Psalm 41, 52; Zech. 1:7-17; Rev. 3:7-13; Matt. 24:15-31
Zechariah sees the angel of the Lord with horsemen whose job it is to patrol the earth and the report the rider gives is that the earth is at rest. There is peace but things are not as they should be, Jerusalem is under foreign domination and lies in ruins. The angel cries out concerning Jerusalem that God would restore her. The Lord’s answer is that as long as this is true there is no rest for the earth, this situation must and will be rectified. The peace of the rest of the earth is unimportant without God’s people and His city being as He intends. He will come to His people, comfort them and restore them. His love for His people is greater than His desire for peace on earth if they do not share in it.
What looks like the end is really the beginning. Tribulation will come on the earth and then the heavens themselves will go black but a sign will be given in the heavens that the Son of Man is returning. Jesus gives hope amidst the difficulties that will characterize the time of extraordinary trial. Are we prepared for persecution of the church and believers? I don’t think the church in America could withstand much pressure. The time of tribulation and trial of which Jesus speaks here is terrible and we have come to believe and embrace a theology that is at odds with truth concerning these things. Jesus often spoke of persecution and the disapprobation of the world towards believers and yet in our day we are taught that trials and difficulties are not to characterize the lives of Christians. We have some work to do to get over the false theologies of our times.
What does it mean to keep Jesus’ word? That is the commendation of the church at Philadelphia. They are commended for keeping His word and not denying His Name and for keeping His word about patient endurance. Many keep His word and don’t deny the Name but how do we do with patient endurance? Patient endurance doesn’t characterize my walk with the Lord very often. I cry out and complain about any difficulty, real or perceived, in my life. Patience is a virtue but it isn’t my forte. Part of that has to do with the expectations I talked about in the second paragraph. If I expect what Jesus told me to expect rather than what health and wealth and “name it and claim it” preachers told me to expect I would have perhaps have greater patience. This year maybe I will overcome the effect of false teaching that creates false expectations in my life.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
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