After
writing about the “beast
or
the antichrist” and “the
dragon –
the devil or Satan” being worshiped by people upon the earth, John
the apostle wrote how a “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 brimstone in the presence of the holy angels,
and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment
ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night,
who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark
of his name. 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: Yes, says the Spirit,
that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow
them”,
and in chapter fourteen and verse fourteen of Revelation John,
“looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like
unto the Son of Man” where
we read:
And
I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one
sat like unto the Son of man,
The
verse reads, “And
I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one
sat like unto the Son of man, ...”
John
began with the words, “and
I looked”
which means “and John saw, perceived, notice and discerned”, “and
behold”
or “and look and lo”
“a white cloud”
which means “a bright, brilliant and shining cloud in the sky”,
“and
upon the cloud”
or “and on the brilliant cloud in the sky” “one
sat”
or “a person was seated, fixed and dwelt” “like
unto”
or “as, in likeness to and similar to” “the
Son of man”
which refers to “Jesus who was God incarnate and born as a man”.
John looked toward the sky and saw a “brilliant cloud” with Jesus
sitting upon it.
The
verse goes on to say, “...
having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.”
John
continued with the word, “having”
which means “holding, owning and possessing” “on
his head”
or “upon the chief, prominent and supreme portion of the body” “a
golden crown” which
refers to “a royal and exalted wreath or garland made of gold”,
“and
in his hand” or
“and within Jesus' hand” “a
sharp sickle”
which means “a swift, quick and rapid pruning-hook or hooked vine
knife which is used by reapers or vinedressers”. John saw how “the
Son of man”
- “Jesus” wore a “wreath of Gold” and carried a “reaping
sickle”
within his “hand”.
When
we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we notice how Jesus was
included at this time in the tribulation. John saw Jesus “seated”
upon a “bright cloud” who was wearing a “golden crown”
and held a “sharp sickle” in His hand. In other words,
Jesus was not an absentee “Savior”, and He and His Father God
desire to be involved with people. Jesus, at this point in the
tribulation, is prepared to “reap” His harvest from the
earth, and before He does, He longs to have a relationship with
everyone who will repent of their sins and believe and trust in Him.
May all who read these words consider the exalted position of Jesus,
and yield to His Lordship while there remains time to do so.
Next
time John watches as, “another
angel came out of the temple”...
instructing
Jesus to “thrust
in your sickle, and reap”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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