The Daily Word of Righteousness

Things To Come, #19

And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: (Revelation 14:9,10)

A fearful fate awaits the people who turn away from God and accept the idea that man is the master of his own fate, and then think and act apart from the fear of God.

Now comes one of the most marvelous of the promises of the Scriptures.

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. (Revelation 14:12,13)

In spite of the hideous spiritual darkness that is rolling in on us as an ugly, depressing cloud, in spite of the promises of the politicians, educators, and deluded Christian leaders, in spite of all that Satan can bring forth on the earth, the Lord Jesus will stand steadfastly with His saints.

One of the hardest—but most fruitful—tasks we ever will be called on to perform will be to patiently wait for the Lord during the spiritual activity of the last days.

So many "hills" leap in us! So many religious leaders present this or that plan for spiritual success!

Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the Lord will dwell in it for ever. (Psalms 68:16)

There is a multitude of spiritual "winds" and "earthquakes." The true prophet understands that there always will be an uproar when the Lord prepares to move.

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: (I Kings 19:11)

The experienced saint waits, waits, waits until he hears from the Lord.

And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (I Kings 19:12)

So many voices are speaking! The coming danger can be seen by the wise, and some are making preparations without being guided by the Spirit. There will be many opportunities to sin, and opportunities also to gain status and advantage in spiritual matters.

The authority of Antichrist will extend into the heavens, and even staunch, experienced Christians will wrestle with deception for years. God will give the saints into the hand of Satan that they may be sifted as wheat.

Burning passions, subtle persuasions, dreadful threatenings—all will face the believer in the coming days.

Only those who wait patiently for the Lord, for the still, small voice of God's Lamb, will be able to escape the spiritual destruction that is descending on us.

"Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth."

From this time forth; from the time that man begins to make himself God and to act and think independently of God.

To be continued.