In the institutional church, composed of PROFESSING Christians, who are, in many cases not Christian, look for many things to happen:
With increasing frequency the leadership of the denominations will be captured by those who completely reject the historic truths of the BIBLE and deny doctrines which according to Christ Himself are crucial to believe in order to be a Christian. In some of the largest Protestant denominations this has already taken place. Currently, and a United Methodist, I am very aware of this as I have listened to some of the "so called" BIBLE Studies given by those of this denominations leaders.
They are as one Duke University Professor calls them, "Christian Atheists." They simply don't believe in the Inspirational powers of God through the Holy Spirit.
The few remaining institutions which are not yet dominated by the "Christian Atheists" will go downhill in the same manner. There will be unprecedented mergers of detonations into "religious conglomerates." We live in the CONGLOMERATE AGE. Just as one business after another have gobbled up others, even against their will, so shall we see formidable religious denominations swallowed up by others....quite simply to survive in some cases. There are two for two reasons:
This is what the Apostle Paul had to say about these ministers of the last days:
"... holding to a form of godliness [literally religion, tradition, ritual] although they have denied its power..."
And again he says, "... they are always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (II Timothy 3:5, 7 ~ NASV).
Young people will continue to accelerate their exodus from the institutional churches. Several surveys taken by church leaders indicates this is already significant at this time. George Barna, Author of Marketing the Church, has this to say about the church and its lost youth: "A young person that has not had a Spiritual relationship with God, and become baptized as a member of God's family by the age of 16 is quite unlikely to ever make that step..."
Youth today reject impersonal, highly structured organizations with their emphases upon buildings and material affluence. And as the "Baby-Boomers" approach mid-age, they will also reflect this same pattern. In talking with many young people from various backgrounds, I have found that the institutional churches are viewed by them as a reflection of all they despise in what they consider materialistic, hypocritical, and prejudiced elements within our American culture.
Above all, young people want a simple, personal, and relevant answer to life that isn't based upon self-centered materialism, but upon real life – selfless love. When they observe the older church member giving of time or money to the church, and then scramble for recognition and prominence because of that effort, they immediately see it as a sham – an effort for self ingratiation, a feeble effort for some sort of recognition of self rather than a dedicated gift to God to be used for his purpose.
When our young people are shown that their idealistic view of life cannot be achieved by various shades of welfare, socialism, or drugs, but only through a personal relationship with Christ that is not tied to joining an institutional church (or religious country clubs as they call it), then many respond to and receive Jesus Christ.
Some traditional churches have learned to provide the personal ministry of God's truth to the youth and you will find their youth departments flourishing. But they are the exception, unfortunately. Most churches seem to be on the wrong wave length altogether. Some have the truth, but cannot communicate it to today's youth. Others simply don't teach the truth, and although they try "underground church" approaches, they can't compete with the radical political organizations.
Many youth are going to be on the front edge of a movement toward first century-type Christianity, with an emphasis upon people and their needs rather than buildings and unwieldy programs.
Another evil that has thrown a chink into the armor of our youth is the rampant "alternative life-style" of the so-called single parent homes. There are also the divorce that rips the home in two – often leaving the kids to raise themselves. "Living together [shacking-up] teaches them by example that marriage is an unnecessary formality – and that leads to more single-mothers. The children of the 21st Century don't have a chance. They are doomed before they are born.
There will be an ever-widening gap between the"true believers" in Christ and those who masquerade as"ministers of righteousness." This will be widely apparent in the lay-leadership as well as in the Clergy. http://members.aol.com/YOU59/repentperish.html
I also believe that open persecution will soon break out upon the "real Christians," and it will come from the powerful hierarchy of unbelieving leaders within the denominations. We have already observed the placement of ministers [or non-placement] because of known belief and practice patterns of Spirit filled Christians. We place these folks in a pigeon hole and call them a name. Some would be true Christians, not wanting to be labeled, draw back from discipleship and into complacent obscurity. Christians who believe in the final authority of the BIBLE, salvation through the substitutionary atonement of Christ alone, the deity of Jesus Christ, etc., will be branded as prime hindrances to "the brotherhood" of all men and the "Universal Fatherhood/Motherhood of God" teaching, which is so basic to the "ecumaniacs" who don't believe in the very heart of Jesus teachings. Jesus taught that God is the Creator of all, but the Father of only those who believe in Him (John 8:44; Galatians 3:26).
Because of the persecution of believers, there will grow a true underground church of a believing remnant of people.
Look for vast and far-reaching movements toward a one-world religious organization, spearheaded mostly by the unbelieving leaders of the institutional churches. Also look for this movement to become more politically oriented than it is now.
Look for movements within Israel to make Jerusalem the religious center of the world and to rebuild their ancient Temple on its old site.
ON THE POLITICAL SCENE
Keep your eyes on the most recent developments in the Middle East. If our President, George Bush, orders an attack, as he was authorized to by the world governments, and our Congress last week (January 1990), and Iraq is completely devastated, it will not change the things to soon come. If this is the time that we believe it is, this area will continue and increase in being the tension source of all the world. The fear of another World War will be almost completely centered in the troubles of this area. It is going to become so severe that only Christ or the Anti-christ can solve it. Of course the world will choose the Anti-christ.
[I am tempted (November 19, 2002) to say, "See, I told you so!" But that would make a genius of no one. Even the casual bystander could have predicted what is about to occur in 2002]
Israel will become fantastically wealthy and influential in the future. Keep your eyes upon the development of riches in the Dead Sea, as well as all the oil that is in the area.
The United States will not hold its present position of leadership in the western world; financially, the future leader will be Western Europe. Internal political chaos caused by student rebellions and various subversive organizations involved in terrorism will begin to erode the economy of our nation. Lack of moral principle by citizens and leaders will so weaken law and order that a state of anarchy will finally result. The military capability of the United States, though it is at present called the most powerful in the world, has already been neutralized because no one has the courage to use it decisively. When the economy collapses so will the military.
THE ONLY CHANCE OF SLOWING UP THIS DECLINE IN AMERICA IS A WIDESPREAD SPIRITUAL AWAKENING.
As the United States loses power, Western Europe will be forced to unite and become the standard-bearer of the Western World. Look for the emergence of a "United States of Europe" composed of TEN inner member nations. The Common Market is laying in the groundwork for this political confederacy which will become the mightiest coalition on Earth. It has already stopped the Communist take-over of the world and will for a short while control both Russia and Red China through the personal genius of the Anti-christ who will become the ruler of the European confederacy.
Look for the Papacy to become even more involved in world politics, especially in proposals for bringing world peace and world-wide economic prosperity. The Papacy is already entrenched in Washington DC.
Look for a growing desire around the world for a man who can govern the entire world.
Look for some limited use of modern nuclear weapons somewhere in the world that will so terrify people of the horrors of war that when the Anti-christ comes they will immediately respond to his ingenious proposal for bringing world peace and security from war. This limited use could occur between several different world situations, Iraq and America, Russia and China, or some now not known source.
ON THE SOCIOLOGICAL SCENE
Look for the present sociological problems such as crime, riots, rebellions, so-called "demonstrations," lack of employment, poverty, illiteracy, mental illness, illegitimacy, abortions, etc., to increase as the population explosions of recent years begin to multiply geometrically.
Look for the beginning of the widest spread famines in the history of the world.
Look for drug and alcohol addiction to further permeate the United States and other free-world countries. Drug addicts will run for high political offices and win through support of the young adults.
Look for drugs and other forms of religion to be merged together. there will be a great general increase of belief in extrasensory phenomena, which will not be related to the true God, but to Satan.
Astrology, witchcraft, and oriental religions will become even more predominant in the western world.
Several times in the New Testament the coming of Christ at the rapture is called a "great hope." It can only be a hope, however, for people who are ready, working, and remain in their first love and personal knowledge of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
Jesus described the sudden parting of believers from unbelievers when He comes secretly for His own. He also described the separation of "remaining" "true believers" from other "true believers". He said two men [equal] will be working [both were men, both were at work--equal] in a field [at the same place, doing the same thing], and one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be employed side-by-side, and one will suddenly disappear and the other one will be left (Matthew 24:40-44).
Larry Norman, a popular American folk singer summed it up beautifully in his song.
Life was filled with guns and war,
Children died, the days grew cold,
There's no time to change your mind,
Two men walking up a hill,
There's no time to change your mind,
How could you have been so blind?
JOHN'S FIRST GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN
"And instantly I was caught up in the Spirit and saw a throne that was set in heaven, and the One sitting on it....And He who was sitting there looked like jasper and a sardius stone; and there was a rainbow encircling the throne and looked like an emerald. (Revelation 4:2,3)
In verse 2, John tells us of his first glimpse of the One whose voice had thundered out,
"Come up here and I will show you what must happen after these things."
These things refers to the events of the church age. John has been called up into heaven to be shown the things which must happen AFTER the Rapture, both in heaven and on earth. The first sight that greeted his eyes was a magnificent throne and an indescribable Person sitting on it.
Throughout the rest of The Revelation, the throne of God is the central object of focus. Around it everything else revolves, from it pour the judgments of God, and toward it all the inhabitants of heaven bow in worship.
Of course, the throne is only as important as the One who occupies it. We know that it is the throne of God the Father. But the description given of the One described is in the form of a man, however, and since we know that Jesus is in heaven in His human body, it is most likely that John's vision was that of God the Father.
THE SPLENDOR OF GOD
The impact of John was overwhelming! The glory and splendor was breathtaking. At a loss for words, John attempts to describe God in majestic terms. He saw the occupant of the throne as jasper and sardis stones in appearance. A rainbow around the throne was emerald in color.
A Jasper is a precious stone, but many scholars believe this to have been a diamond. As John looked at the throne, he was impressed with something that radiated like a many-faceted gem. He also saw what appeared to be a beautifully cut ruby. A sardis stone has this appearance and emits a deep, rich, red glow.
The significance of this is tremendous. The jasper pictures the glowing radiance of God's holiness and flawless perfection, while the deep red sardis symbolizes the immense value of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Just as the jasper and sardis stones have many facets which reflect their radiance and beauty, so the countless ages of eternity will show the unlimited facets of God's love and riches for us.
MERCY IN JUDGMENT The purpose of a rainbow is given in Genesis 9:11-17, where God reveals that He sets His bow in the sky as a symbol of His promise that He would never again completely devastate the world with water.
God also proclaimed that as long as the present earth existed the four seasons would continue, and that there would be light and darkness as well as the sun for heat. The rainbow around God's throne is therefore a gracious reminder that God will remember His post-flood promise of mercy even during the awful days of the Tribulation.
In the BIBLE the color green symbolizes life, and circles symbolize eternity. The circular, emerald-colored rainbow therefore also pictures God's gift of eternal life which He will offer to those on earth even in the midst of the horrors of Tribulation judgment.
As was stated above, the God we love has always been consistent. So, as well, is the Word of God! And as you can see here, so are the symbols He uses all through His Word!
THE TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS
"And round about the throne were twenty-four thrones, and I saw twenty-four Elders sitting on the thrones, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. (Revelation 4:4 ).
The identity of these twenty-four enthroned Elders is not certain. Many BIBLE scholars feel that they are a special group of angels who minister to God and assist in the administration of the universe. That's a possibility, but I personally believe that they are representative of the Church. Twenty-four is the number associated with priestly service and is symbolic of the Church operating in its role as priest.
We notice that these twenty-four enthroned Elders are clothed in white and are wearing gold crowns. Both of these are true of born-again humans, but not of angels. White robes symbolize the righteous garments given to believers the moment they trust in Christ, and the golden crowns here are victors' laurels. They are the type presented to winners in the original Olympic games; believers have been victorious over death and hell, but angels have not faced those perils.
THE BELIEVER'S CROWNS
In passing, I think it is important to note that there are also other crowns promised to believers as rewards for various kinds of faithfulness in this life. One of these eternal rewards is going to be a CROWN OF LIFE. It is a martyr's crown. Revelation 2:10 describes it. This crown is granted as a reward for dying as Christ's martyr.
One might say, "You're awfully conceited to be saying that!" But this crown is given to those eagerly expecting Christ's appearing, and I'm sure expecting that to happen very soon – hopefully you are as well!
A special crown is promised to the SOUL- WINNER – the believer who leads people to faith in Jesus Christ. This crown is mentioned twice by the Apostle Paul when he speaks of his converts as being his rejoicing and his crown.
Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! (NIV)
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy. (NIV)
THE THRONE AND THOSE AROUND IT
Revelation 4:5-8 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." (NIV)
The throne of God in heaven, like the North Star, is the sure reference point that humans and angelic beings can fix their course of life upon.
Around this unchangeable throne is a cast of heavenly characters and objects that will play critical roles in God's future dealings with men.
WHO MOVED THE LAMPS?
The first of these objects is the group of seven lamps. In Chapter 1, we saw these same seven lamps ON EARTH, with Christ walking among them. Now these seven lamps (which, as we saw, portray the Church), are IN HEAVEN. This is further evidence that God will remove the Church from earth before His outpouring of judgment.
In Chapter 1, we were also introduced to the seven Spirits of God, and we saw that this symbolized the seven-fold characteristics of the Holy Spirit. In Isaiah 11:2 the prophet made a prediction about the coming Messiah, saying that the Spirit of the Lord would rest upon Him.
Isaiah 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD-- (NIV)
Then he delineated the seven attributes of the Holy Spirit.
THE SEA OF CRYSTAL
The word "sea" in biblical symbolism often pictures the restless masses of mankind. The word is used this way in Revelation 13, and several times in the book of Isaiah. In Isaiah the prophet compares the nations with a TROUBLED SEA in a storm. Yet the sea before the throne of God is motionless like a sea of glass. This pictures the believers at rest in the presence of God. There is no more storm upon THIS SEA; it is calm, quiet, and peaceful before the throne of God.
THE FOUR LIVING BEINGS
Surrounding the throne are four strange-looking creatures full of eyes. Although the King James Version of the BIBLE call them creatures, the really aren't that. While we can't be so dogmatic about it, these Living Beings seem to be angels who represent the four portraits of Christ that we find in the four Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
The "lion", king of the beasts, pictures Christ as the king of the Jews. This is especially emphasized in the Gospel of Matthew. The hard-working ox pictures Christ as the fully obedient servant of His Father. This quality is highlighted in the Gospel of Mark. The living Being with the face of a man represents Christ as the ideal and perfect man, as vividly portrayed in the Gospel of Luke. The flying eagle suggests Christ's heavenly origin – in other words, His complete oneness with God of heaven. This is the special message of the Gospel of John.
The four LIVING BEINGS, with their continual song of praise, "Holy, Holy, Holy . . .," will remind us night and day forever of the sublime nature and work of the Lord Jesus Christ while He was on earth.
THE AWE OF THE UNDESERVING
Revelation 4:9-11 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." (NIV)
Evidently, whenever the four Living Beings begin to praise the Lord, it is the cue for the twenty-four Elders to fall down before the throne and worship God also. As part of their worship of Him, the Elders throw their crowns at his feet.
I said earlier that the crown which each Elder wore was a victor's crown. Actually, there are many crowns promised as rewards to faithful believers, and the victor's crown seems to symbolize them all. It may be that a believer who has earned more than one crown will be given stars to attach to his victor's crown to designate how many crowns he has won.
Or, it may be that the faithful Elders, who are symbolic of all believers, will somehow be able to wear more than one crown at a time. In any case, though the crowns of the Elders have been honorably won, they will realize how unworthy they are to claim ANY rewards for faithful service, and out of hearts of love and gratitude they will cast their crowns in praise at the Fathers feet! Just as you and I may someday do!
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