Day 365 - Revelation 15-22

ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 365 - Revelation 15-22 (The Different Fates of Everyone)
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"And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire."  Revelation 20:15

It should not be a surprise that the last few chapters of the Bible would describe the end of every being which God has created.  Let us look at each category of created beings and their respective fates:

The Beast and the False Prophet:

These two evil beings who will lead multitudes to worship the antichrist and Satan and will kill all those who would refuse to receive the mark of the beast will be thrown into lake of fire at the end of the seven-year great tribulation.

         "Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by           which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.               These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone."  (Rev. 19:20)

The Dragon Who is the Devil and Satan:

Once the most beautiful and powerful of all created beings named Lucifer, he became the devil or Satan after rebelling against God and has since the creation of Adam and Eve never ceased to tempt humans in order to bring as many souls to hell as possible.  His end will be the same as that of the beast and the false prophet after he is loosed from captivity in the bottomless pit after 1000 years peace on earth.

          "The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the           false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."  (Rev. 20:10)

Unbelievers:

These include not only those who denied Christ as God and Savior but all who refused to make the decision to repent and follow Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Their end will be with the devil and the beast and the false prophet.

          "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven             fled away. And there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing             before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And             the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.  The           sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in                   them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.  Then Death and Hades were cast               into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was           cast into the lake of fire."  (Rev. 20:11-15)

Followers of Christ:

These are those who Jesus calls His disciples, followers of Christ, those who are born again in the family of God, saints, and many other names all describing the same thing, that is, these all obey the commandments of God and of Christ.

          "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and             may enter through the gates into the city.  But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral           and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie."  (Rev. 22:14-15)

Here is the most important question you will have to answer; your response will determine your eternal destiny or fate:  Which category of people do you belong, the unbelievers who do not obey Christ or the believers who follow Christ at all cost?


         

Day 363 - 2 John - Revelation 14

ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 363 - 2 John - Revelation 14 (The Mark of the Beast)
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"Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb."  (Revelation 14:9-10)

It would be safe to say that the typical person reading or hearing about the antiChrist, also called the beast, probably thinks that even if this whole thing about the end of the world is true, it is so far into the future that it doesn't really apply to them.  Well, I got news for them, everything written in the Bible applies to every person who ever lived from the time of Adam and will apply to all people until God makes a new heaven and a new earth.

In our text above, three angels were sent by God sometime during the seven-year Great Tribulation that is to come upon the earth in the last days in order to orally warn those who still have not received the mark of the beast either on thier forehead or their right hand to refuse to do so but rather receive the Holy Spirit who is the true mark or seal of God that saves sinners.

Someone might say, "If ever I'm still alive at that time, I will never receive the mark of the beast."  That's good for him and I truly wish him all the best; however, what every person who is alive today must understand is that unless a person receives the Holy Spirit by repenting of his sins and trusting in the finished work of Christ on the cross as full payment for his sins, he will not enter heaven but instead end up in hell where those who will receive the mark of the beast will also go.  Jesus said:

             "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him                    should not perish but have everlasting life... He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he                  who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only                begotten Son of God.(John 3:16,18)."

<sup>Salvation has always remained the same from the start of human history and it has always come down to a choice that every person must make, that is, either to worship the Creator God or worship the many images of the beast including false religions, worship of self and temporal things like money, power, relationships, etc., and in the last days, worshipping Satan himself and his anti-christ.  

There is no such thing as being neutral as far as choosing between Christ and others.  A non-decision is tantamount to not choosing Christ and therefore not having the Son of God in your life.  Jesus leaves no room for doubt as to the fate the indecisive person:

          "</sup>He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see             life, but the wrath of God abides on him (John 3:36."

Day 359 - 1 John

ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 359 - 1 John (Next Time You Wanna Sin, Think Again)
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"...Sin is lawlessness.  And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.  Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him."  (1 John 3:4b-6)

Many people think that they are Christians and that God cannot refuse them entrance into heaven.  Sadly they are wrong.  The apostle John, known as the Lord's beloved apostle and adoptive son of Jesus' mother Mary, makes it crystal clear throughout his first epistle that so-called Christians who sin willfully absolutely are not saved.

John by no means is not saying that the true believer does not sin.  In fact, he writes, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us (1 John 1:8-10)."

What John does say is that those who practice sin such as adulterers, liars, thieves, haters of other people, etc., those who deliberately break the law of God (sin is lawlessness), these John says has neither seen Christ nor know Him.

John goes on to say in the same chapter as our text above that those who live in sin is of the devil and that whoever is born of God does not continue in sin (1 John 3:7-9).  Those who are "born again" in the family of God through faith in His Son Jesus have been washed clean from all since God is "of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness (Habakkuk 1:13)."  It is absolutely necessary that the sinner be rid of every shade of sin before he is allowed entrance into heaven otherwise heaven will be polluted and would no longer be heaven.

The good news of the gospel is that God has sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins so that we could be forgiven and washed clean of our sins by His shed blood and so that you and I could be free from the bondage of sin and become members of the family of God and citizens of heaven.  Would you ask God to forgive you of your sins right now if you haven't done so yet and so be washed clean of your sins and become a child of God? 

Day 355 - Hebrews - 2 Peter

ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 355 - Hebrews - 2 Peter (Christmas Means God is with Us)
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"God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high"  (Hebrews 1:1-3)

Today, as we celebrate Christmas, what could be more fitting than to reflect upon its true meaning?  Our text above echoes the angel's announcement to Joseph, the husband of Mary, that the child she was carrying was the One whom the prophet Isaiah referred to whose name shall be called Immanuel, which translated meant, "God with us."

The author of the book of Hebrews, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Sprit, tells us that God has 
revealed Himself to the world through the birth of His Son Jesus Christ.  We read that it is through Jesus, who is the heir of all things, that the entire universe was created.  The book of Colossians goes even further to say that "all things were created through Him and FOR Him (Colossians 1:16)."

Our text further states that Jesus, the Son of God, is the "brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power."  That really is quite a loadful to say about the Christ.  It means Christ is God Himself in human flesh.  As God, Christ upholds all things by the word of His power which in plain language means that He is the force that holds the atom (a mystery scientists have never figured out) which is the basic element of all matter in the universe.  Simply put, all that needs to happen in order for the universe to collapse is for Christ to let go of His hold on the universe.

Finally, we are told that the main reason for the incarnation of God was our salvation through His death on the cross.  Jesus was born in this world so that He could die to take the death that we deserved and so that we could receive the gift of eternal life that we do not deserve.  But Jesus did not just die, He rose again and ascended into heaven and is now sitted at the right hand of God the Father as our Mediator or Priest, ever interceding in our behalf before His Father.  

This Christmas, if you have not done so yet, would you give Jesus, the birthday celebrant, your heart as your gift to Him and would you receive the gift of eternal life which He wants to give to you?  If you do, you will experience a Christmas unlike all your past Christmases because the Christ of Christmas will be alive in you for all eternity.

Day 352 - Romans 13 - Philemon

ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 352 - Romans 13 - Philemon (The Importance of Scriptures in our Salvation)
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"But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."  (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

At the time of the writing of the apostle Paul's second letter to his son in the faith, Timothy, he was at the end of his life while in prison awaiting his death.  As a loving father would do to his son, Paul admonished Timothy in many things among the most important of which is the place of Scriptures in the life of the believer in Christ, especially the man or woman of God.

Paul reminded Timothy of his privileged life in which from childhood, he has known the holy Scriptures from his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois (2 Timothy 1:5).  We must never underestimate the power of teaching children the Scriptures at a very early age.  Believing adults who have influence over children should take every opportunity to teach Children the truth of God's Word.

Paul tells Timothy that the Scriptures "are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."  As Paul also wrote in his letter to the Romans, "so faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 1017)."  Since salvation can only come thru the hearing of the Scriptures and faith in the Christ of the Bible, it is therefore of utmost importance that you and I read and obey God's Word.

Paul went on to say to Timothy that not only is the holy Scripture essential for salvation, it is also "given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."  That Scripture are given by inspiration of God means that it is absolutely without error.

God has called every believer to glorify Him by doing the "good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10b)."  God has given us His Word, the Bible in order to accomplish those good works which He has prepared for us to do even before the foundation of the world so that we could not possibly take any credit for it.  To God be all the glory for all the great things He has done through those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him! 

    

Day 332 - Romans 10 - 12

ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 332 - Romans 10 - 12 (The Role of Public Confession in Salvation)
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"if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.  For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." (Romans 10:9-13)

Many professing Christians say that they live their Christian lives by their deeds and not by their words.  I would say that is well and good as long as they are not ashamed to speak out for Christ whenever the need arises.

The importance of using our words and not just our actions in order to authenticate our faith is emphasize in our text above.  The apostle Paul declares with all boldness that a person is saved by believing in his heart as well as confessing with his mouth that Jesus is Lord and that God has raised Him from the dead to be the Savior of all who call on His name.

Pauls teaching regarding the role of believer's of public confession of faith in salvation raises an obvious dilemna for many professing Christians who refuse to publicly acknowledge their faith in Christ.  For example, are those who refuse to obey Christ's command to be baptized really saved considering the baptism is the ultimate public confession of faith of the believer?

I am not in any position to say who are those who are saved or not.  What I am in a position as a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ is to warn all to escape the punishment of sin by confessing with their mouth and believing in their hearts that Jesus is Lord as Romans 10:9 clearly teaches.

Have you confessed with your mouth and believed in your heart that Jesus is Lord and Savior?  If not, I urge you for your own soul's sake, do it now while you still can for the Bible says, " Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2b)." 

Day 331 - Romans 8 - 9

ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 331 - Romans 8 - 9 (No Condemnation for True Christians)
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"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."  (Romans 8:1-2)

In my last devotional, we learned that the Bible teaches that there is no one who is good in the eyes of God and that all are guilty of sin and are subject to the punishment of sin which is death, both physical as well as eternal death.  In our Scripture reading today, we read how all who are in Christ through faith in Him will never be subject to God's condemnation of sin.

The apostle Paul explains that the reason believers in Christ will not be condemned is because they have been freed from the power and authority of the law of Moses, Christ having completely met the law's requirements in their behalf.  In other words, the only way the the law can condemn true Christians is if it can condemn Christ who took upon His own body the punishment of death meted by the law.

Paul expounds on this thought in in the last verses of chapter 8 of the book of Romans:

           "Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.  Who is he who condemns? It            is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also                makes intercession for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or                    distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?... Yet in all these things we                are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am persuaded that neither death nor              life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor            depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in                Christ Jesus our Lord."  (Romans 8:33-39)

Someone might ask, "Is there any way at all for a true Christian to bbe condemned ffor his sins?" Technically, I submit that there is one way; that is, if anyone including the Christian, could convince God the Father to stop loving His only beloved Son Jesus Christ, then it would be possible for the believer who is "in Christ" to be separated from the love of God.  As Paul wrote, the love of God which saved us from condemantion "is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Obviously, that would be impossible and therefore it follows that it is also impossible for a true Christian to be condemned.  Hallellujah!  The Gospel is good news indeed!