Freedom Comes At A High Price

October 2, 2021 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Freedom Through the Blood

Book of Exodus Chapter 12

Those ten plagues had crippled the economy of Egypt and had God stopped at this point those children of Israel would have remained as slaves of Egypt.

All those ten plagues had affected the Egyptian people much more than this rich king who was full of pride and arrogance.

There would be one more plague, but this one would be vastly different from the others.

The Passover deals with the “Judgment” of God, but also the Deliverance of God!

God began a principle in the Book of Genesis that will be followed throughout all the Bible.

Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

In the Book of Genesis we know that the sin of Adam and Eve brought the curse of destruction to this world we live in.

We are seeing the results of this curse increasingly today, in what many call climate change which is the reality of that curse upon this world.

Before Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, God made clothes for them from the skins of animals.

This demonstrated the principle of forgiveness through the shedding of blood.

Later we saw that it was Abel’s sacrifice that was accepted by the Almighty God.

Gen 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

This principle of “Freedom” through sacrifice is repeated throughout the Bible.

We see it here in the Book of Exodus as the “freedom” of the children of Israel would require a Blood Sacrifice.

Before these children of Israel could be set free, they had to pave the way for a new beginning.

This thing of escape from the tyranny of the world would be documented on a new calendar which the Jews still use today.

What do we know now that we have accepted the work of the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation? Sin has an extremely high cost!

*Exo 12:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,
Exo 12:2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.

The Passover deals with the “Judgment” of God but also the “Deliverance” of God.

This “Judgment” will be upon all those who cannot accept the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ!

This “Judgment” will be upon all those who are evil oppressors, those who are ungodly, and those who are unrighteous in this world.

The “Deliverance” will take place to all who believe in and diligently follow the Word of God and the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ!

We should notice that the beginning of this new calendar for the children of Israel did not begin on the day of the Passover but fourteen days before the Passover.

We should understand this gap as a type of “grace”.

My new calendar began when the day I was “Born Again” to a “New Life”, and regenerated by the Holy Spirit coming to live within me.

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Notice I have no righteousness of myself, but now because the Holy Spirit lives within me I have the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

All the sins of my past are forgiven! My new life had its beginning when I realized I was a sinner and in need of a Savior.

For the children of Israel, their new life would begin from the month in which the Passover occurred not the day of the Passover.

The Passover was the most significant event in the history of Israel and is still celebrated today.

Those who practice true Judaism still observe the Passover today, but they have no place to offer their sacrifice.

The Passover marked the very night that God “delivered” the children of Israel from the tyranny of Egypt, which is a type of the world we live in today, where we see persecution increasing and the taskmasters still delivering their slave tactics.

This first new month was called Abib which corresponds to March and April on the Roman Calendar.

The word “Abib” means “a young head of grain”, “an ear of corn”.

The beginning of a new life for the nation of Israel was marked by a new calendar.

The life of Jesus Christ was also marked by a new calendar.

When the Lord Jesus arose to New Life and left that borrowed tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea, to a life to live eternally in a New Heaven it astounded the world so much that the world measures its seasons and its history from the date of the Birth of Jesus Christ.

This should be enough proof for all the world that the Lord Jesus Christ is a real Savior, a real “Deliverer”!

****Exo 12:3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
Exo 12:4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.

We next see that Israel is now called a congregation, a Holy Community by the Lord God Himself.

A congregation is the people of God who gather to worship Him or to hear the Word of God!

We also see that each household, each family, was to celebrate the feast of the Passover.

Each family or group of people were to secure one lamb on the tenth day of the month of Abib.

This lamb was to be singled out from the flock and appointed to death four days before it was to be sacrificed.

For four days they were to keep this Lamb separate and feed and care for this lamb.

When the Lord Jesus was beginning His ministry John the Baptist said:

Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Joh 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

Notice also each person was to eat the Passover meal for them self.

This is the same way we take Jesus today, individually, then the family, and then all the congregation.

This describes the worship of the Church, the Body of Christ.

We then share what we learned in the Congregation, take it home to our families and then as individuals we become Ambassadors for Christ.

This lamb was to be without blemish, or we would say perfect.

*Exo 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:

Any animal less than perfect offered for sin would be an abomination to the Lord.

An animal that had no reason for their life to end so abruptly, which represents pure innocence.

Each sinner represents one who is guilty of breaking all the laws of God.

Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

The acceptance of the yearling goat was allowed for those who were poor, who might have an animal more for its milk rather than its market value of wool for clothing.

A male animal would be considered superior to the female animal in this sacrifice for sin and therefore more appropriate for a sin offering!

Lev 1:10 And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.

This Lamb was to be a type of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Lev 21:21 No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.

The Lord Jesus Christ would be both High Priest and King of Kings.

This lamb was to die in the fulness of its strength!

Before we move on let us see another important thing.

Verse three said “a lamb”.
Verse four said “the lamb”.
Verse five says “your lamb”

If you do not have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, then He is not your lamb!

Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

*Exo 12:6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.

A few things we should note here is the things of this fourteenth day.

1) When we read the whole congregation, we should think there was some great gathering of the people.

We should understand this as the head of each household.

In type we know the whole nation is seen as a nation of priests, just as each Christian is to be a priest to his own family.

Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

It is the family that was begun first in the Book of Genesis with Adam and Eve being the first family and Adam being the first head of that family and the priest to his own family.

2) We should also understand that it was not just the chief priest and the elders and not just the scribes and the Pharisees who put Jesus to death, but also by the vote of the people.

Mar 15:9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
Mar 15:10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
Mar 15:11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
Mar 15:12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?
Mar 15:13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.
Mar 15:14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
Mar 15:15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

In fact, I also have to take my own responsibility for the death of Christ Jesus, because it was because of my sin and the sin of everyone that caused our Savior to be put to death.

3) On this fourteenth day the Lord Jesus died between the evenings.

Between the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the month of Abib (Nisan)

If we study the Scriptures, we will see that the Lord Jesus died at the exact time that the lambs at the Temple were being slain which would be at our three o’clock, or the nineth hour.

This would have been just before that soldier pierced the Lord with his spear because the Lord Jesus gave His life, no one took it from Him.

Joh 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

When we consider this and then add to it all the things that happened.

It was finished: No more would lambs need to be destroyed for the forgiveness of sin.
It was finished: The veil was rent we can go before the Lord at any time without the assistance of some priest.
It was finished: The earthquake declared the power of God.
It was finished: It was the end of His suffering for our sin.
It was finished: The Lord Jesus was forsaken by His Father and that was now over, and His fellowship was restored.
It was finished: Satan was forever defeated.
It was finished: It was finished, Jesus had made “atonement” for all our sins.

One man wrote: Though millions of sacrifices had been offered; yet nothing was done to purchase redemption before Christ’s incarnation… so nothing was done after His resurrection, to purchase redemption for men. Nor will there be anything more done to all eternity.

Like our lesson states “Freedom Through the Blood”.

It is all about the blood of the Lamb!

*Exo 12:7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

In the twelfth chapter of Exodus we never see lamb in the plural because there was only one Lamb that could accomplish what God required!

As the blood is to life, it is also the essence of sacrifice! Essence meaning the nature of our being that distinguishes it from all others.

God did not make any of us alike! Until the sin of Adam and Eve, we all became sinners.

It was the blood applied on the outside of the house that kept those saved on the inside of the house!

Notice the blood was applied in the shape of the bloody cross of our Savior.

It was an act of “faith”. If you believed God would save you behind the blood applied to your house, then you would be saved.

If you did not have this “faith” and did not apply the blood, then you would see the death of your first-born child and the first born of your animals.

Heb 11:28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

The Lord Jesus Christ was our substitute:

Lev 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

So many things we see in this passage from the Book of Exodus.

Once the blood was applied it was safe to eat the Passover meal!

We must make sure that we are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.
We must make sure our families are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.
We must make sure our homes are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.
We must make sure the place we gather to worship is covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.

When the Blood of Jesus is applied to our homes it becomes a public profession of faith!

Our “faith” is to be in the promises of God just as He promised the Children of Israel at this first Passover.

*Exo 12:8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
Exo 12:9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.

This lamb sacrificed for freedom was to be eaten.

It was to be roasted and not boiled and eaten by those inside the house.

A journey lay before these of God’s people and this food would give them strength.

Jesus said:

Joh 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
Joh 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

It was to be eaten with unleavened bread.

The Leven represented sin and there was no sin in the house that is washed in the Blood of Jesus.

Joh 6:48 I am that bread of life.
Joh 6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
Joh 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

The “bitter herbs” would forever remind them of the bitter days of their slavery in Egypt,

This is a picture of our own slavery to sin.

Our hearts are always to be broken over sin.

Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

For the children of Israel this lamb was to be prepared in a peculiar way and this way was never to be deviated. These are God-given instructions!

God given instructions are never to be changed!

One of the many things we see in these things is that the Church is to be family-centered!

Few are today.

Most of the Churches of today try to please those sitting in the pews when God instructs them to preach the entire Word of God.

We must accept the Lord Jesus Christ exactly as He was prepared and offered by Jehovah God!

There is no other way to be saved, Jesus said so Himself!

Mat 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

None of this food was to remain in the morning.

*Exo 12:10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.

What we see is that the “death” of this sacrificial lamb has become the food for life!

That lamb was to be eaten the same night it was slain.

The rising sun was to see no part of the slain lamb.

No part of Christ is to be left out! We accept Him as He is, the truth of eternal salvation!

Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

In like manner the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ is complete, it is not a progressive thing over the period of our lives!

Our salvation is not in the process of being accomplished, it has been accomplished.

It is accomplished immediately upon accepting the work of Christ for our salvation!

One man wrote, “For God’s suffering Lamb the dark night of “Judgment” is no more, and He lives on High eternal sunshine of Divine favor and love”.

And how shall we eat the Lamb of God?

*Exo 12:11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S passover.

We must clearly understand that today, not tomorrow, but today is the day of salvation!

2Co 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Upon hearing the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ we are to immediately accept Him, repent and rush away from this world and begin our New “Born Again” life.

Our new life marching toward the Promised Land of the New Heaven!

We must wear the right clothes and not get entangled in this world again, this world has no benefits!

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

We must wear the right shoes.

Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

We must lean on our Savior for we cannot travel alone. Just as Moses had the staff of God, the Lord Jesus Christ is our staff.

Psa 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

We are only pilgrims passing through this wicked land.

1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

We are always to know that the Lord Jesus could return at any moment, and we must expect it!

We must understand that the Lord Jesus Christ is the substitute for our own “Judgment”

*Exo 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
Exo 12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

As we have studied this Pharaoh understood when Moses laid down the staff, he carried it was in defiance of the false gods of Egypt and Pharaoh accepted that challenge and Pharaoh chose the wrong side.

Pharaoh finally accepts the defeat of his gods when he said, “Go then, serve Jehovah; and bless me also”.

The children of Israel gave the glory to Jehovah at this time, but they were a rebellious bunch.

They did not behave as if they owed any gratitude to Moses or Aaron.

Deu 32:16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.
Deu 32:17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.
Deu 32:18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.

The “Judgment” of God is harsh on those who reject Him!

God was speaking to the children of Israel through Moses and God said:

1) I will pass through the land of Egypt as a destroyer in “Judgment”.
I will enter every house of the Egyptians and kill the first-born child of both man and beast.

2) God said: “I will do the same to your houses and if I do not see the blood on the door posts of your houses, I will do the same to you.
You will escape this plague if I see the blood.

3) God said again: Against all the gods of Egypt, I will execute “Judgment”.
Animal worship was an important part of the religion of the Egyptians and some of these Jews never forgot this and it caused problems all the days of Israel till God dispersed them through all the nations of the earth.

The blood that was placed on the door post and over the door should remind us of a bloody cross.

This blood was not a token to the Children of Israel, but to God for them!

The Destroyer would Passover each home where the blood could be seen!

This method of deliverance involved the sacrifice of innocent life.

This is the only method for complete deliverance!

This method requires faith in the Almighty Covenant Keeping God!

Mar 14:22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.
Mar 14:23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
Mar 14:24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
Mar 14:25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

The Lord Jesus Christ is that Lamb of God who was sacrificed for each and every sinner and will save each and every believer!

Amen.

The Marriage of the Lamb of God

July 26, 2020 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Marriage of the Lamb

Book of Revelation Chapter 19 Verses 1 through 10

Some things we should understand. Prior to the return of Jesus Christ to this earth, His marriage to the Church, (the Bride of Christ) will take place in Heaven.

We know that from our last lessons, when the Lord Jesus Christ caused the 144,000 Jews to get to Heaven then, at that time, there will be the Lord and the Bride of Christ finally in the same place (Heaven) together, and this marriage will take place.

When the Lord returns with the armies of Heaven and the Saints, then the marriage of the Lamb of God has already taken place!

The “Judgment Seat” of Christ has also already taken place!

The Lord Jesus will after these things, return to Judge the earth in His wrath.

What did the Prophets teach us?

Zec 14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Zec 14:3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
Zec 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

Isa 66:15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
Isa 66:16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.

It is the marriage supper that will then take place in Israel upon this earth.

It is at this time the Lord will return to save the Jews, according to their works!

And Christ Jesus gave us this parable:

Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Mat 25:22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
Mat 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Mat 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
Mat 25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
Mat 25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
Mat 25:27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
Mat 25:28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
Mat 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
Mat 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The remainder of the world will be “judged” regarding their treatment of the Jews.

Again the Prophet Joel:

Joe 3:1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
Joe 3:2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

Joe 3:9 Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up

Joe 3:11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.
Joe 3:12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

After the marriage of the Lamb to the Bride of Christ, these other things will take place!

Now let us witness the marriage of the Bridegroom in Heaven.

*Rev 19:1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

We may ask after what things.

After the destruction of Babylon, the False Church and Babylon the economic System of the Antichrist from Chapters 17 and 18.

Notice that word “Alleluia” the one word that is universal in its meaning, (Praise God)!

Alleluia has become the cry of victory in Heaven.

This scene takes place in Heaven as the celebration begins as the “Great Whore” of false religion has been destroyed.

All religions that reject the Bible as the truth of God have been destroyed.

All these things happen because our God is all powerful!

The Lord is absolutely true and righteous in Himself!
The Lord is absolutely true and righteous in all His actions!

Heaven will now prepare for the Marriage of the Lamb of God.

*Rev 19:2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
Rev 19:3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

We must remember the souls under the altar.

Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Their rest is now over for their death had been avenged!

They say Alleluia for the Lord doing as He said He would do.

False religion, which has been influenced by Satan all these years, was the tool used to corrupt the people of this earth.

Salvation belongs to God. He sent His Son to die in payment for all our sin!

He has given us His written Word to explain who He is and why He does what He does.

He has given us purpose and He has been open to all peoples since He created Adam and Eve.

Over and over again, we have seen that the plans of God have existed before He created any part of our world, and he has given us line by line of His plan that He has followed without deviating from it at any time.

It is not just the souls under the altar who celebrate. The entire Church joins in for another promise will be fulfilled.

*Rev 19:4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.

The four and twenty elders, who represent all the redeemed of the Lord celebrate the victory of the Lamb.

We will all rejoice. The raptured Saints of God. Those souls who have been reunited with their bodies. All those who have been martyrs all these years.

All the 144,000 Jews, and every Saint who has come to Heaven during the Great Tribulation, and I believe all those who have the faith of Abraham before the Lord came to the earth the first time.

Heaven will be a place of celebration!

Heaven will be a place of Alleluia.

Psa 106:48 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.

If you do not like joyful loud praise and worship, you will not like Heaven at all.

It becomes the people of God to be full of joy!

To be honest there is not much joy on this earth.

We Christians should always have a certain amount of joy, after all look at our great future!

And we will miss out on the wrath of God. We will miss out on the Great Tribulation!

Jesus said He will never leave us, and Jesus will live forever and ever!

Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

The Lord Jesus Christ is God!

*Rev 19:5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
Rev 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

We must cast our bountiful praise to the One who was found worthy to open the Book of Revelation, the “Revealing” of the Lord Jesus Christ!

If we cannot do this while we live, what makes us think we will do this at this time in Heaven?

Every sorrow we have been through and have witnessed, will not be remembered when Jesus has completed His work on this earth.

Every single tear will be wiped away by the loving hands of God!

The Marriage of the Lamb of God is about to take place and all of Heaven takes notice of this most wonderful event.

That word “omnipotent” means the One who possesses unlimited power!

Jesus said:

Mat_28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth”.

Much of that power is used to provide eternal life to all of us who love Him!

Joh_17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, “that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him”.

Nowhere in God’s creation is there One more powerful than the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ!

We should be rejoicing now because we do not have to wait to get to Heaven.

It will just be much sweeter in Heaven.

The wedding of the Lamb of God is about to take place.

The one greatest time we will ever have as Christians.

We will be presented by the Son (the Lord Jesus) to our Heavenly Father as His Bride!

*Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
We immediately see that this time is special to the Lamb. It is the Lamb of God who has been patiently waiting on this day!

Here on earth we focus on the Bride but should truly focus on the Lamb of God!

In Heaven all the focus will be on the Lamb!

The same Lamb that was found to be worthy to open the Book.

Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

It is Hallelujah time in Heaven!

It is rejoicing time in Heaven!

The Bride, all the “Redeemed” have made themselves ready by clinging to the faith. That faith in the work the Lord Jesus Christ has done so that we could be “Redeemed” and able now to stand before our Heavenly Father as the Bride of Christ, with the true Messiah.

When will this wedding take place? It will take place just before the Lord returns to this earth as King.

Remember the Lord first destroyed the “false religious system” of the Antichrist.

He next destroyed the “political system” of the Antichrist.

Billions of people had died because they rejected the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Earth was in flames!

When the Lord returns after the Wedding, He will restore the earth as it was in the days of Adam and Eve and reign as King.

The Lord would fulfill the promises He had made to King David and all the things of the prophets.

These things must take place quickly because there will still those living upon the earth who had not taken the “Mark of the Beast”.

The world would be a much better place if we would focus on the Lord Jesus Christ now during the “Church Age”!

Jesus said He would build His Church:

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

It was true, not even Hell could stand against the Church!

The Church on earth became the “Body of Christ”:

Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

The Jews and the Gentiles have now been reconciled:

1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Eph 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

The reconciled Body of Christ now becomes the Bride:

Eph 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

As the Bride, we have been waiting until this time that has officially arrived:

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

How has the Bride made herself ready?

By accepting in faith the truth of God!

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

How has the Bride made herself lovely?

Joh_3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Joh_3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
1Pe_1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

And it has come time to put on the wedding apparel.

*Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

As the saints of God we must dress properly for our wedding with the Lamb of God.

How had Jesus found us?

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

We were terrible sinners!

We might even ask how could a Holy God ever see us as His future Bride?

None of us could claim to be better than others and it be true!

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

We were sentenced to eternal death and there was no remedy for our situation!

Our choice was to remain the same or accept the free gift of God!

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

There had to be a way!

Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

We had to learn about “faith”!

Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

We had to be constant in our faith to grow in Christ!

Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

We had to put on the Lord Jesus Christ!

Rom_13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Gal_3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

We had to dress as Christ!

1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

The Church had finally reached the object of her joy! United forever, never to be separated. All sin and evil wickedness soon to be eternally imprisoned in the Burning Lake of fire.

And the Bridegroom said:

*Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

What do we know about the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb”?

It is a celebration event that takes place on earth because Israel has finally repented in honor of the of the marriage of Jesus Christ to His Church and the beginning of, the 1000-year Millennial Kingdom.

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

The word “blessed” in this Scripture means “happy and contented” are those which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.

All those who are the happiest in this world today are those who know they are going to the “marriage supper” of the Lamb!

Yes, we can know that we will be there!

The Apostle John takes just a moment to tell us that these are the very words of God.

We must realize though there is the Spiritual Babylon and a few places where the Lord uses symbolism but for the most part the Book of Revelation is to be taken literally! Just as it is written, and we would be foolish not to!

It is the Word of God that is the basis of our faith.

Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Let us review:

The false church has been eliminated.
The wedding has taken place in Heaven.
The wedding music has played.
The Bridegroom is the Lord Jesus Christ.
The saints of God are the Bride.
The Bride is wearing the right garments “righteousness”.
We are discussing the wedding reception in this verse. The Marriage Supper.
We will soon begin our 1000 years honeymoon here on the remade earth.
After those 1000 years the Bridegroom will take His bride home to be with Him forever in Heaven.
And then “they will live happily ever after!

It is believed that these guests, who are being called are the Old Testament Saints such as John the Baptist who was a friend of the Groom.

Joh 3:29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

By the statement made by this messenger, he was one of those Old Testament Saints or at least a blood bought child of God.

John was so excited with what these words that he fell down to worship the one who gave him this message, which was not the Lord.

We are to worship no one but the Almighty God, Our Creator, Elohim, The Lord Jesus Christ!

*Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

What do we know? We know that many people even some in the Church laugh and make fun of prophesy, but the truth is, the Lord Jesus loves prophesy.

The Lord Jesus, He is the Spirit of prophecy!

He alone is worthy of our worship!

He alone is worthy of our conversations.

All other conversations are in reality vain!

Being Christian is to be like Christ Jesus and He loved prophecy and we should to!

Next lesson we get to see the true Second Coming of the Lord.

At the “Rapture”, the Lord will come as a thief and stole His Church(Bride) from this earth.

At the true Second Coming, He will return to the Mount of Olives, the same place where He left this earth to go back home for a while.

If you want to know the truth, then you must meet Jesus Christ and it would be best to meet Him during the Church Age!

Amen

The Book of Revelation the Seven Last Plagues

July 5, 2020 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Seven Last Plagues

Chapters 15 and 16

Just as most of the people who remain have sworn an oath to the Beast (Antichrist) and received the “Mark of The Beast” believing the Beast, will make things better.

Just when things are so bad that the people are in need of relief and the Antichrist promises that relief, but He is a liar.

Just when the people of earth that remain believe that things just cannot get worse, they get much worse.

The Lord God Jehovah is just getting started.

There are still some who did not take the “Mark of the Beast” and they will also go through these terrible things, but they will be saved out of them.

Many of them already martyrs for refusing the “Mark of the Beast”.

We should clearly understand that nothing is over, till the Lord says they are over.

Just as the Lord was about to take His last breath as He hung on the Cross on Mount Calvary, He said it is finished.

Joh 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
Joh 19:29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

What was accomplished? The plan of salvation for all believers was “finished” on that cross.

There is no other method to appease God beyond accepting the “work” that the Lord Jesus Christ did to provide our salvation, by paying the sin debt that was required for every human being that has lived since the time of Adam.

Even all those that were held in Abraham’s Bosom had to believe the work that the Lord did for the salvation of all those of the world.

Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

There is only one hope for salvation and this hope is even extended into the Great Tribulation!

Jesus Christ did all the work and our only requirement is faith in that work.

In these Scriptures Jesus will say it is over. He will use the words “it is done”.

What will be done? The full wrath of God will have reached its fulfillment!

*Rev 15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

Rev 15:5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
Rev 15:6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

The seven last plagues.

In case we miss it, there is a Temple in Heaven and guess what, my home and your home and every believers home are built around the Heavenly Temple.

Every believer will live in the Father’s House, in His Holy Temple.

But this day our Heavenly Father will show His wrath to those who have taken the “Mark of the Beast” who will live their final days in misery at the wrath of God.

Then in Hell, and then in the Burning Lake of Fire.

They are already in misery. They will see and feel and live in even more misery before they die and be sent to Hell for even more misery and after the “White Throne Judgment” into the Burning Lake of Fire, where they will endure everlasting misery in a place they cannot die to avoid it, just because they rejected their Creator.

This word wrath does not just mean they will endure God’s anger until His anger does not exist.

This word wrath means they will endure God’s never-ending anger upon them!

These angels come out of the Temple because their orders can come only from God Himself.

God’s “Two Witnesses” have finished their work and they are back in Heaven, their work complete.

Remember it takes two witness before God will allow death.

The angels assigned to deliver the Gospel to the entire world have finished their work as Jesus had commanded, and have returned to Heaven and their place.

Mat_24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

With all things accomplished as written then Jehovah would do just as He said He would do!

*Rev 15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

Notice those vials full of the wrath of God were not inside the Temple because anger should never be inside the House of God.

We did not use it, but in verse three in the Song of Moses, we see that all the acts of God are “just and true”!

Verse four says these “judgments” are made manifest.

The “judgments” of God are justified, and they will be according to His written Word!

These things in these vials must be completed before the Millennial Kingdom on earth can begin! All these things that written in the Word of God.

The Antichrist will be put down forever!

The False Prophet will be put down forever!

Satan will be chained up for 1000 years then released, for a very short season, and then sentenced to the Burning Lake of Fire!

To those who have questions, Satan will not be king of the Burning Lake of Fire, it is just his eternal home of misery just as it will be for all those who reject Jesus Christ.

It was in fact designed and created for him and the angels that followed him!

Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

God never intended to have to send humans to this place, but they have chosen this fate themselves!

We must not forget the number seven used here can be said to be the complete nature of the “Wrath of God”!

God has no other alternative left for sin except to completely destroy it!

Once God has commanded this action, Jehovah stood in all His glory and no man was able to enter the Temple of God.

To be sure there are no men in Heaven!

The Lord Jesus will come to this earth in all His glory and just His glory, being so powerful that sin will be eradicated wherever the Lord places His feet upon this earth.

Sin cannot stand before the Glory of God in any form or fashion!

God is long-suffering.
God is patient.
God is good.
God is kind.
God is love.

But God is also a consuming fire!

Deu 4:24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

God deals with sin with blood and fire.

If you are not covered by the blood of Jesus, you will be consumed by His glory!

Isa 28:21 For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.
Isa 28:22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.

This strange thing is about to take place!

*Rev 16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
Rev 16:2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

What we need to clearly understand is when Jehovah pours out these vials (bowls), His wrath will flow without mercy.

At no time in the Scriptures has Jehovah showed His wrath without it being tempered with “Mercy”.

God will show no mercy at this time!

He was warned and warned and warned again. There will be no more warnings! There will be no escape!

God takes no pleasure in showing His wrath.

God will eradicate ungodliness and wickedness and immorality from the face of the earth, just as He warned and just as He promised!

We have just been through a time of pestilence (plague) throughout the world so we now realize that a plague can affect the entire world.

Plague number one:

That word “noisome” means terribly destructive.

That word “sore” means boils or ulcers.

It will be similar to leprosy but far worse.

It will be a cancer outside the body that is incurable.

It will be sin exposed to the pure liquids from Heaven that will eat them like an acid.

I cannot imagine someone with running boils and running ulcers, still falling down to worship the Antichrist (the Beast).

I am sure they will also be begging for him to help them, but he cannot, nor will he be able to.

Some of these plagues actually happened on a smaller scale in Egypt in the days of Moses.

Exo 9:8 And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.
Exo 9:9 And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.
Exo 9:10 And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.
Exo 9:11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.
In reality “boils” are caused by “bad blood”!

“Boils” reveal “corruption” in the body!

These things will only happen to those who have the Mark of the Beast!

“Judgment” in all its bitterness had finally began.

The “fury” of the Lord that He would have rather not used, will no less be used on all those have the “Mark of the beast!

Not just in Jerusalem, not just in Israel, but all across the earth where men dwell!

*Rev 16:3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.

Remember we are seeing the wrath of God without mercy and its best just to understand this Scripture just as it is written.

We need to go back to the Book of Genesis.

Gen 1:9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

Gen 1:20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
Gen 1:21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
Gen 1:22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

What we should understand from our verse three, is that those seas are no longer water but blood not because of the blood of the sea creatures but because it is the blood that killed all the sea creatures because the Seas could no longer sustain life.

This is not just the Mediterranean Sea but just as in Genesis it is all the Seas as they are one Sea.

We should probably also understand that these bowls (vials) were probably poured out in rapid succession.

*Rev 16:4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.
Rev 16:5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.
Rev 16:6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
Rev 16:7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

The Seas as we know are Salt Waters, now we see that the fresh waters are also affected because in reality all the waters on our planet are connected.

Job 28:23 God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.
Job 28:24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;
Job 28:25 To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.
Job 28:26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
Job 28:27 Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.

Job 36:27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:
Job 36:28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.
Job 36:29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?

Without water there is no life and drinking blood will only cause death.

All, freshwater species, will die because of the blood.

Again this to has happened on a much smaller scale.

Exo 7:20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
Exo 7:21 And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

God’s warnings are over, “death” is the key word during this time near the end of the Great Tribulation.

The prophets, the preachers, the saints of God have been murdered for centuries on end, just because of faith and the Word of God.

Even the Lord Jesus Christ shed His blood for all the world if the world would just show a little faith.

That blood that has been in the soil and the seas all these years would now surface in the Seas, and the Lakes and the Streams and the Springs and the waters of the earth would be blood and that blood would no longer sustain life because it is the blood of death.

The Lord God Jehovah is right to do these things, because of the injustice the world has caused to His children.

And Christ Jesus is not yet through.

*Rev 16:8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
Rev 16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

I just wonder sometimes if all those who claim “Climate Change” are just afraid that what God says is true, but they still have some notion that they can defeat Jehovah.

They forget that Jesus Christ laid down His life and He then pick His life back up and the truth is He can never die!

I for one do hot handle the hot weather as well as I did when I was young, but this fourth bowl (vial) is pour directly on the Sun.

The Sun will have enough power to scorch the skin of those it reaches, who are unprotected.

Just what will protect you from the Sun that sends our fiery flames? Not much, and fire will break out everywhere with no means to extinguish its flame!

There will be a heat wave around this world, one such that has never been seen!

These people who can stay alive will not feel sorrow for their wickedness, they will only blaspheme and curse the Lord even more.

They still do not realize they are going to die.

How any could survive is only in the hands of the Lord.

We know the true Jews are in a place protected by the Lord, possibly the caves of Edom.

What had the Lord said?

Mal 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Mal 4:3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

Over and over the Lord has warned of this day.

Old Testament

Psa 21:9 Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.
Psa 21:10 Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.

Zep 1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

New Testament

Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

2Th 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
2Th 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
2Th 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2Th 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
2Th 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

The world is ready for the coming of the Lord today! For they will not repent!

*Rev 16:10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
Rev 16:11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

Some may say “well finally some relief”, but this darkness will not bring relief!

In fact this darkness is just a little taste of Hell.

So dark that you can feel it.

In so much pain but cannot find relief nor even see enough even to move.

Even then those hot flames will still burn but be invisible to the eye, such as the burning of the petrol in a formula one race car.

The pain of God’s Wrath cannot be avoided, and there will be no relief!

They will curse God even more!

Isaiah wrote that this would be a “gross” darkness.

Isa 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

But the Lord is not yet through.

All the world that remains hate the Lord so much, along with the Antichrist it is time for them to be gathered for one final battle, so the Lord makes a way for them to be gathered in the valley of Jehoshaphat.

Nah 1:5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
Nah 1:6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.
Nah 1:7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
Nah 1:8 But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
Nah 1:9 What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.

The Antichrist, The Beast does not even realize what is taking place.

Psa_2:4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

*Rev 16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
Rev 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
Rev 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

At first glance it would seem that this sixth vial (bowl) does not seem to be much.

If we look closely, it not only says the way of the kings of the east is made clear, but the final preparations of the Great War called Armageddon have already been completed.

We know the Euphrates River has existed since the time of Creation and more or less has kept its tract even after the great flood just for the reason we read about in this chapter.

For those who do not know, there is a great dam built on the Euphrates today and it is possible to almost stop the flow of this great river that has supplied water to many people for a long time.

Nearly 2000 years ago Jehovah said He would dry up this river basin to allow a great army to come to Jerusalem from the East.

Say what we will and guess if we must, but the largest army in existence is the Chinese Army and it lies to the East.

In earlier studies we already know that the great armies of the North will also converge on Israel, which the great armies of the North would be the Russian and the Turkish armies.

The armies of the West would be the revived Roman Empire, which by the way I would hope would not include the USA, but there is little doubt that this is true, except the Scripture that mentions “on the wings of a Great Eagle”.

It is a fact that God has cursed every nation that goes against Israel, so they all will serve their purpose in this Great War that can only end one way.

The Antichrist has now the means to march all the armies of the world to Israel in an attempt destroy her, simply because the Lord has said that this is His land.

Hatred, we are fools if we do not see hatred growing today throughout the world.

What are these unclean spirits (like frogs)? The means to instill even more hatred!

Isa_11:15 And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.

All the world has given in to the Antichrist, (the Beast) and he has total control of all the great armies of this world.

God does not redo things He has not already done!

1Ki 22:20 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
1Ki 22:21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.
1Ki 22:22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.

The Lord used one lying spirit to convince Ahab to go to his death.

Jehovah will use three unclean spirits, to convince the Antichrist to go to his defeat along with all these great armies.

They are “spirits of devils”!

Notice they have the power to perform miracles to show the mighty (perceived) power of the Beast.

It takes a fool to challenge the Almighty God and Satan has been defeated at every turn, and now he will lead most of the remaining people of this earth to their death because of his great hatred for God’s creation.

That war, Armageddon, is used by many men and women, but this is not really a war.

God says it is a slaughter! Armageddon means “slaughter” and it will be a slaughter!

Why would King Jesus speak at this time to John? It is just a reminder!

*Rev 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. Rev 16:16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

Jesus will come as a thief to carry the Church away.

In fact the departure of the Church will be explained away by the Antichrist and the only ones who will take notice will be the Hebrew Children.

They will become jealous!

Rom_10:19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
Rom_11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

What will happen to true Israel?

Rev_12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

The Lord has come again as a thief and moved the intended victims of the Antichrist to safety.

Those who die in the war of Armageddon die for nothing and it will be a slaughter!

*Rev 16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

Let us review:

The Trumpet Judgments.

Hail, fire, and blood cast upon THE EARTH; one third trees, and one third of all living things burnt.
One third of SEA made blood; one third of creatures therein and of ships destroyed.
One third of the RIVERS made bitter; many men destroyed.
One third of the SUN smitten; one third of the day darkened.
Star from heaven falls into the ABYSS; he sends forth locusts; men seek death; Hebrew name of their king is Abaddon.
Armies from the EUPHRATES destroy one third part of men; men repent not.
The two witnesses of God WITNESS for him and work MIRACLES; WAR against them by the beast.
VOICES in heaven; the JUDGMENT; earthquake, lightning and HAIL weighing over hundred pounds.

The Vial Judgments.

Vial poured ON THE EARTH; sores upon the followers of the beast.
The SEA made blood as of a dead man; every soul therein destroyed.
RIVERS made blood; declared to be God’s vengeance upon [ALL] men.
SUN smitten; men scorched; men blaspheme, men repent not.
The THRONE and kingdom of the beast smitten; men, in pain, blaspheme God; men repent not.
The way prepared for kings beyond the EUPHRATES. Three unclean spirits of the dragon WITNESS for him and work MIRACLES; WAR by the world at (the Hebrew) Armageddon.
VOICES in heaven; the FALL of Babylon; EARTHQUAKE lightning and HAIL.,

We may from this comparison notice:

(1) The vials form a series of visions announcing God’s judgments against the wicked.
(2) The number seven as well as their character indicates the universal and complete nature of these judgments.
(3) The events portrayed occupy the same period in time as the seals and trumpets; that is to say, the period of the world’s history terminating with the last judgment day.
(4) As in the uses of the seals and trumpets, they are general indications of God’s judgments; and though particular events may be partial fulfillment, the complete fulfillment is in our time.
(5) In comparison with the seals and trumpets, we may observe some points in common and some in which the visions differ.
(a) Like the former visions, these may be divided into two groups of four and three.
(b) The structure of the vial visions is almost exactly parallel to that of the seals.
(c) The visions all terminate with the same events portrayed in similar language, though, as the three sets of visions proceed, more stress is laid upon the judgment of the wicked, and less on the victory of the redeemed.
(d) An episode occurs after the sixth vial of almost identical nature with, though much shorter than that after the sixth trumpet.
(e) The severity of the nature of the vial judgments is conspicuous. Whereas under the seals one fourth was afflicted, and under the trumpets one third, there is nothing to indicate any exemption in the vial visions.
(6) The reason of the employment of the term “vial,” or “bowl,” is most likely to be found in the expression, “cup of God’s anger,” in Rev_14:10.

It indicates the pouring out of God’s wrath in an overwhelming and irresistible flood.

It is, therefore, significant of retribution more dire than that symbolized by the trumpet, just as the trumpet indicated greater severity than the seals.

When we read where so many of this world died during these “vial” judgments what we see is a world under total confusion.

The Antichrist, the beast has proven to be a total lie!

The Lord Jesus Christ has proven to be the truth!

Never has this world seen so much confusion, so much chaos, and so much discord.

All these people are at a loss to explain what is happening to them!

They had rejected the Word of God, but the Word of God had been true all along!

Psa 102:25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
Psa 102:26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
Psa 102:27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

Isa 51:6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

The kingdom of Satan is crumbling, and he has no power to stop it!

Only ruin can be seen wherever eyes can see.

Jer 4:23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
Jer 4:24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
Jer 4:25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
Jer 4:26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.

Jehovah in His “great anger” had accomplished what He said He would do!

The remaining chapters give us greater detail of all these things, but the truth is King Jesus has just stepped out upon the world stage.

Amen

The Book of Sevens in Heaven

May 10, 2020 / Bobby Mayfield / 1 Comment

The Opening of the Seals

Book of Revelation Chapter 6 Verse 1 through 17

The time has finally come that the Book that the Lamb of God, took from our Heavenly Father, is about to be opened and the first of the seven seals is about to be broken and the entire world will know exactly what will happen to the world after the “Rapture of the Church”.

The Church will be in Heaven as promised by the Word of God.

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, “we shall be saved from wrath through him”.

1Th 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, “which delivered us from the wrath to come”.

1Th 5:9 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath”, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

God does never break a promise!

As long as we are upon this earth, we will see these things called pestilences, as this virus we have today.

We will see some of the wars and rumors of more wars, as we see today.

We will see this climate change, which brings with it, hurricanes, cyclones, tornadoes, and such.

We will see earthquakes and volcanoes.

We will see wicked and immorality increase.

Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

We may even see that wicked Antichrist step out into the public eye.

2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

God the Father gave the power to His Son to do what was necessary!

The Lord Jesus has given to us the outline of much of the Book of Revelation as He outlined it as written by Matthew in Chapter 4.

Joh 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Before these things get unbearable, Jesus will return to take His Church home!

Once the Church is at home, then Jesus will take the Book and open up those seals to reveal that part of the Book (Scroll)

*Rev 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

John is to write about what he sees, and he could not see from where he was located, so one of the beast, that surrounds the Lord at all times, looked over to John and said “come and see”.

1) The Lord Jesus has introduced Himself.

2) The Lord Jesus spoke to the Pastor or the Church Leader.

3) The Church has been “Raptured” into Heaven.

4) The “Judgment Seat” of Christ has taken place and rewards have been issued.

5) The Church knowing the unworthiness of receiving rewards have tossed them all back to the Savior’s feet.

6) All these things mark the beginning of the Book of Revelation, and now we will see what will happen after all these things have taken place.

The seals.

Many believe that the first beast that spoke was the Lion faced beast because his roar could be as the noise of thunder.

Rev 10:3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

We can see, if John was told to come and see one time then, it would not be necessary for him to relocate as each seal is broken.

It could be said that it is the different horsemen who are called to receive their specific orders.

It could also mean for the Lord to come to get His Church, before the next seal is opened as each rider will bring turmoil to this earth.

Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

All of these things are certainly a guess.

What did John see?

*Rev 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

Many have questioned just who is this rider on the white horse?

The one main key to the to the identity of this rider is the actions of the other three riders.

The rider of the Red horse takes peace from the earth with war and bloodshed.
The rider of the Black horse brings famine throughout the world.
The rider of the Pale horse brings pestilence and death and those that die go to Hell.

According to the Scriptures, the Lord Jesus Christ will return after His Church had been called out to Heaven, and then to put an end to all these things and bring peace to the Jews.

This rider of the White Horse cannot be the Lord Jesus Christ.

What do we see?

1) The Horse: The horse in Bible times was never used as a beast of burden but was reserved for war.

Job 39:19 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?
Job 39:20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.
Job 39:21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.
Job 39:22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.
Job 39:23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.
Job 39:24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.
Job 39:25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

2) The color white is normally used as a symbol of purity as we have seen in previous lessons and used here has a specific meaning.

3&4) The rider: He is upon a white horse. He is given a crown. He had a bow.

In the New Testament the word bow is used 5 times.

Four times it is used as to bow the knees.

The crown:

Only one time in the New Testament is it used in another way and here in the Book of Revelation it is not a weapon of war but a flimsy bow as in a ribbon used in a child’s hair.

We see this rider had a bow, but he was given a crown. This crown not a crown of gold but a garland crown as was given to victors in the Roman games. A “stephanos”.

A garland crown tied to his head with the flimsiest of bows.

This tells us many things about the Antichrist and Satan.

Who is this rider? Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

This is not an elder of the Church!

Rev 4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

This rider is not the Lord Jesus Christ! For how will the Lord Jesus return to this earth?

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

This rider of the White Horse in this Scripture is that old Deceiver, The False Christ, the Antichrist, set loose upon this earth!

The second seal.

*Rev 6:3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
Rev 6:4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

Next, we have the second beast, of four that stands before the throne of God, knowing that the Apostle John is standing there says again “come and see”.

I got to thinking about that word “come” and from a message from my Pastor and it came to me that when God says to come, He has already built the bridge, or the road, or the means to get to Him safely.

Like Peter when Jesus was walking upon the water, when Jesus told Peter to come, the Lord had already built the bridge for Peter to come to Him. This time it was a bridge of “Faith” and Peter’s faith failed him.

The most important bridge that is built between us and our Heavenly Father is that bridge of “faith”.

The Lord is always “faithful”, and we need to be as faithful to the LORD to have the best relationship!

The rider who came was the rider of the horse that was red.

This rider was given the power to take away peace.

Notice he had no power, that power was given to him!

Without peace there is war.

Without peace in the family there is no family.

Without peace between each other, there is aimless bloodshed.

There were no more rumors of war, there would be all-out war on every front!

There would be unimpeded murder and mayhem.

That “great sword” was the means to destroy in large quantities!

Hos 4:2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
Hos 4:3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.

It could be nuclear, but it could also include all the means available today by all the great militaries upon this earth.

We cannot miss the fact that there is more hatred in our nation today than there ever have been, and it is the same in every nation.

People get tired of abuse and lies. The world is a tinder box ready to explode today and when the Church is in Heaven there will not be anyone left who has common sense!

Without the Lord and without the mind of Christ, only evil will prevail.

The rider of the white horse brought deception.

Deception brings rebellion.

Rebellion brings the “great sword” of the rider of the red horse.

According to the Word of God, the Antichrist will first bring peace to this world, but it is a deceptive peace.

Psa_12:2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

People can only be deceived for so long and false peace will become a slaughter of people.

The Holy Spirit will not be around to bring conviction.

No one but the Children of Israel will even be mentioning Jehovah God, but they have not yet repented.

Pro 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

It will be a terrible time to be upon this earth, but it will only get worse.

The third seal.

*Rev 6:5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
Rev 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

What happens when war is the rule. Famine. The lands of the farmer are destroyed!

The land is destroyed, and crops cannot be produced.

The Antichrist now has control of all the true wealth of the world. The economies of each nation are non-existent and there is no way to recover from such world war.

Lev 26:26 And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.

Eze 4:15 Then he said unto me, Lo, I have given thee cow’s dung for man’s dung, and thou shalt prepare thy bread therewith.
Eze 4:16 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care; and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment:
Eze 4:17 That they may want bread and water, and be astonied one with another, and consume away for their iniquity.

People will slowly be starving to death and this will make things even worse!

When John wrote these words the average wage for one day was a penny.

I read just this week that in one nation a carton of eggs would cost a week’s wages and this because of this Covid 19 virus.

Mat 20:2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

It would take an entire day’s wages just to get enough good food for one person.

Those with families of two or more would see that a day’s wages could only purchase food, with very little nourishment, and still not be enough to last for one day.

This being true, the worker would have to work seven days a week just to survive, while slowly dyeing of starvation.

The rich of course, and there will always be rich because the Lord said there would always be the poor.

Mar_14:7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

It would be those who are rich who would have control of the oil and the wine, the good stuff that the poor could not afford!

Yes these are the days of the Tribulation.

The Antichrist will have control of the economy.
The Antichrist will have control of the food distribution.
The Antichrist will have control of the militaries.
The Antichrist will have control of the government.

In reality the Antichrist will control who lives and who dies of all the population and he will specifically try to eliminate anyone who still calls on God. The Jews still call on Jehovah, they will become the enemy when the Antichrist breaks the peace agreement he had made.

There will be some who obtain a copy of the Word of God and see that this Book had the truth all along.

You see all the Bibles of the Church will be left behind. All the things a of the Church on the internet will be left behind.

All those who falsely claimed to be saved will die.

The fourth seal.

*Rev 6:7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
Rev 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

After great wars come famine and during famine will come pestilence!

Lev 26:25 And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

The Pale horse whose rider is Death and it is Hell that followed after him.

Notice the power was given to them. Not just to the rider.

Death will come to everyone!

Heb_9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

In truth, the Christian will die once and then comes the “Judgment Seat of Christ”

Now those few who will get to be a part of the “Rapture” will not see death as the ordinary man, but they will still see a death during that change to a glorified body.

1Co_15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, “but we shall all be changed”,

These that are asleep are those old wretched bodies that were left behind when that saved soul went back to Heaven.

1Co_15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

The Lord God will raise even those old wretched bodies and glorify those bodies and they will be reunited with that soul when the Lord brings them with Him when He returns to receive His Church.

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Death has no power over the child of God!
Hell cannot touch the child of God!

All others will fall into the hands of these two, Death and Hell the riders of the Pale horse.

We must also keep in mind that all these horses are war horses!

2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

At least one fourth of all the people upon the face of this earth will die by the power of the rider of the Pale horse and all of those will go to Hell!

Personally, I know that besides those who totally rejected the Lord during the Church Age, those during the Tribulation who call upon the Lord will still be saved.

God will never go back on His Word!

The Antichrist will immediately see that they are murdered, and most of them will be beheaded and we know what people do such things as beheading.

The fifth seal.

*Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

We have not seen anything good come from these “seals” so far.

These are all terrible things unleashed upon those who hate the Lord Jesus Christ.

This fifth seal is terrible in one way and lovely in another way.

There will be souls that are saved!

BUT Their death will be by murder and slaughter!

We know that Jesus Christ has only broken the seals of this Book that was in the hands of God.

The Book has not yet been opened! All these are things that are in the future of this world.

These souls.

These could be the souls of all the Martyred throughout the ages, but I do not believe this could be true because by this time the “Rapture” has taken place and all the souls in Heaven have been reunited with their wretched bodies and have been glorified.

What do we know about the altar of sacrifice?

Exo 29:12 And thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock, and put it upon the horns of the altar with thy finger, and pour all the blood beside the bottom of the altar.

We know that life is in the blood.

Lev_17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

This blood represents all those who have come to know the Lord during the Tribulation and where immediately murdered for their confession.

There will be souls saved during the Tribulation Period, but it will not be any of those who had an opportunity to do so during the Church Age

2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

The seven Tribulation years is the time that the Lord Jesus Christ is again dealing with the Jews, and as always there are those from many nations who dwell with and around them.

Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
Mal 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

This is not any part of the 144,000 because we know that none of those became martyrs.

All those teaching of the Messiah will be severely punished during these years, but these 144,000 Jews will not fall!

It does not mean that these souls are not Jews, just not of those selected by the Lord to preach the Gospel.

We see that these martyred souls are given white robes because they have not yet been given a glorified body.

These souls were comforted and told that they should rest for season which is no more than the last three and one-half years.

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

The sixth seal.

*Rev 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
Rev 6:13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

When we read this phase “great earthquake” we need to pay attention or we will automatically see one great earthquake, but this is only partially true. There are many earthquakes felt each year in many locations.

This “great earthquake” will be felt, not just in all parts of Asia but will be felt throughout the entire world, causing much damage, and causing the tilt of the earth to change and the orbit of the earth to change.

Isa_2:19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

Isa_2:21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

What did the prophet Zechariah say?

Zec 14:1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
Zec 14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Zec 14:3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
Zec 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
Zec 14:5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.
Zec 14:6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:
Zec 14:7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.

These things refer to the coming of the Lord!

Joe 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
Joe 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Isaiah again:

Isa 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
Isa 13:10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

Isaiah:

Isa 34:1 Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it.
Isa 34:2 For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.
Isa 34:3 Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.
Isa 34:4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.

There are many other places in the Scriptures.

It is obvious that the Lord is serious about these things.

Certainly, the stars from far away galaxies will not fall to earth but those which are close to us probably will be able to.

Meteors and shooting stars will certainly find their way to this earth.

All the dust and debris in the air will not allow the sunlight to be bright, but it will be like the sun is shining through sackcloth and when this happens there will be a blood moon.

We can say the earth will be like the earth is travailing in pain as she labors to bring forth the New Earth and the Millennial Kingdom of our Lord.

The heavens will open up as a scroll!

*Rev 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Rev 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
Rev 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

As the world is changing to be like it was before the flood of Noah and in the days of Adam.

All the armies of the world will be so confused they will massacre each other, and just look at all those who will be hiding from the Lord.

The national leaders who have followed the Antichrist.
The so-called great men, those who have controlled the functions upon this earth for ages.
The rich men whose money could not save them.
The chief captains, those who do the dirty work given to them by their leaders.
The mighty men, those who thought they could save themselves.
Every bondman, who served their wicked masters right up to the end.
Every free man who could have made their own choices, but they chose to follow the world.

They hid in those places set aside for the “so-called essential” Presidents and Kings and whoever else and we can be sure some foolish reporters would be able to sneak in.

They will not want any part of the Lamb of God who they have despised and rejected but they will find that, the Lord Jesus does truly hold even their lives in His hand.

Only the people of God will be able to stand because they are in Heaven!

Amen

Lets Pray!

Worthy Is the Lamb of God

May 3, 2020 / Bobby Mayfield / 1 Comment

The Lamb and the Scroll

Book of Revelation Chapter 5 Verses 1 through 14

As we continue in our study, let us review.

We have seen it is Jesus Christ who holds the candlesticks that represent all those seven Churches.

We have seen it is the Lord Jesus who holds the Pastors or, (whatever he is called by denominations), in His hand and they are responsible to Him for every message and for how they lead the church, and how they live their own lives.

We have seen the seven types of churches and somewhat how they also represent the seven Church Ages.

We are in the last of the Church Ages today!

We have seen that immediately after the last Church Age, that the Church has been called into Heaven, so most of the remaining Chapters in this great and final Book of the Bible happen after the Church has been called out of this world.

Chapter five introduces us to “the Lion of the Tribe of Juda”.

*Rev 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

We should understand that the “Rapture” of the Church will have taken place.

The “Bema Seat” judgment (the Judgment Seat of Christ) has taken place and rewards for the work each Christian has done after salvation, have been issued. The question of salvation had already been answered and the Bema Seat judgment was only about rewards.

Those rewards have been tossed at the feet of our Savior as each Christian felt unworthy of any reward, but only shame for not doing more when they had the opportunity. We will all feel this way when we look upon the Lamb of God!

Then there is this book.

We should be clear that John is continuing to tell us about the scene in the throne room of God.

It is some man who divided chapter 4 from chapter 5 and added the verse numbers, which are a blessing in most cases.

As God sits upon His throne, He thrust this book outward, to see if any of the saints now fill worthy to open the book He has in His right hand.

None were! None of us are worthy even to be in Heaven!

What do we know?

The right hand is the symbol of “wisdom”.

Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

The right hand is the symbol of “power”.

Job 36:5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.

The right hand is the symbol of Divine operation. Our Holy God is Supreme in all His decisions!

Psa 118:16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

When Jehovah God thrust out His right hand that holds a book that He has written, then who does have the power and the knowledge to read this book.

The Bible is one of those amazing books that He has given to us and would have every Christian to have a copy of that book.

This book in His right hand is another book, a book in which we will find all the things that will happen after the Church is in Heaven and have missed out on the wrath of God.

We have heard a lot about executive orders, especially during the last two administrations and we could say maybe these things are executive orders from a Holy God who is not pleased with the actions of His own creation to rebel against Him.

Remember when the Church entered Heaven, the Antichrist was standing upon the earth with the answers to all the problems that were facing the earth in that day. A day maybe not so different as the day we have now as the world is facing a killer virus. Which by the way has many question marks!

The Angels knew that they were not worthy!

*Rev 5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
Rev 5:3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

John realized that this Angel that stepped forward had a voice that could be heard throughout all of Heaven and if need be throughout all God’s creation.

This Angel could not have been Jesus Christ, Angels are created beings and the Lord Jesus Christ is the Creator.

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

All the Angels in Heaven are mighty Angels. This Angel could be the Angel Gabriel who is known in the Scriptures as an Archangel who stands in the presence of God or some other Angel whose name we do not know.

Luk 1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

Some believe that Gabriel is the Trump of God, as do I!

What did this Strong Angel proclaim? It was a simple question but a question that only One person could answer.

” Who is worthy to open the Book that was projecting from the throne of God, which also had been sealed by our Heavenly Father”?

What did John realize?

There was no one in Heaven and no one upon this earth that is worthy to break the seals God had placed upon this book!

Sealing a document was equivalent to the signature of the Owner of that seal.

There were certainly one upon this earth worthy!

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

Not one of the “Redeemed” would claim to be worthy.

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Our worthiness comes only by Jesus Christ!

No Angel would even attempt to reach for this Book without the express permission of our Heavenly Father!

It did not take long to search in Heaven because all the Saints were still at the foot of the throne on their faces before God.
It did not take long to search on earth because all the Saints of God were in Heaven and no one left behind were worthy.

All these things caused the Apostle John to weep because he knew he was certainly unworthy to open this Book nor was he worthy to look upon this Book.

John knew what was happening to the Church that was still physically upon this earth and he knew they needed to understand what was written in this Book.

John understood he was having a vision of the future of the Church.

With all the persecution of the Church, John was craving for answers that he felt he could only get from this book.

John knew his days were short and the Holy Scriptures for the Church was not yet complete.

Remember Daniel was not allowed to write about these things.

Dan 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

This time of increased knowledge would be also the time of the last Church Age or what we know is the Laodicean Church Age, which we are in today.

*Rev 5:4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

Not one of God’s Created beings was worthy enough to open the Book that was in God’s right hand.

One look at the throne and John saw just how much superior Our Heavenly Father is to all creation.

There was no one anywhere worthy to reveal what God had written in that book that He was offering.

Our heavenly Father wanted the things in this book to be revealed!

John was to write down everything he saw.

We could say that none of the Word of God was written without tears.

We already know that without tears not much of the Word of God can even be understood!

If this book could not be opened, then it would prove God to be false!

Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, “and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter”.

You see, if this book that contained all the things that we now know was written in the Book of Revelation, (the revealing of the Lord Jesus Christ), that would happen after the Church was in Heaven, then God would have told John a lie.

John wept because of this!

Remember no one could approach God if they had sin, so no one on earth could be worthy. What did Jesus say?

Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, “that ye may be accounted worthy” to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

God has no secrets about His plan of salvation!
God will never hide the truth from us!

Are there things about God’s creation that we know nothing about? Sure, but these things do not affect our relationship with our father in Heaven.

Those elders (the church) already knew the truth and as we all should do, one of those elders came to John with the truth.

You see the Book that God held was a book of destiny.

It is a book of God’s wrath.

The book is in God’s hands because it is He, who is in charge of human history and human future!

Our Heavenly Father has a plan and He will not be denied!

Many people do not like the Book of Revelation, but it will pay for all of us to study this great Book of the Bible and believe what the Word of God says!

This Book is the revealing of the Lord Jesus Christ and it is only He who sacrificed Himself to pay for our sins and who will also save the true Israel, and only He is worthy to open this Book in the hand of our Father in Heaven!

*Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

When John heard these things he knew he would then see his Savior.

What do we know?

We know that Jehovah God is holding a book in His right hand.
We know that a search has been conducted all over the earth for someone worthy to open this book.
We know that a search has been conducted all over Heaven for someone worthy to open this book.
We know it was the Lord Jesus Christ who was the speaker all through the first three Chapter of this Book we now have.
We know that Chapter 4 and much of Chapter 5 describe the Throne Room of God in Heaven.
We now know that it is the Lord Jesus Christ who will explain the remainder of the Book of Revelation.

How do we know this person is Jesus Christ?

1) He is the same One spoken by Jacob:

Gen 49:9 Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
Gen 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

This Shiloh is the Messiah.
This Shiloh is the “Lion of the tribe of Judah”.
This Shiloh will be King of the Jews.

2) He is the same One spoken by Isaiah:

Isa 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
Isa 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
Isa 11:3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
Isa 11:4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Isa 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

3) He is the same One spoken by Jeremiah:

Jer 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
Jer 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Jer 23:7 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
Jer 23:8 But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.

To this day, the Jews who have the Book of Jeremiah, do not realize it is the Lord Jesus Christ who brought them back out of captivity to the rebirth of the nation of Israel, but they will soon.

Jesus has conquered everything that has been placed in His path, by being the humble Savior and Redeemer that He is, but this book that He takes out of the hands of His Father will show the world another side of our Lord, the side of “judgment”!

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is worthy to take this book and open the seven seals of God because He is God!

So let us meet Him.

*Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

Notice He is in the midst of the throne.
Notice He is in the midst of the four beasts.
Notice this is the same exact same place as our Heavenly Father.

Rev 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the very center of everything in Heaven!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the center of everything in this world!

The Lord Jesus Christ is in the exact place to execute the offices of Prophet, Priest, and King!

He wore on His person, all the wounds which He received to take away my sin, and your sin, and all the sin of the world.

He had he appearance of a lamb that had been slain!

Because He had been sacrificed.
Because He had been buried.
Because He had raised from the dead.

He was the only One who was worthy to open up the book that had been in His Father’s Right Hand!

Opening this book would bring great joy to His own people but it would bring great terror to His enemies!

He had seven horns and seven pairs of eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the Earth.

Zec 3:6 And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,
Zec 3:7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.
Zec 3:8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.
Zec 3:9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
Zec 3:10 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.

Zec 4:8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Zec 4:9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.
Zec 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

The Lord Jesus Christ was the perfect sacrifice for our sins, but He was also the only Sacrifice for our sin, making Him the only way to get into God’s New Heaven!

God’s Holy Spirit is the only Spirit that can run to and fro throughout the whole earth to provide regeneration to the believers and hold Satan to limited power as he to, goes to and fro through this earth.

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Job 1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

2Th_2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

Satan is that mystery of iniquity who remains hidden, but who is the cause of all lies and the cause of all sin in our world, but he is also under the control of the Holy Spirit and cannot do anything without the express permission of our Savior.

So the Lord Jesus who is the absolute Power of God, takes the Book.

*Rev 5:7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

Jesus Christ the sovereign power of all Creation, bled and died that the entire world could be saved, but sadly there are people who just do not want to be saved because they have made themselves to be little gods who think they have some power, which they do not.

There are not really any true atheists!

A true atheist would not be concerned with those who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!

There are only Christians and antichrists! These are the only two groups of people upon this planet!

Jesus Christ is the “Supreme Intelligence” in this entire universe or a better word is cosmos.

Col 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Because Jesus is sovereign, He only can take the Book in the right hand of God the Father, because He is the right hand of God the Father!

What happens when He takes the Book?

Heaven falls down on their faces in worship of Heavens Savior and Redeemer, the Almighty Living God!

The four beast whose only job is to worship God.

All those elders, the Church who are the redeemed and who know their Redeemer.

All Heaven and Earth broke loose in a song of praise.

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Rev 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

You see once the Church is in Heaven, then will begin the wrath of God upon this earth of unbelievers.

All the prayers of the persecuted that have been saved in Heaven will be answered!

Every prayer contained in those vials are from God’s children and are like a sweet-smelling aroma in His presence.

He does not forget, not a single one!

You know what? I cannot play a single musical instrument, but on that day, I will be a “harp player” and a good one and I definitely want to sing in Heavens Choir. Not because I can sing because I cannot. I just want to praise my Lord and my God.

Then, they all began to sing a new song in Heaven.

*Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

First the song:

It would be a song that neither they nor any other had sung before.

It could be sung at this time because the redeeming work of the Lord is complete! (thou hast redeemed) We cannot sing this song until we get to God’s “New Heaven”. We know we are redeemed! We are redeemed! The Lord has just not delivered us unto His Father, which is what the “Rapture” is all about!

Presenting the Church (the Bride) to the Heavenly Father.

It would begin the unceasing worship of the redeemed for the Redeemer.

All the Old Testament prophesies of the Church are fulfilled.

All the New Testament teachings about the Church are fulfilled except the Book of Revelation!

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Tit 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

It would be the first moment of a never-ending life!

Second the singers:

The four beasts. They are alive and they sang.

The twenty-four elders. They are alive and they sang.

The Angels. They are alive. They cannot sing the song of the Redeemed, but they can sing praises to the Lamb of God!

The Angels finally understood the work of the Master. These Angels now know more about God than they ever had before!

There is not one dead person in Heaven and there never will be!

They praise the Lamb of God because He is worthy.
They praise the Lamb of God because He was our sacrifice.
They praise the lamb of God because He has redeemed to God the Father.
They praise the Lamb of God because he used His Own Blood.

Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

They praise the Lamb of God because He accepted any who called upon His name.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

They praised the Lamb of God because of His amazing gifts. Remember the Bema Seat is now in the past, yet the Adopted Children of God are given great gifts and a great work.

The Lord had to die, but He could not stay dead!

After the seven years of tribulation, especially the three and a half years of the Great Tribulation, those on earth who the Lord has allowed to survive along with that remnant of the Jews will see some new rulers under the King of the Jews.

King Jesus will rule the world.
King Jesus will be King of the Jews.
King Jesus will appoint the Redeemed to be Kings and Priest as His helpers, over the nations that remain and just whatever He so chooses.

Mat 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Again worthy is the Lamb. Heaven has never been a lonely place!

Heaven will never be a crowded place!

*Rev 5:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
Rev 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

We could take that number of Angels just as it is written and it be 100 million and millions and millions more or we can accept the meaning to be an innumerable amount of Angels just as the 24 elders mean a number of Saints that are not given as it will be perfect number.

These Angels surround all the Saints of God, the Beast, and the lamb of God in the midst. They have been our protectors since we accepted the Lord as our Savior and they will continue to be our protectors throughout eternity.

They now stand equally with all the throng of Heaven.

They are not distressed or broken.
They are not divided nor do they feel betrayed.

Just like the Church they are just there to worship their God, the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ!

They have been our unseen guardians only occasionally taking on the form of a human for a reason that only the Lord knows.

They have served just because of the love for their Creator.

Notice those beasts are singing. Remember they had only one job!

Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

The whole time they were doing these things for a God who left Heaven in all His glory to come to this earth to die and then reclaim His life and return to Heaven.

They were now singing to the Lamb of God, who was standing in the midst of the throne of God. Still proof that God exist in three persons!

The Church has always known the Lord Jesus is the Almighty Living God.

And what where they all singing?

Worthy is the Lamb of God that had been slain to “redeem” His greatest creation!

Worthy is the Lamb of God who has the “power of God”.

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Worthy is the Lamb of God who possesses all the riches of Heaven.

Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Eph 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Worthy is the Lamb of God who has all the wisdom and strength and honor!

Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Rom 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Worthy is the Lamb of God who possesses all the glory and blessings.

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Oh, what a Savior.

*Rev 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Rev 5:14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

All things were made by our Savior and for our Savior. All His creation knows Him, who He is and what He stands for!

It is only the puny humans who defy Him who in reality only have the power of grass in the field!

Isa 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isa 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
Isa 40:5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Isa 40:6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
Isa 40:7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
Isa 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

All of Heaven is concerned about the opening to the seven seals.

The Church is in Heaven.
All the Angels are in Heaven at this moment.
The beasts are still around the throne of the Lord.

At this same time, Satan is placing his false trinity in place upon this earth and the seven-year tribulation period has begun along with death and destruction and the greatest deception known to mankind.

Amen

Let us Pray!

The Lion or the Lamb

July 29, 2018 / Bobby Mayfield / 2 Comments

Judgment on Gentile Nations

Book of Jeremiah 25

Without a doubt, as the Bride of Christ, we should be anxiously watching and waiting for the return of the Lord. In fact this is a command of God.

We need to live our life as if the Lord could return at any moment because this is true!

We must also understand that “All” nations are accountable to God!

Those nations that are not watching nor waiting for the return of Christ will see His wrath!

Mat 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

There is a tremendous difference between the voice of love and the voice of death!

Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God, but He is also the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

There will be no place to hide from the wrath of God!

There is no security outside the will of God!

Every person and every nation have a choice to drink of the cup of submission to the will of the Lord or they will certainly drink of the cup of His wrath!

The cup of God’s wrath is the consequence of unrepented sin!

Jesus Christ is in the future of every human being that has ever lived whether good or bad, we will all face the Lord at some point that He decides Himself!

Year after year Jeremiah preached these things to Judah and many of his words had reached into other nations so many of them also hated Jeremiah for the words he was preaching.

The truth is that the “Judgment of God” is not a very pleasant thing to think about!

Why is this so true? Every nation will be held accountable for the way God’s People have been treated. “Vengeance is mine saith the Lord”.

This includes the Church and also the nation of Israel.

Listen as Jeremiah preached to Judah:

*****Jer 25:11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

We should not be surprised that true history agrees with the Word of God.

Babylon is the first of the five kingdoms that Daniel said by the Holy Spirit that would conquer the known world of that day to form a great empire. The fifth one being the Kingdom of the Lord Himself on the throne of David, which is still in the future.

Daniel and Ezekiel were both taken captive in the time of Jeremiah who God had chosen to remain in Judah at this time.

Nebuchadnezzar had captured Judah in 605 BC. His army had also defeated the powers of Egypt and the powers of Assyria.

Some believe that this period of time was the fulfillment of Luke 21:24.

Luk 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

The time of the Gentiles is not yet complete and will not be complete until the Church has been removed and the Lord sits on the throne of David.

We should understand that God knows the ending at the same time of the beginning and He has a Master plan in place.

We can see God work in the generation that we live in and Jeremiah could see God work in his own generation.

In that 70 years most all those non-believers would die off and those that were born would live in a land of idol worshippers and learn the truth of God.

The thing we also see is that the nation of Babylon as powerful as they were would only last for 70 years because God is always right!

*****Jer 25:12 And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.

Today the original city of Babylon is a wilderness and a swamp and only a few signs still exist of its wonders.

We also know that God uses some human as a servant to fulfill His will and Nebuchadnezzar was used of God at this time.

The greatest lesson we can learn of these times is that we need to pay attention to what God says!

We must certainly never reject the Word of God.

When these things went according to the plan of God, God then brought “Judgment” upon Babylon because of its cruelty not only to God’s people but also to all the people in that Empire.

Isa 13:19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
Isa 13:20 It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.

As I said, you cannot pitch a tent in a swamp!

God keeps His eyes on each and every generation!

Jeremiah prophesied against all nations and that includes all the nations of today.

*****Jer 25:13 And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations.

We must understand that the people of Judah hated the words that Jeremiah spoke, and many sought to kill him.

As Americans would not the people be the same today if some so-called prophet preached the downfall of America but in reality the Word of God does this very thing. The Lord will rule all nations when He will sit on the throne of David, which means the Throne of Power.

We also see that Jeremiah spoke of the seventy years of Babylon’s existence and many of them would take it out on the Jews as we read in the Book of Esther along with the other prophets of that day.

God would next use Persia, then Greece and then Rome as said by Daniel and then the Kingdom of God.

Dan 9:1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;
Dan 9:2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

And Daniel would then relate all these things to the Birth of Christ!

Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

God does not ever forget His people no matter where they are.

*****Jer 25:14 For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.

God warns us that we must not close our ears to the “Gospel”. We must never refuse to hear the Word of God!

Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Joh 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
Joh 5:41 I receive not honour from men.
Joh 5:42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

We would think if we got to see a portion of the wrath of God before it actually came, it would change the way we think but those in the time of Jeremiah only got madder at God. We are foolish to ignore the Word of God!

*****Jer 25:15 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.
Jer 25:16 And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.

Jeremiah was allowed to see the wrath of God in a vision so when he preached of the wrath of God, he could teach the complete truth.

It was not just Judah who would see the wrath of God it was every nation of that day as one empire was taken down another one would begin all seeking world domination just as foolish nations still seek to do today.

This was the message of Jeremiah to all people of that day including Judah. Only Judah was told that their captivity would only last 70 years.

Babylon was to be the agent for God’s “judgment” not only for Judah but also for all the nations of that day!

Psa 75:7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
Psa 75:8 For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.

This was the same lesson we learned down at the Potter’s House.

*****Jer 25:17 Then took I the cup at the LORD’S hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the LORD had sent me:

Again we see Jeremiah did not question the Lord even after he had seen this terrible vision.

Jeremiah was “faithful” to make sure God’s message was shared with every nation that they would be devoured by Babylon, but Babylon would only rule them for 70 years. We also know that this did not set well with the Babylonians and also the Chaldees.

These nations would get this opportunity to see the truth of God and to make a choice to believe or not believe.

This is what the Lord does, he gives us an opportunity to make the right choice.

Those who were wicked would be like staggering drunks trying to defend themselves.

God would prove to the world that it was He who held all the power!

Judah would learn that Jehovah was not exclusively for the Jews.

We already know the Lord is no respecter of persons and it is easy to see that He is no respecter of nations, so He would begin with Judah.

Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

When we do not worship the Lord then by default, we worship Satan!

None of us have the means to defend ourselves against the Sword of the Lord!

*****Jer 25:26 And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.
Jer 25:27 Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.

The world would not understand how Babylon, an impenetrable fortress, could be overrun.

The truth of the “Judgment” of God is that it will be a complete and irreversible and unstoppable!

The truth of the “Judgment” of God is that God will begin with His own people!

Just as sure as in this day of Jeremiah were God began with Judah, it will be the same for the Church Age.

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
1Pe 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

God will always “Judge” His people first, so that that this world will see that it cannot go unpunished!

To drink of the “cup” of God is to submit to the will of God. To reject this cup is to have this cup poured out first on your head then the rest of your body.

It is the same for the human being as it will be for all the nations that reject the Lord Jesus Christ!

All the wicked of this earth will be helpless as a drunk trying to defend itself. In another lesson it read like a man walking in darkness on slippery ice.

These are the ways we as sinners walked before we came to know the Lord. We could have died at any time without the Lord!

In fact this was a prophesy of Babylon who felt so confident of her power that when the enemy came they would have drunken parties instead of being alert to the enemy.

This is the way Cyrus found them when he occupied Babylon.

This is also the same way Satan works on an over confident Christian.

*****Jer 25:28 And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.
Jer 25:29 For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.

We should clearly understand that if God is willing to destroy His own people and the city where He has placed His name, to rid this world of evil and its sin, then He certainly would have no problem in destroying all this world.

Remember God has already said there will be a New World and a New Jerusalem.

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

We must also understand that God never threatens anyone, God just simply tells us what is going to happen.

God does these things not as a Prophet would do it but as the true God, our Creator would do it!

This entire world will certainly drink the Cup of the wrath of God because this world refuses to repent of its wicked ways!

There is “no one” who rebels against the Father or His Son or His Holy Spirit who will go unpunished for rejecting the truth of the “Gospel”!

*****Jer 25:30 Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.

We would be foolish to believe that these things were just written for the days of Jeremiah!

Even when the Lord “roars from Heaven”, He is seeking repentance for this will be the last opportunity before He sends the Sword of His Wrath which is eternal death.

Joe 2:11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
Joe 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
Joe 2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Joe 3:16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

These were not idle words spoken by Jeremiah, these were the words of truth!

Rev 14:18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
Rev 14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Rev 14:20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

In the days of Jeremiah the grapes were trodden down by men who when they saw that the fruit of the vine had all been gathered would shout the victory.

As the evil of this earth will be trodden down this shout of victory will turn into the battle-cry of the Lord! The Lord would roar as He had now to performed the things He had said He would do.

The Lord is never happy when He must deliver His wrath to those who have rebelled!

*****Jer 25:31 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.

Notice that the Wrath of God is only for the “wicked”.

We should see this as a prelude to the White Throne Judgment.

1) There would be the Judge but there would be no jury.
2) There would be an indictment but there would be no defense.
3) There would be a sentence but there would be no appeal.

Where as to those who love the Lord, He will be our Defense!

God will have given all people plenty of opportunity to change their evil ways, admit their guilt and to repent.

For those who refuse it will be too late.

There will be no more rumors of war, this world will be in all-out war with itself!

*****Jer 25:32 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

What did Jesus say?

Luk 21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
Luk 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

Luk 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Luk 21:26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

We must not be confused by false Preachers and teachers!

We are already witnesses as evil is going forth from nation to nation enforced by the governments of this world.

That great whirlwind is already beginning to turn and when it reaches its full rotation, you will be glad you were a Christian and missed out on the wrath of God.

*****Jer 25:33 And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.

For the Jews, to not have a proper burial was a disgrace! This was treating a human being as common rubbish, but this is exactly the way the bodies those who are wicked will be treated in the day of the Lord.

There would be no one to mourn them.

There would be no one to bury them.

There is no place in Heaven for those who hate the Lord!

There is not even one piece of dust in all of Heaven.

When Judah was overrun by Babylon it was just a prelude to the final judgment where we know things will at least be 7 times in multiples worse.

Mat 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Mat 16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Take Lord at His Word and just believe what He says!

Amen

Let’s Pray!

The Lamb of God

July 2, 2017 / Bobby Mayfield / 5 Comments

The Lamb of God Who Takes Away Our Sin

Book of Isaiah Chapter 53

When we read the prophets in the Word of God today, we still read of things that have not taken place but if we compare those things to the amount of Bible prophecy that has been fulfilled, we should have no doubt about those remaining prophecies being fulfilled.

So much of Bible prophecy is now “history” so it is hard to imagine that so many would deny the truth of God!

It is hard to imagine that this chapter of Isaiah can be denied as the truth. These prophecies are given in such detail that it is heartbreaking to learn of so many things that our Savior has done for each and every one of us. Especially since we were all His enemies when He came to provide a means that we all could be saved.

Jesus Christ did not die for the few that believed Him. Jesus Christ came and died for His enemies, all non-believers!

We know that the wages of sin are death, the eternal separation from a loving God. This was a debt that we did not have the ability to pay because it would take our own life. So, the Lord Jesus Christ substituted Himself for each of us!

1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Jesus Christ died in our place and we cannot be saved unless we realize this truth!

In reality, the Lord has purchased every believer out of the slave market of sin to be set free from sin’s bondage.

The only purchase price acceptable to a Holy God was for He Himself to pay the penalty for our sin!

1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

There should be no doubt that as believers, we belong to the Lord, who came to present all those who believe back to His Father in Heaven to live with Him for eternity.

All it takes to be saved is “faith” in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, so why are there so many who reject this truth?

So, God ask who will believe this report given to Isaiah, by the Holy Spirit?

As we go through these words we should notice the prophecies that have been fulfilled.

*****Isa 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

When we look at this passage we should see that word “our” as Isaiah who was the writer and the one who preached these words, plus the Triune God, led here by the Holy Spirit.

2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

We have already said many times that the Messiah, The Lord Jesus Christ, is truly the “Arm of God”!

Isa 52:10 The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Why would this report be so rejected? Why would a Holy God come to this earth in the form of man, as the Messiah and then be beaten to an inch of His life and displayed on a cross until He died a physical death?

A report is a statement made to the facts existing, or of events that occurred, at some distance of time or place in which we ourselves were not witnesses to!

In fact, the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is a report of the activities and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ to provide for the salvation for every human being who has lived upon this earth!

In this report, we begin to get the picture of what God will do to deliver us from the bondage and condemnation of sin!

It is also a fact that no other report has ever had so much documentation and that was then authenticated as this one from eye witnesses.

Some were friends for sure.

Some were Jews.
Some were Gentiles.
Some of them were even enemies.

The first preachers of the “Gospel” of Christ were even backed up by great signs and unexplainable miracles.

And by the way, those of Islam, Jesus Christ was much more than just a Prophet, He was and is God in the flesh so do not ever say we worship the same God!

Mar 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Yet with all this proof the “Gospel” is rejected as the truth by most of those who hear it.

Joh 12:37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
Joh 12:38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

But who will be the blessed of the Lord?

Joh 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: “blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed”.

No one would ever believe that a Holy and very Powerful God could ever be a Servant to His own creation but just read some more!

And how does the truth of the Messiah at His first coming begin?

*****Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before “him” as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

To grow up then He would have to be born. Jesus was born in Bethlehem of the virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit!

Most of us have seen children tender and innocent all over the world but especially in third world countries that are poor and abandoned and live in conditions that they have no control over.

This is the picture we get of the Messiah as He was raised by a very poor family in remote and threatening conditions.

Luk 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luk 9:58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

That “Him” in this Scripture of course is our Heavenly Father as He has His eyes on all His children but especially His Own Son!

Our Messiah was born a helpless babe in very meager surroundings.
Even as an infant, He was in great danger of Herod. Not in His death but in changing the prophecy of His first coming.
(The Word of God must remain true at all costs)
Our Messiah was not save from Herod by a great army nor the heavenly angels but He escaped to a foreign land.
As a child, this Babe of God, spent His days in a carpenter’s shop not in doing what a child gets to do. He had to help support His earthly family.
The Messiah was gentle and harmless as a Lamb!

As the Messiah, to the world it seemed that Christianity would die along with Christ on that cross but, it was just the beginning as in a few days the Holy Spirit came upon the Church.

There is no church without the Holy Spirit involved! Just foolish people gathering together in man-made fellowship!

We must clearly understand that once false teaching takes place, it is very hard to get people back on the right track!

It is the Holy Spirit who is the means of “all” Biblical inspiration!

It is obvious that it was not the person of the Messiah that was so important at His first coming, “it was His message” He came to give to this lost world!

The Messiah came as a servant and gave that example with His life.
The Messiah came to bring the New Covenant of God and He showed that with His “grace”.
The Messiah came to begin the message of the Church, which message was to remain, “unaltered” until He returns.
The Messiah also remained the “arm of God” and we should never be misinformed, even as a babe in Bethlehem, He possessed all the power of a Holy God!

The Messiah concealed, but did not hide, His true self in the body of a man named Jesus who became our Savior!

Joh 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

He may not have had a physical beauty that was the desire of others but He certainly had a beauty in His warmth for His creation.

God loved what He was doing for us and it showed!

1Jn 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
1Jn 1:2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
1Jn 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
1Jn 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

But the truth is, the true Messiah was despised by His own people and by most of the world then and today!

Shame on all those who reject the truth claiming they know the truth!

*****Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Just as Jehovah God was despised by the nation of Israel, He presented Himself in that manner for all the world to see.

Isa 49:7 Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.

Most men paid no attention to the words of Jesus showing contempt for the “Gospel” message.

They also showed contempt for the Lord on the night and day of His Crucifixion.

All the world of that day held themselves to be greater than the Messiah!

We can see that not much has changed in the nearly 2000 thousand years since our new life came by His cross!

The Lord at no time had a great following and even some that did follow turned back at the truth of the “Gospel”. Those that stayed, stayed because they accepted the Word of God as the truth.

Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Joh 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? “thou hast the words of eternal life”.

Our Lord was a man of sorrows because this is the way He felt about those who rejected His message. The Lord so wanted this world to understand His message to miss out on His wrath when He returns!

Eze_18:32 For “I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth”, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

It truly wounds the heart of God to be rejected! We have this example but there are many others.

Jer 10:18 For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find it so.
Jer 10:19 “Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it”.

We have the wrong impression of the Messiah when we think people flocked to Him, that only happened when He was performing miracles such as the miracle of healing or the feeding of the 5000.

In most cases if Jesus was seen walking down the street most people would move to the other side rather than be near to Him.

A servant was not welcomed by the average person and treated as a slave in most cases! Somewhat like a leper.

The Jews and the world of that day rejected any thought that the true Messiah would suffer to save humanity and it was the downfall of that generation and many generations since that time.

First: This world denies that they need a Savior to make them acceptable to God. They think they can do this on their own (wrong).

Second: This world dismisses the idea that God would send His Son to die for the sins of this world. (The world is wrong again)

We know that the Messiah was 100% man yet 100% God but it is very possible that all these things weighed so heavy on the flesh side of Christ that He actually looked older than His flesh side was.

Joh 8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? (We know that Christ was no more than about 33 when He died)
Joh 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (His age is eternal)

We already know that when the Messiah came to this earth, He set aside all His Heavenly Glory which He always had. This had to be done for Christ to bear all the temptations and trials of the human flesh as well as the mockery and His rejection.

Talk about miracles, maybe the greatest miracle of all was the fact that the Lord God did not go ahead and destroy this world.

Don’t ever let anyone tell you it would have been better to not ever have existed because nothing, “NOTHING” is greater that having the opportunity to spend eternity with Jehovah God in Heavenly surroundings.

In coming to this earth, Christ Jesus took the sins of the entire human race upon Himself and died so He could bury all those sins.

*****Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

The Son then had to suffer the rejection of His Heavenly Father and then feel the “Judgment” of God upon His person!

Mat_27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

We may think we have had grief in our life time but the Lord felt grief more intensely than any other human being as He witnessed the only salvation plan acceptable to His Heavenly Father being rejected by this world and it is still rejected today.

This does not make the message of Jesus untrue. It only makes this world to be foolish!

These things were written some 700 years before the Messiah first came to this earth and He said Himself that He would come again. We can still see that the prophet has written these things as if they had already taken place in which each one was completed in the day of Christ!

The Messiah came and He paid the ultimate price for all our sin because He had no sin in Himself! (Jesus Christ was “innocent” of any wrong doing)

Had He been a sinner, He would be just like Muhammad, Buddha, Confucius and any other false god, their bones still lying in their graves!

The Messiah will certainly return!

Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him “shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation”.

It is by the death of the Messiah at His first coming that showed the world the power of Holy God!

*****Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

What is the truth?

1) The Lord Jesus Christ suffered because He paid the penalty for “our” transgressions.

2) The suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ “was the only remedy” by which we have been restored to spiritual health.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The “chastisement” of God, is the pain He would have inflicted on each of us but the greatest of all our “chastisement”, the Father inflicted upon His Son who came to be our substitute!

Jesus Christ died in “my” place and Jesus Christ died in “your” place because we were unable to survive this chastening of our Father in Heaven!

2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Jesus Christ bore “all” our sins with His human body!

1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in “his own body” on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Jesus Christ suffered once to bear the sins of all others! (there will be no second time)

Heb 9:28 So Christ was “once offered” to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

The death of Jesus Christ was the most horrible of deaths as we see in these words of Isaiah.

In truth, it was only by the death of the Lord Jesus Christ that the “demands” of a righteous God could be met!

The death of Jesus Christ was a legal transaction in which Christ dealt with the sin problem “for the entire human race”.

Pro 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
Pro 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Therefore, only through the Lord Jesus Christ can we ever get to God’s Heaven!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, “ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him”.

We must never be intimidated over this truth, by those who believe otherwise, or our politicians, our any other human being!

Our answer should always be “that this is not what we say, this is what God says”, and “we believe what God says”!

How did God see each of us in this world?

Isa 1:6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

God saw each of us as the worst of all lepers. Those who reject the salvation of the Lord are still seen in this manner!

Those who have accepted that God “is who He says He is” and trust in the salvation work of the Lord Jesus Christ, then, “we are healed”!

We as humans could never be healed by our own suffering!
We as human beings could never be healed by our own works!
We as human beings do not possess the power to save ourselves, in any way, in any form, or in any fashion!

There are in this world some very precious people but no one is good enough to get to Heaven with their own goodness.

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

These are the reasons God made a way for us to be reunited with Him!

Joh 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.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

The truth is, most of this world would rather remain in darkness from this truth!

Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Joh 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Joh 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

*****Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Sheep require a shepherd! The shepherd is so close to his flock that he knows each of his sheep at a glance especially in the days of Isaiah. The truth of the sheep is that they will wander away from the flock. This is the nature of the sheep and they will get lost not able to find their way back to the flock!

We as human beings have strayed for our Holy God. Because sin is natural to us because it has been passed down from generation to generation because to the sin of Adam!

Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

To return to our Holy God then we must obey the true Shepherd:

Rom 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

It is by our nature to lusts after the things of others. Our flesh constantly lusts for more and more!

A second helping.
A larger house.
More riches.
More power.
More recognition.
Greater desires.
Then there is the lust of the flesh. Fornication, adultery, or some form of abnormal or illicit sex.

God warns us:

1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

There was no sinless man upon this earth. There was no man who could even carry such a burden as was required. God in His wisdom did the only thing that was available to Him.

God came Himself to die for our sin!

We need to trust God in all things but if we miss this most important thing, it will all be for nought!

1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Faith must always be distinguished from “human wisdom”

Our intellect has nothing to do with our “faith”!
Our “faith” must stand on the “power of God” to do as He says He will do!
Our proof is this Love letter He has given to us, we call the Bible. There is no more sure proof than the Word of God!

2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Jesus Christ is the only method for us to be free from our sin nature!

*****Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Christ, the Servant of God suffered unjustly for our sin but He willingly did this thing!

Jesus Christ, as the Son of God came to die for our sins but the things that He suffered were uncalled for!

He suffered a false judgment. (uncalled for)

He suffered from harsh and cruel treatment not thought humane enough for mankind. (uncalled for)

Yet He humbled Himself and submitted to this treatment and He committed Himself to the work that our Heavenly Father had sent Him to do.

1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

He was brought as a lamb because He was the Lamb, the Lamb of God.

Joh_1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Joh_1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

We should notice this one thing. This is the way that Christ has always been treated by “unbelievers”!

I can somewhat understand rejecting the message of Jesus Christ. What I have never understood is the anger and the hatred of those who reject Him. (Why all the hatred) Even the atheist who say there is no God show hatred! (what cause do they have)

Why can they not just go about their business and leave the Christians alone!

Sometimes the atheist and the unbelievers who say there is no God at all, are the worst. Makes no sense, if there is not a Holy God then why do they worry about our message and try every way possible to destroy Christianity. Just makes no sense!

The Christ, the Messiah willingly gave His life for His enemies even those with all that hatred!

*****Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

What did we see in the short time Christ the Messiah walked upon this earth? The unbelievers and the atheist of that day allowed and the super religious of that day allowed, the Lord Jesus Christ to be unjustly seized and arrested illegally by a violence that concealed itself as the formalities of the legal process.

As far was the Jews were concerned, this innocent man called Jesus needed to be removed from the face of the earth!

It was the prophet Isaiah that wrote about these things hundreds of years before they happened.

It should be no astonishment today that these same types are trying their best to remove all Christians from the face of the earth or at least silence the truth of the “Gospel of Jesus Christ”.

This world has never changed for the better in all these years and it never will because this world will only get worse.

2Ti_3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

We must know this is true and continue to spread the “Gospel” in any way that we can.

Remember that our Father in Heaven may call us home early but if not, we will be removed from this earth just as Jesus was.

Act 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

Everyone else may be content to wait on the “Rapture” but I am ready to go home whenever my Redeemer calls me home.

It truly bothers me that there is so much hate in this world “that is camouflaged as good”!

Everything about the trial of the Lord Jesus Christ was illegal by all the laws of that day, the Jews and Rome.

There was a false trial, with false witnesses, with a guaranteed outcome!

The truth is, the ministry of the Lord had been misunderstood just as it is today!

Even greater than this, the death of the Lord Jesus Christ was misunderstood!

The Lord Jesus Christ had come to die! The Lord Jesus, the Son of God was stricken by His Father for He carried the sins of this entire world and the wages of sin are death!

2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The Lord Jesus Christ had volunteered to do this for us!

“He was cut off out of the land of the living”

“for the transgressions of My people was He stricken”

The death of Jesus Christ was a test of His love for us! Had the Lord Jesus said no, we would all burn in Hell!

Joh_15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

The Lord Jesus Christ was treated as if He had no rights at all by the world that He had created!

We should be able to see that our world has never improved at all and has truly only gotten worse.

Therefore, Jesus gave us this commandment:

Mat_10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, “is not worthy of me”.

And this is not all!

*****Isa 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

Even though Jesus Christ, the true Messiah, was innocent of all charges brought against Him, His grave was to be in the place of convicts.

The Jews considered it a disgrace to be buried amongst the common people and not placed in the family sepulcher.

We should observe that Joseph the earthly step dad of Jesus had already been buried and to the Jew this should also be the place of His burial.

There was probably a place where the convicted, the criminals, and such were buried and this is where the body of Jesus would have ended if not for a believer.

This thing did not come to pass because a man of wealth Joseph of Arimathea a secret believer, gave the Lord his own tomb he had prepared for himself.

Mat 27:57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:
Mat 27:58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
Mat 27:59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
Mat 27:60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

So, we can see that the prophet Isaiah even had these things right!

All these things were to take place although Jesus had been innocent of all charges and everyone knew this to be true.

Jesus in all His years had done no violence.
Jesus in all His years had never had a deceitful word for anyone.
Jesus in all His years had only spoken the truth.

We see that the truth, can bring rejection or can even be ignored, will bring hatred when it points out sin in someone’s lifestyle.

So, we see even the Son of God, the Messiah, had a purpose when He first came to this earth!

The Messiah came to die!

*****Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

We should clearly understand that though evil men were following their own design and were stirred and acted by the Devil, it was our Holy God that did govern and overrule the sufferings of the Messiah!

Jesus said: No one had the power to overcome Him unless it was given to them by Jehovah God!

Joh 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

And we see that it was Judas who had the greatest sin! Judas knew the Lord was innocent of all charges.

It was the devil that had placed in the heart of Judas to betray the Lord and Judas lacked the faith to stand firm with the Lord!

Jas_4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

We must clearly understand, God does not need any help for His plan of salvation to work! God just gives us an opportunity to be a part of His plan. It must remain a privilege that we are given the opportunity to serve our Holy God!

The Messiah was delivered to the cross by God who was determined to provide a means for the fulfillment of the Law!

Act 2:23 Him, “being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God”, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Luk_24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, “that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me”.

The Messiah came to die in order to have the victory over sin and it pleased His Father in Heaven to do this thing!

It is because our Father in Heaven was pleased with this sin offering that the pleasure of Jehovah will prosper in the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Father united with the Son in the power of the Holy Spirit to provide our only means of salvation!

The Messiah had to die in our place, yours and mine, so that we could be saved from the destruction of this world.

Jesus Christ was the “Substitute” as the Lamb of God.

Jesus Christ was not a martyr put to death for His beliefs. Jesus did not die just so He could be our example of following Him with our own cross.

Jesus was offered up as the only sacrifice, acceptable to God for the sin of this world since the time of Adam!

Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

No other sacrifice will ever be needed.

*****Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

Most of this entire world is aware that sin demands punishment!

There are thousands in this world devoted to the eradication of sin but the prisons just stay full and increasing.

The Jews had a better idea of what Jehovah was saying but they never took the next step and have still not today.

God by providing His own sacrifice for all sin was then an act of “Grace”.

“God’s Riches At Christ Expense”.

The work of Christ was complete and God requires our “faith” in this work of Jesus Christ to be saved!

It is by the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross that we can be justified!

Justified= (Just as if I had never sinned)

Rom 5:1 Therefore “being justified by faith”, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also “we have access by faith” into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

The sacrifice of the Lamb of God was the fulfillment of the law of God which is above all man-made laws and the only law by which sinners can be saved!

The righteous demands of our Holy God were met completely through Christ’s complete payment for our sin! This is the meaning of propitiation.

Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

God was satisfied with Christ and if we cannot be satisfied with Christ, we cannot be saved!

The death of Christ resulted in forgiveness for all sinners which includes all humans in this world from the time of Adam!

1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

It is a sad thing that the work of Christ on that cross does not satisfy our world today! It’s too late to remember the past, it is gone!

The “Gospel” is still the only power of salvation today!

*****Isa 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

The Messiah is back in Heaven today patiently waiting until He returns but just as this Scripture gracefully says, “the Lord Jesus is the greatest human to have ever walked on the face of this earth”!

Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Because the Lord Jesus poured out His soul unto death, He is still working to carry out God’s work on this earth!

Because we have been filled with the Holy Spirit of God then Jesus Christ will help each of us that believe to be witnesses of the salvation plan of God.

We can draw comfort in knowing that we have peace with God because of the work that our Savior has done, so that there is no work for us to do, “except to believe”!

We can draw comfort in knowing we have God’s guarantee of eternal security because of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ!

We can draw comfort in knowing we have our Intercessor sitting at the right hand of God.

We can draw comfort in knowing that we will never see the wrath of God!

Our wonderful Lord has made a way for every believer and He even prays for our success!

Joh 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
Joh 17:10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
Joh 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
Joh 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
Joh 17:13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
Joh 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Joh 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
Joh 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Joh 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Joh 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Joh 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
Joh 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Joh 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

Amen

The Presentation Of God’s Servant

August 25, 2013August 25, 2013 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Presentation Of God’s Servant

Baptized By John

Book of Mark Chapter 1:1-13

In last weeks lesson we saw David becoming the second king of Israel. This week we will begin a study into the Book of Mark.

We will study about the King of Kings!

Even David was a servant before he was king of Israel and The Lord Jesus Christ came to serve before He will sit as King!

So before we get started, just who is this Mark?

The early Christian Church said that this was John Mark:

Act 12:12 And when he had considered the thing, [he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark]; where many were gathered together praying.

This John Mark was a relative of the same Barnabas who helped Paul and then traveled with the Apostle Paul on his first missionary journey.

Col 4:10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, [sister’s son to Barnabas], (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)

This the Mark that was led to the Lord and was discipled by the Apostle Peter:

1Pe 5:13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; [and so doth Marcus my son].

This Mark traveled some with Barnabas and Paul.

It was this Mark, whose mother Mary, owned the upper room, the place of Jesus’ last supper.

But, Mark does not appear in the "Gospel" he wrote unless it was he that the Romans caught when Jesus was arrested:

Mar 14:51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:
Mar 14:52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.

It seems that Mark wrote these words, guided by the Holy Spirit, around 58 AD and this would make it the first of the Gospels to be written.

The Gospel of Mark was first written in the Greek language because that was the common language spoken in the Roman Empire at that time.

So, Why do we need four Gospels?

It was God, through His Holy Spirit, that decided we needed four Gospels:

2Ti 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God", and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

God still prefers to speak to all of us through other human beings!

We will see that this is why Jesus chose His first disciples and all others that have followed through their work.

There can be "no more" Apostles than those Jesus chose and for that reason but everyone that accepts the Lord Jesus as Savior is a "Disciple"!

So with four Gospels we have four points of view of the same subject who is, Our Lord Jesus Christ!

We should also note that it was in these years of the Book of Mark, that the Han dynasty in China had been recently founded and Buddhism was introduced to China, so Satan was also busy.

As Christianity began to spread, Satan was spreading his false religions.

And Nero also began persecuting the Christians throughout the Roman Empire.

As we study the Book of Mark we will see that he focused on the actions of Jesus and not so much the person of Jesus.

The birth of Jesus is not even mentioned.

We will see that Mark also focuses on the emotional life of Jesus. Mark tells us about the compassion Jesus had for the lost, but also His sorrow and His sighing for Israel.

In Mark we will see how Jesus prepared the disciples for their future ministry.

Mark gives us the purpose that Jesus chooses all his disciples:

Mar 3:14 And he ordained twelve, [that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,]

The Book of Mark also tells us the shortcomings of disciples and the patience of Our Lord Jesus in dealing with them.

There was no doubt to Mark that Jesus was truly the Messiah, The Son of God and that is where he begins his Gospel:

*****Mar 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

That title "Jesus Christ" is used exactly 5 times in the Gospels. (5 the number for "Grace")

"Jesus" is the human side of Our Lord and "Christ" (the Messiah) is His office when He first came, and "Son of God" is His eternal nature.

That word "beginning" means that this sentence is the first and the Word of God that will follow.

That word "beginning" is up front, that on the acceptance of these words, then there will be no ending but a new beginning and life eternal!

To compare:

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

On this day was the beginning of all life and Mark emphasizes that there is now a new beginning of a new life in Jesus Christ!

The "Gospel" comes from the Greek word "Evangelion" which means "good message" or "good news".

This is not just any "good news" but the "good news" of Jesus Christ.

To compare, Isaiah said this of "evangelizing":

Isa 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth "good tidings", that publisheth peace; that bringeth "good tidings of good", that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

This "good news" is not just about "victory" but "the victory that brings an end to the oppression of sin"!

Jesus Christ was a servant whose weapon is love and whose victory came through the cross!

Jesus Christ is the "only news" that is "good" for all guilty and all hopeless sinners!

This "good news" is cause for celebration!

*****Mar 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Mar 1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

The first voice that we hear in Mark’s gospel will not be that of Christ Jesus.

In this first passage of Mark we see the final promise of God in the Old Testament and the fulfillment of that promise in the New Testament some 450 years later.

There should be no doubt that God intended for us to learn from His prophets.

God had a rule for all His prophets:

Deu 18:22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, "nor come to pass", that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

Not one prophet of God prophesied when they pleased, but only when they were moved by the Holy Ghost:

2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: "but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost".

What is written by the prophets of God will be true prophecy!

Mark quotes from two of God’s prophets here in this verse:

First from Malachi:

Mal 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Then from Isaiah:

Isa 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

In ancient times, before a king visited any part of his realm, a messenger was sent before him to prepare the way.

The roads had to be prepared for the arrival of the king but more important the people had to be prepared for the king!

Johns message would be that "The King Is Coming"!

What is "the way"?

In the Old Testament the emphasis was on the wilderness journey.

So John began as a voice in the wilderness to teach "the way" that God will be made known and this is through Christ Jesus.

John the Baptist did indeed, prepare and baptize all the men but Paul who later would become the Apostles of Jesus.

Act 1:21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Act 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

*****Mar 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

John the Baptist was born to be a priest!

His father was Zacharias of the line of Abia of the descendants of Ithamar and his mother Elizabeth from the long line of Aaron, the God appointed priests of Israel.

Luk 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

These were parents who were righteous "because they did things right" according to the Word of God!

It was in the wilderness that Israel became God’s chosen people.

It was in the wilderness where God tested His people.

It was through the wilderness that God had led His people back from Babylon.

And it is in "the wilderness" where God will accept a repenting people who will then be Baptized into the New Covenant.

This is "the promise" fulfilled as taught by Jeremiah:

Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

This is "the covenant" promised to the Gentiles:

1Pe 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

This is "the promised covenant to whosoever" will call on the name of Jesus:

Act 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, [that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus].

John was preparing "the way" to Jesus Christ because, "the only way" to Heaven is by Jesus Christ:

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus firmly tells us all that it is He that is "the way" in fact "the only way"!

That "Baptism of Repentance" is what Jesus brings with Him and can only come by the Baptism of the Holy Spirit!

Repentance signifies a change of the heart, a change of the mind, a change of attitude, and a change of direction along with remorse for all past actions!

In other words we must return to God for a New Beginning!

Jesus said we must be "born again".

As John reached out to Israel, he stood at the River Jordan.

This was a sign that Israel needed to recross Jordan to get to the true promised land.

That promised land could only be provided by Jesus who would come after John.

*****Mar 1:5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

There is no doubt that we can see the success of John’s ministry because "the people came to him"!

John explained to all that came that sin was like dirt.

Sin is a filth that must be removed!

First, Sin had to be acknowledged!

Next, Sin had to be confessed!

John’s message was not that the water could wash those that were baptized, "clean" but it was only in the Jesus, who would follow, that would bring "the means to clean them" of all sin!

The confession of sins must relate to the act of being baptized not by water but only by the Holy Spirit!

If there is no remission of sin then there can be no pardon for sin!

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

That debt cannot be erased it must be cleansed!

*****Mar 1:6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;

Is, John the Elijah who is to come?

Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

Elijah was the troubler of Israel:

1Ki 18:17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, ‘"Art thou he that troubleth Israel"?

Elijah denounced the corruption of the kings of Israel and pronounced the worship of the Lord.

Elijah also wore a leather belt and was a hairy man:

2Ki 1:8 And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

Elijah also went east of the Jordan River and ate of nature as he ate what the ravens brought him.

The Bible does say that Elijah would return:

Will God still send Elijah?

Most believers think yes.

Elijah had appeared to Israel unexpected and certainly was uninvited in a time of corruption in the government of Israel.

I also believe that Elijah will be one of the two witnesses God sends during the Tribulation period also certainly uninvited and certainly a time of corruption:

Rev 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.
Rev 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

And Jesus said these words:

Mat 17:11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, [Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things].
Mat 17:12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

In the time of John the Baptist, the governments of the world were indeed corrupt, including that of Israel but John proclaimed that "The One" who followed him would be much greater than all that came before him!

John came in fulfillment of prophecy!

John came also of a miraculous birth!

John dressed as Elijah because he practiced what he preached!

John’s sermons had an immediate impact on all of Israel and even on the secular government as they also took notice of John.

John focused on those that were great and on all those that were poor, and all those that were in between, but Johns message was never about himself!

A new day had come and John’s message spread throughout all of Israel!

Mat 3:5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, "and all the region round about Jordan",

But John had a message greater than that of repentance and we have that same message today!

John preached about the coming of the "Son of God"!

And, the people trembled at the preaching of John.

Even the King (Herod) was afraid of John.

John had said that the Jewish religious leaders were nothing more than "a generation of vipers".

John was mighty in his deeds and his words but John knew that he was nothing, so John preached Jesus.

Every pastor or preacher any where in the world is wrong "when they do not preach Jesus".

Every prayer will go unanswered unless that prayer "ends in the name of Jesus".

If that hurts some ones feelings then so be it, we must pray in the name of Jesus for God to hear us!

Joh 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

It is Jesus that provides the means of all our salvation, "whosoever we are"!

John was a mere man!

John was a voice crying out in the wilderness!

But Christ Jesus is the Word of God!

Heb 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

John was a mighty preacher and his sermon was this.

*****Mar 1:7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
Mar 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

We see that John the Baptist from the beginning was preaching Christ and John was also filled with the Holy Spirit "while still in his mothers womb".

Thank God there were no abortion considered by Elizabeth after all she was much past the years of a normal birth!

BUT, John was very careful to exalt Jesus Christ and not his own self!

"Mightier" means Jesus would have more authority than any man!

Not only was Jesus promised but John also preached the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Only God can give of His Spirit so John was preaching the coming of the Messiah, "God in the flesh".

Christ Jesus would have the "Power of God". (John only had physical power)

Christ Jesus would preach words that were spirit and life. (John could only preach of His coming)

Christ Jesus would do miracles. (John did no miracles)

Christ Jesus would have an everlasting ministry. (even John’s disciples had to be converted)

Christ Jesus died to begin His never ending ministry. (John’s ministry died when he died)

Christ Jesus had power over the human heart. (John could only bring the fear of God)

Mere man can do none of these things that Jesus did!

Not one person on this Earth and not one angel in Heaven "is worthy enough" to unloose the latchet of His shoes!

In the Bible times "not even a slave" was not asked to remove the shoes of some one else.!

John was saying that he was no more that any slave in Israel.

The baptising work of the Holy Spirit can only be defined as the work whereby the Spirit places each believer into a union with Christ Jesus and "also" into a union with all other believers which then become the ‘Body Of Christ"!

1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

This baptism began on the day of Pentecost and is unique to the Church Age!

Listen to what Jesus said:

Act 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; "but" ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Jesus said these words a few days before Pentecost.

Listen to what happens:

Act 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, "as on us at the beginning".
Act 11:16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water;"but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost".

This is the message of John the Baptist.

This is the action of that Messiah, that Mighty One, that John was speaking of.

This is the message of salvation:

Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

And then He came:

*****Mar 1:9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

It would have taken Jesus 10 days to travel from Nazareth on foot to where John was.

He could have easily said at any time that we were just not worth all He was going to endure for the next 3 and 1/2 years!

Jesus had had 30 years to come to this decision!

To Israel, Nazareth was a place of contempt and nothing good could come out of Nazareth "But" all of a sudden Christ Jesus had come from Nazareth to begin His Ministry.

That phrase "in those days" gives us a time line, that the baptism of Jesus came about in the days of John the Baptist and his preaching at the River Jordan.

Time does what time does, it comes and it passes. One era was ending and "a new era" was about to begin for Israel and for all mankind!

The rejection of Christ by Israel, and the beginning of Church Age for "whosoever would come" to follow!

Not since the days of Adam had a perfect man walked on this earth and Adam had not stayed perfect.

The Apostle Paul said it like this:

Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that "we" might receive the adoption of sons.

The early years of Jesus were mostly quiet years but the Apostle John had these words to say:

Joh 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

And then Jesus was baptized!

This was the exact reason Jesus had journeyed for 10 days, so He could be baptized and not just to be baptized but to be baptized by John!

Mat 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, "to be baptized of him".

Jesus then waited until John had baptized everyone else that came that day!

Luk 3:21 Now "when all the people were baptized", it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,

This day may have even been the 30th birthday of Jesus.

Luk 3:23 "And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age", being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,

Christ Jesus was not just one of the crowd that day, "BUT" He had not come for repentance because He had nothing to repent of!

*****Mar 1:10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
Mar 1:11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

John baptized with a full immersion as this verse shows but this baptism had nothing to do with sin because we know Jesus had no sin.

Jesus was baptized to fulfill all the requirements of the law!

Jesus was baptized so John could fulfill his own ministry!

Jesus was baptized to give us an example of how we should publicly acknowledge our own separation from sin and to be consecrated to His service!

**"And straightway"

Isaiah wrote these words:

Isa 64:1 Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,

Our verse describes what John saw:

John saw the heavens opened!

John saw the Holy Spirit, "like" a dove descending upon Christ Jesus.

Luk 3:22 says: And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape "like" a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

Matt 3:16 says: And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending "like" a dove, and lighting upon him:

John 1:32 says: Joh 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven "like" a dove, and it abode upon him.

Did John see a dove?

We can be sure that what is represented here is that the Holy Spirit descended out of Heaven onto Christ Jesus.

What are the characteristics of a dove?

The dove is an emblem of "Peace"!

After God’s wrath Noah sent forth the dove three times:

1.) The dove was sent and found no place to rest the souls of her feet.

This dove came back to the "Comforter’s hands.

2.) The dove was sent forth again and brought back an olive branch.

Indicating a restored earth.

3.) The dove is sent forth a third time and no longer needed the shelter of the ark.

Indicating the return of the Holy Spirit to the earth.

a.) The dove, Represents the return of our souls to the promised rest by the Holy Spirit.

b.) The dove, Points us in the direction of Christ Jesus.

c.) The dove, Is the earnest of our inheritance until Jesus returns to take us to the New Heaven and the New Earth.

Here again there will be no need for the ark/church to separate us from Our Father who is in Heaven.

And Our Father says as John heard His voice from Heaven:

"Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased"

When God the Father spoke, and the Holy Spirit descended onto Christ Jesus we have the entire Tri-Une God.

While there is only one God, there are three eternally distinct and equal persons in the godhead. Each is distinct from each other, yet all three are united as One.

But, This is the picture we should get just as Christ Jesus rose out of the River Jordan.

Baptism gives a perfect picture of the Death, the Burial, and the Resurrection, of the Lord Jesus Christ.

But the Trinity also represents our command to reach out to the lost of the dying world:

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost":
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

God was well pleased that His plan was moving forward on schedule and Jesus said:

Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

*****Mar 1:12 And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

The Holy Spirit has decided that since we have met John the Baptist, and also The Lord Jesus Christ, along with all the godhead, then we also needed to meet Satan who still tries to hinder the Gospel even more in our day.

"Immediately" means as soon as Jesus was baptized BUT before His ministry began, the Holy Spirit that had just came to Him "as a dove" cast Jesus into the wilderness.

That word "driveth" is the Hebrew "ekballo" and it means "to cast out" or "to throw out" into the wilderness.

Baptism and wilderness are connected because to be separated, "baptized", means that our wilderness lies ahead of us all.

*****Mar 1:13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

We should notice who is also in this part of the wilderness that man did not know:

1) Satan.

Even back in Genesis 3 when the serpent is mentioned, it is recognized that Satan was that serpent.

The Book of Job specifically mentions Satan.

The Book of Chronicles states that Satan led David to make a census.

In Zachariah, it is Satan that accuses the nation of Israel before God.

Ezekiel and Isaiah refer to Satan even if they don’t mention the name Satan.

In the New Testament every writer makes a reference to Satan.

Jesus Christ Himself, mentions Satan 25 times.

We should not be deceived as Satan would have it, he does exist and just as Our Lord describes him!

2) The wild beast, came not to cause harm but to show respect to the Creator. It was Jesus with the wild beast and "NOT" Satan with the wild beast. It was not Satan that made these beast wild!

3.) The Angels, of which it is written:

Psa 91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
Psa 91:12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Mark does not go into the details but "temptation" means "to be tempted to do evil"!

Satan is mentioned as the source of all opposition to the "Gospel" then and now in our day.

2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

It is Satan who is, out of sight, and behind the scenes of every evil in this world!

It is the angels who are behind the scenes watching over God’s people!

And it is the Holy Spirit that holds back the evil in this world!

2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, "until he be taken out of the way".

That number 40 is a symbol for testing.

Israel was tested for 40 years in the wilderness but Israel failed.

If Jesus survives His temptation, He can then begin His Ministry!

Christ Jesus will be tested for 40 days in the wilderness but Our Lord cannot ever fail!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

The Presentation Of God’s Servant

August 25, 2013 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment