THE SIXTH TRUMPET

 

THE SIXTH TRUMPET Study of Revelation Continues. REVELATION 9.13 The sixth angel sounded. I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God, 9.14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Free the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates!” 9.15 The four angels were freed who had been prepared for that hour and day and month and year, so that they might kill one third of mankind. 9.16 The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million. I heard the number of them. 9.17 Thus I saw the horses in the vision, and those who sat on them, having breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the horses’ heads resembled lions’ heads. Out of their mouths proceed fire, smoke, and sulfur. 9.18 By these three plagues were one third of mankind killed: by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur, which proceeded out of their mouths. 9.19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths, and in their tails. For their tails are like serpents, and have heads, and with them they harm. 9.20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, didn’t repent of the works of their hands, that they wouldn’t worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can’t see, hear, or walk. 9.21 They didn’t repent of their murders, their sorceries, drunkenness, their sexual immorality, or their thefts. -WEB Bible. IMAGE CREDITS: The ancient manuscript illustration (above) is from the Welles Apocalypse, by English artist Peter of Peckham, circa 1320 A.D.  Below that, the image of battle tanks is from a WWII poster. The ancient book of Enoch describes how some of the fallen angels were bound and locked up until the last days of earth. Well, that time has come. The four angels are not good characters; they are fallen angels and they are powerful. These reprobate angels waste no time putting together a massive army, such as no one has ever seen before. St. John's vision of the fire-breathing horses is about ground warfare. Ancient artists did their best to illustrate what John described, but they didn't see his vision, and the things they are trying to draw are many hundreds of years ahead of them in time: so of course, they have absolutely no experience to go by. It wasn't until modern times that we could picture it. The image of battle tanks is from a World War II poster. By the time Armageddon actually happens, the fire-breathing vehicles will likely be very different from WWII tanks, but this image gives us an idea of it. Notice that the four fallen angels were kept ready for this precise time. We think that earth rambles along in its own haphazard fashion, but God has not left anything to chance. There is a plan. Eventually God will put an end to evil. No lie will stand unchallenged and no corruption will go unpunished. Even the fallen angels cannot escape it. For all those people who have wondered, "Why does God allow evil?", the book of Revelation tells us that God is furious about the evil that has corrupted earth, and he's going to put an end to all of it, permanently. The 6th Trumpet is the second Woe predicted by the Eagle. This study of Revelation continues on Thursdays.

 

THE I DON'T KNOW PRAYER

 

THE I DON'T KNOW PRAYER Did you know there's a prayer called the "I don't know" prayer? It's very spiritual. You just go off somewhere quiet and hidden and you walk right up to the heart of God and you say, "I don't know." I don't know where to go from here. I don't know what is happening. I don't know how to process this. I don't know what to do with these emotions. I don't know how to handle this situation. It covers a lot of I don't knows! And then with whatever dusty little sand grain of faith you have, you say, "But You know." And you leave it there. God most certainly hears that prayer. Social Media, Author Unknown.

 

PSALM 27

 

PSALM 27 The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— whom shall I dread? Though an army encamps around me, my heart will not fear; though a war breaks out against me, I will keep my trust.   One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple.  For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be held high above my enemies around me. At His tabernacle I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD. Hear, O LORD, my voice when I call; be merciful and answer me. My heart said, “Seek His face.” Your face, O LORD, I will seek. Hide not Your face from me, nor turn away Your servant in anger. You have been my helper; do not leave me or forsake me, O God of my salvation. Even if my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path, because of my oppressors. Do not hand me over to the will of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence. But I know I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!

 

MY SERVANT NEBUCHADNEZZAR

 

MY SERVANT NEBUCHADNEZZAR So now I have placed all these lands under the authority of My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I have even made the beasts of the field subject to him. Jeremiah 27:6 The first time I read this Bible verse, I was surprised. Nebuchadnezzar served the god Marduk and didn't know anything about the Hebrew God. How could he be a servant of the LORD? He was a warrior and a cruel leader who terrorized the nations he captured: he wasn't a good man, and yet God said Nebuchadnezzar was his servant! Nebuchadnezzar stirred up the entire Middle East and reshaped countries, hierarchy, education and financial systems, architecture, leadership concepts and entire cultures. God used Nebuchadnezzar II to shake up the known world and initiate a new future. Samson is another Bible personality with sketchy character. He was a womanizer. He had a bad temper. He was vengeful. He was cruel to animals. And yet, the Bible tells us that Samson was chosen by God before he was ever conceived in his mother's womb, to become a great deliverer for the Jewish people. Both of these men had outsized egos. They were exceedingly proud of their abilities, and believed their strength came from their own power. But God is able to humble those who walk in pride. Nebuchadnezzar and Samson both acknowledged the LORD God before they died, and bowed to His sovereignty. They acknowledged where their extraordinary gifts came from. God used Nebuchadnezzar and Samson to accomplish His purposes, even though they weren't good men. Even when we don't like the leaders that God puts over us, there is no misstep on His part. God raises up leaders, and God takes them down. It is even possible that God gives us what we deserve because of our disobedience. If we want improvement in our country's leaders, then improvement must begin with us. When we turn our hearts toward God, and pray: He can change our country and its leaders. This is one of His promises: If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

 

HIDDEN WORKERS

 

HIDDEN WORKERS John did no miracle: but all things that John spoke of this man were true. — John 10:41 You may be very discontented with yourself. Maybe you think you’re no genius, have no brilliant gifts, nor any special ministry. Mediocrity seems to be the law of your existence. Your days are remarkably the same, day in and day out. Yet you may live a great life in the midst of all that! John did no miracle, but Jesus said that among those born of women there was no one greater than John. John’s main business was to bear witness to the Light, and we can do the same. John was content to be only a voice, if men would think of Christ. Be willing to be only a voice, heard but not seen; a mirror whose surface is lost to view, because it reflects the dazzling glory of the sun; a breeze that springs up just before daylight, and says, “The dawn! the dawn!” and then dies away. Do the small, everyday things as if God Himself were watching; because He is! If you must live with uncongenial people, determine to love them anyway. If you have made a great mistake in your life, do not let it cloud your future; God will help you turn your weakness into strength and sweetness. We are doing more good than we know: sowing seeds, starting streamlets, giving people true thoughts of Christ. One day they will tell you it was those very things you said or did, that got them seriously thinking about Jesus.   As for me, I shall be satisfied if no great monument is raised over my grave, if people will say, “He was a good man; he spoke words about Christ, which led me to know Him for myself.” —George Matheson God calls many of His most valued workers from the unknown multitude. Luke 14:23