I love this subject, but I also know how daunting it can be. I am going to play this like an artist in concert. I will give you something you like (radio hit), then you give me something I like (side B garage lost single). So, this post will keep things splashy and normal, then on part 4 I think things are going to get weird.
Revelations is extremely complicated with so much sssssyybolism of lions with 7 heads and crowns and beasts with 7 horns and white robes and doom and gloom. It becomes very easy to tune out and head back to John 3:16 for your comfort scrip. The verse in the bible that keeps me coming back to tough interpretations is 2 Cor 4: 8-10..."we are perplexed, but not in despair" Yes, the bible is tough at times to fully comprehend and it is easy to get bogged down in theories and texts. But, we must remember that this is not in despair or waste. Or how about this scrip to keep you coming back (Rev 1:3) "Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near". Wow! That is an intimidating text. We might be confused, but we aren't lost. Keep your heart, 3 stacks. Keep your heart.
Ok, onto where Jules left off (or where I'm taking this) CAN CHRISTIANS BECOME TOO HEAVENLY-MINDED?
The short answer is NO CHANCE! This is what we are called to do says Paul (Col 3:2) "Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things"
Jules hit on Revelations 3: 10-11, which is our greatest promise from the Lord, "...since you have kept my command, I will keep you from the hour of trial...." ( I will talk about a snippet of that trial in closing of this post)
This is the dilemma that happens to many of us when we become Christians. We get the message, it finally rings true and we sit on it. We forget to share the good news. We just found a new toy and don't want anybody to play with it yet, not yet... let me hold it for awhile until I'm ready. Or we might get caught up in escapism. Or, the idea of just sitting in your rocking chair and waiting for the rapture. You got the message, it was right there for everyone else. Might as well not stress over this world, right?
Sorry kids, we don't get to do that as warriors of the Word. We are called to get the good news out. That is our job while we are here. Take this sentence to heart, "We don't escape this life by dreaming of heaven, but endure this life because of the certainty of heaven"
Ok, I say that to remind you to be thankful for the time God gave you to turn from sin. We need to use that time to work to help others turn as well. I want to wrap this up by showing you some of the horrors that await non-believers to jump start your drive to help out that co-worker, teammate, parent, sibling less they have to go through this.
Sounding the 7 trumpets...please, please don't skip this. Gotta open your bibles to Revelations 8:6-12 about the first 4 trumpets. I'll wait....ok now read on to 13. Those weren't even the bad ones if you can believe it. One point I want to make is that the next 3 horns cause spiritual harm. It talks of the "inhabitants" of the earth. I think these inhabitants are the non believers. There will be believers created immediately after the Rapture. Can you imagine being someone who went to church and went through the motions, but never believed? When you see people disappearing it is going to give you a quick realization that Jesus is real and things are about to get terrible. But, with the last 3 trumpets I don't think that the believers left on earth go through them because God has guaranteed believers protection from spiritual harm (Rev 7: 2,3)
Revelations 9:5-6 (speaking of the 'locusts' from the Abyss. Most believe these are demons) "There were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them."
A sobering lesson for us that feel strong in our faith, but haven't spoken up to that certain someone that is on our minds. The person that we KNOW if they died today would not be heading to paradise.
I remember reading chapters 8 and 9 of Revelations and having to put the bible down and take a second at how scary it was and how relentless the Judgement was.
I don't know where Jules wants to go from here. I was all over the place on this one. If you are confused or want to expand on a certain part of Revelations after reading it a little, hit up a comment and Jules can run with it or I can in part 4. I know there is always debate on the Tribulation, Birth Pangs, Daniel prophecy connection, 144,000 saved, Olivet Discourse, etc...
ONE.
Ty
