The duty of pastors, past, present and future!

John Calvin preaching

“And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean,” Ezekiel 44:23.

I have been reading my way through the book of Ezekiel of late as I follow ‘Robert Murray McCheyne’s Bible Reading Calendar’, a very useful guide to systematically reading one’s Bible.

Since chapter 40, I have been reading about the future temple that will occupy its place in Jerusalem in the days of the Saviour’s Millennial Reign (Revelation 20:4-6).

The details of the temple structure given to us are really beyond our comprehension today but one day, as will be the case in many matters, we will with ease fully understand the significance of the details given. However, we may observe now that the details of the temple suggest that which creation generally declares, “the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard,” Psalm 19:1-3, so it will be with the details of the temple. That spoken of by Ezekiel will reveal features of the ‘great and glorious Architect’ of the splendid edifice.

SERVANTS

The ministering of God’s servants within the temple are also detailed for us in these chapters. The text I wish to draw attention to encapsulates the essence of their service.

I. THE PRIEST WAS EVER TEACHING GOD’S PEOPLE

What a wealth of knowledge concerning the truth of God is to be found in a consideration of the details of the garments the priest wore, the sacrifices he offered and his general conduct in the tabernacle and later in the temple?

1. The holy garments that the priest was required to wear sets forth the state we must be in as we come before the Lord. As the Old Testament saints were told: “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God,” Leviticus 20:7, even so are we in the New Testament era required to observe just such a command. “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy,” 1 Peter 1:15-16. Holiness of thought, word and deed is likened onto a garment to be donned.

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him,” Colossians 3:12-17.

It is to be noticed that the Word of God plays an essential part in our holy living. “ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

God’s Word is to be given a permanent ‘dwelling place’ in our hearts and it is by it that we are taught and admonished and share our knowledge and rejoice with others.

2. Just as the priest had to be one born into the tribe of Levi and of the household of Aaron, even so only those ‘born again’ may serve the Lord. This natural requirement pictures for us the ‘New Birth’ which is absolutely required for entrance to heaven. So said the Saviour. “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” John 3:3. That simple truth is twisted by the notion that water baptism when an infant accomplishes what it is here that the Saviour is speaking of.

That is a lie of the devil. Millions have been and are presently deceived into believing that baptism will get them to heaven. I recall Dr Paisley often saying in my early days asa Christian that ‘baptism will make you wetter but no better’! No, Peter explains what it is to be ‘born again’.

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you,” 1 Peter 1:23-25.

His reference to ‘grass’ tells us that as it develops from a seed, even so spiritual life springs up in our souls by the entrance of the ‘incorruptible’ seed of God’s Word. It is embraced by faith upon the hearing of the preaching of the gospel and new life begins.

James endorsed this truth. “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures,” James 1:18.

As Christ explained by the parable of the ‘Sower’, “he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty,” Matthew 13:23.

Just as the ‘new birth’ is required for entrance to heaven, it follows that to serve the Lord here on earth one must be born again. The plight and curse of today is that pulpits are all too commonly filled by men who know nothing of true regeneration and are but channels of the devil’s lie in consequence.

As it happened to Saul of Tarsus, so is the common experience of all who serve the Lord. The immediate circumstances may differ in the experience of each one, but the spiritual factors are always the same as Saul experienced. “But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee,” Acts 26:16. Saul fell to the earth as a sinner but rose at Christ’s command as a new person in Christ. As he later wrote: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God,” 2 Corinthians 5:17-20.

Just as the priests of old had to have a special birth, so it typified what is required of those who would be servants of God today.

3. The sacrifices that the priest duly offered and the manner of his offering of them all spoke of Christ and His work of redemption. While the sacrifices of animals never could save the worshipper from his sins, they did show the faith and hope that the offerer had in the promise of God to send a ‘Lamb of God’ Who would take away our sins. The offering of the animal sacrifice represented the hope and faith of the worshipper.

“And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: but this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified,” Hebrews 10:11-14. The sacrifices, all carefully scrutinised for any blemishes, all set forth Christ’s perfections and spotlessness, His sufferings at the cross and the eternal salvation He thus obtained for His elect.

As the priest’s daily activities set forth Christ, even so is it our duty in all things to set Him before all around us by our daily activities. Paul the apostle was able to write to the Galatians, “before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you,” Galatians 3:1. This he did by preaching the gospel and also by the witness of his and his companions’ holy living. Paul urged upon Timothy just such holy living as a means of witnessing. “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you,” Titus 2:7-8.

II. THAT WHICH WAS CENTRAL TO THAT WHICH IS TO BE TAUGHT IS SET FORTH IN OUR TEXT

“They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean”.

1. Such a duty required an understanding of what is ‘holy and profane’, ‘unclean and the clean’. The Israelite was surrounded by that was unclean and which he must avoid at all costs, least he render himself ‘unclean’ in the sight of God and suffer the consequences of that, if the means of removing his uncleanness were not applied.

Leviticus

A study of the book of Leviticus in particular shows that there were matters which would render a person unclean in God’s sight if touched, eaten and even accidentally encountered. Being acquainted with such things was an essential knowledge if God was to be obeyed and holiness pursued. The priest could not teach the difference between ‘holy and profane’ and ‘unclean and the clean’ if he was not familiar with the Lord’s definition of such.

Likewise it is so today. The New Testament identifies the people, the practices, the habits, contaminated by sin and the flesh which the Christian must at all costs avoid. In 1 Timothy 6, there is a list of activities in which some engage. Verse 5 commands Timothy: “from such withdraw thyself.”

In like fashion, Timothy is urged to “refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness,” 1 Timothy 4:7. Such things are linked with a departure from the faith, springing from a “giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils,” verse 1.

A similar exhortation to separation is found in 2 Timothy 3:5. “From such turn away.” This time it is a people who follow a most pernicious lifestyle, comprised of many dreadful excesses. “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof,”  verses 2-5.

2. For such to be avoided they must be seen, recognised and identified. That proves difficult at times, at least at first. A person does not always present themselves in their true colours when they introduce themselves! Those who are not what they appear to be, have wonderful powers of camouflage!

Paul warned the Corinthians of such. “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works,” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.

Solomon knew his need of such an ability. “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” 1 Kings 3:9.

Discernment — a grace

Discernment comes from the Lord. It is something we must learn as our text says. It is a mark of maturity. “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil,” Hebrews 5:14. It is something promised to Israel when the Lord recovers them from their present darkness. “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not,” Malachi 3:16-18.

I believe that there is a great lack of discernment today. There are those who have been welcomed in our church whose message is one corrupted by modern notions and false doctrine. Such are highly regarded by some who should know better, simply on the basis of their ‘pleasing personality’. They are such as promote themselves to make themselves appealing to others and invoke a good response. Absalom was just such a person.

Absalom

“But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him,” 2 Samuel 14:25.

“And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron,” 2 Samuel 15:1-7.

May the Lord save us and deliver us from ‘smarmy, wheedling’ individuals with their honeyed words concealing poison! The ‘smarminess’ soon gives way to bullying as it did with Absalom the reprobate! The beauty of Absalom was merely skin deep. His heart was filled with deceit and murder and defiance of God and His purpose.

Such will ever seek to invade a church where God is honoured. Their purpose is that of those ‘creepers’ Jude warned of. “There are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ,” Jude 1:4.

I would very much doubt if today such creepers are not busily seeking a like entrance to the Free Presbyterian Church!

3. Christians today must learn that ‘whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,’ Romans 15:4. The lessons contained in the Old Testament are there to teach us of the threats faced of old and that the same threats face us today. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour,” 1 Peter 5:8.

He has not changed. We must ever be on our guard “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices,” 2 Corinthians 2:11. The knowledge of the devil’s devices that Paul possessed came from his study of the Old Testament. From the beginning he has been as the Saviour tells us: “He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it,” John 8:44. Those who dismiss the Old Testament scriptures cast away eternally valuable information that is an aid to discerning and escaping from the traps the devil and his agents would set for us!

There is great ‘gullibility’ abroad today! I never ceased to be amazed at how easily people have been robbed, oftentimes of very great sums of money, by their believing the deceit of someone who contacts them by phone or by way of the internet! It is incredible that someone, unknown and unseen, can persuade the victim to part with money!

Well, what is even more amazing and infinitely more tragic is the fact that Christians can be persuaded to part with the treasures of the gospel by those who masquerade as God’s servants but are not. Those in Israel whose hearts Absalom stole have their counterparts aplenty today within the ranks of the professing church!

I had an email just a few days ago from a charlatan who would have me believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has come already! It would appear that he has many dupes who embrace his lie.

Of him the Saviour warned. “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not,” Matthew 24:23. Such a warning, if believed, enables us to ‘discern’ the deceiver coming to us with the lie.

Oh, how we need to read and believe the Word of God in its entirety!

III. TEACHING DISCERNMENT ATTRACTS THE REPROACH OF MANY!

1. Paul was reproached for issuing warnings against deceivers. After he warns Timothy to “refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness,” Paul says: “For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe,” 1 Timothy 4:10.

Paul laboured to keep those he ministered to from becoming victims of deceivers. His epistles are filled with such warnings.

“Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do,” 1 Timothy 1:4.

“O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: which some professing have erred concerning the faith,” 1 Timothy 6:20.

“But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some,” 2 Timothy 2:16-18.

“But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes,” 2 Timothy 2:23.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry,” 2 Timothy 4:3-5.

“Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth,” Titus 1:14.

“But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself,” Titus 3:9-11.

I need quote no more. It is evident to the student of the Bible that God’s servants have been inspired by the Holy Ghost to issue warnings to God’s people throughout the generations.

2. More significantly, the Saviour suffered reproach for likewise warning against deceivers and preaching faithfully the whole counsel of God! The Saviour remarked upon the reproachful response of some, even those of His own kin who disapproved of His preaching. “And they were offended at him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house,” Mark 6:3-4.

When the Saviour purged the temple, the response of the Jewish leaders was even more vicious. “And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine,” Mark 11:17-18.

This hatred and reproach intensified until they ‘killed the Prince of life’ (Acts 3:15). “After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death,” Mark 14:1.

3. The fate of the Saviour, death at the hands of those who hated the truth, is one shared by many of His servants. Stephen was the first martyr in the New Testament era.

“Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep,” Acts 7:52-60.

4. Stephen was the first but not the last! “Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church,” Acts 12:1. Neither was James the last for it is believed that all the apostles suffered martyrdom. Peter lived with an understanding of his end. “Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me,” 2 Peter 1:14. John records the occasion of Peter being told of his fate. “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God,” John 21:18-19.

Throughout subsequent ages, millions of God’s servants have suffered death, often most cruelly at the hands of cruel rulers such as the Roman Emperors, the Popes of Rome, Muslim caliphs. Even monarchs within our own British Isles have shed the blood of God’s people. The likes of Henry VIII and ‘Bloody’ Queen Mary are among the most notable.

5. But the list of ‘honourable martyrs’ is not yet complete.

The Saviour is quoted in Revelation as communingwith those in heaven who have been martyred and who are praying for the Lord to avenge their  deaths. “And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled,” Revelation 6:10-11.

At this time, in many places in the world, Christians are suffering terribly under cruel tyrants. Iran, North Korea and China are notable places of persecution. There are many other places where such cruelty goes on though perhaps not so publicly or to such a degree as in the infamous countries just named.

6. To the end of this age, the killing of Christians will continue. Man may blithely and blindly speak of a world ever improving, but such is not the case. “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse,” 2 Timothy 3:13. Right to the end it will be so.

“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever,” Revelation 11:3-15.

Please note that the murder of the ‘two witnesses’ is swiftly followed by the sounding of the seventh and last trumpet and the announcement that: “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever”.

7. The end of this age

Right to the end of this age will the persecuting of God’s people continue. Indeed Christ will return to deliver His redeemed elect in Israel from the annihilation planned by Antichrist.

“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever,” Daniel 12:1-3.

“Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel,” Joel 3:9-16.

“And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: for true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. . . .  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh,” Revelation 19:1-3, 11-21.

“And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth,” Revelation 18:24.

Whatever lies ahead for God’s redeemed people in an ever more wicked world, let us remember Paul’s words, by which he was doubtless buoyed up in the times of trouble he encountered.

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us,” Romans 8:16-18.

Praise God, “The end is not yet, and the best has yet to be!”

Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
14th October 2024