I had to make a fast decision.

My days off are split but I am learning to live with it. I suppose that means no overnight trips into the desert to view the night sky, something I have not seen in over thirty years. But it would be good to have some recovery time for the feet. Oh well. I try to get as many things done in my one as possible, like laundry and early morning bible study. It is about the only day that I have time to sit at the keyboard and input based upon my previous thoughts I have written in my notepad.

12/14/2012

The day starts with another deadly tragedy, but after praying for the survivors and their families, life goes on.

Sitting at lunch we watched a man walk by the window. He was a little bent over but I attributed that to his age. The oddity to me was that he was carrying a small boom box on a day that looked like it would begin to rain hard at any minute.

The man disappeared out of our view momentarily as we discussed whether it was safe for people like that to be out on the streets. Don't get me wrong, it never crossed my mind that he was an ax murderer, but I happen to know that there is a group home near by, and for years we have had dealings with one of these men. He hits you up for coffee or a cigarette. Having had one of these “homes” in the neighborhood, we befriended a young man who lived there, and he went to the same church as us. He told us that the owners of the house, take almost all of their disability check and feed them simple meals like mac and cheese. The owners of the house near us apparently have made a good deal of money from this and bought another home down the street when house prices were sky-high and the banks were making bad loans to people. I am not keen on people taking such horrid advantage of people who have so few options. Our friend from the home had been adopted by Jehovah's witness family. His mother had taken drugs while she was pregnant, and he was the unwanted result. Apparently the JW family rejected him as well, even more so when he became a born-again Christian. They threw him out like trash and have nothing to do with him.

Back to the restaurant. The man who disappeared out of our view now returned and started coming toward the sandwich shop we were sitting in. Not a problem except for the eight inch silver strand of drool hanging from a lower lip that never closed. It reminded me of a Saint Bernard dog and the strand would break and flip off every few steps.

He walked right into the sandwich and said high to the owner and manager, addressing both by name. I kept thinking they would offer him a napkin, but no, they merely shook his extended hand and responded back in kind. I thought they were very kind to him and wondered if they would let him have a sandwich (maybe they do this for him on a regular basis, don't know.)

Now he is approaching our table and all I can see is this drool that is fortunately now only about four inches long. He sticks out his hand to both of us and we shook it. I have to tell that the war going on my head was huge at this point. To make this more poignant, we sat in church one day and listened to a young lady, that was part of the church staff, give her testimony about a recent missionary trip that she went on with the church. All I remember is how disgusted and appalled she was that “these kids wanted to touch my hair. You have to understand, my hair means everything to me, and they have lice and their hands were dirty.” I could not understand why someone did not immediately escort her off the stage. She should have never gone on this trip, and having such an attachment to hair I would suggest to her that she shave her head next time she thinks to share some form of good news about Jesus Christ to people who might see her hair as different and want to touch it.

So with Mr. Silver thread, I had to make a fast decision; one of those, what would Jesus have done moments and I shook his hand. I know people who would not!

I do not believe that I deserve any pats on the back for doing that. I know what I was thinking; I was disgusted, but he was a human, not even aware of his drool, and needed to be acknowledged.

Now the critical moment arises. He wished us a Merry Christmas. Wow, no big deal I suppose, People say that all the time, but this guy pauses for moment after saying it and says, “what does Merry Christmas mean?”

He caught me off guard. I have never been good at evangelism. In fact I hate it, but I love sharing Jesus with anyone who will listen. That is why, if you ask me something about my Lord I will not be timid about the way I speak back to you. I expect that God set moments like this up and quite possibly intended for the person in the next table to hear it. He (God) will hold them responsible for what they hear and do nothing about.

We tried to answer him, but almost everything we said was met with “what does that mean?”

Think about the question: “what does Merry Christmas mean?” It seems simple enough doesn't, but put yourself in an uncomfortable situation and try to come up some slick answer. I have thought about it a little since then.

Merry:

Webster's dictionary uses words like jovial; and exhilarated to laughter just to begin with. But that is not helping me, and it certainly would not have helped him. Webster's continues: Causing laughter or mirth. I was raised in church and laughter though not banned was deemed more appropriate at the church picnic, not in a place of worship. So those coming out of a religious background may not comprehend such a thing. The dictionary also uses terms such as: pleasant; agreeable, and delightful as defining words for merry.

So when applied to Christmas then people are wishing us a time or something more, though they are not aware of it. Christ could and should bring laughter, but not merely because of some drunken office party. And it would be a benefit to be pleasant, but that seems to be the opposite of the stress I see exhibiting itself. And what is it that you take delight in?

Christmas:

Two words really. Let's consider this one at a time.

As I ponder what Christ did for me, coming into this world a baby. Born of a virgin (to the Catholics an immaculate conception), a miracle in itself. In essence we are acknowledging and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, but it is not just a birth we celebrate, it is all he has done for us by coming, dying, rising again, and leaving us with the promise of his return. Why? So that I could have life; a life most refuse to understand.

Mass:

As I look for origins of the word Christmas I found Wikipedia which indicates what I suspected. Mass is basically a Latin term meaning worship. Coming from a Protestant background worship tends to take on a meaning of communication, often through music. I can tell you what it does to me. It seems to open a channel of communication where I am receptive to his voice. Some of my most precious times have been as a result of times I have spent in worship. Worship, of course, involves so many other things. The church will tell you that even your giving of offering is an act of worship, as is your service. That would be great if it opened channels of communication between you and God.

I think I would be safe in saying that to have a Merry Christmas is asking them to worship Jesus Christ in a life changing way, one that brings joy, laughter, and a pleasant feeling. Having a relationship with Jesus is supposed to give me a comfort in knowing that there is a hope of life with him. Honestly without that I am not sure what we are selling.

I study a lot. Not because I want to beat people up with my tremendous brain power and usage of big words, but because I struggled to understand this stuff I am sharing with you. I am convinced that those who are willing to spend the time getting to know my Jesus through his word, will find this peace.

Related articles

• It's "Merry Christmas" Right?!?!
• Merry Christmas-2012

The angel and the open book. Revelation chapter 10

John MacArthur's commentary stated that this segment was an interlude between sixth and seventh trumpet judgments. I had already used that allusion recently and did not want to sound redundant. The oddity here is that this still falls within the “woes” aspect. As a believer I find it exciting because after a deluge of death there seems to be some finality to it all. Having read the book I know how it ends, and it ends with my life in perpetual relationship with the Father I have waited all my life to see. I am therefore hard pressed to understand how the end could be a woe. Because it is included I have to consider it.

If you are reading along then you may be starting to scratch your head as you try to put what seems like pieces of the puzzle that do not seem to fit into their proper chronological slots. I think we can sort it out, but we have to be opened minded to some degree because although there is a timing to much of the Revelation it does jump back and forth in time and retells the same segment several times over, but from a differing vantage point.

I think an essential aspect is that you remember that the Revelation is of Jesus Christ (and that includes his church), and that multiple authors, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, penned aspects of the Revelation, as they understood them, long before John did. Perhaps that will help you keep focus.

Some serious problems coming.

If I were one that had chosen to not only reject God but have opted to fight against him as well, then I have some serious problems coming.

1. Firestorms – Read Ezekiel 38, 39.
2. A war with God, where his opponents lose hands down.
3. Following Satan to his judgment and torment, instead of following Jesus to life eternal.
4. And the last judgment for those who have died without acceptance of God as Lord of their lives. There is mercy conferred during this time that few seem to pick up on. God still shows mercy to those who demonstrated some form of kindness; the extent and the basis I am not clear on, but this just makes me love Him more.

He had in his hand a little book.

Revelation 10:1 KJV 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:

I carry a Dake's annotated bible, and he declares that this is Jesus. What do we have that backs this concept up? Primarily descriptions of the same man/angel. Based on what others had recorded in scripture I would agree.

Daniel 12:7 AMP And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right and his left hand toward the heavens and swore by Him Who lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half a time [or three and one-half years]; and when they have made an end of shattering and crushing the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

Exodus 34:5 KJV And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.

Ezekiel 1:28 KJV As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

Revelation 4:3 KJV And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

A scroll or a book, it matters not.

Revelation 10:2 NIV 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,

Think back to how the Revelation began. There was a scroll which was sealed and no one was worthy to open it, until one stepped forth. That one was Jesus Christ the lamb, slain for our payment. He opened the seals and now, after weaving our way through God's dispensation of wrath upon the nations and Israel, he stands here dominant, holding that same scroll, and declaring it is done, time shall be no more. Read Revelation 4:10- 5:1. This may well be the same scroll.

One of the aspects of this book we call a bible is that is a very Jewish book. John was a Jew and he wrote in way that they would understand. Try to think as he might have. He wanted the Jews to come to know the Messiah as Jesus Christ this slaughtered lamb, and the risen Lord; the same Lord that he was seeing in the heavens, spelling out what was to come. The emphasis to come to the risen Lord as God and Messiah were never greater, and an ever-present desire of his heart.

The concept of “a book” having such influence over their lives was not a new concept to John's readers. Look up the word book in a word search of scripture and you will find at least 175 references.

Exodus 32:32 KJV Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

Deuteronomy 31:26 KJV Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.

Psalms 69:28 KJV Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

Like the roar of a lion.

Revelation 10:3 NIV and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke.

Proverbs 19:12 NIV A king's rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

Jeremiah 25:30 NIV "Now prophesy all these words against them and say to them: "'The LORD will roar from on high; he will thunder from his holy dwelling and roar mightily against his land. He will shout like those who tread the grapes, shout against all who live on the earth.

Revelation 5:5 NIV “Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."

John had seen the future.

Revelation 10:4 KJV 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.

John, looking into heaven, has seen the future played out to the end of time. Is it possible that there is more and God does not want it revealed? I do not think so because now we are moving into the realm of secrets and God, as I have come to understand him, does not work that way. God has always been straight forward and open in his dealings with man.

Let's consider the concept of God hiding things from those that are his:

• Abraham - Genesis 18:17 ASV “And Jehovah said, Shall I hide from Abraham that which I do;” The idea here is: absolutely not.
• Daniel, a Babylonian captive, and a man who has the ear of king Nebuchadnezzar, has, to save himself and his fellow Hebrews lives, provided the king with the dream and the interpretation of it.
  Daniel 2:28-29 ISV But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he is making known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days. "While you were in bed, the dream and the visions that came to your head were as follows: (29) Your majesty, when you were in bed, thoughts came to your mind about what would happen in the future, and the Revealer of Secrets has made known to you what will take place.
• Though we can understand that God is the one who unwraps secrets there have been some things that did not need to be openly announced as they followed God's course of action. Many things that were revealed came in the form of law. Of course the children of Israel balked at that, for it was only a short time ago that they were, in a sense, the children of Egypt, following after the ways of Egypt. And even though Moses had relayed to them how they were to act as they moved toward the promised land they clung desperately to the Egyptian idols and ways that God was trying to save them from. (One of those nasty idols was the god Molech. A half human, half man statue with a hollow body in which a fire would be lit and then a child would be sacrificed on it.)
  Deuteronomy 29:29 ISV The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but what has been revealed belongs to us and to our children forever, so that we might observe the words of this Law."

In the garden a secret was revealed and few could see it. How were they to know? God said of Eve's offspring, “he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."¹ What did that mean? Throughout time many men have killed snakes and it made no difference. But this statement was different. This was God revealing just enough information about how he would redeem this man and his family back. We call it the plan of salvation. A mystery² hidden³ throughout the ages, and still hidden to some, partly because the “god of this world” has put a veil⁴ over their eyes so that they will not see⁵.

• Jesus, speaking to the disciples, answered their question about why he spoke in parables with, “because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven,..”⁶

Seems simple enough.

What does the word mystery (or secret) mean? Seems simple enough. Allow me to pull from Webster's dictionary:

1. A profound secret; something wholly unknown or something kept cautiously concealed, and therefore exciting curiosity or wonder; ..
2. In religion, anything in the character or attributes of God, or in the economy of divine providence, which is not revealed to man.
3. That which is beyond human comprehension until explained.

Here is the essence of understanding. God has revealed his nature and his plan to us through his Word. Mind you many things are suddenly becoming clearer as time has progressed.

For example: Until recently, who would have thought that Islam would rise as a global threat.ⁱ Guised under the cloak of the religious Caliphate they are bent on becoming a violent super power. As a child I would have never suspected such a thing, and having looked a little at history I know that they were silenced and for many years consider to be dead. So many of the middle eastern countries, where Americans are readily killed, were places of beauty with their architecture and seemingly warmhearted people.

In understanding God and his so-called secrets you have to understand that much of what is veiled to you comes out of, (1.) Satan obscuring your view to keep you snared by the “world” and his wish to prevent you from spreading the truth, and (2.) Your choice to not understand.

King Solomon would write things along this line: The pursuit of God is to pursue his nature and wisdom, and he will give this knowledge freely to those who seek it. I, for one, have desired to know God and understand what is happening around me as this world's system is rapidly collapsing.

Let's just speculate for a moment. Television paints pictures of an apocalyptic world. One in which only the wealthiest control and have leisure, while those survivors struggle as they work to keep the rich lavished in goods and commodities. What is the ratio there? Not balanced, nor fair. But then what is fair. Take God out of the picture, and that is what “they” wish to do, and what do you have? A world that was much like Noah's day; one filled with violence and every thought of man was evil. God had to destroy that world and start over. Man cannot live like that for the only one left living will be the bullies of the world, and even bullies will kill bullies.

Paul told us that the mystery has been made known to those who believe.

Ephesians 1:7-10 ERV In Christ we are made free by his blood sacrifice. We have forgiveness of sins because of God's rich grace. (8) God gave us that grace fully and freely. With full wisdom and understanding (9) he let us know his secret plan. This was what God wanted, and he planned to do it through Christ. (10) God's goal was to finish his plan when the right time came. He planned that all things in heaven and on earth be joined together with Christ as the head.

Ephesians 1:9 NIV he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,

The mystery, though rather developed, is wrapped up in God's plan to regain us, his creation, back. Jesus, his death and life are central to this plan, and there is an end.

All that we have seen

From Revelation chapter 6 on has been cataclysmic destruction and for the most part, nothing short of confusing to most.

There is a purpose though and it has little to do with the church (defined as those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ.) From chapter 6 through chapter 10 has been wrath and judgment being poured out upon the nations (those that have rejected him) and the Jews.

I won't be here to do exit interviews but I am sure that there will be many religious folk ducking for cover during the tribulation years. Look at what Jesus said in Matthew 25. 50 percent will be ill-prepared and will not leave with the church in the rapture.

No more delay!

A second aspect of Revelation 10:6 that I want to look at is: “that there should be time no longer:” This only happens when Jesus returns to reign on this earth.

Does wrath end and then Jesus comes striding forth? No! He comes with a sword and the armies of heaven come with him. Those that attempt to contend with him will be slain and they immediately follow their master, Satan, to his place of torment. Once this is accomplished Jesus sits, once again, as King, Messiah, and God. True the thousand-years thus begins, but who is counting. The way I see it: if God that there is time no longer, then as far as I need to be concerned eternity with the Father has begun.

The little book.

Verses 8-10

The little book may be the Revelation itself. The word used for book here is the same as scroll and we should know at this point that Jesus opened the sealed scroll.

You must prophecy against

Revelation 10:11 KJV And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

The word before in this sentence is the Greek word epi, and it can also mean toward or against. John was not done. It makes more sense to say against, especially if you are declaring judgment and wrath.

When you imagine the impact that John would make all these years later, and as knowledge and understanding have increased, we should be able to better understand some of the analogies that Revelation throws at us.

Revelation 10:5-6 NIV Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. (6) And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, "There will be no more delay!

“...And the angel – which I saw stand upon the sea and the earth ….

The prophet Daniel tells us that four beasts come up out of the sea.⁷ In Daniel's case it is not literal, unless we are dealing with fallen angels (demons) but out of the sea of peoples on the earth. This is another way of saying the nations. Here in Revelation 10:5-6 it may well be literal as Jesus demonstrates his global dominance over all aspects of this earth. I feel confident in speaking of Daniel's vision for Daniel himself was troubled by it and asked for the meaning. The meaning was given as four kings that would rise to power on the earth.⁸

“...and lifted up his hand to heaven, and swear by him that lives for ever and ever, ..”

Backtracking for a moment. If this is Jesus, and it is, then who is in heaven? The obvious answer God, but then it becomes more confusing. God lives for ever and ever; we know this because he told us so.⁹ We continue.

“... who created heaven and the things that are there in, and the earth, and the sea, ...”

Who did this creating? Our minds tend to drift off track as though distracted by an illusionists (magician) so that we do not realize where the object went or came from. But there is no illusion here, merely ambiguity. This same John, the one who wrote the gospel of John said,

John 1:1-3 AMP IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. [Isa. 9:6.] (2) He was present originally with God. (3) All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.

There is no ambiguity in what John spoke about Jesus and the creation. He was and is God, no less than the son of the king is royalty and carries the authority of the throne, but yet he is more and our minds may not wrap around it. I will merely accept it until the day I see him, but I know without a doubt that He is more than just a man. As he stands here, in this verse, he is magnificent. Men have toyed with and mocked him but not this day. Is there any doubt about who he is? Not in my mind, and yet scripture tells me that many still reject him.

“... that there shall be delay no longer:”(ASV)

Nothing, no judgments against the nations or wrath against a rebellious people will stand between Christ's wrapping this up and moving into the millennial reign.

All that we have read about in Revelation, from chapter 6 on, has been cataclysmic destruction and for many, nothing short of confusion. There is a purpose though and it has little to do with the church: those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ.

I will not be here to conduct exit interviews but I am sure that there will be many religious folk ducking for cover during the tribulation years. Just look at Jesus words in Matthew 25¹⁰. 50 percent are ill prepared and will not leave with the church.

A second aspect of Revelation 10:6 “…. that there should be time no longer:” The King James version and the Greek seem to define this statement to John like this. If the sentence ended with merely, “there shall be delay no longer” that would mean nothing is left to stand between this moment and the end. But to say, “there should be time no longer:” implies not only, no hindrances, but the finality of time.

Why would we possibly have a problem with the end of time. Not that I should care but someone is keeping track of the thousand-year reign for there is a judgment that happens at the end (that is a plus for those that God will show mercy too). Personally, I will leave that to God, but it certainly does imply that someone is keeping track of time. Aside from that, apparently the Jewish feasts are still observed during at least the thousand years, for those that survive the war against God are forced to come to Jerusalem and take part in the feast of tabernacles every year. Again, someone is keeping track.

So are we talking about time as it relates to the conclusion and then the kingdom restored under Christ's rule? I think so, but I am not sure I see any reason to dwell on it for as far as I am concerned my eternity with the Father has already begun.

the plans he had revealed

Revelation 10:7 NIV But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets."

The mystery is accomplished. I suppose that is the way the world sees it; God is a mystery, all of it. And yet it was not, at least now, looking back, I see that he laid it all out before them in symbols, types and parables, the plan was all there, right down to the serpent on pole.

Paul, in Ephesians 3:8,9 AMP tells us,

“To me, though I am the very least of all the saints (God's consecrated people), this grace (favor, privilege) was granted and graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaust-less) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out], Also to enlighten all men and make plain to them what is the plan [regarding the Gentiles and providing for the salvation of all men] of the mystery kept hidden through the ages and concealed until now in [the mind of] God Who created all things by Christ Jesus.”

My thoughts:

You probably figured out that I am just regular guy like yourself. The huge difference might be that I have a relationship with Jesus Christ and wait eagerly for his return. I am confident of his return for many reasons but history alone proves that this man Jesus was real and that the things he did and said came to pass and were verified by witnesses. Paul even wrote that many of those men who walked with him were still alive, at the time of his writing, and could verify what Paul wrote.

God has demonstrated a consistent pattern that is believable, and therefore I place my hope in him and feel confident speaking about the direction of future events.

He is coming again to collect his church, and though the tribulations of some people are already great, it will get worse, and do so immediately. Remember pattern is the key word here and we already have a pattern to follow with Noah and Lot. Upon their “escape” from the trouble that was coming the onslaught was immediate.

If you do not think you know this Jesus Christ then I suggest that you ask him to make himself real to you. He will. Ask him into your life and accept you into the family that belongs to God. He already paid the price for your pardon and release, and he did this to show his love at a time when no one loved Him back. There is nothing you can offer or give him that will change his heart of love toward you. You merely need to come to him. He will change you and give you a hope that you have never known before.

Next post: Revelation 11

1Genesis 3:15

2Colossians 2:2

3Ephesians 3:9,10

42Corinthians 3:14

5John 12:40

6Matthew 13:11

7Daniel 7:3

8Daniel 7:16-28

9Isaiah 43:10

10Matthew 25:1-13

iArmistice of Mudros

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HMS Agamemnon on an earlier visit to Moudros during the Dardanelles campaign in 1915
The Armistice of Moudros (Turkish: Mondros Ateşkes Anlaşması), concluded on 30 October 1918, ended the hostilities in the Middle Eastern theatre between the Ottoman Empire and the Allies of World War I. It was signed by the Ottoman Minister of Marine Affairs Rauf Bey and the British Admiral Somerset Arthur Gough-Calthorpe, on board HMS Agamemnon in Moudros harbor on the Greek island of Lemnos.[1]
As part of several conditions to the armistice, the Ottomans surrendered their remaining garrisons outside Anatolia, as well as granted the Allies the right to occupy forts controlling the Straits of the Dardanelles and the Bosporus; and the right to occupy "in case of disorder" any Ottoman territory in case of a threat to security. The Ottoman army was demobilized, and all ports, railways, and other strategic points were made available for use by the Allies. In the Caucasus, the Ottomans had to retreat to within the pre-war borders between the Ottoman and the Russian Empires.
The armistice was followed with occupation of Constantinople and subsequent partitioning of the Ottoman Empire. The Treaty of Sèvres (10 August 1920) followed the armistice, but this treaty was not enacted due to the outbreak of the Turkish War of Independence.

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• The Seven Seals - the onslaught continues. Revelation chapter 8
• Revelation 6:17 MKJV for the great day of His wrath has come
• The Falling Away
• An interlude between the seals. Revelation 7
• Jesus Christ: Our Real Sun, Our Real Day
• Ephesians 1...God's Rich Blessings!
• Tell me what you believe by what you do.

Beach Turns Blood Red, Swimmers Flee | ABC News Blogs - Yahoo!

I recently received a blog implying that we could already be experiencing aspects of the Revelation. Now here again is evidence along that same vein, and I found it on tonight's Yahoo news.
Sure it's an algae bloom but it sure looks like blood and the effects of an algae include oxygen deprivation much like the red tides we experience off the Southern California coast. Deprived of oxygen, fish die as well as other things. Expand the range and intensity and the damage is devastating.
This also evokes you to think, is the blood aspect literal? Just watch the moon or sun shine through a smoggy sunset sky and it too will appear to be blood. Just saying, I believe the end is closer than we want to admit.
Beach Turns Blood Red, Swimmers Flee | ABC News Blogs - Yahoo!

The fifth angel sounded, Revelation 9

Revelation 9:1 Moffatt NT (1) The fifth angel blew, and I saw a Star which had dropped from heaven to earth; he was given the key of the pit of the abyss,

John MacArthur's commentary says, “a star fallen from heaven. Unlike the other stars that will have fallen (Rev_6:13; Rev_8:8), this one will be an angelic being (cf. Rev_9:2)—probably Satan himself (Rev_9:4; Rev_12:7; see notes on Isa_14:12-14; Eze_28:12-15; Luk_10:18).”

We can figure out that it is not a physical star because it is referenced as a “he,” and it is given the keys to the abyss or bottomless pit.

I am not so sure how important this is but it is intriguing for several reasons.

1. I believe it raises some questions in me about fallen angels. My understanding of who they are and where they are supposed to be is once again based in poorly thought out church tradition. I am just being honest. I have some basic understanding, but I am not a demon chaser and therefore tend not to chase angels too closely either. If I was deeply interested I would do an in-depth study, but I have not.
2. While Angels in general are servants, messengers and protectors, this one, though stripped of its power, is still responding to someone. Is he responding to God's commands or Satan's. If he is responding to Satan's commands then that means Satan still has some power.

Jesus stripped Satan of his power:
Colossians 2:13-15 NIV When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, (14) having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. (15) And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
But how does this impact the rest of the angels? If you noticed the passage above it states that Jesus disarmed the powers and authorities and triumphed over them in the cross. I am not so sure that this disallows them the ability to act physically with us. For example: When questioned about Job God was explicit about Satan not taking his life. That is interesting for we want to believe that the enemy cannot touch us, he certainly touched Job's life, and there is no denying the effects of these locusts from hell.
When he opens the abyss, among other things, another angel comes out. This emerging angel is the king over the locust hoard and has the name Apollyon or Abaddon (which means destroyer.) If you have any biblical background then you are aware of several other angelic names: The prince of Persia, Michael, Gabriel. There have to be many more and scripture tells us that they were all very powerful.
In contrast to our falling angel, Revelation 8:10-11 tells us of another falling star.
Revelation 8:10-11 NIV ... a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water-- (11) the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.
This one is not denoted as having the ability to think as the other did. And the name of this star indicative of a deadly plant. Although they have the similarity of falling from the heavens they have two differing methods and missions.

When I first glanced at this passage I thought of Satan being expelled from heaven. Jesus told us that he saw him fall as lightning, so this concept makes sense to me but the event Jesus spoke of happened in the past. This is what makes Revelation so difficult for some people as there are jumps in time on several occasions. So I have to work on the principal that this is a future event and in context with earlier events associated with the trumpets and seals.

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Would God have entrusted Satan with this key any sooner? I do not think so. So why trust him now? Now is the perfect time. Knowing full well what an angry fallen angelic being would do, the timing could not be better.

To hand someone the keys denotes trust and responsibility, unless you know and anticipate the evil they are about to unleash.

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Revelation 9:2 NIV When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss.

The first thing that strikes me here is the word “like”. Like denotes a comparison but does not necessarily mean that something is burning. I say this because some commentaries want to say that this proves hell is filled with fire. That may well be but that is not what this says and we would do well to not try to make it say other things.

What it is saying is that there is a tremendous amount of smoke coming out, just as there would be from some large industrial chimney. The volume of smoke is enough to block out the sun and sky.

Here is an example of smoke that blocked out the sun and midday.

Aftermath of Mount St. Helens volcano. Photo by Claudia J. Howell / The Oregon Journal

Ric Cole, director of emergency services for Yakima, brushes nearly an inch of dust from the windshield of his car. The city was completely dark at noon.

Smoke is typically the product of combustion but it can be the product of chemical reactions. I do not know what this is but it does not matter. God has ordered it and it could be anything. Is the source relevant? No, but the outcome is.

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Revelation 9:3 NIV And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth.

Out of the smoke comes a locust like creature. While locusts are mainly known for their destructive nature on plant life, these are not. You even find them receiving commands not to touch the plant life, but they do have stingers or they could not be equated to scorpions. They have the ability to inflict gruesome pain but not death. One sting impacts you for five months. I suppose it is safe to say that the end and Christ's return to the earth is at least 5 months away at this point.

Revelation 9:4-6 NIV They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. (5) They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes. (6) During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.

One of the commands given to them is to not hurt those with the mark of God. This applies to the 144,000 Jews set aside by God. No one else is protected.

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Revelation 9:7-10 NIV The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. (8) Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. (9) They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. (10) They had tails with stingers, like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months.

There is a tremendous amount of comparison going on here. None of it says that the locusts are Apache helicopters, freakish little creatures, absolutely, but they are still locusts here to torture those that reject God.

Now would be a good time to ask, who is still here?

• The un-repentant – You will not see any hearts turning to God; this includes the nations and Jews.

Revelation 9:20-21 NIV The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood--idols that cannot see or hear or walk. (21) Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.
• 144,000 sealed Jews
• Those who have taken the mark and worshiped the beast.

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Those that were intended to be numbered among the saints have already been slaughtered.

Revelation 7:14 NIV I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Side note: Whose blood was spilled at the deaths of these saints in Revelation 7:14? Their own – and yet there was another whose blood was spilled in intentional offerings, for what? The sins of the world. They were forgiven and purchased back out of captivity, just as we who were previously caught up.

What then separates us? Our refusal to accept Jesus Christ as our life. So to say, they, the martyred, “have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” could also imply that they finally took the last freeing step and accepted his life. If they have accepted his life then Jesus became an integrated aspect of their lives at that moment, just as he did with the believers under grace. The problem most of us have with this is that our choice to see them as being in Christ does not conform with our traditions that include rantings about true repentance demonstrated by a life of contrition and brokenness.

This statement demands that you think outside the box you have lived in. What we have not been taught, because no one seemed to understand, is that the book of Revelation is about God still trying to show mercy to people and giving them continued opportunity to be a part of his family. I can still see so many that do not understand and refuse to understand as their convoluted minds scream out that this God is a God of unjust punishment and horror.

Who is in charge here, God or you? You want an answer? God is, not you.

Those that came out of the tribulation may have merely said, I choose Jehovah, not Allah, and now they are before the throne. Think about it, we who go before, with all of our hangups and problems, do not get to take those issues with us into heaven, and that is precisely why we will be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and so will these people who now stand before the throne.

Revelation 9:11 NIV They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer).

I am not sure how important this is but it is safe to say that everything in the bible was put there for a reason. In my simplistic thinking I am reminded of several other angelic names and references to how powerful they are or were.

Several that come to mind:

• Gabriel – He shows up several times. Daniel saw him and he appeared to Mary
• Michael – One of the chief angels/princes, assisted with Gabriel's fight with the king of Persia
• the king of Persia
• the angel of the Lord – Most would agree that this was Jesus Christ appearing prior to his becoming a man through birth.
• Each of the churches in Revelation 2 and 3 had an angel assigned to them.
• The angel of the abyss, Apollyon in the Greek, Abaddon in Hebrew.

The fallen angels seem to have strongholds on earth as a conqueror captures territory and those that live within their sphere of influence. Revelation chapter 2 speaks of Satan's seat here on earth. Revelation 9:14 states that one of the heavenly angels are to “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”

Revelation 9:12 LITV The first woe has departed; behold, after these things come two woes.

I will pick up with the sixth trumpet in the next study.

As bad as this all sounds it is about to get worse. Here is what I want you to know. You do not have to go through this! This is meant for those who reject the living God and his mercies. It is a time of wrath and judgment against the nations and Israel for turning their backs upon him. Not all have turned their backs and have received Yashua as messiah, and they will, at this time, be with him in heaven, but many will continue to refuse and there will be many that will accept the mark of the beast, the leader most likely of the Islamic caliphate and they will worship the beast, most likely Allah. Should you choose to do that you will have slit your own throat and their will be no hope for you.

God has gently asked, during this time of grace, for you to follow him to a peaceful home, refusing to do that leaves you with one option, following your leader to his destiny, a life of eternal torment.

I implore you to ask Jesus to make himself real to you. He will and you will know a peace that is beyond your understanding.