So, where was Chapter 9 on the reading schedule?!? I was a day behind on my reading, then I wake up today and saw that now I'm two days behind. BUT, I am now caught up through Chapter 10 so all is well. Not saying I totally understand all that's going on, but basically Earth is under massive attack from all sorts of bad stuff, and I am stunned to read at the end of Chapter 9, verse 20 "The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent..." I guess the saying is true: "Some men, you just can't reach." Not saying there's necessarily a failure to communicate, I'd think it would be pretty crystal clear at this point in time that there IS a God, and He's not to pleased with his creation!
Chapter 10 was interesting. Loads of stuff happened, but we don't know what! At first I was wondering why even bother including that Chapter, you aren't telling us anything. But I realized, finally, that we were being told something pretty important. Actually, we're being reminded that some things only God knows and we don't need to know (maybe shouldn't even want to know) about the end days.
Reminders from Matthew 13:32 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father". 1 Thessalonians 5:2 "for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night." Reminding us that we don't need to know the plans or the time...we have enough to do, just trying to live for God every day. To take in God's Word, which is sweet...but to understand, in the end there is judgement for everyone. Think about any unbelievers you know. Does that not turn your stomach to think of what they are facing when that time comes?
Yes this is freaky stuff right here. JF
ReplyDeleteFrom David (grammar and spelling correction was permitted...if not necessary)
ReplyDeleteYour comment at the end, where you say think about all the non believers!! It’s just like, if I knew that a terrible thing is going to happen to them - and I know BUT they don’t!!!!!!! I too don’t understand all that is going on in Revelation, but I do know that our time is up at this point!! It’s over and you better be on the right side of things. It seems so simple to me, that we all agree that in the very beginning there had to be a start - a first. And there are really only a very few possible starts. All of them require FAITH, to fill in the blank parts, but only one has a real blueprint, a Book that starts you at the beginning and takes you to the end. What other belief offers such a road map?? Why then, is it so terribly hard to believe in Creationism? I think its Satan at work! He fills you with pride, ego, and arrogance. When you have those things working against, or in you, it’s very hard to have any kind of a higher power other than YOURSELF! When you take Jesus as your savior, you surrender, bow down, you serve to the higher power. A person filled with arrogance and pride and ego just can’t do that and Satan knows that oh so well, it is what he does. So as we read Revelation, and it is so hard for us to understand… for me, as a believer, I just know I don’t have to know everything or comprehend it, I just hope that’s enough …that God is God and I believe in Him. But that makes it hard to convince a non-believer…”Oh hey you should think this way but I can’t really explain this part very well…just take my word for it”. That doesn’t seem to be enough. So I guess it’s back to the book for more understanding so when that time comes that I get a chance to help a non believer, with his or her non-belief ,that I can do more than just say, “well I don’t understand it either but that’s good enough for me”. That doesn’t sound too good, I can and should be able to do better than that!
Dad, I loved figuring out your comment...and I see what you're saying. I looked back to 1 Peter 3, and really to verses 15-16
ReplyDelete"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."
The challenge is to always be ready...sometimes we need to talk, because someone has an ear to hear...and sometimes we have to "walk", because someone has eyes to see.