The Incessant Need to Know When [part 3 of 3] ...

In our prior studies we have been examining the answers of Christ to the questions of His disciples as to when the Temple would be destroyed at Jerusalem.  History gives us the answers in 70 AD.  But a more careful example of the parallels between the events and signs that occurred back then and the dangers we face in our modern world are striking.  The biggest warning of Jesus was the focus on avoiding deceptions, that is, avoiding the false Messiah’s, or those who would place themselves between us and God.  This warning still exists for us today, as we still place “self” in the line of responsibility for our own salvation instead of just upon Jesus.  This warning was important enough for Jesus to repeat it 2 times, so perhaps of all the issues that faced the disciples and face us, it may be the most important.  But Jesus wanted to focus the minds of His disciples beyond the immediate, and to the more important during this conversation.  His second coming, while not the main topic of conversation, would also be one He would include.

Peter continues his recollection to John Mark in his gospel in chapter thirteen, picking up in verse 24 saying … “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, [verse 25] And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.”  To set the context, in verse 19 Jesus predicts affliction such has not been since the world was created, nor shall ever be as great again.  When we apply a modern interpretation, and knowing our world seems to always get worse, we naturally assume that whatever this great affliction is, it must still be ahead of us.  But the introductory language Jesus uses in this text would seem to disagree.  Jesus begins by saying but in those days, and after that tribulation … it is only “then” that the sun will be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, followed by the stars of heaven falling.  These signs in the sky have largely been shown by historians to have occurred before 1844, giving rise to the movement that believed this date would be the return of our Lord.

However, if “that tribulation” was set to be “never again” witnessed, then perhaps the great persecution this world witnessed has in fact been completed.  It was for nearly 1200 years that the faith, persecuted the faith, an age where dissent was not tolerated, and religion was about power over others, instead of service to others.  Perhaps given the words of Christ Himself, this is to what He referred.  Jesus then continues His thoughts leading to this conclusion in verse 26 saying … “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.”  What Jesus refers to here, has nothing to do with the destruction of the Temple, but with His own triumphant return.  It was this event alone that is distinguished by the sun, moon, and stars behaving differently.  The creations of the Creator, showing deference to the divine that created them.  His return follows these events.  But again, the sequence is punctuated by a tribulation that is followed by these signs, not a tribulation that occurs hundreds of years after them.  The martyrs of the faith are enough.  What remains is His coming, as a thief in the night, or as we who wait, have become unprepared, and untransformed.

Jesus continues describing His second coming in verse 27 saying … “And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.”  This verse has more significance to us perhaps, than it did to Peter, James, John, and Andrew.  Consider multiple meanings it may contain.  First, the many who have died and await the Lord, will have done so from the four winds, or the four corners of the earth.  Many, from many different tribes and nations will arise to meet the Lord whose name they did not know in this day.  We who have been blessed to read about and know the name and story of Jesus, have seeded the uttermost part of the earth, and now are extending ourselves even to the space around us.  When Christ returns, his elect will be gathered whether alive or raised from the dead, no matter where they are.

Consider the second meaning.  It may imply that the gospel, or good news, has been spread as well, to the uttermost parts of the earth, and of heaven.  Perhaps the gospel as well, will be common knowledge for anyone wishing to know it, when Jesus returns.  This was a feat that the disciples could not have imagined, not knowing just how large the world was, or that it was round, or that it was inhabited by many peoples unaware of the goings on in Jerusalem.  Jesus seems to speak of a day when the gospel would be known in those far off places in the world.  Our communications methods of the day, can now carry that good news, even if by satellite wave, than by human explorer.

Lastly, consider the third meaning or implication.  Jesus states specifically it is His angels who are commissioned to gather together His elect from these places.  He does not look for a forgiven people, or a people who are aware of Him, or a people who claim to follow Him.  His angels seek for an “elect” people, a people who stand upright before the Lord, in action and in motive.  How can such an elect people exist in our world?  How can I be rid of the sin I am chained to?  It is not by strength of will, but by submission to Christ, to be remade from the creature I am, to the creation He intends me to be.  In short, I am to be transformed from the man who craves self-love, to the servant who craves to love others alone.  This transformation will affect my thinking, and how I love.  It will make me someone different than I am today.  And it will work its work within me, before I am considered one of the elect.  I will be a person of deep and passionate love for others, before I am one of the elect.  I will be a child, a toddler, in the Kingdom of God, trusting Jesus with my salvation, and my transformation, before I can be one of the elect.  Jesus does not return for those with only a tacit knowledge of who He is.  He returns for those with an experiential knowledge of how He can save us, from us.

It is then, that Jesus seems to jump around a bit, in His timeline of future events.  He continues with admonitions fit for both the destruction of the Temple, and for the second coming.  Jesus picks up in verse 28 saying … “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: [verse 29] So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.”  The destruction of the Temple would be a catastrophic event that occurred swiftly when it occurred.  Jesus wanted His disciples, and His followers in that day to know this, and move quickly to be ready.  The parable of the fig tree was meant to illustrate it.  In our day, Jesus would have us prepared and ready for His soon return.  Not because we delay to engage in our sins as long as we think time remains, playing a cat and mouse game with impending death.  But because allowing Jesus to transform who we are in the here and now, makes our lives so much better, and gives us a life worth living as one of the elect as long as possible before His quick return.

Jesus continues in verse 30 saying … “Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. [verse 31] Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.”  This verse acts as a promise for the disciples and for us.  The disciples could live long enough to witness the destruction of the Temple.  We know John did.  Christian tradition varies on how many others would surpass the 70 AD date, perhaps Andrew, perhaps Jude.  But obviously not all of them would live to witness either the destruction of Jerusalem, Judas would commit suicide, and James would be stoned long before it.  Nor would any of the disciples witness the second coming, as all of us are awaiting that event.  So what was it that Christ was so certain and so steadfast that His generation would see come to pass?

Could it be, He was certain that the power of the Gospel, what He refers to in the next verse as “His words” would not pass away.  Could it be He was certain that our transformation, beginning with the Disciples and their generation and lasting to the end of days, to the end of heaven and earth would be seen and NOT pass away.  This was the concrete promise of our Lord, that should we decide to submit to Him, to enter His Kingdom of God as a little child, trusting Jesus with our salvation, we would not be disappointed or see Him fail.  Following the words of Jesus, to love one another, to love our enemies, to love God with our whole heart, mind, and soul; would become part of who we are, as we are transformed by Jesus alone, into this new creation.  This is what Jesus promised that you and I can take absolute faith in.  Jesus will save anyone who asks, anyone who seeks to be something different than who they are today. 

This process would begin in the age of the disciples, beginning the transformations at Pentecost.  It would continue with Saul on the road to persecute, becoming Paul the staunchest advocate and prolific writer of His day.  It would continue with countless martyrs for the faith; normal people who loved life as much as you or I, but could not bow down and worship something false, even if it meant keeping them out of the pits of hell on this earth.  They died singing hymns to Jesus, while evil unleashed a torrent of torture upon them.   These are not the acts of those with only a fake knowledge of Jesus.  These are the acts of those who have truly been transformed and could live no other way.  And His transformations continue from that day until ours.  But to experience them, we must seek them, we must put aside the distractions of this world, and look for the Lord who can remake what has been broken in us.

Jesus continues in verse 32 saying … “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. [verse 33] Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.”  As if to try to eliminate the pain Christians would feel, the bitter disappointment of the 1844 movement Jesus blatantly states, that not even He knows when the time for His return will be appointed.  Since no one knows when it will occur, not even Jesus, we are meant to focus on our salvation through Jesus.  This could occur whenever we seek Him and submit.  Responding to that great love will be its beginning.  And seeing what Jesus does within us, will be its end.  This is what is important to do, not the specific days and dates of His return.

Jesus continues in verse 34 saying … “For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. [verse 35] Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: [verse 36] Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. [verse 37] And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”  Jesus ends His sermon of admonitions and predictions, with the most important direction to us all.  He bids us watch.  He does not tell us the exact moment of our demise, nor does He tell us the exact moment of His return.  Perhaps this is by intent.  The goal is not to tell us when we should die, and when He would return.  If our move to Jesus was one, delayed by the knowledge we had time remaining, we might never come to Him.  He does not wish to blackmail us with threats of death, He wishes to lure us with the promise of Love unending.

We need to think differently.  The transformed mind and heart do not need to know when and why, or even how … they only need to know what.  What does Jesus want me to do now?  What can I do to serve you, to meet your needs now?  What can I do to point you to Jesus, who can change your life like He has done to me?  These are the questions that obsess the transformed mind and heart, for they are the only ones that truly matter.  Serving God, serving others, loving everyone … this is the focus of the elect.  The elect have no time for doctrine, and scriptural interpretation, for to them the answers are easy.  Love God with everything, give Him everything you are, and become what He makes you into.  The rest He will give you as you have need.  You cannot study your way into transformation, you cannot intellectualize your way into it.  You can only submit yourself, your will, your desires, your dreams to Jesus and let Him remake it.

The when question does not matter, as now is the best answer.  When should I stop sinning: now.  When should I let go of the pain that comes with sin: now.  When should I begin to enjoy what Jesus has in store for me and my life: now.  The second of coming of Christ is not meant to begin your conversion experience, it is meant to punctuate a journey you are already on.  The second coming of Christ is not meant to introduce you to a God you can finally trust; it is meant to reveal the face of the God you have already been trusting with your entire life.  He bids us watch.  Not to watch only for His coming, but to watch what happens to a life given over to Him.  Watch what happens to your sin, as He takes it from you.  Watch what happens to your love for others, as He quietly puts it in you, until it overflows.  He bids you watch, those who know Him, should watch.  There is so much to see.  There is so much He wants to give you.  Do not wait for it.  Take it, and watch.

 

A Small Scroll, An Open Book ...

Near the end of the sounding of the sixth trumpet outlined in John’s book of Revelations of Jesus Christ is presented a new scene and description of events.  Indeed in what has been foretold of 3 great woes in the sounding of the last 3 trumpets; it is this scene that takes place BEFORE the second woe is completed.  Based on our earlier examination in the study of the series of the seven trumpets then, the timing for what John is going to reveal here must be near “the last days”.  Whether the sixth trumpet is to be interpreted in a political, or spiritual, or modernistic method; all interpretations point to a time period in the mid 1800’s that continues till Jesus returns, the central idea being it is a last message that goes out prior to the permanent establishment of kingdom of our Lord.  So as we examine what John reveals to us of Jesus Christ within chapter 10 of his book of Revelations, we find a sense of urgency for us as readers, for it appears this message is directed more to those who live on the earth in the last days before He returns.

John begins in verse one saying … “And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:”  John here refers to an angel, a mighty angel coming down from heaven.  The description of this angel is reminiscent of Christ.  His face shining as the sun, his feet as pillars of fire, clothed with a cloud and a rainbow upon his head – all indicators and descriptions of Jesus as outlined in other passages.  However, John knows Jesus personally.  John has Jesus revealed to him in the form of the Lamb of God in an earlier vision.  He has seen Jesus glorified as the Son of God walking amidst the candlesticks and delivering messages of love and redemption to His churches in the earlier visions recorded in this book.  So given that John knows Jesus in His earthly form, and has seen Him in His divine form, it is possible that this is a different angel coming to our world, and not Jesus Himself.  Perhaps the angel descending is Gabriel who had replaced Lucifer when he abandoned his post as angelic leader.  Lucifer at one time was the third highest created being second only to the Godhead.  He was at one time chief servant of all, and lead servant of the most high.  With that proximity to God the Father, His countenance might well have an effect on those who are near Him.  When Moses returned from Mt. Sinai, his hair was white, and face carried a radiance that did not originate within him, but was reflected by him as he had been in the presence of our God.  So too might this angel having been so close to God, might be reflecting characteristics of the Most High in his assigned mission to our world.

John continues in verse 2 … “And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,”  The mighty angel carries to our world a little book, that is both open and unsealed.  Unlike the book John earlier described that was sealed seven times, this one is made open to begin with.  The destination of the angel is to put his right foot upon the sea, and his left upon the earth.  This may indicate that the message contained in this open book will be one of world-wide consequence.  It is not intended only for a small group, but for all of our world, across every sea.  There are those who believe the open book is a representation of the Bible.  However the designation “little” might preclude this idea.  But perhaps a particular book within scripture, perhaps the previously sealed up book or prophecies of Daniel that are a part of scripture (i.e. small), but not the whole of it, might be the message that is here conveyed.

John continues in verse 3 … “And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. [verse 4] And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.”  This is most unfortunate.  When engaged in the study of our God, the more information we have, the more details we have, the more we want.  We can and will spend an eternity getting to know who our God truly is, and trying to grasp the enormity of His love.  Here, John alone is privileged to know the meaning of the messages contained in the seven thunders.  What might they have said?  What clarity might they have added to this vision?  What might the world, and our faith have benefited from the revealing of what now will become secrets to us?  The seven thunders were preceded by a loud cry (as when a lion roars).  There is no clear discernable message in the loud cry, other than perhaps like the trumpets to garner our attention.  Perhaps it is designed to wake us from our spiritual slumber to the reality of our position in the soon ending fabric of time.

John continues to relay what he witnesses in verse 5 … “And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, [verse 6] And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:”  First, it is worthy to note that we humans are forbidden to sware by anything in heaven or earth.  To do so, is to attempt to make a promise fueled by our own will, determination, and control.  Since we control nothing, we are to simply let our “yes” be yes, and our “no” be no.  This angel however, seems to want to call our attention to the source of his mission.  He points out in his oath, the nature of the God his declaration is coming from.  God, as his oath attests, is the God who “lives forever”.  God is immortal and the source of all life.  It is God who FIRST created heaven and the things that are there.  BEFORE we were created, before this world was transformed from a dark asteroid in the void of space that was without purpose into the blue green orb of abundant life that it is today; God created heaven and its inhabitants.  Angels predate mankind.  The other sentient life forms John describes as the four beasts predate mankind.  The city of heaven predates mankind.  Lucifer and the fallen angels predate mankind.  Creation is NOT isolated to us alone, but is instead a characteristic and manifestation of the love of God that has existed as long as God has.

Those who believe the big bang theory happened on day one of our creation are likely a bit misguided.  “Let there be light” might well have been about the positioning of our planet out of the void of deep space and into a solar system or galaxy where light would be present to the face of our world.  But as creation predates mankind, so too could a different declaration of the separation of light from darkness would have been the result of our God’s power many eons before our existence came to be.  And for those who would restrict the power of our God, who is to say, that the creation of “this” universe is the “only” universe He may have made?  Perhaps like the innumerable cells that make up our bodies, this universe is only one of many collections of galaxies that make up a greater vision of what existence means than what we are today able to discern. 

But as the oath of this mighty angel points out, creation did not end in the broader universe, or in heaven.  It continues in the creation of “this” world, and of “these seas”, of the life that exists in both of them.  It is interesting that the angel identifies the 2 traits of God that can quickly distinguish Him as God.  He is immortal and the source of all life, and He has demonstrated His unique ability to bring into existence the contents of His imagination and creativity.  The life He creates, becomes the object of His love.  He cares for His creations, loves them, and shares with them the joy of learning to love others.  It is these 2 characteristics that Satan is always attempting to get mankind to deny, in order that they quit believing in an all-powerful, all-loving God.  Satan attempts to deny that God created life, and that God is the author of this world in particular.  If evolution can supplant creation, then the “need” for a God disappears into the random abyss of meaninglessness, and the worship of self can be elevated and unrestrained.

After describing the nature of the God who this angel takes his oath by, he declares that there should be time no more.  If we were to ponder this text for a deeper meaning, we must ask ourselves, in the light of eternity and a God who made life to be infinite through His power, does “time” still have any relevance?  There may come a day, or a point in our existence, when measuring the linear passage of seconds on a clock, or rotations of planets around a sun that have no end, is not still something we spend any attention on any longer.  Will you really celebrate your 10 thousandth birthday with the same vigor as your 50 millionth birthday, or 50 billionth?  At what point do birthday celebrations lose their meaning when you retain the perfection of agelessness, when you cannot discern the difference between parent, child, grandparent, or 7-generations decedent?  The relevance of time may be changed when our minds truly understand what it means to see His gift of life in us on an eternal basis.

But more likely in this context, the angel is declaring that there should be time no more for a specific purpose.  Whatever the delay has been, whatever the period of time that was allocated for a particular purpose, that purpose has reached its fruition.  John then reveals the contents of the angel’s declaration, “time is no more” and in verse 7 the angel further states … “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.”  This declaration appears to be one of great hope for us.  It identifies that in the days of the seventh angel, the angel who is intended to sound the seventh trumpet.  We will read later about the events that occur when the seventh trumpet is blown, but most all interpretations identify the seventh of any of these series as the permanent establishment of His kingdom.  This message however is targeted in the days of the seventh angel, and only as he “begins” to sound.  So prior to His second coming and return to take us home, something is about to occur.  “The mystery of God should be finished” as he had declared it to his servants the prophets. 

I believe the “mystery” of our God, is His ability to create, or more precisely in our case, to re-create in us what has been broken by our choice to embrace evil.  I believe it is a mystery to us, how we can be remade at all, because we do not perform any work at it, at all.  It is His work.  It is His love that sees us transformed by His power.  All we do is permit it.  But in so doing, we see ourselves transformed from the sin craving self-loving degenerates we are, into a harmony with His law, and His love for others we have never truly known before.  It is the work of our perfection He offers to us.  This is a work only He can perform.  This is a mystery to us, because we cannot comprehend how His love could have this effect in us.  We cannot comprehend why love would do this for us.  We cannot comprehend the extent to which we will be remade and how different we will think and want and do. 

The mystery of our God is His power to redeem and reconcile unto Himself, in the perfection of His love, you and I who today know only the pain of our lives of slavery to self.  This was the promise of our God to His servants the prophets who carried his messages of love to this world.  The prophets carried His attempts to see us redeemed unto Himself.  Every message, even those of the great consequences of our disobedience were designed to call us to repentance that we might accept His gift of our salvation, and see ourselves embrace perfection before it is too late.  This is a gift we should long to receive right here and right now, without any delay.  For it is His gift, that frees us and gives us a life worth living, both now and forever. To delay receiving that gift, is to deny ourselves what is truly in our own best interests, to deny ourselves the freedom to love, and the joy that comes in the loving.  It is not just the absence of sin that is our goal, but in its place is the immeasurable joy of relationships founded on unselfish love.  We have yet to imagine how good, “good” really is.  We struggle so much against our sins, we have not the imagination to know what it is like to be freed from them, and see what was intended in its true light.

John continues in verse 8 … “And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.”  It is important to note, that the direction to go and take the book from the angel comes for the voice in heaven, presumably Jesus Christ.  The attainment of this book, the opening and discovery of this book, is being directed to occur from the voice in heaven.  John continues in verse 9 … “And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.”  At this point the conversation shifts from hearing the voice in heaven, to discussing with the angel what has been directed.  John asks for the book, and the angel tells him to “eat it up”.  In effect to open this small scroll (perhaps the prophecies of Daniel which until now have been sealed up and little understood), and “dive in” to it.  John is to study this book.  What follows is an analogy of what will occur as John follows the directions given to him.

The angel predicts that the book will be sweet as honey in John’s mouth.  Or in other words, the first response to the opening and understanding of the prophecies of Daniel will bring John great joy.  But this will be followed by bitterness in the stomach.  Upon digesting what was thought to bring great joy, follows greater disappointment.  It is not that Daniel was wrong, mistaken, or attempting to conceal bad news.  The problem which has occurred many times in history, and likely continues in our day, is that we may first misinterpret the meaning of prophetic scriptures and thus find ourselves disappointed.  The Pharisees were bitterly disappointed when the Messiah came with a mission of peace, instead of sword to drive out the Roman oppressors.  We modern Christians sometimes too become equally disappointed when we realize our own efforts to see us rid of sin, fail repeatedly.  We prefer the control of our own salvation, but come to the realization we have no control at all.  We are wholly dependent on Christ to be MADE free from sin, and are unable to make ourselves free of anything. 

Despite the prediction from the angel, which should be as clear as any revelation given to John … he continues writing in verse 10 … “And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.”  What the angel had just predicted came to pass exactly as proscribed.  Knowledge of the outcome must also have been doubted or ignored, as nothing was done to change what was predicted.  The “loud cry” of the early 1800’s messages that was preached and taught around the world at nearly the same time, had a consistent message.  The interpretation of the Daniel prophecies led to the conclusion that the cleansing of the Sanctuary would be the return of Christ.  As study evolved, a specific date was selected upon which this event would occur.  Knowledge of the outcome did NOT prevent the “sweet as honey” in our mouths message from going out.  People ignored this analogy.  The bitterness of disappointment that was to follow was ignored or doubted or disregarded.  Christ had said that “no man knows the hour” except His Father in heaven.  Yet a worldwide message was taught naming exactly the day in which His return would occur.

The timing of the prophecies was correct, but the interpretation was not.  The same was true of the Messiah on His first appearing.  He came on schedule.  But He did not come as political conqueror, He came as spiritual conqueror.  He came to show us how to enter His kingdom, not the change the temporary governments of this world.  The interpretation of the cleansing of the temple occurred on schedule, but it did not result in the cleansing of this world.  It had a different context.  It had a different interpretation.  We were warned of our disappointment.  But we paid no heed.  We took the book, ate it, and found it sweet in our mouths.  But in our stomach, came the bitterness of our neglect of the warnings and prediction of the inevitable outcomes.  And still, to this day, various churches, groups, denominations, continue to try to predict the exact day of His return.  They live lives of anticipation, always looking forward, but failing to see a change in their day to day behavior.  And inevitably the council of Christ is ignored, “no man knows the hour”.  Despite calling ourselves Christians, we ignore our leader, and predict His return anyway.  You would think we would learn.  But attempts to lead, and teach scripture, sometimes see us get ahead of Christ, and like all those who came before, we fail.

People wanted to believe the 1844 message.  People wanted to think they knew how much time they had left.  But they did not.  We do not.  It is not for us to live as if a certain future date is when our hopes will be realized.  It is for us to see our hopes fulfilled TODAY.  We can experience the beauty of salvation right here and right now.  We can find the freedom of His re-creation of us right now.  We do not have to look forward to tomorrow or any other date certain.  We can see His redemption in us today.  We prefer the known to the unknown.  We prefer the certain to the things that require our faith.  We prefer control to dependence.  Interpretations of prophecies that give us the feeling of certainty, can take away our dependence on Christ to know “His truth”.  The problem is that we have not learned submission, we have learned to prefer taking control.  But it is our self-deception about the notion of control, that sees us remain bound in slavery to self.  To submit, to let go, is to be made free by His power.  This was the lesson to learn from what history has shown us of the 1844 “great disappointment”.

The angel then gives a message of hope to John at the conclusion of this vision as he continues in verse 11 … “And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.”  Perhaps the angel referred to the idea that “prophesy” itself, the study and interpretation of John’s revelations, would once again emerge as important in the last days.  I am sure John would have preferred a more literal interpretation that he might be resurrected to reveal to us the messages bound in those thunders he was told not to disclose as yet.  But in our day, is there any who would accept the idea that the apostle had risen from the dead?  Do we even think it possible?  As it is, we are skeptical by nature of all those who claim the “gift” of prophecy.  We doubt them, because we doubt ourselves, and our own lack of faith that could see the gift in us.  We judge the messenger before we listen to the message, almost of incapable of separating the two.  Yet all Biblical authors would pale in the spotlight of the misdeeds done throughout their lives.  To open ourselves to the ideas of prophecy in our day, even when it does not conflict with scripture but rather amplifies it, seems almost unfathomable.  Yet the angel foretells it.

Are we to repeat our mistakes in ignoring the predictions of sweet taste, and bitter stomachs?  The angel foretells prophecy being important again.  Are we to doubt this prediction as we have done so often before?  If we are to trust in our God, then we must trust in what He says.  It does not matter if it makes sense to us.  It does not matter if we can see the feasibility of it, or not.  It only matters that He does not lie, and has never been wrong.  To that end, we who live in the days of the beginning of the sounding of the seventh angel, are to see the mystery of God fulfilled in us.  When this occurs, to prophecy is only to reveal what has been revealed to us.  His gift is more than we can imagine.  But the second woe was not completed as yet …