REVEAL181
"and the earth was lightened with HIS glory", Revelation 18:1
When the truth is found to be lies
And all the joy within you dies
Don't you want somebody to love
Don't you need somebody to love
Wouldn't you love somebody to love
You better find somebody to love Love, love
Jefferson Starship
Once to ev'ry man and nation
Comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth and falsehood,
For the good or evil side;
James Russell Lowell (1845)
Fireside Poet
"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...." "...there was war in Heaven."
Angel wars! Michael and His angels fought against the dragon and his angels. The latter was defeated and cast down to the earth. Revelation 12:7-9
But questions remained throughout the Universe. God had the upper hand in the battle over Heaven, but the ultimate war was not over real estate. Instead, it was for the hearts and minds of God’s created beings. So, it wasn’t until Christ came down to earth, was born a human, and took on the devil on his own turf, that he was ultimately defeated. Lucifer unveiled himself as Satan as he poured out his malice, his spite, and his raw hatred upon Christ. Jesus, who had done nothing but given Himself in love to a desperate world of enslaved people, became his target for all the worst he could throw at Christ; and yet it was with a cry that literally shook the earth, split the rocks, and raised the dead, not a cry of defeat but of victory. When all was dark and seemed lost, when, from a human perspective, evil had triumphed, in that moment the Son of God, who had become the Son of Man, cried out, “It is Finished!” bowed His head and died. In that moment, as the earth reeled and the universe shuddered, while the dragon and his hosts celebrated the death of their enemy, the true victory went to Jesus Christ. In those three words, “It is Finished!” was contained the death knell to evil, but it also brought life for all who had and who would come to believe with their hearts the excellent news that a way back to the Father of all had been opened!
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But why then, if light and goodness have won the day, is there still so much darkness and misery on earth? If, as the angels sang at His birth, Christ brought to us peace on earth and goodwill towards men, why does it appear so often that just the opposite is true? If the war was won, why does it continue, and if God is good and if He is love, why does He allow pain, suffering, and death to continue on and on?
The answer is straightforward, but it’s not one we want to confront! The truth is that since His victory over the dragon, the entire universe is on Christ's side; however, this world and its inhabitants are still largely undecided. In the same way that Lucifer deceived the very angels of heaven to join him in rebellion, Satan continues to deceive humanity. But this will not always be, a day is coming when all will choose 100% for or against Truth, Light, Love, and their embodiment, the Word made flesh.
It was at the trial of Jesus Christ that Pontius Pilate asked THE question for the ages, “What is Truth?” Never was irony more poignant, so thick you could cut it with a knife. The Roman governor representing the Roman Empire asks the Son of God, the very embodiment of Truth, “What is truth?”
And today we are still asking that question in the face of God, who gave His only Son to redeem us. What is truth anyway, your truth, my truth, it's everywhere and nowhere except what if it's been with us all along the way? The most outstanding example of this is the first-century Saul of Tarsus. Saul was very sure of himself, sure that he was God’s emissary with truth on his side. He was a righteous dude if ever there was one, or so he thought. God literally had to smack him upside the head to get him to “see the light”. He saw the light that day, alright, so much light he was left blind and curled on the ground in a fetal position. But God loved Saul even though Saul was out with murder on his mind. And what did Saul become after he encountered the risen Lord? Only the greatest of the Apostles who wrote one third of the whole of the New Testament of the Bible.
What will happen to us when we encounter Jesus Christ the Messiah? God only knows! God gave what was most valuable to Himself. For God who could create anything at a word, all other things were replaceable. His Son was not, and yet He gave Him for us just the same. In the face of such amazing love, how is it that Satan can continue to deceive us with his lies? Sadly, he has his helpers on earth, many of whom claim to represent God to people.
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Blog
On the Side of Freedom
Here’s some irony for you; modern western post-Christian / humanistic culture says there’s no supreme personal being up in the sky looking out for us, so if that’s true why is God and Christ’s names the number one swear words still?
I wonder, is the reason that modern culture is so ready to dump the belief in God due to the traditional culture’s misrepresenting God; painting God as a cosmic kill-joy out to get you for any number of infractions? Here’s a thought experiment that might surprise you – of the western nations that have traditionally called themselves Christian, which have flourished in the past several hundred years and which have not? Probably the most notable would be Britain, as the saying went, the sun never set on the British Empire. Germany certainly has and is the obvious leader of the EU. Then there is Switzerland with its banks, watches and chocolate, the most wealthy per-capital nation in Europe (except for the very small Country of Luxembourg that shares a border with Germany). The Dutch never rivaled England but their shipping and exploration were also world renown, they even settled in Manhattan and built the foundation for Wall Street and all that New York is today.
On the other hand you have Spain that that at one point in time rivaled and threatened Britten's Navy. But Spain who concurred and settled much of South America has in recent years become not much more than a great place to visit while its economy has gone through rather hard times of late; France, Italy, Ireland all wonderful places to visit and certainly world players but not leaders.
Moving over to North America you have Canada, the US and Mexico. Now if you know your history is there a picture starting to form for you? Religious Freedom in a Nation = Prosperity. God is on the side of Freedom and it’s the tyrant who is the repressive one. Think about it, England embraced the protestant reformation that started mainly in Germany and Switzerland and later on Holland accepted dissenters from the Church of England. God blessed those countries while at the same time God was not able to bless Spain, not because the peoples were any better, but because their leaders embraced FREEDOM. Throughout history, without fail, Countries that have embraced free thought, free speech and above all freedom of moral convictions, have risen and those who prefer to be ruled over by their overlords, have declined.
Not convinced, here’s another incredible example of this principle. The US Civil war was fought between the Christian South and the Christian North. In 1861 an overwhelming majority of the US population identified as Christian and both sides claimed to be in the right and prayed to God for victory over the other side. And which side was God on? You don’t have to guess you can hear it in Lincoln’s own words, GOD WAS NOT ON EITHER SIDE! NO, RATHER GOD WAS ON THE SIDE OF FREEDOM!
The Almighty has His own purposes… and that He gives to both North and South, this terrible war, as the woe due to those by whom the offence came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a Living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope -- fervently do we pray -- that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said f[our] three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether" Lincoln’s Second Inaugural address.
If there had been a quick resolution to the war the North would have been satisfied to allow slavery to continue in the South provided it was not allowed to grow. If fact the North benefited financially by allowing it to continue in much the same way we benefit today from slave labor in other Countries. And are not the woes that are about to fall on the world and in fact have already started with the COVID plague allowed because we turn a blind eye to the slavery that exists throughout the globe?
But this is not written to be political or convince you of the sins of the mankind, for those are plain to see and you can make up your own mind, this is written to proclaim that God is on the side of Freedom and it is the tyrant, God’s enemy who loves slavery, repression and totalitarianism. Don’t take my word, rather listen to the words spoken by Jesus Christ who said:
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
If you would like to know more about this God who loves freedom and also loves you personally and you are curious about how if such God exists how this world could be full of slavery, repression and every kind of evil and malice, read the Gospel according to John. John who was the closest of Jesus’ disciples and thereby knew Him the best, is the best place to start. From there continue on to read the Bible as the Spirit of Truth directs you to, for to learn of God is to know God and to Know God is to Love God.
