1901
Satan's Power Destroyed
This, however, did not last long, for in the next scene John saw that "the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night, forever and ever" (20:10.) Thus his power was destroyed.
Then John saw in his vision that the judgment was set, and all "the dead, small and great," stood before the throne of God. Two books were opened; "and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works, (20:12.) One was God's Book. The other was "The Lamb's Book." The one was The Book of Creation, the other was The Book of Redemption. In the one, the name of every one that was born was entered; in the other, only the names of those who had been "born again." When the names were written in God's Book, then each one entered into life with all of its opportunities, experiences, and promises. But it was only those who had used these opportunities, experiences, and promises aright whose names were found in "The Lamb's Book of Life." These entered' into the "new heaven" to go no more out forever. All others had their portion with "the devil that deceived them"; "where the beast and the false prophet are" (20:10.)
As this grand panorama now ceased to move forward John's attention was concentrated upon the "new heaven" and the "new earth," into which those whose names were written in "The Lamb's Book of Life" had entered. It must have been an entrancing view. It was not the old heaven and the old earth renewed and improved, "for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea" (21:1.) Nothing like this new condition had ever before been seen. Not only did those who had entered into these "new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13) stand in a new relation to God and to each other, but they stood in a new relation to sin. It was a far better condition, therefore, than any in which unfallen Adam had ever stood, for they not only walked in fellowship with their Maker, but now there was no Tempter anywhere to ever assail them. — John R. Whitney.
Showing posts with label Satan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Satan. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
A New Heaven and A New Earth – Part 3 of 6
1901
The Rebellion of Man
Then, as the panorama continued to unfold itself, "seals" were broken, "trumpets" were sounded, and there were poured out "vials of the wrath of God upon the earth." Under these expressive symbols it was seen that while in heaven angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, united in adoring the grace of God, on earth it met with most bitter and determined opposition. The very ones for whom its graciousness was designed were at war with each other, and with Him who sat upon the throne, and with all who belonged to Him or desired to serve Him. They were defeated in their expectations time and again, and were brought under great trials, but neither defeat nor suffering quelled rebellion.
The leaders in this opposition were designated by the expressive names of "The Beast" and "The False Prophet" (16:13.) Their one purpose was to overthrow the authority of God and to destroy all who served Him. At last, however, they were themselves overthrown, and "both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone" (19:20.)
But even this did not give peace, for "The Beast" and "The False Prophet" were simply the tools of Satan, the arch enemy of man, and as long as he was free there could be nothing like rest for the children of God. But as the panorama again moved forward, John saw "an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon — that old serpent, which is the devil and Satan — and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years should be fulfilled, (20:1-3.)
Then in the glorious scene which passed before John's view, all war, and tumult, and strife fled away. A millennium of righteousness and joy was ushered in, and he "saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished" (20:4-5.) Only the most holy, those who had been faithful witnesses for Jesus and His word even unto death, were partakers of the joy of this millennium. It was for them a grand training in righteousness.
Whether the length of this millennium is intended to be literally a thousand years, as we measure time, or whether the term is simply the expression for an indefinitely long period, or whether it is a prophetic measure, wherein every day is a year, and the whole the immense term of three hundred and sixty-five thousand years, is not clear, and it is not important. On either supposition it is long enough to test whether man, if kept by God's grace and daily schooled in ways of righteousness for a sufficient length of time, can acquire in himself strength to "stand against the wiles of the devil," and maintain his integrity before God. For the time is evidently a time of spiritual satisfaction and privilege rather than one of physical enjoyment. The time when Adam walked with God and was without sin may have been a similar millennium of gracious experiences. But at the end he fell. Now, however, the test is made with redeemed man, and the holiest among the redeemed are tested.
So again the panorama moves on, and even the millennium passed beyond John's view, and a new scene came before him. Again he saw "Satan loosed out of his prison," and going out again "to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth" (20:7-8.) At once war and tumult everywhere prevailed. Man had no strength to resist sin, and even the "saints" were deceived again, "and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them" (20:9.) — John R. Whitney.
The Rebellion of Man
Then, as the panorama continued to unfold itself, "seals" were broken, "trumpets" were sounded, and there were poured out "vials of the wrath of God upon the earth." Under these expressive symbols it was seen that while in heaven angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, united in adoring the grace of God, on earth it met with most bitter and determined opposition. The very ones for whom its graciousness was designed were at war with each other, and with Him who sat upon the throne, and with all who belonged to Him or desired to serve Him. They were defeated in their expectations time and again, and were brought under great trials, but neither defeat nor suffering quelled rebellion.
The leaders in this opposition were designated by the expressive names of "The Beast" and "The False Prophet" (16:13.) Their one purpose was to overthrow the authority of God and to destroy all who served Him. At last, however, they were themselves overthrown, and "both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone" (19:20.)
But even this did not give peace, for "The Beast" and "The False Prophet" were simply the tools of Satan, the arch enemy of man, and as long as he was free there could be nothing like rest for the children of God. But as the panorama again moved forward, John saw "an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon — that old serpent, which is the devil and Satan — and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years should be fulfilled, (20:1-3.)
Then in the glorious scene which passed before John's view, all war, and tumult, and strife fled away. A millennium of righteousness and joy was ushered in, and he "saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished" (20:4-5.) Only the most holy, those who had been faithful witnesses for Jesus and His word even unto death, were partakers of the joy of this millennium. It was for them a grand training in righteousness.
Whether the length of this millennium is intended to be literally a thousand years, as we measure time, or whether the term is simply the expression for an indefinitely long period, or whether it is a prophetic measure, wherein every day is a year, and the whole the immense term of three hundred and sixty-five thousand years, is not clear, and it is not important. On either supposition it is long enough to test whether man, if kept by God's grace and daily schooled in ways of righteousness for a sufficient length of time, can acquire in himself strength to "stand against the wiles of the devil," and maintain his integrity before God. For the time is evidently a time of spiritual satisfaction and privilege rather than one of physical enjoyment. The time when Adam walked with God and was without sin may have been a similar millennium of gracious experiences. But at the end he fell. Now, however, the test is made with redeemed man, and the holiest among the redeemed are tested.
So again the panorama moves on, and even the millennium passed beyond John's view, and a new scene came before him. Again he saw "Satan loosed out of his prison," and going out again "to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth" (20:7-8.) At once war and tumult everywhere prevailed. Man had no strength to resist sin, and even the "saints" were deceived again, "and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them" (20:9.) — John R. Whitney.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The Quiet Hour
By Rev. L. A. Brunsting
God said that He would chain the devil. The chain is a symbol for binding one's influence. The Devil is a spirit and therefore the chain is spiritual but nevertheless real. Spiritual things are as real as material things and more so.
That binding of Satan would be for one-thousand years. Thousand in the Bible stands for completeness, it is made of the number ten three times. Ten times ten, times ten. A thousand years are as one day with the Lord and one day as a thousand years.
It was God's mercy for Job that Satan was bound then and it is our mercy from God that Satan is bound now. God binds Satan for every believer and He does it completely. That does not mean that no believer has no temptations from Satan. He does, but as with Peter, Christ prays for His own. And the Devil never gets any one of them.
Our boys left us with the ideals of Christ, the church and the Christian home. The devil will not get one of them. We fear those who kill the body but much more him who hath power over soul and body. We pray that all our boys may come back, but and if not, that their souls may go home with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Great enthusiasm has been high with extravagant grief over Lombard, the actress. She was a patriot. Was she also a Christian? Was she also a mother of a son in the army? Did she pray? We pray for the fathers and mothers who have lost their son on the battle field. May they sorrow but not as those who have no hope.
Jesus Christ is the rider of the white horse in Revelation 19. He is called the FAITHFUL and the TRUE. He has the sword of the Word of God. He is crowned with a crown of diadems. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is over all, the devil and all his works are under His direct control. But do not forget there is another rider also upon a white horse in Revelation 6. There are four judgments under the symbol of four horses. They are all one in cause and purpose, God judging the peoples. And the first rider upon a white horse is dangerous. He conquers many. He has a bow not a sword. He is given a crown but not of diadems. He imitates Christ upon the Real White Horse.
The antichrist is always imitating the real Christ. Antichrist is the false christ. And the false christ is made very much like to the real Christ. As a false coin is made like to a real coin. No one makes square coins, for they would be detected too easily.
Jesus in Matthew 24 records the same direction and order that John does in Revelation 6. First false Christ, the false white horse; then the war, the red horse; then the famines, the white horse of scarcity; and finally pestilences and death, the pale horse.
We are reminded of these things in these times. But God is God, And God has the devil chained completely. It may not so appear for us. From our angle of vision the devil is very much loosed. Job would have made that same observation in his day from his viewpoint. But from God's viewpoint the Devil was completely controlled.
Beware of the rider on the false white horse. The boldless, crossless, atonementless Christianity, Christless preaching of a so-called Christianity. Our boys and we are safe in the CHRIST OF REVELATION 19.
—Sioux Center News, Sioux Center, IA, Feb. 12, 1942, p. 3.
God said that He would chain the devil. The chain is a symbol for binding one's influence. The Devil is a spirit and therefore the chain is spiritual but nevertheless real. Spiritual things are as real as material things and more so.
That binding of Satan would be for one-thousand years. Thousand in the Bible stands for completeness, it is made of the number ten three times. Ten times ten, times ten. A thousand years are as one day with the Lord and one day as a thousand years.
It was God's mercy for Job that Satan was bound then and it is our mercy from God that Satan is bound now. God binds Satan for every believer and He does it completely. That does not mean that no believer has no temptations from Satan. He does, but as with Peter, Christ prays for His own. And the Devil never gets any one of them.
Our boys left us with the ideals of Christ, the church and the Christian home. The devil will not get one of them. We fear those who kill the body but much more him who hath power over soul and body. We pray that all our boys may come back, but and if not, that their souls may go home with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Great enthusiasm has been high with extravagant grief over Lombard, the actress. She was a patriot. Was she also a Christian? Was she also a mother of a son in the army? Did she pray? We pray for the fathers and mothers who have lost their son on the battle field. May they sorrow but not as those who have no hope.
Jesus Christ is the rider of the white horse in Revelation 19. He is called the FAITHFUL and the TRUE. He has the sword of the Word of God. He is crowned with a crown of diadems. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is over all, the devil and all his works are under His direct control. But do not forget there is another rider also upon a white horse in Revelation 6. There are four judgments under the symbol of four horses. They are all one in cause and purpose, God judging the peoples. And the first rider upon a white horse is dangerous. He conquers many. He has a bow not a sword. He is given a crown but not of diadems. He imitates Christ upon the Real White Horse.
The antichrist is always imitating the real Christ. Antichrist is the false christ. And the false christ is made very much like to the real Christ. As a false coin is made like to a real coin. No one makes square coins, for they would be detected too easily.
Jesus in Matthew 24 records the same direction and order that John does in Revelation 6. First false Christ, the false white horse; then the war, the red horse; then the famines, the white horse of scarcity; and finally pestilences and death, the pale horse.
We are reminded of these things in these times. But God is God, And God has the devil chained completely. It may not so appear for us. From our angle of vision the devil is very much loosed. Job would have made that same observation in his day from his viewpoint. But from God's viewpoint the Devil was completely controlled.
Beware of the rider on the false white horse. The boldless, crossless, atonementless Christianity, Christless preaching of a so-called Christianity. Our boys and we are safe in the CHRIST OF REVELATION 19.
—Sioux Center News, Sioux Center, IA, Feb. 12, 1942, p. 3.
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