Triplets of Faith: Everlasting Gospel

 

Photo by ForestWander 2011

Even in Florida, cooler mornings remind me to thank God for changing seasons. These evoke memories of admiring majestic mountains painted so vividly from autumn’s palette, as I breathe in the aroma of crisp leaves crunching underfoot and hickory smoke from a wood-burning stove, and savor warm apple cider spiked with cinnamon, cloves and honey. 

God designed man in His own Triune image, to seek Him, to know Him, and to love Him as our Savior, Father and Creator of all. How can so many fail to realize this basic truth?

He equipped our body with senses, working together so perfectly to perceive all the beauty of His universe. These cry out to our mind that only a Supreme Designer could do this. And in our spirit, the seat of our emotions and soul, we long for the love, joy and peace (Galatians 5:22) found only in fellowship with Him. Only the fool says in His heart there is no God (Psalm 14:1; 53:1), for the universe declares His glory (Psalm 1:11), and all who deny it are without excuse (Romans 1:18-25)

God is unchanging, for Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Yet He has revealed the specifics of His plan for mankind in different ways to different peoples throughout Bible history. Scripture speaks of three true Gospels, or Good News of salvation, given by God’s grace as a freely given, unmerited gift that sinful man does not deserve and cannot earn (Ephesians 2: 8-9).

The Gospel of the Kingdom (Matthew 24:14), directed to the Jews and the nation of Israel (Psalm 98:2-3), tells of Jesus Christ as the coming King of His Kingdom. The Gospel of Grace (Acts 20:24) allows Gentiles as well as Jews to be saved by their faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the only way to Heaven (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; John 14:6). And the Everlasting Gospel (Revelation 14:6-7) warns of judgment by the One True God Who is to be worshipped as the Creator.

The basis of the Everlasting Gospel, as well as of the other two true Gospels, is faith (Romans 1:17) that God is the Creator, Who is Who He says He is. and Who will do what He has said He will do. The Gospel is Good News to those who believe it, but judgment to those who reject it. Faith in the One true God results in eternal, abundant life with Him (John 3:16; 5:2410:10), but disbelief results in eternal damnation in hell (John 3:18), forever separated from His light and love (Luke 16:23-26).

The Everlasting Gospel was first revealed to Adam and Eve, and it will be confirmed shortly before Christ returns as Righteous Judge, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Even before Christ revealed the Gospel of Grace to Paul, allowing Gentiles who placed their faith in Him to share in salvation, there were occasional Gentiles throughout preceding Bible history who were saved by faith in what was known about God at that time.  These included Rahab (Hebrews 11:31), Ruth (Ruth 1:16), and the Roman centurion (Mark 15:39). Jews as well as Gentiles were saved by faith that God was Creator of all, worthy of our praise, worship, and obedience (Hebrews 11).

The Gospel of the Kingdom is the Good News of salvation to Jews who trusted in Jesus as their promised Messiah during His earthly ministry and those who will do so during the Tribulation. And the Gospel of Grace is the Good News of salvation to Gentiles (and Jews) who placed their faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the only way to Heaven (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

Although the third Gospel, the Everlasting Gospel, promises judgment rather than salvation, it is still Good News to the nation of Israel and to the faithful remnant who refuse to worship the beast during the Tribulation, because it means that their ordeal will soon be over as Christ returns to defeat the Antichrist and the enemies of Israel at the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16).

Just before the Vial Judgments of the Tribulation, the angel will preach the Everlasting Gospel to people of every nation, kindred, and tongue. The message will be a warning to fear God, give Him glory, and worship Him, as the hour of His judgment is come. God is to be feared, glorified and worshipped as the Creator of Heaven, earth and sea, making this an Everlasting Gospel known since Adam and Eve. (Revelation 14:6-7). Those who follow this warning and die in the Lord will be blessed forever more, resting from their labors and honored thereafter by their works (Revelation 14:13).

Praise God that all who have been saved before the Tribulation will have a heavenly perspective on these events, viewing them unfold from above, for God will spare us from the wrath to come! Meanwhile, may we have the patience of the saints, keeping the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus (Revelation 14:12).

© 2013 Laurie Collett

Judgment and Deliverance by Water

 

Painting by Lidia Kosenitzky 2009 (wikimedia)

Water in the Bible may represent God’s blessings of physical and spiritual sustenance and healing. But the Lord gives and He takes away (Job 1:21), and He can use water as an instrument of His omnipotent wrath as well as His infinite love.

God used water to judge mankind for their sin when He destroyed the vast majority of men and living creatures in a global flood, sparing only faithful Noah and his family (Genesis 6:17). Thankfully, He promised that He would never again destroy the whole earth by water, and He gave us the rainbow as His sign of that promise (Genesis 9 :11-15).

Nonetheless, God continued to use the destructive force of water and localized flooding as an instrument of judgment, as in the ”overflowing flood ’’ that destroyed the city of the Philistines (Jeremiah 47:2). While sparing the Israelites and allowing their escape from captivity as He parted the Red Sea waters (Exodus 14::21-29; Nehemiah 9:11). He released the waves just in time for the pursuing Egyptians to drown (Psalm 106:11).

Other examples of water as a barricade preventing passage until God miraculously intervened include His drying up the Jordan waters so the Israelites could pass over (Joshua 4:23,) and Elijah and then Elisha parting the waters to cross the Jordan (2 Kings 2:8,14). Oceans and other great bodies of water tend to isolate peoples and nations, particularly before modern times of air travel. In the new heaven and new earth, there will be no more sea (Revelation 21:1), perhaps representing the unity of all the saints throughout eternity, and free passage to one another at the speed of thought!

God used the violent power of water to punish Jonah for his disobedience (Jonah 2:3-5), as his boat was tossed about in the storm, he was plunged beneath the waves, and he was swallowed by a great fish. But once he learned his lesson and prayed to God for mercy, the whale vomited so that the waves could cast Jonah safely onto dry land (Jonah 2:10). Similarly, the churning waves in a storm tested the faith of Jesus’ disciples while revealing His supernatural power to save them (Matthew 8:24-27).

Contamination of the water is a terrible judgment, as in the Egyptian plague of waters turning to blood (Exodus 7:17-24; Psalm 105:29). To punish the Israelites for their sin of idolatry, Moses ground up the golden calf and added the powder to their drinking water (Exodus 32:20); During the Tribulation, the waters will again be contaminated as the star Wormwood falls into the sea, polluting one third of the water (Revelation 8:10-11).

Elisha purified barren water with salt (2 Kings 2: 19-22), foreshadowing Christ’s commandment that believers be the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13), comforting and restoring those marred by the sinful world. Moses turned bitter water to sweet with a medicinal branch (Exodus 15:23-25), and Jesus Christ Who is the Righteous Branch (Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15) purifies our sinful souls.

When believers are born again by placing their faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to eternal life (John 14:6), the indwelling Holy Spirit makes each of us a source of living water to refresh the world (John 7:38) by sharing God’s Word and His love.

But sadly, our remaining sin nature sometimes pollutes our testimony. As James reminds us, the same fountain cannot give forth sweet and bitter water (James 3:11-12), and if we allow our sin nature to gain control, what we spout forth is poison not fit for others to consume (James 3:8). But if believers yield to the Spirit, He can use the living water, or Scripture spoken in love, flowing from us to help cleanse others from sin-sickness and to be a healing force for good and for salvation.

With every instance of God’s judgment through water He has provided deliverance for those who are faithful and obedient to Him. Noah and his family found refuge in the ark floating safely above the flood waters, which was echoed in baby Moses floating in his basket to escape infanticide as he was rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter (Exodus 2:10). In their angry pursuit of the escaping Israelites, the Egyptians perished in the Red Sea, but God made a way through the raging waters for His chosen people.

God chastised Jonah by enclosing him in a watery grave for three days and nights, foreshadowing God’s ultimate plan of salvation as Jesus Christ rose from the dead to conquer sin and death forever (John 3:16; Romans 5:12-21). The prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2) may control the waves, but even he must cease and desist when the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) rebukes the storm. Praise God that He is not only the Righteous Judge (Psalm 9:8; Revelation 19:11), but also our Savior, Deliverer and Redeemer! (Isaiah 47:4; 60:16)

© 2013 Laurie Collett

Reposted from the archives

Revelation of Christ: Triplets of Power

 

Who is Jesus? The Revelation of Jesus Christ paints a dramatic portrait of our Judge, Warrior and King as we will know Him throughout eternity. In contrast to the helpless Babe in the manger (Luke 2:7,12,16), the humble Servant (John 13:5), and the meek, sacrificial Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36) portrayed in the Gospels, Christ shows Himself in Revelation in triplets of Divine power.

This unveiling of Christ to the apostle John was given by God, sent by His angel, and signified by His angel (Revelation 1:1; 17:1). As John was caught up in the Spirit in a prophetic vision (Revelation 1:10), he faithfully recorded God’s Word, the testimony of Christ Himself, which is the Spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10) and everything that he saw (Revelation 1:2). Jesus told John to record His Words regarding the past history of the seven churches, His present observations for these churches, and His prophecies of future events (Revelation 1:19).

John makes it clear that his vision came from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who is, and was, and is to come, reflecting His present Priesthood, His eternal past, and His eternal future (Revelation 1:4,8). Jesus describes His own everlasting nature as Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last (Revelation 1:8,11,17).

John refers to Christ by three of His titles: the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. In other words, Christ is the Prophet, Priest and King. John praises Him for three of His noble deeds: He loved us; He washed us from our sins in his own blood; and He made us kings and priests in His Name (Revelation 1:5-6). His triumphal return will be a monumental event seen by all, realized by those who crucified Him, and causing great dismay to all remaining on earth (Revelation 1:7)

John hears the powerful words of Christ as a great voice, as of a trumpet (Revelation 1:10), and as the sound of many waters (Revelation 1:15). Christ wields three symbols of power and holiness: seven golden candlesticks (Revelation 1:12-13) surrounding Him, representing the seven churches (Revelation 1:16,20); seven stars in His right hand, representing the seven angels of the seven churches (Revelation 1:16,20); and a sharp two-edged sword, representing His Word, proceeding out of His mouth  (Revelation 1:16).

Jesus Christ radiates brilliant light, for He is light (1 John 1:5): His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet like fine brass, as if burned in a furnace; and His face shining like the sun (Revelation 1:14-16). He makes three pronouncements about His power over life and death: in His incarnation He rose from the dead; He lives forever in His resurrected, glorified body; and He has the keys of hell and of death (Revelation 1:18). Through faith in His death, burial and resurrection, He promises eternal life to all who trust Him (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; John 3:16).

Christ is adorned in attire suitable for a Priest, Judge, and Ruler. His full-length robe reflects His holiness, authority and majesty, and His golden girdle circling His chest is like the priest’s ephod, breastplate of a mighty warrior, or royal banner. His snow-white hair, like wool, resembles the wigs worn by magistrates to reflect their wisdom, age, and authority (Revelation 1:13-14).

Unlike any other book in the Bible, Revelation carries a special blessing for those who read it, those who hear it, and those who keep it; meaning for those who carry the promises of this book in their heart, mind and soul to influence their thoughts, words, and behavior (Revelation 1:3). Knowing that Christ will soon come again in judgment, power, and glory, should we not live every moment following His Word, seeking His will, and doing His work?

© 2013 Laurie Collett

Reposted from the archives and edited

Rocks in My Path

Photo by Saqqibali 2017

In this dream I am living in a one-room cabin in a farming community. The leader of the encampment announces to all the settlers that we must each clear the path to our cabin of all stones and dirt, collect them in a container, and turn them in to him to be weighed. The total weight of stones and dirt on each cabin’s path would be announced the next day.

As I start raking my path, I am humiliated to realize how many stones have accumulated on the once level brick path, and how much dirt has crept into the mortar cementing the bricks together. I had prided myself on keeping a clean house, but now the poor upkeep of my path would be known to all, even to my next door neighbor who always put on airs as if she were superior to me. 

Naturally, the handful of debris that she was gathering from her path looked miniscule next to the huge heap now blocking the entrance to my home. Still, I comforted myself in realizing that the man who lived across the way was even more slovenly than I, with massive boulders on his path, covered in soot and grime.

Finally it was time to turn in our piles of rocks and dirt and to have the weight tallied and announced. To add to my embarrassment, the only container I could find was a flimsy paper tray, resembling what fries might be served in at a fast food restaurant. Even that evidence of my contamination by the world would add to my guilt and shame.

As I started scooping handfuls of dirt and pebbles into the paper tray, a faint drizzle of rain moistened the dirt and the paper started to dissolve. Then the skies opened with drenching rain, washing away all traces of the dirt and pebbles. No need to gather the rest, for the flood had cleared away the whole mound of rocks not only from my path, but from all the others in the settlement.

The storm stopped as abruptly as it started, leaving only the refreshing scent of ozone and a dazzling rainbow in the clouds. As I awoke, I thought of how easy it is for worldly clutter, sin and weights (John 15:19; Hebrews 12:1) to creep into our life even when we think we are guarding our heart, mind and body (Psalm 51:10; 119:11; Romans 12:1-2) to keep us separated and set apart for His service (Leviticus 11:44-45; 20:7; 1 Peter 1:16)..

While we cling to the illusion that we are holy and pure (Matthew 19:17; Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19), it is all too easy to judge others for obvious faults in their lives, without recognizing our own (Matthew 7:3-5; Luke 6:41-42). Or we go to the opposite extreme, getting discouraged when we think we don’t measure up to the example of others (John 21:21-22; 1 John 3:20). But it is not for us to judge, for only God knows the hearts (Psalm 44:21;139:23; Luke 16:15; Acts 15:8;), and only He has that right (Romans 12:19; James 5:9).

The truth is, we have all been weighed in the balances and found wanting (Daniel 5:27). None of us on our own merits can meet the standards or keep the law set forth by Holy God. But thankfully, we don’t have to (Romans 8:1-4), for He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16) to be the perfect sacrifice to pay for all our sins (Romans 3:25;.1 John 2:2; 4:10.  

Now all those who are born again (John 3:3-7; 1 Peter 1:23) by placing their faith in His death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6) are justified in His sight (Romans 3:20-30; 4:5-25; 5).. Now it is “just as if” we had never sinned, for His perfect righteousness is credited to our account. Now if we confess our sins, He is faithful and merciful to forgive us (1 John 1:9).

All our sins are washed away in His shed blood (Revelation 1:5), and Jesus, the Living Water (John 4:10; 7:38; Song of Solomon 4:15), washes us white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). He formerly cleansed the earth from all the wickedness of man by sending the great flood, and even now He allows storms into our lives for His purposes. Sometimes the storms show us where we have allowed the filth of sin to contaminate our lives; sometimes they demonstrate His awesome power to destroy and yet to restore; and always they strengthen our faith in and dependence on Him.

Just as He sent the first rainbow after the great flood to remind us of His promise to never again destroy the earth by flood (Genesis 9:13-16), we can be reassured by every rainbow of His power, mercy, grace, and infinite love (Ezekiel 1:28). Praise God that we have no need to judge one another, for He is the only One to Whom every knee will bow and tongue confess that He is Lord! (Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10) Praise God that we can leave our burdens at the foot of His cross and be showered in blessings from His precious Fount! 

© 2015 Laurie Collett
Reposted from the archives 

Rocks in My Path

Photo by Yinan Chen 2013

In this dream I am living in a one-room cabin in a farming community. The leader of the encampment announces to all the settlers that we must each clear the path to our cabin of all stones and dirt, collect them in a container, and turn them in to him to be weighed. The total weight of stones and dirt on each cabin’s path would be announced the next day.

As I start raking my path, I am humiliated to realize how many stones have accumulated on the once level brick path, and how much dirt has crept into the mortar cementing the bricks together. I had prided myself on keeping a clean house, but now the poor upkeep of my path would be known to all, even to my next door neighbor who always put on airs as if she were superior to me. 

Naturally, the handful of debris that she was gathering from her path looked miniscule next to the huge heap now blocking the entrance to my home. Still, I comforted myself in realizing that the man who lived across the way was even more slovenly than I, with massive boulders on his path, covered in soot and grime.

Finally it was time to turn in our piles of rocks and dirt and to have the weight tallied and announced. To add to my embarrassment, the only container I could find was a flimsy paper tray, resembling what fries might be served in at a fast food restaurant. Even that evidence of my contamination by the world would add to my guilt and shame.

As I started scooping handfuls of dirt and pebbles into the paper tray, a faint drizzle of rain moistened the dirt and the paper started to dissolve. Then the skies opened with drenching rain, washing away all traces of the dirt and pebbles. No need to gather the rest, for the flood had cleared away the whole mound of rocks not only from my path, but from all the others in the settlement.

The storm stopped as abruptly as it started, leaving only the refreshing scent of ozone and a dazzling rainbow in the clouds. As I awoke, I thought of how easy it is for worldly clutter, sin and weights (John 15:19; Hebrews 12:1) to creep into our life even when we think we are guarding our heart, mind and body (Psalm 51:10; 119:11; Romans 12:1-2) to keep us separated and set apart for His service (Leviticus 11:44-45; 20:7; 1 Peter 1:16)..

While we cling to the illusion that we are holy and pure (Matthew 19:17; Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19), it is all too easy to judge others for obvious faults in their lives, without recognizing our own (Matthew 7:3-5; Luke 6:41-42). Or we go to the opposite extreme, getting discouraged when we think we don’t measure up to the example of others (John 21:21-22; 1 John 3:20). But it is not for us to judge, for only God knows the hearts (Psalm 44:21;139:23; Luke 16:15; Acts 15:8;), and only He has that right (Romans 12:19; James 5:9).

The truth is, we have all been weighed in the balances and found wanting (Daniel 5:27). None of us on our own merits can meet the standards or keep the law set forth by Holy God. But thankfully, we don’t have to (Romans 8:1-4), for He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16) to be the perfect sacrifice to pay for all our sins (Romans 3:25;.1 John 2:2; 4:10.  

Now all those who are born again (John 3:3-7; 1 Peter 1:23) by placing their faith in His death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6) are justified in His sight (Romans 3:20-30; 4:5-25; 5).. Now it is “just as if” we had never sinned, for His perfect righteousness is credited to our account. Now if we confess our sins, He is faithful and merciful to forgive us (1 John 1:9).

All our sins are washed away in His shed blood (Revelation 1:5), and Jesus, the Living Water (John 4:10; 7:38; Song of Solomon 4:15), washes us white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). He formerly cleansed the earth from all the wickedness of man by sending the great flood, and even now He allows storms into our lives for His purposes. Sometimes the storms show us where we have allowed the filth of sin to contaminate our lives; sometimes they demonstrate His awesome power to destroy and yet to restore; and always they strengthen our faith in and dependence on Him.

Just as He sent the first rainbow after the great flood to remind us of His promise to never again destroy the earth by flood (Genesis 9:13-16), we can be reassured by every rainbow of His power, mercy, grace, and infinite love (Ezekiel 1:28). Praise God that we have no need to judge one another, for He is the only One to Whom every knee will bow and tongue confess that He is Lord! (Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10) Praise God that we can leave our burdens at the foot of His cross and be showered in blessings from His precious Fount! 

© 2015 Laurie Collett