Tag: heaven opened
King of Kings Comes!
Scripture reading for December 26th: Revelation 19
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Revelation 19:11-14, 16 “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He Himself. He is dressed in a rob e dipped in blood, and His Name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.” . . .”On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Observations for over-comers: Christians are the only ones on earth who know for sure who will come to judge the earth and redeem the faithful! We do not know when, but Jesus’ coming is sure! “Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your punishment, He has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.” (Zephaniah 3:14-15)
Two witnesses and the seventh Trumpet!
Scripture reading for December 15th: Revelation 11
“I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. And I will give power to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” (Revelation 11:1-3)
John was put to work in his vision. He was given a measuring rod and told to measure the temple in Jerusalem, the city where “our Lord was crucified.” Measuring in the prophetic literature has to do with spiritual evaluation for judgment or for reward. God would evaluate those in His house for true worship and exclude those who would trample His holy city. A set time was given for their trampling: forty-two months. This is in line with the prophesy of Daniel 7:25 where the “little horn” will oppress the saints for “a time, times and half a time.”
During this time, two witnesses chosen by God will prophesy, clothed in sackcloth. They are clothed in sackcloth as a sign of mourning for the judgments that they are bringing. They are given power by the Holy Spirit to strike their enemies and bring drought and plagues on the earth. When they are finished with their testimony, they will be killed by the beast. Their bodies will lie in the street for three and a half days while people of the earth celebrate their deaths. Then, suddenly, they will be resurrected and caught up to heaven in the clouds! A great earthquake will strike the city and 7000 people die and others terrified.
The seventh angel then sounds his trumpet and announces: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15) The climax all heaven has waited for has come!
“I see heaven open!”
Scripture reading for May 14th: Acts 7
One of the new ‘deacons’ was Stephen, a man “full of God’s grace and power.” (Acts 6:8) Stephen served the widows but also used the anointing he received to do great wonders and miraculous signs! This caused controversy among the Jews and Stephen began to fall under persecution and false accusations. Finally, they seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin on false charges of blasphemy against Moses and God. (Acts 6:11-14)
As Stephen stood before this hostile group of Jewish leaders, they noticed that “his face was like the face of an angel.” (Acts 6:15) They asked him if the charges against him were true and as he opened his mouth to speak, he presented an anointed teaching about God’s grace to the Israelites to lead them and speak to them through the Patriarchs and Moses. He told how the Israelites had rejected Moses the first time questioning his authority! They also rejected him again when they refused to obey him at Mt. Sinai. Stephen told how God had judged them for their idolatry and eventually sent them to Babylon. (Acts 7:39-43)
Stephen’s final point from his explanation concerned those present to accuse him falsely: “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? The even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered Him–. . .” (Acts 7:51-52) This speaking of truth made the crowd furious and they gnashed their teeth at him. “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. . .” (Acts 7:55) As they rushed him and began to stone him, Stephen gave his spirit to the Lord and prayed for their forgiveness!