www.billofrights.org

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Not a Popularity Contest

When the Lord calls a person to preach, or teach, or even write a blog, such as this one, He is not calling, the person into popularity. I know personally that, I am called to write on the subjects, of not only controversial subjects, but subject that many find offensive.  I would never want to offend anybody, however if you are offended, by the Word of God, then we have a problem. In the book of Acts, Peter and John had a problem, with the high council, because of speaking the truth.

Acts 4:19  But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 

All through the Bible, there are stories, of very unpopular prophets of God. I think that for my example I would like to use the lives of two, that hasn’t even happened yet. The two witnesses, that are spoken of, in the book of Revelation, are extreme cases.  Don’t you love to hear about extreme cases?   The God that we love, and worship, is an extreme God. Let’s look at them.

Revelation 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 

These were trying times for these two men. Although they had certain power to shut up the heavens, where there would be no rain, and could turn the water into blood, as they saw fit. They also have a protection system built into them, so that anybody would try to harm them, that they would be killed. These two witnesses will be one the earth three and half years, preaching the Word of God.

In my own words, these two men are going to wreak pure havoc, in this Godless culture. They are going to put the works of Elijah, in the Old Testament to shame!! I would imagine that it will be so bad, on the people on the earth at that time, that CNN, and Fox News will be following these two around. You know how the media loves a story of misery, and these two will be the best story of misery, for three and a half years running.  

Revelation 11:7-9  And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9  And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

This is hatred at a level, which few of us have ever witnessed. They hated these two men so much, that they would not even move, their dead bodies, out of the streets. Little lone allow them the dignity, of being buried. They probably had a camera set up on them, and showing them continuously in a small box, on the bottom of the television screens. The world hated, these two men of God, that badly. 

This was a time of celebration. In this next verse it shows the extremity of the time of the celebration. It is in the same way, that we celebrate the birth of our Savior, at the time that we call Christmas. 

 Revelation 11:10  And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

Can you imagine the horror, that the world must have felt, and they watched the next event unfold, before their eyes? The next event is nothing less than a God event, done only in the way, that our God does things….Extreme!!

Revelation 11:11-13  And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 12  And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. 13  And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. 

I have never saw a dead body come back to life.  Have you?  You might be thinking that God is just showing off, and I would agree. God has a thing about showing off from the beginning, when He spoke creation, in to existence, and turned a mud pie into a human. The love of God just bleeds, all over this passage. Some folks would say that, it is the wrath of God only, but they don’t know God. All they see is a horrible situation, where many die, so that God can look good. I need to correct myself, because God doesn’t look good; He looks awesome!!

We need to go back to the beginning, and revisit, the mud pie program. God formed us, to have a relationship with Him. Man has always rebelled, at the opportunity, to be in the family of God, and chose sin, over the relationship. God was not shocked, at this decision, and He had already prepared a solution, for our sin issue, before He formed mankind.

 John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Now,…..Ain’t God Awesome?

          ….Much Love   

No comments:

Post a Comment