After
sharing much of the beauty of the heavenly city and looking upon the
wonders that shall be there, Jesus declared to John the apostle,
“Behold, I come quickly: blessed is
he that keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” John
continued,
“And
I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and
seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which
showed me these things. Then said he unto me, See you do it not: for
I am your fellow-servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of
them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.” John
added, “And
he said unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book:
for the time is at hand. He
that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let
him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous
still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I
come quickly; and my reward is
with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha
and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed
are
they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree
of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” In
Revelation chapter twenty-two and verse fifteen John shares how
wicked people are outside the city where
we read:
and
murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.
The
verse reads, “For
without are
dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers,
...”
John began with the word, “for”
which means “because, since and on account that” “without”
or “outside of the heavenly city” “are
dogs”
which means “people of impure minds and impudent”, “and
sorcerers” which
is the Greek work “pharmakos” from which our English word
“pharmacy” is derived and refers to “magical arts or drugs”,
“and
whoremongers”
or “men who prostitute their bodies to another's lust for hire or
indulge in unlawful sexual intercourse or a fornicator”. John
declared people who are “impure, drug addicts, prostitutes and
fornicators” to be outside of the “heavenly city”.
The
verse goes on to say, “... and
murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.”
John continued with the words, “and
murderers”
which means “people who commit homicide”, “and
idolaters” which
refers to “worshipers of false gods”, “and
whosoever loves”
which means “and whatever person approves of, sanctions, treats
kindly and welcomes” “and
makes”
or “prepares, produces, constructs and is the author of”
“a lie”
which means “perverse, impious and deceitful precepts”. John
shared how “murderers, false god worshipers and those who love and
produce perverse and deceitful precepts” shall be among this group
who are outside the “heavenly city”.
When
we consider John's words in this verse, we may marvel at the
rejection of the people who commit this list of sinful behaviors. On
the surface it appears that no one will be allowed into the “heavenly
city” because everyone has committed these sins either physically
or spiritually. This is why it is so important to submit ones life to
Jesus Christ who is able to forgive these sins and to cleanse a
person from them. Without a relationship with Jesus Christ, each
person shall stand upon their own merits, and no one qualifies to
enter the “city” on their own. Today is the day of “salvation”,
and those who are wise shall receive God's forgiveness through a
relationship with His Son Jesus before this time of banishment comes.
Next
time John writes Jesus' words,
“I
Jesus have sent my angel to testify unto you these things in the
churches”
more, 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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