The Lion of Judah – The True Bridegroom

Genesis 30:1-3,9,15,22-23 Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she became jealous of her sister; and she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die.” Then Jacob’s anger burned against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” She said, “Here is my maid Bilhah, go in to her that she may bear on my knees, that through her I too may have children”… When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took her maid Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife… But she said to her, “Is it a small matter for you to take my husband? And would you take my son’s mandrakes also?” So Rachel said, “Therefore he may lie with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes”… Then God remembered Rachel, and God gave heed to her and opened her womb. So she conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.”

These are the names of the twelve children of Jacob – Rueben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah, Joseph. There were born to his wives Rachel and Leah and through their maids Bilhah and Zilpah.

In today’s chapter, we see the problem of polygamy because it creates jealousy and bitterness. The two wives of Jacob want to bear more children so that he would love them more and so that through them their children would carry Abraham’s great blessing.

Nowadays one or two kids is common or no kids is starting to become natural too. Twelve from 4 women sounds like a real responsibility and all caused because of the error of having two wives.

Where was God in Jacob’s life and what does He intend to teach us through this passage?

The Final Message

Revelation 22:10-21 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. “Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.” “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying. “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

I am amazed how this challenging book of Revelations turned out not to be as hard as I imagined because it is nothing but a revelation of Jesus Christ who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

This book has been used and still is used by several scholars to predict the future (now mostly past) and to determine the Lord’s coming. There are other great scholars who have shown Revelation reveal itself through the ages and trying to determine when the Lord will return. However, we are reminded in verse 18 and 19 that we are not to add or take away from these words because these are from God to us. Also, we are not to belittle John or the words of this prophecy as a dream and disregard them but accept them as God’s word to us and that we are to ask God for wisdom to reveal and He will do so.

What then is the purpose of this book if not for the doom and gloom, pain and suffering and poetic words that make little sense?

New Heaven and New Earth

Revelation 21:5:8 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

The new heaven and earth is shown to John and he describes it as a place that be fitting for God to reside in. Resplendent in every sense and bearing the name of God in every inch.

The questions that comes to mind are why would God want to make all things new and how could there be no more death or pain here when we know that our bodies grow old naturally and die?

The Great White Throne Judgment

Revelation 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Chapter 20 brings in the actual judgments and shows what is finally to take place. Satan’s thousand year imprisonment is introduced, the ones who died for the gospel and the many who survived tribulation without being marked on their forehead or hands live together in Jesus’ presence for the period and then Satan is released only to try and cause the people of God harm but God rains fire on him and his adversaries and puts them into the lake of fire. This is hopeful and wonderful news!

After that, the white throne judgment takes place and while the thought of white seems to indicate a good judgment, it is not all wonderful. It is in fact something I pray no one I know would ever go through for the ruling is horrendous!

What is God’s yardstick for people who are to be judged in the white throned judgment, who are these people and is there hope for us from this gruesome end?

Word of God Revealed

Revelation 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

What a powerful chapter to read today and I wish I could piece it over many days so that we could savor its richness but I do believe the key to today’s chapter for me is the revelation of the person above.

In all the imagery of this prophecy, who is this person who has four names and is even referred to as The Word of God?

Saved or Judged?

Revelation 18:1-3,8-11 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory. And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality”… “For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong. “And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’ “And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more

As I read chapter 18, my mind raced through the many countries, cities, power houses, etc. that could be referred here. Is it the commercial capitals of the world, the gambling cities, the largest corporations that drive the world economies??

Who could this great Babylon be and what could her sins be that God is so furious with her? Why is God so furious at this great city and what is He speaking to us this day through this great warning?

Chosen and Faithful

Revelation 17:1-5,14 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality.” And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality, and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH”…  “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”

We now have started to dwell on the final judgments and today’s chapter is one of those that can really send us wondering as even John was left wondering and the angel had to explain the visions to him.

The great harlot referred to here is the city or enterprise that the world uses to seek and glorify themselves and this enterprise or institution has grown in power and draws the kings of this world in its lure. Many inferences can be drawn but that is not what the Lord is speaking to us this day.

The scarlet beast is satan and his fallen angels and while this imagery might be confusing, we just need to understand that this is the beast that this enterprise is riding on that will lead to the fall of many.

If not for the great harlot and the scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns, what is God calling us to understand this day?

Sacrificing Self

Revelation 16:1,4-7,17 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God”… Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous are You, who are and who were, O Holy One, because You judged these things; for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.” And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”… Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.”

The picture painted of the end times in these prophetic words recorded in Revelation seem much more than just simply events. While many of these events might take place soon, many seem to have already to have taken place if we understand these signs in the language of the Hebrews and there is much we can assimilate by inferring but is that what God wants us to do today?

I like to read my Bible with the desire to hear what God wants to say to me because His voice is recorded here in text and as relevant as it was thousands of years ago, it is amazingly relevant to us today in our modern day situations too!

Revelations 16 describes the last 7 plagues that are to come and as hard as they are to imagine and digest, what I found harder was the words spoken by the angel of the waters and echoed again by the altar of God.

How can the seas, the land and the rivers and streams pour the blood of saints and prophets and what justice is there for God to punish these elements?

Song of Moses

Revelation 15:2-4 And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations! “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; For ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU, FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED.”

My family and I just returned from a short break in a city that is just 170 km south of where we live and it was a time of sadness because we had to say goodbye to my Mum who came to visit us for nearly 2 months and a time of togetherness as the 4 of us had time to catch up as a family.

In the short span of 33 years, I have had to bury a dear cousin, my father-in-law, my Dad, an uncle, my Granddad, my Grandma, my wife’s Grandma and now  only have 2 wonderful Mums (My wife’s and mine) and my Grandma (Mum’s Mum) left to call my own immediate extended family. A lot lost and now with my move so far away from the few precious family members, a chance of not seeing them much in the future too 😦

In all this, I wonder what God is saying to you and me as we continue life’s perilous journey. Even with Christ now living in me, I suffer loss, I witness suffering, pain and even death and there is little to comfort us. Is there a hope at all?

As we read through the book of revelation and in fact through all of the Bible, we see God not as an enforcer or a tyrant but as one who loves us dearly. We do also see ourselves in the many people mentioned in the Bible with their many needs, their ill deeds, and the one common connection is the God who created us all and loved us.

This great God gave us life and we reject Him, this merciful God died for our sins and we ignore Him, this patient God knocks on the door of our hearts and we keep Him out in the cold and yet this loving God waits for us with arms wide open to receive us.

In this God I found the love of a perfect father, a sincere friend, a faithful companion, a merciful master, a gentle shepherd and a valiant warrior over my sin and suffering. He has more than compensated the many I lost, and gives us the assurance that if we call Him Lord, He will give us the joy of living in His presence without any more pain and hurt for all eternity.

Can you join the hosts of heaven and sing the song of Moses that was sung to celebrate the tyranny of the Egyptian pharaoh and his blood thirsty men? I pray that you can today.

In His Loving Service,
ServantBoy

Exodus 15:1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea.”

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The Greatest Holocaust

Revelation 14:9-13 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”

When we read this chapter, it feels like a sudden change. Chapters 12 and 13 described woes and sorrows that would come upon the church and suddenly we hit the final stages when Jesus is revealed as the one who is from the beginning and will be there till the end.

As I read through verses 9-13, I was reminded of stories from the holocaust and just this morning, I was listening to a message about why we suffer and the speaker quoted a holocaust survivor who described it as something so terrible that decades later he still cannot sleep and is tormented by the memories of insane torture and never-ending death.

Why would a good and glorious God who loves us to a point of sacrificing His own and only son, Jesus Christ, permit such suffering upon His own creation just because they chose to rebel? Is this not more terrible than the Jewish holocaust itself and is God not the worst murderer of all?