TRIBULATION BEGINS

 

TRIBULATION BEGINS REVELATION 4.1 After these things I looked and saw a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking with me, was one saying, “Come up here, and I will show you the things which must happen after this.” 4.2 Immediately I was in the Spirit. Behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne 4.3 that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at. 4.4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones. On the thrones were twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white garments, with crowns of gold on their heads. 4.5 Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. -WEB Bible Do you know how the Tribulation begins? In Revelation chapter 4, it begins with worship! The Apostle John was caught up in a vision to heaven, to the very throne room of God: and there he saw amazing Seraphim, Angels and Elders who were worshiping God. The painting above depicts the twenty-four Elders. John is in the lower left of the painting, writing down the remarkable vision that he sees.  The seven Lampstands are in the foreground, below the throne. We also see the four Seraphim who worship around the throne of God at all times. Seraphim are very special creatures who never leave God's Presence. The four Seraphim appear frequently in illustrations of Revelation. REVELATION 4.6 In the middle of the throne, and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind (the Seraphim.)  4.7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle. 4.8 The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within. They have no rest day and night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!” -WEB Bible The End Times are not entirely about Judgment. That's the surprising thing I've learned from the book of Revelation. Judgment Day doesn't happen until 1000 years AFTER the Tribulation events. The End Time events are meant to apply pressure: in a last-ditch, all-out effort to bring people to repentance. All the people who have resisted turning to God will be feeling the pressure, because Jesus does love us and He wants everyone to be part of His family. In fact, God is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost. 2 Peter 3:9 CEV God will hold off the full fury of his wrath until the Tribulation period is nearly complete, and only the die-hard rebels are left on planet earth. And even as the seven bowls of God's Wrath are dumped on earth, one after another, those hard-core sinners are given a last-minute chance to repent. How do we survive the intense pressure of the End Times? The book of Revelation switches us to a worship service again and again. The only way we can endure these final days leading up to the Tribulation is to understand that Heaven is rejoicing at the soon return of Jesus Christ, when everything will be made right. Heavenly beings are eager to see Jesus take control of earth, and lead in righteousness! REVELATION 4.9 And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 4.10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying, 4.11 “Worthy are you, our Lord God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed and were created!” -WEB Bible So, turn on your favorite worship songs and soak in the joy of heaven. We need it in these difficult times. IMAGE CREDIT: Vision of St John the Evangelist by Unknown Master, German, circa 1450 A.D., oil on wood. Currently located at Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Cologne. This study of Revelation continues on Fridays.

 

AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST

 

AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ. Not only that, but God has given to us, His followers, the ministry of reconciliation: to tell the world that God was reconciling all people to Himself in Christ, by not counting their trespasses against them. God has committed to us this message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God Himself were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:19–20 I've noticed a lot of complaining about Christians lately, and many of the accusations have some merit. It’s not hard to find evidence of how un-Christ-like they are. I agree that Christians make a lot of mistakes. But the biggest mistake of all would be to shut them up entirely. If the world manages to shut down Christians, then WHO is going to share Christ with the world? Like it or not, Christians are the ambassadors that Jesus has chosen. The Name of Jesus is on their lips and a heart for Jesus beats within them. That's a lot more than can be said about some who complain. I admit, using ordinary people to spread the Gospel has always seemed risky to me. But the very fact that Christians are NOT perfect should be encouraging: nobody has to be perfect to come to Christ. You can come to Jesus just as you are, in whatever condition you're in, and Jesus will welcome you with open arms. There is absolutely no need to get cleaned up first! For whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye. Zechariah 2:8 Consider it: these Christians who have so many faults and problems, are the apple of God's eye! They are His precious treasure, cherished and loved. He is in the process of teaching, training and guiding them. And anyone who wants to become one of God's treasured motley family is welcomed with open arms and rejoicing!

 

FAIREST LORD JESUS

 

FAIREST LORD JESUS Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature, O thou of God and man the Son, Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor, Thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown. Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands, robed in the blooming garb of spring: Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer who makes the woeful heart to sing. Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight, and all the twinkling starry host: Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer than all the angels heaven can boast. Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations! Son of God and Son of Man! Glory and honor, praise, adoration, now and forevermore be thine. Hymn by Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld, 1591-1635, who was a German Jesuit priest and poet. He was of a much deeper and purer nature than some writers of his era; and excelled in originality, in imagination, and in poetic inspiration. His poems are characterised by a very keen love for the works of God in the natural world; and also by a deep and fervent love to God, to Christ, and to his fellow men. Surprisingly, this sensitive artist is most notable for his opposition to the witchcraft trials of the time and his fervent advocacy for the rights of the accused; he was instrumental in nearly eliminating the witchhunts.

 

EVERYONE WILL BOW

 

EVERYONE WILL BOW At the name of Jesus everyone will bow down, those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. Philippians 2:10 We have no idea who Jesus really is. We are way too casual about it. His Name, his story, his words... Jesus barely registers on our list of Who's Who, which is shameful when we consider it. Maybe we don't comprehend the magnitude of what Christ did on Calvary. The full meaning and import of it are mysterious to us. His death and resurrection opened the way for all people; past, present and future, all nations and languages and tribes... ALL of us can know eternal life and it's ALL because of Jesus and the Cross. If we even get a hint of the glory that is due Him, it's just a glimmer compared with the full glory that will be revealed at His return! Philippians 2:10 tells us that not only will every human bow down, but also the angels and demons will kneel. What an incredible, mind-blowing moment that will be! You and I will be there! Whether we WANT to be there or not, we will acknowledge Jesus Christ and all that He is, and all He has done for us. It's better to be ready for the glorious day of the Lord's return! Ready and eager to worship Him, to offer to Christ everything I am, and to give Him praise!

 

COFFEE THOUGHTS

 

COFFEE THOUGHTS Gerald D Hochstetler Jr. Sip…. Happy Sunday! Let’s do this! Yesterday while out in the shop messing around, I kept thinking some of the most horrible crappy thoughts. Here I’m supposed to be a deep gospel coffee man, but if my mind had windows, it would be totally embarrassing. But there’s also another me. One that wants to live holy and right. One that has savingly believed unto eternal salvation. It’s like there’s two of me in a battle. If you can identify with this, Praise the Lord. The fact there’s a battle, a struggle in you, tells you there’s a new life in you. Yes Sir! Rejoice. Don’t let the earthly you dictate your life. There’s a spiritual you too. That part of you hates sin. Now that you recognize the two, yield to the good. As you recognize these two you learn to walk in the Spirit. If walking in the Spirit was automatic there wouldn’t have been any need for Paul to remind us to walk IN Him. The grief of knowing you missed the mark serves as a reminder there’s God likeness in you. There’s no need to beat yourself up. Just shake off the dust, cling to the good, and rejoice in the fact that you are not the old you anymore. In Christ Jesus, the old you doesn’t exist anymore! Gerald D Hochstetler Jr. #coffeethoughts on Facebook