Out of Sight - Whoopie!

 “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand.  And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed.”  (Rev. 20:1-3).

Now, I ask you, “Does that not kindle the flame that is already burning deep within your soul?”  Can you even begin to imagine what John is writing here?  Did you ever take a few moments to visualize what the New Heaven and New Earth will be like without Satan and his minions to harass you?

Jesus said, “There will be no more tears, I will wipe them all away and there will be no reason for tears in the New Jerusalem.  For there will be no more death, no more mourning or crying, or pain, the first things have passed away.” (Rev. 21:4-5). Read it again, and again, and again, until it sinks deep into our heart and soul. 

Is that not “out of sight?” but notice verse 3: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them”.

John went on to write:” I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.  And the city has not need of the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb” (Rev. 21:22-23).

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Hey, stop for a moment, can you imagine- can you get a mental picture of what Jesus is saying through John here?  That God will dwell among men!  That there will be no reason for tears!  That the evil one and all of his minions will be no more! That there will be no need of sun or moon! That there will be no sickness or death!

In Revelation 16:10-1, I find one of the most profound examples of man’s stupidity in the Bible. Anyone who knows, even a pittance of what is within the covers of God’s Holy writ, knows that man has done some pretty stupid things.  But I find this especially stupid; “Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues, because of pain, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of the pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds”. 

But that could not happen today, could it?  I have received a request to pray for a man who is fighting for his very life with lung and heart problems.  He was warned by his doctor several years ago, and every several months since, that, if he did not stop smoking, it was going to kill him, a prophecy that is at his doorstep. 

But even more alarming is that he knows he could draw his last breath right now and what lies ahead for those who reject Christ salvation and forgiveness. But he refuses to seek the Lord with a repentant heart.  Is that not on par with the story of those who will see angels in the heavens, be filled with pain and agony and beg that boulders fall on them, but he will blaspheme God and refuse to cry out to God with a repentant heart. 

Now that folks is stupid?  His family are deeply concerned about his decision to reject God and all of His promises, but there is no one more sad-his Heavenly Father, whose desire is that none should perish.

Makes one more determined to make sure their armor is spit-polished and shining, their lamp is filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit and they are up to speed with sword, God’s word, in hand and ready for assignment and battle.  Remember, as you go out the door of your Rehoboth you are entering the mission field.

Blessings,

Gramps