Tag: Fire from heaven
The scroll and two witnesses!
Scripture reading for December 27th: Revelation 10-11
“Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke.” (Revelation 10:1-3 ) John was about to write, but a voice told him not to. This angel told him there would be no more delay. The seventh trumpet would sound and accomplish the mystery of God.
The voice again spoke to John and instructed him to take the scroll from the mighty angel and eat it. It would be sweet initially, but turn sour. This scroll was the final judgments of God to be prophesied by John about many nations and peoples. God spoke similar words to Ezekiel when he sent him to speak to the rebellious house of Israel. (Ezekiel 2:8-3:7) Being a prophet, God’s word is always sweet to those who love it. When no one responds, it turns sour in the stomach and becomes ground for God’s judgment!
God then told John to measure the temple, but exclude the court of Gentiles. He explained that it would be trampled for 42 months. During this time, God would send two special witnesses to preach for 1260 days, clothed in sackcloth. They would be supernaturally protected until their time was over and then they would die. After three and a half days, God would raise them up and take them to heaven in a cloud in front of their enemies. A great earthquake would destroy a tenth of the city and kill 7000 people! (Revelation 11:1-13)
These two witnesses have caused much discussion among Christians. Some feel that Enoch and Elijah will come back as these witnesses since they did not die. Enoch was snatched up in the time before the flood and was a prophet of the second coming. (Jude 14-15) Elijah called fire from heaven. Moses also is mentioned as a possibility since he was used in the judgments on Egypt. God does give all men time and opportunity to repent and also supernatural signs. Men are without excuse!
Demands of following Jesus!
Scripture reading for April 2nd: Luke 9:51-10:12
“As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:51) Jesus was a man on a mission who had a goal in mind. The end of this goal was death by crucifixion, a resurrection and return to His home in heaven. He knew that He must prepare His followers to carry on the mission here on earth of reaching the entire world with the good news of repentance and faith. These disciples must be fully committed and follow His instructions implicitly.
When the disciples went ahead into Samaria to secure a place for Jesus and themselves to stay, they found opposition and rejection in a certain village. When James and John heard about this, they asked Jesus about calling fire down from heaven and destroying that village and people. Jesus rebuked them! Following Jesus was not just a power trip. There would be rejection and suffering. He had not come to judge, but to save!
As they walked along, a man came to Jesus and said, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” (Luke 9:57-58) Jesus did not take every person who expressed interest in following Him. He made demands on them and plainly told them of the difficulties of the journey. Following Jesus may require great hardship and physical discomfort to reach those who need to hear the message.
Jesus asked another man they met to follow Him. This man asked for time to bury His father first. It is likely that the father was ill or maybe just old and this man felt the need to care for the father. Jesus told him to let the dead bury the dead and to instead go and proclaim the kingdom of God! Jesus demanded a willingness to leave even family responsibilities to do His will and work!
Another man said he wanted to follow Jesus, but wanted to go say good-bye to his family. Jesus told him, “No one who put his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” When one chooses to follow the Lord there must be no turning back. Fitness for God’s kingdom requires a focus and complete surrender.