt, who would not repent after all the plagues.  The Seventh Seal is next, and it will be the last one; but Heaven takes a short break at this time. It is the dramatic pause before the grand finale. IMAGE CREDIT: Illustration of a great earthquake, a red moon, landslides, generated by SeaArt.ai and edited by C.A. Stevens.

 

USE EVERY HARDSHIP

 

USE EVERY HARDSHIP By Joni Eareckson Tada If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? Jeremiah 12:5 Everything you face in your life and overcome with God’s strength today prepares you for what crosses your path tomorrow. No matter what your disappointment or heartache, if you turn to the Lord for help, that experience will give you courage and hope for the unexpected challenges that lie ahead. In today’s Scripture, the Lord says to His discouraged servant, “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?” The challenges in your life today may be cancer, worry over a straying child, marriage tension, or an empty bank account. But whatever you have endured in your past—getting through with God’s miraculous intervention will give you greater confidence to face today’s worry. Wasting nothing, God will use every hardship, every bruise in your life to strengthen your faith and train you in godliness. You will be ready for whatever today or tomorrow will bring. Without You, Lord, I could never run a footrace with anyone, let alone race against a horse. You are my strength and help. You are my inspiration and the unfailing source of my courage. All of these words about enduring and being strong are just so much talk unless You are under me, over me, beside me, and within me. CLICK HERE FOR JONI’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL Used with Permission.

 

EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING

 

EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ. Ephesians 1:3 The blessings sought in this verse are primarily spiritual. While we must not overlook the value of our earthly blessings, and be thankful for them: they are not the heavenly graces that lead us to eternal life. Health, strength, financial provision, loving family and friends, and a good reputation—these are all gifts from God. They sustain our perishing bodies and bring comfort in this life, but they pale in comparison to spiritual blessings, which last forever. How infinitely more valuable are the blessings that pertain to our souls! When we come to God in prayer, with faith and genuine feeling, our hearts are drawn almost entirely to ask for spiritual blessings. We find that our soul's desire is to be in His presence where we are refreshed with life and light. Maybe you're not sure what is meant by spiritual blessings? Then try this. Go to your quiet place and read awhile in the Bible; maybe in the Psalms or another scripture that is a blessing for you. And then quietly ask God, in faith, for the refreshing of His presence. Thank Him for His goodness and faithfulness. Meditate on the things you love about Him. Confess those things which need confessing. Worship sincerely, as you imagine Him glorified in the perfection of heaven. In the stillness, you will find He is there just for you.  By J.C. Philpot, updated.

 

TRAINED TO COMFORT

 

TRAINED TO COMFORT Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Isaiah 40:1 Store up comfort. This was the prophet’s mission. The world is full of comfortless hearts, and before you can be sufficient for this lofty ministry, you must be trained. And your training is costly; for, to render it perfect, you too must pass through the same afflictions as are wringing countless hearts of tears and blood. Thus your own life becomes the hospital ward where you are taught the Divine art of comfort. You are wounded, that in the binding up of your wounds by the Great Physician, you are learning how to provide first aid to the wounded everywhere. Do you wonder why you are passing through some special sorrow? Wait until five years are passed, and you will encounter many others who are afflicted as you were. You will tell them how you have suffered and have been comforted by our loving God. Then as the tale is unfolded, and the anodynes applied which once your God wrapped around you, you will know why you were afflicted. You will see it in the gleam of hope in the eyes of another hurting soul. And then you will bless God for the discipline that stored your life with such a fund of experience and helpfulness. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows... for your comfort and salvation. 2 Corinthians 1:3-6 God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters. — Dr. John Henry Jowett From Streams in the Desert, updated.

 

GAINING BY GIVING

 

GAINING BY GIVING A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25 If I want to thrive spiritually, I must not hoard what I have but instead share with those in need. Being tight-fisted and stingy may be the world’s way to prosperity, but it’s not God’s way. He says, “There is one who gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.” Proverbs 11:24 Faith teaches us that the way to gain is through giving. I need to keep practicing this, trusting that as much prosperity as is good for me will come as a gracious reward for living generously. Of course, I may not expect to become rich. If I’m blessed with enough to be healthy, that’s plenty to be grateful for, and if the Lord provides me with what I need, I should be completely content. However, there’s yet another kind of richness—mental and spiritual fullness—that I deeply desire. It comes from having generous thoughts toward God, His church, and my fellow human beings. Let me not be stingy, lest I starve my heart. Let me be generous and open-handed, for in doing so, I will reflect my Lord. He gave Himself for me; how could I ever hold back from giving to Him? by Charles H. Spurgeon