1Cor
10:10 KorahÕs
Rebellion 2/27/2010 §ˆ
#1. Who
Are Korah, Dathan, and Abiram? (Num 16:1-40, 1Chron 6:1-3,22)
#2. Who
Is the Son of Perdition? (2Thes 2:3-12, 2Cor 11:13-15)
#3. Who
Are the Murmurers? (Num 16:41-50, Rev 13:6-8, Heb 9:11-12, Rev
8:3)
Please open your Bibles to the First
Epistle to the Corinthians, 1Cor 10:1 (2X). We have experienced in the
past few weeks that even the sins of Israel as recorded in the Prophecy of
Numbers is beneficial for our edification. Today we have another incident which
makes you hair curl. It is KorahÕs Rebellion. That is why the sermon of today
is called ÒKorahÕs RebellionÓ, as it is recorded in Num 16. Let
us now review the context and let us begin to read 1Cor 10:1 (2X). Today we
will watch for ÒMurmurersÓ (2X).
1Co 10:1-10 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be
ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through
the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And
did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same
spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and
that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased:
for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our
examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also
lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written,
The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let
us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and
twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also
tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as
some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
What is the event mentioned in
verse 10? For this we have to turn to Numbers 16. Please put a sticker here
in 1Cor 10, and please turn in your Bibles to the Prophecy of Numbers, Num
16:1 (2X). We read here about Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and 250 princes of
the congregation who were on their side.
#1. Who
Are Korah, Dathan, and Abiram? (Num 16:1-40, 1Chron 6:1-3,22)
Korah was a
direct cousin of Moses and Aaron. We read in 1Chron 6:1-3, One of the
sons of Levi was Kohath. The sons of Kohath were Amram and Izhar. The sons of
Amram were Aaron, and Moses, and one of the sons of Izhar was Korah. But Korah
was envious of the position of honor that Moses and Aaron held. He coveted to
be a priest also. But God has not appointed him to be a priest. Num 16:1-11
Num 16:1-11 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of
Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of
Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: And
they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred
and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: And
they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said
unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy,
every one of them, and the LORD is among them (that was a lie): wherefore then
lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD? And when Moses
heard it, he fell upon his face: And he spake unto Korah and unto all
his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is
holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath
chosen will he cause to come near unto him. This do; Take you censers,
Korah, and all his company; And put fire therein, and put incense in
them before the LORD to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth
choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi. And
Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi: Seemeth it but
a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the
congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the
tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto
them? And He hath brought thee near to Him, and all thy brethren the
sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also? For which cause
both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what
is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?
What do we read here? Korah,
the leader of the pack has obtained the support of Dathan, Abiram, and On, all
three descendants of Reuben. Reuben, the firstborn of Jacob, was disqualified
from having the honor of the firstborn, because Reuben did lay with Bilhah his
fatherÕs concubine. But now his sons are trying to correct the decision that
God made. After the first verse we do not read about On any more. These four
conspirators had obtained the support of 250 princes of the congregation. This
was no small portion of the congregation of Israel. In fact it was the major
portion of this congregation that was unhappy with the leadership of Moses and
Aaron. But Korah displayed a severe case of ingratitude for the honor that God
has bestowed upon him, for God has given him the service of the tabernacle; but
now he also coveted the priesthood, like Aaron. In verse 11 we see the
murmurers come on the scene. This is a long chapter. So let us cut this short.
Please drop down to verse 23, Num 16:23-35
Num 16:23-35 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak
unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah,
Dathan, and Abiram. And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram;
and the elders of Israel followed him. And he spake unto the
congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men,
and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. So
they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side:
and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and
their wives, and their sons, and their little children. And
Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these
works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. If these men die the
common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men;
then the LORD hath not sent me. But if the LORD make a new thing, and
the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto
them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these
men have provoked the LORD. And it came to pass, as he had made an end
of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:
And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses,
and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They,
and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth
closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. And all
Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest
the earth swallow us up also. And there came out a fire from the LORD,
and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.
Did you notice that even
their little children were swallowed up in the pit that the Lord created at
that moment? This certainly is a different God than we have learned of in the
previous churches where we went. In addition all the 250 princes of Israel with
their brasen censers were struck by fire from God wherever they were at that
moment. This shows us a particular aspect of the wrath of God on those who are
not elect. Earlier in Num 12 we read about the rebellion of Aaron and
Miriam against Moses, but both Aaron and Miriam suffered only a hand-slap. So
let us analyze what KorahÕs sin actually was.
What do we
learn from this in the first half of Num 16? We read in verse 7
that: ÒThe man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy.Ó God is sovereign.
He sets apart and He bestows His favors on whom He has chosen. Please put
a second sticker here in Num 16, and please turn in your Bibles to the
Epistle to the Romans, Rom 13:1 (2X). Moses was chosen as prophet, and
Aaron was appointed by God to be the high priest. Korah was not appointed to be
priest. He was not allowed to take what was not given him. That is usurping
authority. We must honor those whom God has placed in authority over us,
regardless whether they deserve it or not. For example, we read in Rom 13:1-4,
Ro 13:1-3 Let every
soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the
powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the
power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to
themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to
the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and
thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to
thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not
the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath
upon him that doeth evil.
This is not just a NT law; this
is an OT law as well. God gave Solomon the kingdom after David. No one else
from all the sons of David was allowed to take the kingdom by himself. God
chose Nebuchadnezzar to be king over Babylon, because Nebuchadnezzar had to
bring judgment on Judah and Jerusalem. God chose Cyrus to be king over
Medo-Persia, because Cyrus and his army of Medes and Persians were to be a
picture of the deliverance of the saints from the wicked Babylon at the time of
the rapture. But God did not choose Korah. He was not allowed to take the
priesthood. We read in Prov 13:10, ÒOnly by pride cometh contention: but
with the well advised is wisdom.Ó Korah was proud to be a Levite, and Korah
considered himself as being better qualified for the function of high priest
than Aaron. Korah wanted to usurp authority that was not his. Korah wanted to
rule in the congregation as a priest and swing his weight around as a high
priest. He wanted to sit in the center of the congregation as someone appointed
by God. 3500 years ago Korah did not succeed, because the time was not ripe. The
iniquity of the Amorites was not yet full. But his desire to sit in the
congregation as one appointed by God, and his ingratitude to God who has given
him a knowledge of the Bible, and his success in getting most of the nation of
Israel rally behind him, and the violent judgment of God on him and his entire
family, left us a picture of events that shall come to pass in the end of time.
Who does Korah remind us of? He reminds us of Òthe son of perditionÓ.
#2. Who
Is the Son of Perdition? (2Thes 2:3-12, 2Cor 11:13-15)
No, I do not
mean Judas Iscariot, but ÒAntichristÓ. Please turn in your Bibles
to the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians, 2Thes 2:3 (2X). God speaks
here about a worldwide phenomenon: It is the great apostacy, or the great falling
away of the churches. Presently we are seeing this great falling away, and
churches are falling away like dominoes, because most of them belong to
denominations, and the denominational headquarters are determining what each of
their churches must believe and must follow. So, when 2Thes 2:3-12
describes the scenario in one church, it has described them all. 2Thes
2:3-12,
2Th 2:3-12 Let no
man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a
falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition
(the son of Hell); Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is
called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of
God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was
yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth
that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth
already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the
way (Lit: Òuntil it comes out of the midstÓ) And then shall that
Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth,
and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose
coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying
wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that
perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be
saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they
should believe THE lie: That they all might be damned who
believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Antichrist is Satan in human flesh.
He is imitating Christ, who is the incarnation of God the Son. But Satan is not
omnipresent, and thus he can indwell only one person at a time. But Satan has
many demons who will fill in for him in an intelligent manner. And thus when I
speak of Antichrist I speak of the worldwide phenomenon where many churches
copy one another and are falling away to another gospel. False preachers have
moved themselves up on the clerical ladder and have now usurped the positions
that were once held by faithful preachers. God did not appoint them. They
appointed themselves. They took these positions by their smooth talking. How
does Antichrist manage to get himself appointed to the head pastor of a church?
Satan is very sharp, and he knows the Bible better than any man. And thus he
can disguise himself as an angel of light. Then follows the process of usurping
authority. 2Cor 11:13-15
2Co 11:13-15 For such are false
apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of
Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of
light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed
as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
This is how Antichrist manages to
get the chief position in the church, Òso that he as God sitteth in the temple
of God.Ó And when we read 2Thes 2:7 we should remember that this is a
faulty translation: The personal pronoun ÒHeÓ is not in the original Greek
text. In other words, the interpretation that the Holy Spirit will be taken out
of the way is from the imagination of one manÕs mind. The second half of 2Thes
2:7 literally reads: ÒUntil it comes out of the midst.Ó What comes out of
the midst? The mystery of iniquity comes out of the midst of the congregation.
They shall believe THE lie (verse 11), because it is preached by one of
their own people, one who came out of the midst of them. And what is that lie?
It is related to 2Thes 2:9; look there at verse 9. It is the working of
Satan with all power, and signs and lying wonders. Signs and lying wonders are
the signs of the charismatic movement, which is a religion that believes that
God is still bringing divine messages today in dreams and visions and angel
visitations and tongues, especially tongues. That is THE lie which is mentioned
in 2Thes 2:11. And because these congregations are not saved, God shall
send them strong delusion. Why is this delusion so strong? When people have
imagined that God the Holy Spirit has spoken through them to bring a message in
a strange tongue, it is such an exciting phenomenon that they will believe
anything just to keep this exciting experience, and to continue to practice it.
Just imagine: God is speaking through me! And why does Antichrist come into the
church? He wants to keep people away from the true Gospel of Christ.
Antichrist
wants to rule the world by using the church as his instrument toward that goal.
Please turn to the Revelation of Jesus Christ, Rev 17:1 (2X). Rev
17 is a very scary chapter. God describes here for us in symbolic terms the
church near the end of time. The church has apostatized worldwide, and is in
such a terrible condition that no one in the world any more is getting saved.
That is why God will bring the end of the world and the judgment of all the
unsaved. We read in Rev 17:1-5,
Re 17:1- And there came one of the seven angels which had the
seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto
thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With
whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of
the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he
carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a
scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten
horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and
decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her
hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon
her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF
HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
What do we see here? We see
that the world has moved into the church, and the church has moved into the
world. That is why the church is called Babylon, named after the power that has
taken over the church; and that is why she is called the mother of harlots,
because she has invited the false gospels of the world to come into the church.
Do we presently see this come to pass worldwide? Indeed we do. Satan wants to
establish a worldwide kingdom over which he rules supreme, and thus he uses
Antichrist to achieve that goal. But it is a kingdom without Christ, and without
His atoning sacrifice. In that kingdom man must have dominion over all things.
In that kingdom they speak of righteousness and brotherly love, but they extend
their brotherly love to include fornicators and homosexuals. They demand
outward righteousness and they insist on brotherly love. They strive to realize
the universal brotherhood of man and they want to establish universal peace. They
want to abolish sin in the world. The result is that their kingdom is after all
no kingdom of God, but a kingdom of man, by man, and for man. To accomplish
this goal the state must legislate men into this kingdom, and by force of law
they are made to practice their love to the brother. The state, in combination
with other states, will enforce universal peace. All the nations must conform to these rules in order that
war may be abolished and the kingdom of peace may be ushered in. The cooperation
of the church is also invited. The church must now preach a social gospel. The
old message of sin and guilt, of total depravity, of righteousness and
holiness, and of the necessity of atonement through the blood of Christ, and of
regeneration by the Spirit of Christ has become antiquated, and must be adapted
to the needs of the present time. And thus a new gospel must be brought to the
forefront: the gospel of love and
peace for all men, without Christ. Man is not spiritually impotent, but rather
he is divine. Man is not guilty and condemned, but rather he is by nature good
and a child of God. The church must establish herself as a powerful agency for
the establishment of this universal kingdom of peace and righteousness. The
school then must serve the same purpose. It must not be separate. It may not
teach a definite religion, but it must teach the universal brotherhood of man.
Therefore the school must teach children the general principles of love and
respect for all people, including those living a homosexual lifestyle. Society
must be transformed according to the same principles. Differences must be
removed. The socialistic state of things must be established to cover up the
sore spots of covetousness and greed. If the murder of children helps to the
establishment of the kingdom, its practice must be encouraged. And so, the
great aim is to establish a kingdom that is outwardly like the Kingdom of God. But
the principal motive is enmity against God and against His Christ. This is the
influence of Antichrist on the people of the world. So the whole world rallies
behind the Beast and the False Prophet of Rev 13, and the world is prepared for
its final intervention by God. Forget about the one world government by one
country and by one ruler. That is an invention of man, and it is an unnecessary
restriction for the end to come. Satan can use many governments, as long as
they are under his control. The harlot Babylon does not represent one church or
one denomination, but many denominations, as long as they are following the
social gospel of Antichrist. But when the world will have united under Satan,
then that period of world peace will be the most dangerous period of history
for the church of God in the world. Therefore in the past God send death into
the world for our protection. You will understand this when you realize that
death mows away the proper persons at the proper place at the proper time. Just
think of it, When Alexander the Great at the age of only 32 was about to make
himself lord of the whole known world, and thereby establish the one-world
government, he contracted a fever and died. God rescued the world by killing
Alexander. Why death? To prevent the premature establishment of the imitation
kingdom of Satan; a kingdom that resembles in outward form the Kingdom of
Christ, but which is based on the principle of enmity against God and against
Christ. It would be a kingdom of world peace but without Christ. And thus,
because of the curse of sin on this earth, as stated by God to Adam in Gen
3:17-19, God has sent wars and pestilences and death into this world. Wars
and revolutions, famines and pestilences and death cannot injure the Kingdom of
God, for the simple reason that as yet it exists purely spiritually. And thus we see how all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according
to His purpose. (Rom 8:28). Therefore God says to us: ÒBe not afraid, therefore, ye people of
the Kingdom!Ó Let us now return to Num 16, for we still have the second part of
this chapter. Please turn to the Prophecy of Numbers, Num 16:41
(2X).
#3. Who
Are the Murmurers? (Num 16:41-50, Rev 13:6-8, Heb 9:11-12, Rev
8:3)
Nu 16:41-50 But on
the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against
Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD. And
it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against
Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold,
the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared. And Moses and
Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation. And the LORD spake
unto Moses, saying, Get you up from among this congregation, that I may
consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces. And Moses
said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and
put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for
them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun. And
Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and,
behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made
an atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the
living; and the plague was stayed. Now they that died in the plague were
fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of
Korah. And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of
the congregation: and the plague was stayed.
This is absolutely amazing. These
people witnessed the wrath of God on Korah and upon all those who were ganging
up against Moses and Aaron, and God clearly showed that His anger rests upon
those who are against Moses and Aaron. And yet, one day later they murmured
against Moses and Aaron. And look who is doing it. God says in verse 41, ÒAll
the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and
against AaronÓ. Their rebellion could not be worse. It is no wonder that God
intended to destroy them. And notice that God speaks in verses 46 and 47 about
making an atonement for these people who were about to be destroyed by
God. These are two issues that must be resolved. Please turn in your Bibles to
the Revelation of Jesus Christ, Rev 13:6 (2X). Now, let us apply this second
part of Num 16 to the end time events like we did with KorahÕs rebellion. Who
do these murmurers represent? These murmurers represent all those who are
worshipping Antichrist. In Rev 13 God made Antichrist appear symbolically
as the beast that comes up out of the sea of mankind, and as the false prophet
that came up out of the earth. Both the beast and the false prophet work
together to make sure that the church and the world are cooperating, working
toward the same goal. Rev 13:6-8,
Re 13:6-8 And he
opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his
tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to
make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over
all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the
earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the
Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Who are following and
worshipping Antichrist? This passage says, ÒAll that dwell upon the earth shall
worship himÓ, except of course the remnant chosen by grace from before the
foundation of the world. And thus, who do the murmurers of Num 16 represent?
They represent the whole world minus the remnant. All kindreds and tongues and
nations shall follow Antichrist. And what was so special about the atonement
that Aaron made? First of all, who is able to make an atonement? We read in Heb
9:11-12, ÒBut Christ being come an high priest of good things to
come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to
say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but
by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained
eternal redemption for us.Ó In what function did Christ make atonement for us:
as prophet, or as priest, or as king? He made atonement for us as our great
High Priest. Part of the priestly office is to bring prayers on behalf of other
people, and to make atonement on behalf of other people. And thus, while both
Moses and Aaron were on the ground beseeching God that He may have mercy on
this congregation, Moses told Aaron to make atonement for the people, for Aaron
as the high priest was able to make atonement for them. So Aaron put fire and
incense on the censor, representing the prayers of the saints. God says in Rev
8:3, ÒAnd another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden
censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with
the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.Ó Please
turn again to the First Epistle to the Corinthians, 1Cor 10:10 (2X).
We should not lose track of where we were in the beginning of this sermon. We
read there in 1Cor 10:10, ÒNeither murmur ye, as some of them also
murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.Ó We have looked at those who
murmured on two days: judgment day for Korah, Dathan, Abiram & the 250
princes of the congregation, and we looked at those who murmured the day after.
But now the question arises:
Please turn again to the Prophecy of
Numbers, Num 16:35 (2X). We have learned that Satan is called the
destroyer. His goal is always to destroy the works of God. But let us now read
carefully what the Word of God says. We read in Num 16:35, ÒAnd there
came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that
offered incense.Ó This was a fire from the Lord. Also in verse 30 we
read that Òthe Lord made a new thing and the earth opened her mouth and
swallowed them up.Ó Again in verse 46 we read that Òthere is wrath gone
out from the LORD; the plague is begun.Ó All three times we read that the Lord
has done it. Not Satan, but God is the Destroyer. And now we remember that God
has said this more often in the Bible. He is the Destroyer of all the unsaved.
God says in 2Thes 1:8, ÒIn flaming fire taking vengeance on them that
know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:Ó Notice
the words here. God is taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that
obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. What does that mean? It means
that they who believe not the Gospel that Paul preached, and they who have not
come to know who the God of the Bible is, will inherit His wrath which will
feel like a flame of fire, for our God is a consuming fire. Please turn
again to the Revelation of Jesus Christ, Rev 20:7 (2X). When we see
Korah as representing Antichrist, because he sought to usurp a central position
in the church, or we see the murmurers on the side of Korah in great number
following Antichrist, it would be good to remember that all these pictures are
pictures of the last battle. Also we should remember that there is only one
last battle. And thus, whether at the last battle the enemies of Christ are
swallowed up in the earth, or they are struck down by fire from the Lord out of
heaven, or they are eaten alive by very quick flesh eating bacteria like the murmurers
have felt, these are all symbols of GodÕs wrath at the end of time. A vivid
illustration is given in Rev 20:7-9,
Re 20:7 And when the
thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Re 20:8 And shall go
out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and
Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of
the sea.
Re 20:9 And they
went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints
about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and
devoured them.
What do we learn from this
description of the last battle? We learn that God will never abandon His
saints. Please turn to the Epistle of Jude 4, which comes just
before Revelation. God is not surprised by this last battle, for He caused it
to come to pass. We can ask the question: Was the son of perdition appointed to
this dreadful act of rebellion? Was he appointed to this condemnation like 1Pet
2:8 states? We read in Jude 4, ÒFor there are certain men crept in
unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men,
turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord
God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.Ó Indeed, to know God is to know that God
endured with much longsuffering these vessels of wrath who were fitted to
destruction. God knew these vessels of wrath from before the foundation of the
world. To deny that God knew them is to deny GodÕs omniscience and to deny
GodÕs wisdom when He created the world and all the universe. When we claim to
know who God is, we must include all these verses to our understanding. And
then we can truly glorify our Creator who knows the end from the beginning, and
who chose us to be among the remnant saved by grace. We are the elect children
of God, the Bride of Christ, who will glorify Him, and we will also be to His
glory. This
is a guarantee. AMEN. Let
us turn to the Lord in prayer.