Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

Revelation 8: 2 - Exploring Revelation
Jul 15th, 2020
Exploring RevelationArt Sadlier
Categories: Commentary;Prophecy;Book Study

Last week we considered the silent pause that is to take place before the awesome trumpet judgments are poured out.

2....THE SOLEMN PREPARATION "And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets" Rev. 8:2 We are introduced to seven angels who have the duty of proclaiming the seven judgments by the sounding of their trumpet.

Notice, "which stood before God;" this is a beautiful statement, it emphasizes that Christ is in complete control of everything that takes place during the tribulation. The angels stand before God awaiting His orders. These angels are an example to us, we also have a free will as they do, we need to stand before God waiting to receive His instructions, ready to instantly obey Him. The trumpets in our text have a special purpose, they are not for music but rather to make announcements. We see this in 10:7, the trumpet call here is called, "The voice of the seventh angel", and the voice of that trumpet delivers a message. In Numbers 10:1-10 we see the different announcements that were made by the blowing of the trumpets. Remember the blowing of the trumpets by the priests as they marched around Jericho. In Thessalonians and in 1Corinthians we have the trump of God that will call the Church home to heaven. These trumpets make the announcement of the fearsome judgments of God. These seven trumpets announce seven torments to come to the earth.

These judgments were announced by Enoch. "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophecied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, To excute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him."

In Revelation 3:10, we raad, "the hour temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth".
Jesus described this time in Matthew 24:21 "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." He adds in verse 23, "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved;" Unless the Lord had limited the tribulation to seven years, no one would be left alive on the earth, that indicates what awful judgment is about fall as these angels sound their trumpets.

When we have viewed these trumpet judgments we will have some idea of how much God hates sin. God's hatred for sin is infinite, it cannot be measured, The writer to the Hebrews said, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God". The only adequate way of understanding how much God hates sin is to gaze into the eternal fires of Hell. I recommend that you not go there, cry out to God in faith to save you, and according to the promises in His Word He will.

He Was a Good Man - Acts 11:24
Jul 15th, 2020
Morning MeditationF. B. Meyer
Categories: Commentary;Inspirational;Book Study

This is the Holy Spirit's verdict on the character and life of Barnabas. Very different to the magniloquent inscriptions on the tombs of warriors and statesmen; but it were better to deserve this at the lips of the Master than to have the longest list of titles ever appended to a mortal's name. For a good man like this some would even dare to die. The characteristics of this good man were these:

He could see the good in movements outside his own church-order. - The Church at Antioch originated, as this paragraph proves, in the preaching of a number of unknown, unordained refugees, who were fleeing from the iron hand of persecution. All we know of them is that they were men of Cyprus and Cyrene. They had broken through the barrier of the ages by preaching to the Gentiles, great numbers of whom had been saved. The Church in Jerusalem was somewhat suspicious of this new departure, and sent Barnabas to report; but when he came he was forthwith convinced of its genuineness, saw the evidence of the hand of the Lord, and was glad. No jealousy, nor narrow bigotry, nor suspicion, warped his judgment.

He was willing that another should share with himself the joys of harvest. - He went off to Tarsus to seek his old acquaintance, and perhaps fellow-student, Paul, and for a whole year the two wrought side by side in loving fellowship, and taught much people.

He was eager that people should be added to the Lord. - Too often good men seek a following for themselves, and rejoice in those who are added to their church or organization. This is not the noblest style of work. It is better far to imitate the Baptist, who was content to be the Bridegroom's friend.