Articles
Making Use Of Revelation
Making Use of Revelation
In chapter 11 we first see that God ‘measures His temple’. WE (the church) are the temple of God (cp. Eph. 1 & 2). The temple is is made up of living stones and God ‘measures’ it by marking and knowing each member individually. Does God KNOW what is going on with me? Of course!
God’s word is always followed by rejection and persecution. It was so with the prophets of the Old Testament, it was so with the apostles of the New Testament, and it is so for all who hold forth their word.
The persecution of God’s people does not go unnoticed or unjudged by God. Though they can kill the body, they cannot kill the soul. Death of God’s people is in fact just a gateway into eternity with God. Those who die in the Lord are blessed and can look forward to a bodily resurrection and living in the presence of God and Jesus forever.
Again, the underlying lessons are clear. Whatever persecution we face in THIS world does not change the fact that God rules and will bring all men to judgment before Jesus. God will mete out condemnation and punishment to those who rebel against Jesus. God will mete out condemnation to those who persecute His people.
Let us make sure we are one of His people and then let us entrust our souls to our faithful creator (1 Peter 4:19). The "sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom. 8:18). Hugh DeLong
