The godly struggle now; the godless perish later

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first post in the archives, dated November 12, 2008, where I introduce myself and the blog.

Friday, November 13, 2009
Devotions: Ps 88, 91, 92; 1 Macc 1:41-63; Rev 19:11-16; Mt 16:13-20

Lord, I cry to You for help, day and night! I am full of troubles, weak, and crushed beneath Your holy wrath. I am shut in, though I cry out to You day after day. I dwell in darkness. Please, God, help me. You are my Refuge and Fortress, the God I trust. Your word says You will shelter me; thousands may fall at my sides, but I will survive, since YHWH is my Protector. He will charge His angels to watch over me; He will answer my prayers; He will satisfy me and show me His salvation. Thus says the Lord! Meanwhile, I will sing God’s praises, and thank Him for all He has done and will do. YHWH, how great are Your works; You will scatter all enemies; I will see the downfall of my enemies. I am planted in God’s household, and even in my aging years, I will be fruitful and lively, showing that the Lord is upright and delivers His own.

Antiochus Epiphanes decreed that all his subjects should unite in one culture and one religion. The Gentiles quickly conformed, and many from Israel joined them, sacrificing to idols and profaning the Sabbath. The king sought to profane the religion of Israel altogether; those who would not comply took to hiding places. On the fifteenth of Chislev [December in our current calendar], a desolating sacrilege was offered on the former holy altar of burned offerings in Jerusalem. The books of Torah that could be located were torn apart and burned, and those possessing the book of the covenant were sentenced to death. The authorities executed women who had their sons circumcised; the other family members were killed, too, and the dead infants were hung around their mothers’ necks. Yet many in Israel stood firm and chose to die rather than be defiled or profane God’s covenant. Great wrath fell upon Israel.

John’s heavenly vision continues: ‘I saw a white horse in heaven, and He Who sat on it is called Faithful and True; He judges and makes war in righteousness. His eyes are like flames of fire; He wears many diadems, and has a name inscribed on Him that only He knows. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood; and He is called the Word of God. Heaven’s armies followed Him, dressed in pure white linen, riding white horses. From His mouth issues a sharp sword with which to strike the nations, and He will rule them with an iron rod. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrathful judgment of God Almighty. On His robe and thigh are inscribed King of kings and Lord of lords. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; he cried with a loud voice, summoning all the birds of the air: “Come, gather for God’s great feast; you will eat the flesh of kings, of captains, of mighty men, of war horses and their riders, of all people, slave and free, small and great!” The beast and the kings of earth rallied their armies to war against Him Who sits on the white horse and His forces. The beast was captured, and his false prophet who led many astray, to receive the mark of the beast and to worship its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire burning with sulphur, and their troops were slain by the sword of Him Who sits upon the white horse; and the birds of the air were gorged with their flesh.’

Jesus asked His followers: ‘Who do people say I am?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah or another of the prophets of old.’ He asked again, ‘But who do you say that I Am?’ Peter replied, ‘You are the Messiah, Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon, son of John! Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but rather my Father in heaven! I tell you: you are Petros, and on this petra [your confession of Me as Messiah and Son of God] I will build My church; and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of heaven’s kingdom, so that whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose upon earth will have been loosed in heaven.’ And Jesus strictly charged the disciples not to tell anyone that He is the Messiah.