God is not going to ignore when we come against His will regarding the covenant land He gave to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. If you don’t believe the evidence provided, and you have a true relationship with God where you hear His voice in prayer, then just ask God. But if you don’t have that type of relationship with God, you must ask yourself why you don’t.
While I have provided possible fulfillment of the Scriptures on the seven seals, that’s all that it is. The elect of God have a responsibility to hear His voice and discern from Him. Are these the signposts that are provided for God’s people to know where we are on God’s timetable?
Has God given us signs to reveal His timeline of end times’ events? Was our response in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 an open defiance to the warning of impending doom as we as a nation continued to forsake God and break our covenant oath of allegiance? If these possible fulfilments of the seven trumpets descriptions are correct, what’s left on the timeline? Did God allow the terrorist attacks on our country because we failed to stand firmly with Israel about not dividing their covenant land?
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.” (Acts 2:17-18 NIV)
All seven letters to the churches in the beginning of the book of Revelation contain a promise for those who have ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. False teachers and false messiahs will deceive those who refuse to seek God and know Him. Do you see it in mainstream religion today? Do you depend on your own intellect rather that seeking the will of God?
While the elect of God will be removed before the great tribulation, we can expect to be hated and suffer increasing persecution because of our witness. The devil knows his days are short. Will you hold tight to your faith and fellowship with God amidst the difficult times?
(Scriptures are provided below the page image.)
“And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” (Hebr. 11:32-40)
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”
(John 15:18)
“Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.” (John 15:20)
“You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” (Matthew 10:22-23)
“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.” (Matthew 24:9)
“I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:4)
“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.” (Rev. 2:10)
“But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.” (Acts 13:50)
“Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:12)
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” (Romans 8:35)
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.” (1 Thessalonians 3:7)
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
“Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.” (Hebrews 10:33)
“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:12-13)
“Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” (Revelation 12:12)
All Scriptures are from the NIV Translation of the Bible
In all of Jesus’ seven letters to the churches in the book of Revelation, we are told: “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” The elect of God will hear His voice and follow Him. Jesus said “Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:47 NIV) Jesus was clearly saying that if you think you are a Christian but are not hearing God’s voice in prayer, you are not walking with the Lord. It is impossible to obey God without hearing His voice for direction. Without hearing Him, we can only guess at what His specific will is for us.
The devil knows the Bible better than you do. Satan has been around a long time and knows how to twist and manipulate the Scriptures to pervert your theology. If you’re not in an unbroken covenant relationship with God, the devil will have access (without your expressed permission) to unbuckle that belt of truth meant as armor for God’s anointed.
In the previous few days, we have been reviewing the letters at the beginning of the book of Revelation addressed to the seven churches. Today, we have the final three letters to look at to consider what God might want us to identify as areas of strength and weakness. Perhaps those letters were designed to give us insight into our own witness and ministry.
Jesus’ letters to the churches are poised at the beginning of the book of Revelation signifying utmost priority. The churches need to get this right! While the position of the church is important, it is your individual relationship to God that determines if you fare well in the increasing spiritual war.
As you study each of these letters, I urge you to evaluate the following questions and consider specifically what is Jesus prompting you to do as you walk in the Kingdom agenda. 1) What were the strengths of each church, and what were the weaknesses? 2) What was the warning to the church and is there a warning for you too? 3) What direction was given? 4) What was the promise? 5) Did you notice anything that stood out as a personal action? 6) What were your final takeaways? 7) Does this have an end-times prophecy application?
