“This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.’
For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:1-9 (KJB)
Perishing
The Thoughts and Purposes of the LORD
“The LORD of Hosts hath sworn, saying, ‘Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: that I will break the Assyrian in My land, and upon My mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders. ‘
This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. For the LORD of Hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul, and His hand stretched out, and who shall turn it back?” Isaiah 14:24-27 (KJB)
Many times my thoughts are not what they ought to be; neither are the things which I purpose to do. It is, I am fairly certain, that way with every living member of Adam’s race; and that is all of us living on planet earth.
We see dreams, and even plans for our day come and go without completion. We get discouraged, fearful, and doubtful. I will share with you that there is only one who gets accomplished everything He sets out to do.
That One is GOD, the LORD of Hosts of the text above. Though the words of Isaiah 14:24-27 are written with Babylon’s judgment in mind verses 24, and 27 are true and powerful in any day, age, or time; even 2019.
If God has thought it, it will come to pass. If He has purposed it, it shall stand – it will also come to pass just as He purposed it. Nothing He has thought or purposed or spoken shall be left undone.
For the Christian of today we find great blessing, peace, rest, and comfort in these words when we are faithfully walking with Him. If we have backsliden, and out of fellowship with Him we will find these words convicting, uncomfortable, and even miserable until we get alongside our Lord, and agree with Him.
For the unbelieving sinner these words should bring you to realize that God is true, the Almighty; that He does love you. The gift of His Son Jesus Christ for the salvation of the world is the only means of salvation (John 14:6). He said it. It is best to believe it and receive it, or you will perish in fire for eternity. GOD’S word is sure and fast it shall stand.
I will leave you today with a verse from the prophet Daniel…
“And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, ‘What doest thou?’ ” Daniel 4:35
Jesus’s Prayer – Not of the World
“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.” John 17:14 (KJB)
The following was first posted on July 26, 2010. You may follow this link to study chapter 17 of the Gospel of John.
It is important for us to realize that His Word has been given us for a reason. It has been entrusted to us not for secrecy, secret interpretations, or secret organizations. It has been given us to take into all the world. Even though the follower of Jesus is hated by the world, we are called to live in the world, and show forth the glory of Jesus Christ.
We show forth His glory by showing forth the power of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus to change our lives. What has Christ Jesus wrought in you? If you have been saved by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, then He has given you a New Life; you have been born again. You have been born into His kingdom; which is an everlasting kingdom which shall never perish.
The world is that which is perishing. The ones who are fearful and unbelieving. The ones who hate God and all that is godly. Yet, the Word is given to us to share with the world. We have been called out from the world of the flesh and the devil. We are called to live in the world, but not to be of it.
“Come out from among them and be ye separate” (2 Corinthians 6:17) is not a command to have nothing to do with the people of the world, but rather to not have anything to do with their ways of worship; their gods. We are to show forth only the glory of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. The only way we do that is going about our daily lives in the presence of the world; loving God, one another and those who are dying in this world.
Day Two Hundred Seventy and Nine
What do I want for Christmas?
I want the people, the families of victims in the bombing in Brussels, Belgium to be comforted, strengthened, and to be drawn near to the Lord Jesus Christ through these horrible events.
Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3-5 (KJV)
“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28
The Gospel of Hosea
There are some who proclaim that “The God of the Old Testament is different from the God of the New Testament.” “In the Old Testament God is distant, constantly judging His people, and angry. In the New testament God is loving and kind.”
How many times have you heard such statements of something similar?
Listen to what the LORD spoke to Hosea,
Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.” Hosea 2:14-15 (KJV)
In the gospel of Hosea we see GOD who chose a people who were not worthy, because He loved them, and drew them to Himself; and continues to do so. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is such a gospel [Good news] of God becoming flesh alluring people unto Himself, and taking what was a curse, and making them a blessing and glory unto Himself.
“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.” John 3:16
That is why I have sometimes called Hosea the Old Testament Gospel of John.
-T.A.
Quickly Perishing
When I look at our society today I see so many who are quickly perishing, and are completely unaware of it. Why do I say they are unaware of it? They live as though there was no end. They live as though there is no God. They live as though they will answer to no one.
We are all fickle at times. We can so easily be led astray, be deceived and deluded. There is something we all must realize and that is, that, there is more to life, than “Me”. “Me” will one day end, and then what. Hear what the apostle Peter has written,
“For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” 1 Peter 1:24-25 (KJV).
It is a terrible thing for man who is quickly perishing to give so much confidence and power to things which we cannot take with us. I heard the story of a woman who was married to a wealthy man, on his death bed, who wasn’t leaving anything to her, and wanted it all cashed out before he died and, then, put into his coffin with him at his burial. She went and cashed everything out, and the day of the funeral put a box in the coffin before they closed the lid. A friend who was with her asked, “What was in the box?”, and she proceeded to tell her of her deceased husband’s request, and that she had placed it in the box. She went on to say, “I deposited the money in my checking account, and wrote him a check. Now he can cash it any time he chooses.”
Any one with any sense knows when you die, that, silver, gold, or paper money will be of no service to you. It too will rot, rust, decay, and one day blow away in the wind with the rest of the dust.
There is only the “word of the Lord” that endures for ever, and that will be in the lives of those who put their faith and trust in Him through His Son Jesus Christ, and His death, burial and resurrection. “Forever, O LORD, Thy word is settled in heaven.” (Psalm 119:89). Those who will come to God the Father through God the Son will have an eternity with Him in glory. Call on His name today.
-Tim A. Blankenship
In The Father’s Hand
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” John 10:27-30 (KJV)
When you are known by the Good Shepherd, and you know Him; you are known and secured by the hand of the Father.
-T.A.
THE HAPPINESS OF THE REVELATION (1)
I had posted this sometime back and then completely lost everything I had posted. I am posting it once again for reminder and for any new readers we may have. I will be posting the next study of the Revelation which will be chapter 14, and following that post will be the second study of the Beatitudes of the Revelation that I am calling THE HAPPINESS OF THE REVELATION. Enjoy, and God bless you.
THE HAPPY READER
Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
These articles will deal with the seven Beatitudes of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. They provide for the Christian of all ages and the whole earth peace and happiness in the Lord. “Happy” is the meaning of the word “Blessed”. The Lord desires that His children be happy. He desires that we be happy in Him. John Piper has written, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” (from BROTHERS WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS). It seems that when we are most satisfied in God is when we are “Happy” in Him. That is just my thoughts. The happiness we have in God is not a fleeting happiness. It is an eternal joy.
In this article I want to show the happiness which can be found in reading and applying God’s Word to our lives.
In the gospel of Matthew we find the “Sermon on the Mount” beginning in the fifth chapter. In verses three through eleven we find what has been called “The Beatitudes”. Each of these verses begin with “Blessed” which means HAPPY.
The book of the Revelation has seven “Beatitudes” sown throughout its pages. This book is not a book which should cause anxiety in the heart of God’s children. It should cause us to draw nearer to Christ in awe, and in the fulness of His power. Warren Wiersbe wrote, “We need to approach this book as wonderers and worshipers, not as academic students.” There is certainly much to learn in this wonderful, dramatic, prophetic book.
The verse of Scripture in our text applies directly to the book of the Revelation, so we can find blessin and comfort within this book. I believe this promise also applies indirectly to the total Word of God, thus we find God’s will, way, purpose for life, and the way to knowing God within the pages of the Bible.
The promise is that there is HAPPINESS IN READING THE REVELATION. By reading the Revelation we can receive the knowledge of God that we desparately need. In Hosea 4:6 we read, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” What the people of Hosea’s day were guilty of was failing to hear and do the Word of God. Some of their not hearing it was due to the negligence of the priests failing to proclaim it, but the people were themselves guilty. Any man who stands in the pulpit to proclaim God’s Word and instead proclaims psychology, false science, feel good messages, or anything other than the message of God’s Word is going to have a hard time standing before God. The people who listen to the garbage coming from such a pulpit without challange will themselves be held accountable, especially if they knew better. The people need to know God, and how to find that knowledge. That it comes through the death of Christ on the cross, His burial, resurrection, His coming again, and by putting one’s faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross. The reading of the Revelation also gives knowledge of things concerning the future. If it is not read it cannot be heard (Romans 10:17). The Word of God is not to be taken lightly (Revelation 22:18-19).
The promise is that there is HAPPINESS IN HEARING THE REVELATION. To get the benefits of reading the Revelation one must give full attention and come to godly understanding. The genuine happiness comes to those who do what they have heard, “And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” (Luke 11:27-28). When we hear we can find a way for cleansing and forgiveness “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” (Psalm 119:9). Also, by hearing we can find a way to flee from sin, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11). Another thing that comes by hearing the Word of God is that we can delight in it, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” (Psalms 1:2 (KJV). “I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” (Psalms 119:16 (KJV).
The promise is that there is HAPPINESS IN KEEPING THAT WHICH IS HEARD OF THE REVELATION. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” ( James 1:22-25 (KJV). Do you have anything that you would consider precious? Of course, we would consider a family member precious, like a child, even in some cases a husband or wife, moms and dads, but let us consider things in this case. Is there any precious thing you may have in your posession? You desire to hold on to it. You will not let it go, unless it is a collectors item and it has reached its full value, and could start depreciating in value. How precious is it to you? The point I am trying to make here is, that we will keep what we hold dear to us. The Word of God should be precious in our lives. I am not talking about a piece of leather binding and words inked on sheets of onion paper. We can lose these material Bibles, but if the Word of God is precious in our hearts, that we will keep. The Word of God is precious. It is sad to say and to think about, but there are some who have discarded the Word of God for “Pottage”, as Esau sold his “birthright”, and lost the blessing. They trade that which will not fade away for what which will fade away. “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” (1 Peter 1:24-25 (KJV).
Finally, REASONS FOR THE HAPPINESS OF READING THE REVELATION. “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13:11-14 (KJV). All the Revelation of God reminds us of the Blessed Hope of the believer. It also reminds us of the Glorious Appearing of our blessed Savior. SEE TITUS 2:13. The full revelation of God reminds us of our dependence upon His grace. By His Word we are shown and reminded to live holy, and sanctified lives for His glory. We are reminded that there are millions who are perishing without Christ as their Savior. We are reminded of “THE PITIFUL, PASSING PARADE OF THE PERISHING”.
The Fire and Hammer 