RIOTS IN BELFAST

 

RIOTS IN BELFAST By Frank Mceleny The Lord Jesus warned in Matthew 24:7, "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." The word translated "nation" is the Greek word ethnos, from which we derive our word ethnicity. It speaks not merely of political states and national borders, but of peoples, tribes, and ethnic groups. The word translated "kingdom" is the Greek word basileia, meaning a kingdom, realm, dominion, or political power. Thus, the Lord foretold both “ethnos against ethnos” and “basileia against basileia” —people group against people group and kingdom against kingdom. The twentieth century witnessed the fulfillment of basileia against basileia on a scale never before seen. The great powers of the earth hurled themselves against one another in two world wars, leaving tens of millions dead and entire continents devastated. Yet in our own day, we see another aspect of the Lord's warning becoming increasingly visible: ethnos against ethnos. People group against people group. Through unprecedented movements of populations, mass migration, cultures that for centuries existed separately now find themselves living side by side. Peoples who otherwise would rarely have come into contact with one another are suddenly thrust together in vast numbers. The result is often tension, division, tribalism, and growing hostility. Ancient grievances are imported across borders. Cultural conflicts are transplanted from one continent to another. Communities become fragmented, and social cohesion weakens. This should not surprise the student of Scripture. The Lord did not merely warn of wars between governments. He warned of upheaval among peoples. Ethnos against ethnos. The tragedy is that men imagine they can solve spiritual problems by political means. Yet whenever Christ is removed from the center of a people, divisions inevitably multiply. Men retreat to tribe, race, language, culture, and identity because they have lost the greater identity found in God. As the age hastens toward its conclusion, we should expect increasing turmoil among both kingdoms and peoples. The words of Christ were not given to frighten His saints but to prepare them. When we see these things, we are reminded that the Lord knew the end from the beginning, and that the kingdoms of this world are passing away. Only the Kingdom of our God shall endure forever. Used with permission of Frank Mceleny on Facebook CLICK HERE

 

TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS

 

TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There’s light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free. REFRAIN: Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace. Through death into life everlasting He passed, and we follow Him there; O’er us sin no more hath dominion For more than conquerors we are! His Word shall not fail you, He promised; Believe Him and all will be well; Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell! Author Helen Howarth Lemmel (1922)

 

THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT

 

THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3 The only reason atheists experience any peace at all is because God, in His mercy, allows it. Every calm breath, every moment of joy, every sense of stability is borrowed grace. Even those who deny Him live inside a world sustained by His patience and kindness. God is good even to those who reject Him. But do not confuse that with true peace. Worldly peace is temporary, circumstantial, fragile. It depends on health, money, distraction, or control. It fades the moment suffering arrives or death comes into view. That kind of peace cannot stand when the night gets long and the soul is forced to be honest. True peace is found only in Christ. It is not the absence of trouble but the presence of truth. Jesus said, “My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.” This peace fulfills because it reconciles us to our Creator, anchors us beyond death, and satisfies the soul the world can never reach. Everything else is borrowed comfort. By Biblical Creation on Facebook: CLICK HERE Used with Permission

 

THE DOOR OF THE SHEEPFOLD

 

THE DOOR OF THE SHEEPFOLD Rev. Anees T. Baroody 1916 I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5 In order to become thoroughly acquainted with the shepherd of the Syrian sheep, nothing could be better than spending a day with the flock on the Lebanese hillside, until our faithful shepherd returns home in the evening. His little village, nestling most restfully on the shoulders of a Lebanon hill, in the midst of a fascinating circle of ancient pines and oaks, looks from the adjacent sea-coast like a piece of a new paradise. The sheep, being tired, are led straight to the fold, where they are counted and left to rest. Then the shepherd goes home, washes his face and feet, and takes supper. Early in the evening our shepherd returns to his sheep, spreads his bed across the door of the fold, lays his heavy rod by his side, and sings himself quietly and happily to sleep. Doesn’t this remind us of the meaning of Christ when he said, “I am the door?” During the long silence of the Lebanon night the wolves may prowl around the fold, the thieves may peep over the wall, but the mere presence of the shepherd at the door is sufficient to hold all the enemies of the sheep at bay. Considering this parable, what shall I say to those nervous, fearful Christians — and America is full of nervous people — who keep running from one minister to another, from one church to another, from one lecture hall to another, searching diligently for a sure-as-daylight salvation, but without peace, without rest? As long as the Good Shepherd is at the door of their hearts, yes, rather in their hearts, they are safer than the stars in their courses - and need not worry at all about their salvation, or anything else for that matter, because we are not alone in this journey.

 

THE BOWLS OF WRATH

 

THE BOWLS OF WRATH  The 7 Bowls of Wrath are the final events of the Tribulation: Jesus Christ returns immediately afterward. This is a grim chapter to read, and the judgments are self-explanatory. The Bible predicts the day of God’s Wrath: no one will ever forget what happens when God finally unleashes his anger and fury on those who deserve it because of their sins, lies, greed and corruption. The day of Wrath is a necessary time; because a righteous and holy God cannot tolerate sin forever. Eventually He must act, because God has promised vengeance for the victims. ROMANS 12:19 Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but yield to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” REVELATION 15.1 I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God’s wrath is finished.  15.6 The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed with pure, bright linen, and wearing golden sashes around their breasts. 15.7 One of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God. 15.8 The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power. No one was able to enter into the temple, until the seven plagues of the seven angels would be finished. REVELATION 16.1 I heard a loud voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God on the earth!” 16.2 The first angel went, and poured out his bowl into the earth, and it became a harmful and evil sore on the people who had the mark of the beast, and who worshiped his image. 16.3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man. Every living thing in the sea died. 16.4 The third poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 16.5 I heard the angel of the waters saying, “You are righteous, who are and who were, you Holy One, because you have judged these things. 16.6 For they poured out the blood of the saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this.” 16.7 I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments.” 16.8 The fourth poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given to him to scorch men with fire. 16.9 People were scorched with great heat, and people blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues. They didn’t repent and give him glory. 16.10 The fifth poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was darkened. They gnawed their tongues because of the pain, 16.11 and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores. They didn’t repent of their works. 16.12 The sixth poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates. Its water was dried up, that the way might be prepared for the kings that come from the sunrise. 16.13 I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, something like frogs; 16.14 for they are spirits of demons, performing signs; which go out to the kings of the whole inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of that great day of God, the Almighty. 16.16 He gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew, Megiddo or Armageddon. 16.17 The seventh poured out his bowl into the air. A loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 16.18 There were lightnings, sounds, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men on the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty. 16.19 The great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. 16.20 Every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 16.21 Great hailstones came down out of the sky on people. People blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, for this plague is exceedingly severe.  -WEB Bible IMAGE CREDIT: The illustration of the Bowls of God’s Wrath was generated by SeaArt.ai and edited by C.A. Stevens.   This study of Revelation continues next week with the Harlot Babylon.