Prophets of light and darkness ∙

Prophets of light and darkness ∙

I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. – Revelation 14:1

Matthew 24:4-25

4 Jesus told them, Don’t let anyone mislead you,
5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.

11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.
12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.

23 Then if anyone tells you, “Look, here is the Messiah,” or “There he is,” don’t believe it.
24 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.
25 See, I have warned you about this ahead of time.

The world as we know it seems to be in turmoil, with rapid changes unsettling the very foundations of society. Moral and social structures appear to be crumbling, leading some to speculate that this could be the onset of the end of times. Many believe this is the beginning of the end of planet Earth as we know it. The increasing frequency of wars, famine, brutality, disease, and extreme weather events suggests a world in convulsions and disarray.

Amidst this upheaval, wickedness, cruelty, and selfishness are on the rise, driven by both unseen spiritual forces and tangible realities, threatening widespread destruction. People are left in a state of confusion and fear, grappling with the chaos that surrounds them. Is there a purpose behind these events? What could it mean?

The Scriptures offer a perspective on these tumultuous times, describing them as birth pangs heralding the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 24:3, the disciples privately asked Jesus, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?” Jesus spoke of signs that would mark the generation destined to witness these events as they approach the Second Coming (Matthew 24:34).

As the dark and destructive forces gather, how do you suppose the Father will respond? “I believe God is going to raise up holy men who will be so super dynamic that it would be uncomfortable to live with them” (Ravenhill).

REFLECT & PRAY

1 Peter 3:15 Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.

Heavenly Father, grant me the strength to remain a steadfast child of the King, unwavering in faith through the trials ahead.

INSIGHT

The Father’s mighty men are called to battle: 144,000 men, 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. These mighty warriors are apparently instrumental in bringing countless souls to faith from the nations of the world, as described in Revelation 7:7-19. Their evangelistic efforts are unstoppable because they are sealed and protected by God.

Furthermore, two prophetic witnesses, with prophetic power and authority reminiscent of Moses and Elijah, wield their power against all opposition. They are invincible until their assignment is fulfilled. They cannot be harmed until their protection is removed. Then, they will be killed, and the entire world will view their bodies left on display and gloat over them. Their eventual death becomes a spectacle to the world.

But the Father has the final word. The whole planet Earth will be awestruck after 3 1/2 days. They will be resurrected, called from above, and ascend to heaven. The entire world will be astonished and left in awe of the Lord’s omnipotent power.

This narrative powerfully reminds us of the Father’s strength, protection, and ultimate victory. The certain fulfillment of His eternal plan encourages us to remain resilient and faithful in the face of adversity.

Revelation 7:3-4

3 Wait! Don’t harm the land or the sea or the trees until we have placed the seal of God on the foreheads of his servants.”
4 And I heard how many were marked with the seal of God – 144,000 were sealed from all the tribes of Israel.

Revelation 11:3-12

3 And I will give power to my two prophets, and they will be clothed in burlap and will prophesy during those 1,260 days.”

6 They have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.

7 When they complete their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit will declare war against them, and he will conquer them and kill them.
8 And their bodies will lie in the main street of Jerusalem, . . . where their Lord was crucified.
9 And for three and a half days, all peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will stare at their bodies. No one will be allowed to bury them.
10 All the people who belong to this world will gloat over them and give presents to
each other to celebrate the death of the two prophets who had tormented them.

11 But after three and a half days, God breathed life into them, and they stood up! Terror struck all who were staring at them.
12 Then, a loud voice from heaven called to the two prophets, “Come up here!” And they rose to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched.

During the climactic events of the 70th week of Daniel, the final great and terrible tribulation is clearly predicted. The rise of the Antichrist marks a dark chapter as he seizes power, supported by sinister forces, both human and spiritual, aiming to overpower and dominate the world. Yet, amidst this encroaching darkness, the Father prepares His chosen warriors, an army of mighty men, empowered to stand firm against evil.

These courageous souls, fueled by their unwavering faith, boldly proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, igniting a spiritual awakening across nations. Countless individuals turn towards the Lord Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers, embracing the truth amidst chaos.

The ultimate confrontation looms as the forces of good and evil clash. The enemy has put his man in power, the Antichrist. Dark human and spiritual servants attempt to take over the planet. They cause great harm and much death, but they do not ultimately prevail. In the darkest hour, the Lord Jesus Christ triumphantly returns and vanquishes the forces of darkness. The promised victory of light over darkness is ultimately realized.

Revelation 19:11-16

11 Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war.
12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself.
13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God.
14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses.
15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.
16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

What do you think the Father will do between now and then? Perhaps He is preparing a precursor, an army of strong men and women of God who will serve Him faithfully even in the most challenging and dreadful conditions. The children of light will confront the children of darkness in a battle for the souls of people on Earth. The enduring power of faith will prevail. The promise of victory of light over darkness will be realized.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-10

1 Now, concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write to you.
2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.
3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.
4 But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.
5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.

6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.
8 But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.
9 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.
10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive, when he returns, we can live with him forever.

Let all children of the King rejoice! Our blessed hope resonates with the certainty of our King’s ultimate and final triumph.

Revelation 19:6 I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd, the roar of mighty ocean waves, or the crash of loud thunder, saying, “Hallelujah, for the Lord God omnipotent reigns.”

¯_(ツ)_/¯7-13-2

© Dr. H 2024