Tag: time is short
Woe on the earth–rejoicing in heaven!
Scripture reading for December 16th: Job 8-11, Revelation 12
Revelation 12: 9-12 “And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world–he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows his time is short.”
John describes a war in heaven where God’s angels led by Michael fight against the dragon and his angels. This ‘war’ is no contest and the dragon and his angels are cast out from heaven and down to earth. This is the ancient serpent, the one who deceived Adam and beguiled Eve. The announcement of victory in heaven is the declaration that the salvation, power and authority of Christ have come. This is cause for great rejoicing in heaven and all who dwell there. It is a cause of great woe on earth as the devil has come down to torment them. His allotted time, set by God, is short!
Revelation 12:17 “Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You that those who have the testimony of Jesus and the protection of Jesus’ blood are overcomers. Thank You for setting the times and seasons of Your redemptive plan. Thank You for revealing to Your people these plans, even the man of faith, Job. Use me today to declare Your plan of salvation through Jesus Christ that all might be saved from the coming wrath and out of the present war.
Job 10:11-13 “You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. You have granted me life and steadfast love, and Your care has preserved my spirit. Yet these things You hid in Your heart; I know that this was Your purpose.”
Let the heavens rejoice!
Scripture reading for December 27th: Revelation 8-12
Key Scriptures: Revelation 12:10-12 “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink back from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows his time is short.”
As a result of a war in heaven, Satan and his rebellious angels will be cast out during the final great tribulation. They are cast down to earth and Satan can no longer accuse the believers before God’s throne. He is filled with wrath and fury because his time is short before being cast into the place of punishment God has prepared for him and his fallen angels. The heavens rejoice but there is woe on the earth for the lost!
Rejoicing in Christ’s victory: “Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant and every thing in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sin for joy; they will sing before the Lord for He comes, He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His truth.” (Psalm 96:11-13)
The time is short!
Scripture reading for July 14th: 1st Corinthians 7
Key Scriptures for over-comers: 1st Corinthians 7:29-31 “What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.”
Living for the Lord means living with a realization that the world and all it’s allurements is passing away! Christians are to live with their bags packed to leave for their heavenly home at any time. Jesus has promised to return for His people but they will not know the day or the hour. They are to live in a state of readiness and be doing what He has asked when He comes for them. This will require self-discipline and faith in keeping this simple mindset that the time is short and the world passing away!
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers have great liberty in their lives while here on earth because they walk by faith in Jesus’ promise of a sudden and soon return for those awaiting His coming! “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven;” . . .”He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from the beginning to the end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1,11)
Recognize God’s time!
Scripture reading for March 29th: Luke 19
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Luke 19:41-44 “As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, “if you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
Jesus approached the beloved city of Jerusalem for his last few days on earth. As He looked at the city, He wept over it. He had preached and plainly revealed that He was their Messiah but they had rejected Him. They would hail Him as their King, but call for His crucifixion before the week was over. How Jesus longed to bring peace to those people He knew and loved! But each person and each group of people has a time of visitation and a window of opportunity. When light is rejected, darkness descends on the soul and God gives you over to have what you have chosen. In Jesus’ day, Jerusalem and Israel did not recognize the time of God’s coming to them!
Observations for over-comers: Believers must remain alert and responsive to the Lord and the Holy Spirit in the last days. We know that the time is short and we must make the most of our time here. “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven:. . .” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
The Overcomers
Scripture reading for December 28th: Revelation 10-13
When we look at the world we live in and the formidable troubles that face all mankind, it is easy to become fearful and worry. Demonic forces are everywhere and it appears that they are winning. Pornography is prevalent everywhere. Terrorism and bloodshed are daily news for those who anxiously watch. Economic troubles, famines, and earthquakes are regular fare. Nations are uneasy with wars, rumors of war, nuclear weapons, rockets, and armies in readiness. Into this setting Christ, the Lamb slain, leads His followers and calls them to be overcomers!
John sees a repeat of the nativity story with a cosmic setting. This sign appearing in heaven showed a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. This woman was pregnant and and in pain as she was about to give birth. (Revelation 12:1-2) John then saw another sign. There appeared a great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on the heads. The dragon’s tail had swept a third of the stars from the sky and flung them to earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman to devour her child the moment it was born. (Revelation 12:3-4)
The woman gave birth to a male child, who will rule all the nations! The child was snatched up to God and His throne. The woman fled into the desert to a place God prepared for them. Then there was war in heaven between Michael the Archangel and his forces and the dragon and his angels. The dragon was hurled down to earth with his angels with him. The identity of the dragon was the “ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan”. (Revelation 12:7-9)
A loud voice from heaven announced the coming of the kingdom of God and the hurling down of the accuser of the brothers. The brothers “overcame by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” (Revelation 12:11) The heavens were rejoicing! All who dwelt there were encouraged to rejoice! Those on the earth, however, would have woe because the devil was enraged. He knew his time was short! (Revelation 12:12)
As believers, we are seated in the heavens in Christ. Heaven is our home. We can rejoice because we have overcome. The blood of Jesus speaks peace, joy, and pardon for all who will repent and trust the Lord! We are overcomers with the forces of heaven! The devil is cast down and we are snatched up along with the Man-child who was born to the woman! No matter what might happen to us on earth, the best is yet to come! Rejoice today and tell someone the good news! The devil’s time is short!