Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

While We Look . . . At the Things Which are not Seen - 2 Corinthians 4:18
Jul 17th, 2020
Morning MeditationF.B. Meyer
Categories: Commentary;Inspirational;Book Study

We are here bidden to look through the things which are seen; to consider them as the glass window through which we pass to that which is behind and beyond. You do not waste your time by admiring the frame or casket of some rare jewel, but penetrate to the jewel itself; so, day by day, look through the material and transient to the eternal purpose, the Divine idea, the deep that lieth under.

"All visible things," said Carlyle, "are emblems. What thou seest is not there on its own account; strictly speaking, is not there at all. Matter exists only spiritually, and to represent some idea and body it forth." This is an exaggerated way of stating the old saying, "Everything that is, is double." Both, however, illustrate the affirmation of the text.

Look for God's thought in all the incidents, circumstances, and objects of your daily life. Do not stop at the outward; penetrate to the inward and eternal. Beneath that bitter physical suffering there are stores of Divine fortitude and grace. Beneath that trying dispensation there are celestial compensations. Beneath those sweet family ties there are suggestions of love and friendship, which can never grow old or pass away. Beneath the letter of Scripture is the spirit; beneath the ordinance, oneness with the loving Saviour; beneath the world of nature, the processes of the eternal husbandry.

When such is the attitude of the soul, afflictions, that might otherwise have weighed as heavy, become light; and those that drag through long and tedious years, seem but for a moment. And without exception, they all go to produce that receptivity of character that can contain the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Revelation 8:3-5
Jul 17th, 2020
Exploring RevelationArt Sadlier
Categories: Commentary;Prophecy;Book Study

We have seen that the devastating trumpet judgments are about to sound. We have considered SILENT PAUSE in verse one, and the and the SOLEMN PREPARATION in verse two. Today we want to think about The saints prayer in verses 3-5.

"And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and their was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne" vs.3.

Who are these saints? They are the martyred tribulation saints in heaven, probably disembodied spirits, who have been slain during the tribulation period. "And another angel came and stood at the altar", some say that this is the Lord Jesus, no! Christ is seated on the throne at this point.

Verse 4 says, "And the smoke of the incense", this repesents the prayers of the saints for retribution upon those enemies of God that abused and slaughtred them. These prayers are recorded in Rev. 6:9-11, they have prayed and were told to wait a little season. They have waited and now the answer is about to come, the prayers of Revelation 6 are answered in chapter 8.

Notice in verse 5, "The angel took the censer", this is not one of the 7 angels, it is the special angel in verses 3-4. Their is a lesson here, God uses men and angels to do His bidding, what a fantastic priveledge to be a servant of God. God would use you to do His work, prepare yourself to serve the Lord. Don't miss the opportunity when it comes. "And filled it with fire of the altar," the altar that brought salvation now brings judgment upon the Christ rejecting world during the tribulation period. "For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish; To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life...." 2 Cor. 2: 15-16. These are the two aspects of God's wonderful plan of salvation. That is why we present the gospel with tears in our eyes. What a tragedy for men to reject the gospel, see Heb. 10:29-30.

"And cast it into the earth:" Because the people of the tribulation period reject the death of Christ for their sins, they must bear the judgment for their sins. FIRST, they will bear the judgment in their bodies on the earth! SECOND, at the great white throne judgment they will be cast into the lake of fire to be tormented forever. It is a grief to watch people plan for everything but eternity, they plan for every situation in life, but not for the only thing that matters, eternity. They plan for retirement, they even plan for their burial, but no thought for their eternal soul.

"and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightenings, and an earthquake." Thunder is a warning of a coming storm, normally thunder follows lightning, but in this case the warning comes before the lightening of God's judgment. The earthquake is a warning of the wrath of God that is going to destroy both man and his world. The voices indicate that this is not the forces nature out of control, it is rather the direction of God orchestrating the pouring out of His wrath upon the world.

The stage is now set, the seven angels are about to sound their trumpets as the jugment of God is heading for a climax.