Signs, Seals, Trumpets, Bowls and The Other Weird Stuff in Revelation

Note: I have re-visited The Book of Revelation during a time where I am leading discussions (not really teaching) this amazing book in Sunday School this quarter. These writings are a product of re-thinking and updating research for the class.

Many prophetic passages use poetic metaphor and apocalyptic imagery. Apocalyptic or poetic imagery must be treated in a different manner than a straight-forward historical account. Once again the key to understanding prophetic imagery (e.g., stars falling from heaven, the sun becoming dark, the sky rolled up like a scroll, etc.) is to see how such imagery is used in the Bible, rather than use current events and modern scientific discoveries to speculate (e.g., nuclear war, bar codes, computer chips in the hand and forehead, attack helicopters, tanks, etc.). Most books written on prophecy today are disconnected exegetically from the biblical text and thus are nothing more than the clever fantasies of the different authors. Brian Schwertley

In our class we are now in some of the most intriguing, disturbing, and confusing parts of Revelation, particularly Chapters 6-20.

This book portrays similar and even parallel sections around central truth. I liken it to Jesus using the analogy to labor pains.

There is a pattern in the seal/trumpet/bowl judgements (Rev. 6-16)…. let’s look at these from a wide view for a moment.

7 SEALS- 6 and then an interlude (pause)- 7th seal is 7 Trumpets

7 TRUMPETS- 6 trumpets and then an interlude- (brief hint of 7 Thunders)

7 THUNDERS Rev 10: 1-7- (Don’t guess with God?- He cuts short?)

7 BOWLS – Rev. 16- Finality



THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INTERLUDES

These “interludes” are important as well. In my view, the flow of God is much like birth pains..there is a growing action toward a climactic end, but before the dam breaks..there is a pause.. even a pull back.

So much of life is like that. Part of God’s rhythm of life is like that. Think about physical pain- it builds, grows, and then subsides. This has always been a sign of God’s grace. My greatest fear of hell has always been the pain that never ebbs…….

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. (Jesus in the Olivet Discourse- Matthew 24/ Mark 13/ and Luke 21.)

These signs are always in place- they grow in intensity- but then withdraw…but one day the water will break!

But part of God’s plan is silence….solitude… waiting…..

Let's think through the child birth experience:

Signs- We definitely see the expectant mother is pregnant. We know nature, we know what to expect, we just don't quite know the timing.

Contractions- Building pressure

The Pause- 

Let's don't miss the importance of the pause- again...it is a gracious act that the Lord allows intense pain to ebb away.

In my view, I have actually mis-used the idea of recapitulation from the technical sense (I'll elaborate a little more later in this post). It is actually better to call it a 'refluency;.

In the early days of the American revolution, American poet Phyllis Wheatley,  wrote a beautiful line in the poem, "To His Excellency, General Washington":

Enwrapp'd in tempest and a night of storms;
Astonish'd ocean feels the wild uproar,

The refluent surges beat the sounding shore; 

Refluent waves is the "pullback" and building of the next wave.... it is a pause in the energy of motion but no power is lost. Maybe another thought experiment is the 'eye of a hurricane" where in the middle of the storm everything is calm and eerily mundane....

There were 400 silent years between the last Old Testament prophecy and the appearance of Jesus.

Silence sometimes can be deafening.

Have you ever tried to practice solitude?

A lot of noise is happening all around us. But we must NEVER forget the Bible’s command- “Be still and know that I am God”.

In our contemporary world, we need to ‘get away’- ‘turn off technology’. Then God can most clearly communicate to us.

Keep remembering…much of Revelation is figurative and the images are all throughout the Old Testament.

Not a literal half an hour- not literal days- there is a difference in God’s time and Man’s time

Also, I keep seeing the Old Testament and temple references. Do you see the incense of heaven and the smoke of hell in both testaments? Do you see the Egyptian plagues and references to the Exodus?

Did you notice the presence of God on the mountain along with the smoke and thunder?

“In the midst of these sufferings and woe, we are to point men and women to the Gospel of Grace found only in Jesus Christ. We are also to warn them to repent and believe while they have time.” Max A Forsythe

As the book unfolds… we see seven parallel passages and grow in intensity and ebb, like ocean waves, that grow in intensity around the same basic truth.

• Section 1- Chapters 1-3- The Church is active, under assault, under the direction of Jesus
• Section 2- Chapters 4-7- The Throne and the Scroll – The Seals
• Section 3- Chapters 8-11- The Trumpets
• Section 4- Chapters 12-14- The Cosmic battle of forces
• Section 5- Chapters 15-16- The Bowls
• Section 6- Chapters 17-19- Babylon and the Beasts
• Section 7- Chapters 20-22- Final doom and ultimate glory

The difficulty is that though the narrative follows a structure, the events are hard to place in a linear storyline.

I have to agree with George Alan Ladd: “The main purpose of prophecy is not to answer all our questions about the future, but enable believers to live in the present in light of the future.”

As the seals are broken…apocalyptic images are described……

Symbols- The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

The first of the seals unleash a famous and well known Biblical image: four horses of color who wield judgement on the earth. We also see similar horses in Zechariah:

ZECHARIAH 6:1 Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of bronze. 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, 3 the third white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses—all of them strong.4 Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 And the angel answered and said to me, “These are going out to the four winds of heaven, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth.

These symbols can create issues in our interpretation of prophecy:

Can you symbolize parts of Scripture and still keep a high view of Scripture? Should we weigh literal interpretations more accurate than figurative interpretations?

And I never have had an issue with Scripture having symbolism and yet is still accurate, authoritative, inspired, and true! Is this the Real Reality? No, these are visions…but they represent deeper truths!

These seals represent a type of “pre-judgment judgment” and “pre-wrath wrath”….

Man cannot sin without consequences!

In a sense, we have freedom to live within God’s boundaries or to rebel… but make no mistake, choices come with consequences that are contained in the activity itself! Everything suffers because of sin! For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. (Romans 8:19-22 ESV)

This theory of refluency offers a compelling lens through which to interpret the Book of Revelation, providing insights into its complex narrative structure and theological themes. According to my thought experiment, each vision and event in Revelation can be understood as recapitulating or re-enacting the overarching spiritual struggle between good and evil throughout human history. 

Many have attributed an originator of this thinking to Augustine and the technical application of recapitulation...

A cyclical pattern of sin, repentance, and redemption, central to Augustine's concept of recapitulation, finds resonance in the repeated cycles of judgment, tribulation, and eventual triumph depicted in Revelation. Through this framework, the visions of seals, trumpets, and bowls can be seen not merely as discrete events but as successive stages in the unfolding drama of God's plan for redemption and judgment. Furthermore, the use of symbols and imagery in Revelation, such as the Lamb, the dragon, and the new Jerusalem, can be interpreted as representing archetypal elements of the human spiritual journey, echoing themes of sin, sacrifice, and ultimate victory. Thus, by applying the theory of recapitulation, readers can gain deeper insight into the timeless and universal truths conveyed through the vivid and enigmatic imagery of the Book of Revelation. (An AI answer to my question on this topic- in 15 seconds no less!)

A LINE ? MORE LIKE A CIRCLE

Recently, I have been reading an incredible book by David Bodanis entitled: E=MC2, A Biography of the World's Most Famous Equation.

And in that book we learn that an original thinker in terms of the Law of Conservation of Energy was Michael Faraday.

Bodanis writes:

The word energy is surprisingly new, and can only be traced in its modern sense to the mid 1800s. It wasn't that people before then had not recognized that there were different powers around—the crackling of static electricity, or the billowing gust of a wind that snaps out a sail. It's just that they were thought of as unrelated things. There was no overarching notion of "Energy" within which all these diverse events could fit. One of the men who took a central role in changing this was Michael Faraday,

Sir Humphry Davy was speaking on electricity, and on the hidden powers that must exist behind the surface of our visible universe.

Because Faraday did not have that bias of thinking in straight lines, he could turn to the Bible for inspiration. The Sandemanian religious group he belonged to believed in a different geometric pattern: the circle. Humans are holy, they said, and we all owe an obligation to one another based on our holy nature. I will help you, and you will help the next person, and that person will help another, and so on until the circle is complete. This circle wasn't merely an abstract concept. Faraday had spent much of his free time for years either at the church talking about this circular relation, or engaged in charity and mutual helping to carry it out. He got to work studying the relationship between electricity and magnetism in the late summer of 1821.

This circle wasn't merely an abstract concept. Faraday had spent much of his free time for years either at the church talking about this circular relation, or engaged in charity and mutual helping to carry it out. He got to work studying the relationship between electricity and magnetism in the late summer of 1821. It was twenty years before Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, would be born; more than fifty years before Einstein. Faraday propped up a magnet. From his religious background, he imagined a whirling tornado of invisible circular lines swirling around it. If he were right, then a loosely dangling wire could be tugged along, caught in those mystical circles like a small boat getting caught up in a whirlpool. He connected the battery. And immediately he had the discovery of the century.

This immediately got me into re-thinking these seal/trumpets, and bowls in Revelation!

While Michael Faraday's visualization of magnetic fields using circles may not directly relate to St. Augustine's theory of recapitulation, there could be some metaphorical parallels that could be drawn. In Faraday's case, the use of circles helped him understand the dynamic and interconnected nature of magnetic fields, with lines of force forming closed loops. Similarly, Augustine's concept of recapitulation emphasizes the cyclical nature of human existence and spiritual history, with events repeating and echoing throughout time.

One could draw a metaphorical connection between Faraday's circles representing the interconnectedness and cyclical nature of magnetic fields and Augustine's idea of recapitulation, where the events of human history and individual lives are seen as interconnected and repeating in patterns of sin, repentance, and redemption. Both concepts involve the idea of cycles and interconnectedness, albeit in different contexts—Faraday in the realm of physical phenomena and Augustine in the realm of spiritual and theological understanding.

Again- much of this is HOTLY debated and many of my readers have already taken me to task on my many errors in interpretation.... I'm not offended at all... this is just fun being immersed in these ideas and it keeps me alert.

The Lord could come back or I could be called to meet Him any time- I want to be ready and I am so thankful for His grace!

How about you?

Judeo-Christian Tension, Mystery, and the 144,000

Note: I was working on this post when CBS News broke into the Masters on Saturday, April 13 and announced Iran had launched an attack on Israel- interesting days for sure!

Part of what makes Scripture so powerful is its unique ability to stretch the imagination and stay elusive enough to keep our theology just a hair or two from being buttoned up. I'm not referring to essentials at all, just the edges.

I often quote Calvin here: “God limits our knowledge: First, that we should be kept humble and also that we should continue to have dealings with our fellows.”

The last few weeks in the Book of Revelation have been that way once again. Particularly when the pages hit chapter 6 and everything that follows.

Revelation puts me in a strange disposition where everything I read or see while I am studying the book feels 'apocalyptic' or maybe a better word is 'mystical'.

An example would be this week as I was reading (and watching a lot of YouTube videos) about the 144,000 we find in Rev. 7 and again in Rev. 14.

My guess is that hypotheses and heresies generated by this section has birthed more cults than almost any other passage of Scripture in history. This week I observed evolving views of Jehovah's Witnesses as well as a multitude of 'church' theories dissecting everything from aliens to secret societies.

Personally, I still marvel at these sections as they remain a mystery. I, respectfully, can't be fully persuaded by dispensational narratives of this being a battalion of Jewish Great-Tribulation super troops who labor and produce a multitude of converts before the final day of judgement. Maybe they are right, but it doesn't resonate with me on multiple levels.

This week, I was reading and praying through these passages while on the news there is so much tension happening within our own country regarding this latest conflict in Gaza. And then of all things, I happened to watch an old documentary about Bob Dylan and his Jesus years in which he professed to be born again and produced three overtly Christian albums from 1979- 1981.

Back in the day, I owned and listened to the vinyl records "Slow Train Coming" and "Saved".

In the documentary, the reactions to Dylan's born again message was so interesting to me. He had long time followers boo him and walk out of concerts in San Francisco and was treated severely by music critics. But then again, he won a grammy for Slow Train Coming.

Where Dylan is spiritually today is also much of a mystery. But I found this time in his life and his lyrics quite fascinating!

The documentary served as a perfect backdrop from what I was seeing on the MSM news cycles as well as the pages of Scripture.

I also wanted to mention that when I start teaching on Revelation 7 and 14, I am often surprised that this section evokes a lot of passionate pushback. Originally, I presented my material to a Sunday School group in Nashville, TN (Christ Presbyterian Church- PCA) around 2009 and I had a lady in the audience stay after the class and she went after me about as hard as anyone ever has after a session. She said that I was hurting a lot of people, was anti-semitic, and was pedaling a 'replacement theology' that was going to bring God's wrath on me unless I corrected it in the future.

I was too new in the material at the time to have much to say other that to try and be empathetic, listen intently to her, and apologizing to her if I offended her in any way along with a prayer that we both would continue to search out the Scriptures in a way that would always honor the Lord and the truth of His Word.

In the documentary this week on Dylan, I observed a lot of that same passion.

Another complicating factor I learned this week was that there are Christian churches in Gaza that are suffering from the conflict going on from both the Israeli side and the Palestinian side. I had no clue that was happening!

In my readings this week, looking back over old notes, and peeking at the current headlines- I am more convinced than ever that this Book of Revelation needs to stay close to us. I tend to drift from it, because there is so much mystery here- but reading Paul has the same impact. Do you remember what Peter wrote?

 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. [15] And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, [16] as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. (2 Peter 3:14–16 ESV)

So in an effort to till the soil once again, let's look at some of these issues using Romans 11, Revelation 7, and Revelation 14 as a foundation for observation and analysis.

There is a sense in which the entire New Testament, the early days of gospel expansion after the ascension of Jesus is a wrestling match and questions about what to make of this new event in history after 400 years of silence.

I felt the tension this week and it occurred to me that we have

-the wrestling over the relationship of Jews and Christians

-the conflict of the City of Man (Babylon) and the City of God (Jerusalem)

-the war between the unholy trinity (dragon, the beast, the false prophet) and the Holy Trinity (Father. Son, Spirit).

I see it in Acts and especially in the writings of Paul. Think of Paul's amazing conversion.... he formerly was hunting down and persecuting the very people he is now supporting!

His dramatic questions likely vocalize this turmoil:

Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? (Romans 2:3 

ESV)

So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? (Romans 2:26 ESV)

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? (Romans 3:1 ESV)

What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, (Romans 3:9 ESV)

Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, (Romans 3:29 ESV)

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? [2] By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? (Romans 6:1–2 ESV)

What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! (Romans 6:15 ESV)

What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” (Romans 7:7 ESV)

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31 ESV)

What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! (Romans 9:14 ESV)

The Lord Himself expresses this turmoil of the ages.....

But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” (Romans 10:21 ESV)

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. (Romans 11:1 ESV)

Throughout the entire Book Of Romans, Paul takes great care in outlining his case in light of the gospel. Chapter 1 NO ONE is justified, Chapter 2 even the Jews with the Law and the Promise... as he begins to introduce this glorious gospel message.

But take some time to carefully read Romans 11 (especially in light of Romans 9) and notice the stream of salvation- TRUE Jews as they looked forward to the promise of a Messiah in the shadow and types of the sacrificial system, then the sacrifice of the Lamb of God opening the stream to both Jew and Gentile- and Paul's lament over Israel along with his confidence in God's plan. 

I especially love the image of the grafting in of the wild branches with the warning to the Gentiles, 'Don't get arrogant'....

And the Holy hint that there will be a fulfillment of Gentile converts and then, somehow, a new wave of Jewish converts, remnants... "chosen by grace"!

Read that chapter as a backdrop to this description of the 144,000. (12x12x 1000)

So let's now peek at Revelation- I wanted to start with the LAST verse of Rev 6.

 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, [16] calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, [17] for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:15–17 ESV)

 Revelation 7 seems to answer that question... (notice the FIGURATIVE BEGINNING)

also- I haven't taken time to discuss the 'seal'- protected and owned by the King! We have His stamp on us! And His spirit that seals us until the Day of Redemption!

[1] After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. [2] Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, [3] saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” [4] And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed,

12,000 from the tribe of Reuben,

12,000 from the tribe of Gad,

 12,000 from the tribe of Asher,

12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali,

12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh,

 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon,

12,000 from the tribe of Levi,

12,000 from the tribe of Issachar,

 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun,

12,000 from the tribe of Joseph,

12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.

[9] After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, [10] and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” [11] And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, [12] saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

[13] Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” [14] I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

and then more info about the 144,000 in Rev 14, right after the naming of the beast and his number of 666.

Revelation 14:1–5
[1] Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. [2] And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, [3] and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. [4] It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, [5] and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. (ESV)

What then is this group?

As I look at it, the vision in Revelation 7 is a picture of the stream of God's salvation throughout history and the fulfillment of the covenant promise to Abraham.

And there is a hint on WHO is in the 144,000 (which I believe is a symbolic number)

We can grab a clue from how the tribes are listed- 

There are 13 named tribes in Israel, not twelve. Jacob bore twelve sons, but later Jacob adopted Joseph’s two sons in place of Joseph after moving to Egypt. Thereafter, the sons of Jacob were:

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin

Secondly, there are at least 19 lists of Jacob's sons given in the Old Testament: Gen. 35:22-26; 46:8-25; 49:3-27; Exod. 1:2-5; Num. 1:5-15; 2:3-31; 13:4-15; 26:4-51; 34:19-28; Deut. 27:12-13; 33:6-25; Josh. 13:7-22; Judg. 5:12-18; 1 Chron. 2:1-8:40; 12:24-37; 27:16-22; Ezek. 48:1-7, 23-28, 31-34

Reviewing these lists, we usually find all thirteen tribes included though sometimes a tribe is left out (usually Levi). For example, in Numbers 1, 2, 13, and 26, the tribe of Levi is left out. In other cases, Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim, and Manasseh are combined under just the name Joseph. In one case, multiple tribes are missing (i.e., Judge 5). So, we see that it's not unusual for scripture to leave names out when listing the tribes of Israel.

But then we have the list in Revelation 7. This list is unique in a several ways. First, it is the only list of the tribes of Israel in scripture to exclude Dan. Secondly, it is the only list to include Joseph in place of only one of his sons instead of both sons. Specifically, Joseph and Manasseh appear in the Revelation 7 list but Ephraim does not. Perhaps the exclusions of Dan and Ephraim are related?

Thirdly, the territories originally allotted to the tribes of Ephraim and Dan bordered one another in Canaan, but during the time of Judges Dan rejected its claim and moved north to occupy a part of the territory of Naphtali.

Finally, even though the name Joseph is listed in Revelation 7, no territory or tribe of Joseph actually exists. Joseph didn’t receive a portion in the land. His two sons were adopted by Jacob and received Joseph’s double portion instead. This raises the question how can there be 12,000 men from "Joseph"  when no such tribe of people exists?

Given these clues, we can offer speculation on why Dan and Ephraim are missing from the list.

In Judges 17-21 we're given two stories of apostasy in Israel. Both stories center on the tribes of Dan and Ephraim and on the city of Bethlehem, the birthplace of David, God's choice for king over Israel. The writer of Judges emphasizes in these chapters that these were the days before Israel had a king.

In those chapters of Judges, Dan sinned by viewing the land God allotted to them as unacceptable, so they abandoned it. While passing through Ephraim, they stole idols from a home and recruited a Levite to serve in a false temple in the new territory. As a result, Dan became the first tribe in Israel to embrace idol worship in Israel.

Meanwhile, the tribe of Ephraim, the source of the idols, assumed control over the land originally intended for Dan. They aided and abetted the Danites in bringing idolatry into the land of Israel. 

Furthermore, since the tribe of Manasseh is already included in the list of Revelation 7, then we know that the tribe of Joseph can't represent his two sons, as is usually the case in scripture. Instead, Joseph still represents two tribes, but in this case Joseph replaces Dan and Ephraim, tribes historically and geographically linked by their conspiracy to introduce rebellion and idolatry into Israel. So they were excluded from this list by name with the name Joseph standing in their place.

Such a substitution allowed the Lord to retain the symmetry of twelve tribes while drawing attention to these tribes' joint contribution to idolatry in Israel. Since there is no literal tribe of Joseph, in a sense, we could say that Dan and Ephraim were “hidden” in Joseph. If so, then the 12,000 men of the tribe of Joseph will actually be Danites and Ephraimites.

I believe this is why they are mentioned as "VIRGINS" in Rev. 14

No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. [4] It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. 

There is a GREAT chance that the reference to virgins here is figurative- the one thing that pushes back is that it has a qualifying phrase attached to it (It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins). 

If it is literal, I have joked then maybe the number isn't as small as it seems and hearkens to Christ's reference to eunuchs after his teaching on divorce in Matthew 19

The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” [11] But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. [12] For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.” (Matthew 19:10–12 ESV) 

and we can also remember the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 as a cross reference.

Why do I lean towards figurative virgins? Again, it is more of a default mode as I read the Book itself and its highly apocalyptic imagery. The beginning of Revelation 7 speaks of 4 corners of the earth and holding back 4 winds. It all has cubic symmetry as well as the 144,00 number itself. 

In the Old Testament, Israel's idolatry was symbolized quite frequently as adultery and sexual immorality.

It even had it's own sexually transmitted disease (STD) resulting in "Sensory Organ Malfunction" 

‘Sensory Organ Malfunction Imagery’ is the Biblical language for idolatry. We become callous and hardened toward God because we are worshiping other things. As a result, we grow less sensitive to our God and His ways. He is foreign to us and He begins to fade. We do not hear Him, we do not see Him, and we do not speak of Him. When we do think of Him, it is often as an expedient. We feel the need to tag Him as a superstitious ritual in solving a mess. But there is no sense of His Lordship and no heart desire to seek Him.

Sadly, culture tries to teach us us how to live without God. In our media-model culture, God is seldom referred to as a part of everyday life.

In stark contrast to men and women of the Scriptures, we sense only weakly the presence of the Creator.

 The saints of old had a daily awareness, but we are so immersed into the media view of world that we compartmentalize Him and allow Him to speak only on Sundays or in a Bible Study. We live with little or no sensitivity to God working in our life.

 It has been said that worldliness is what any culture does to make sin seem normal and righteousness seem strange. We go into life as blind as the idol makers of the Old Testament days. The gods we serve are empty of power and we curse the heavens because God won’t show Himself. Who moved?

"WHAT WE REVERE WE RESEMBLE EITHER TO RUIN OR RESTORATION" G.K. Beale

When we abandon the Lord to chase idols- we become like them: mute, blind, deaf, and powerless.

Psalm 115

4 Their idols are silver and gold,

the work of human hands.

5 They have mouths, but do not speak;

eyes, but do not see.

6 They have ears, but do not hear;

noses, but do not smell.

7 They have hands, but do not feel;

feet, but do not walk;

and they do not make a sound in their throat.

8 Those who make them become like them;

so do all who trust in them.

So I have laid out my reasons for believing the 144,000 is a symbolic number of those who will be found in heaven, a remnant with God's seal from the nation of Israel according to the original promise to Abraham. 

There is a mystery surrounding it- but even Paul seemed to be wrestling with it in Romans, especially chapter 11.

There is a clue or hint to his understanding here- notice some of the similar parallels to the description of the 144,000.

God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? [3] “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” [4] But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” [5] So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. [6] But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. (Romans 11:2–6)

I also want to say AGAIN that I greatly respect others who will say these a tribulation saints who labor for God during the great tribulation. And I do not support replacement theology, I support expansion theology.

And I do want to support the current Nation of Israel and the Jewish people- I AM NOT an anti-semite... but I also believe that any Jewish person needs to carefully consider the Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise of a Messiah and salvation is through His NAME alone.

(note: There are harsh rebukes toward Jews in the New testament and the early church Fathers- even the Book of Revelation says "synagogue of Satan"- tough words! But God is TOUGH on His people ((severity and kindness in Roman 11)) as well as Jesus was in John 8:39-48!)

In the end, THIS MYSTERY does not hinder my ability to trust and worship God. I LOVE how Paul finally writes, under the direction of God's Spirit about all of this- it is OK to NOT understand some things...

This struggle ultimately has to be left in the depths of God's plan, will, and wisdom... Paul cries out at the end of Chapter 11

 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

[34] “For who has known the mind of the Lord,

or who has been his counselor?”

[35] “Or who has given a gift to him

that he might be repaid?”

[36] For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

 (Romans 11:33–36 ESV)

And as Romans 11 comes to a close- we see the end of the theological beauty and immediately go into the application of this new light.... the glorious gospel of Christ that allows all men to be saved by grace through faith!

As we move forward into some hard passages in Revelation I tend to keep going back to this beautiful picture of people who have been REDEEMED in Rev. 7 and then I skip ahead to the amazing picture of paradise in Revelation 22.

If I keep these two Chapters in full view, I can struggle with understanding stuff in between! 

How about you?

Deliverance From the Domain of Darkness

Do you remember or have you heard of Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer?

His WIKI entry opens like this:

Francis August Schaeffer (30 January 1912 – 15 May 1984 ) was an American Evangelical Christian theologian, philosopher, and Presbyterian pastor. He is most famous for his writings and his establishment of the L'Abri community in Switzerland. Opposed to theological modernism, Schaeffer promoted a more historic Protestant faith and a presuppositional approach to Christian apologetics, which he believed would answer the questions of the age.

Between 2005 and 2010, I tried to introduce Dr. Shaeffer's thoughts, writings, and work to high school seniors in my Bible classes. As hard as tried, the effort was to no avail.

I primarily used one of his books, How Should We Then Live?, and even showed clips from a video series he made in 1977.

But the 70's film quality, the knickers Dr Shaeffer wore , and philosophical commentary didn't catch as much interest as I hoped.

We need interest today more than ever.........

The series can be found for free on the streaming service- TUBI (10 part series). It is uncanningly accurate to today!

When I watch news accounts and listen to opinions, I continuously think back to Schaeffer and the lessons he was trying to teach us in Scripture, using an analysis of past history.

What Schaeffer predicted in the 70's is hauntingly true today. Any 30 minute scan of cable news images do tell us a growing narrative that is disturbing and discouraging.

The basic premise that Schaeffer pointed to was that there was only one world-view that could stand up to the pressures of man's basic nature. Of course, this is the Judeo-Christian worldview. This view acknowledges God, understands man as a fallen creature made in the image of the creator, and that God has revealed Himself and a moral law through Scripture.

Any other human tradition or world-view elevates man and devalues God. And when God is devalued, a value of life and virtue is lost. No other worldview can bear the weight of truth, and all other philosophies crumble in time.

Even as great as the American experiment has proven to be.... without a Biblical worldview.. it too falls short. Capitalism and freedom, unchecked by the boundaries of virtue, wear away in futile desperation.

Schaeffer used to repeatedly point to Gibbons' work on Rome in citing terrifying parallels to 21st century America: 

Schaeffer pointed out:

Rome turned to an authoritarian system centered in Caesar himself. Before the days of of Caesar, the senate could not keep order. Armed gangs terrorized the city of Rome and the normal processes of government were disrupted as rivals fought for power. Self interest became more significant than social interest. (pg. 21)

A culture or an individual with a weak base can stand only when the pressure is not too great. (pg. 23)

Gibbons viewed the fall of Rome based on factors such as love of luxury, wide gap between the rich and the poor, a decadent thirst for violence and sex, and an increased dependency to live off of the state.

Schaeffer ends his chapter on Rome in a chilling tone:

As the Roman economy slumped lower and lower, burdened with an aggravated inflation and a costly government, authoritarianism increased to counter the apathy.... freedoms were lost.... So, because of the general apathy and its results, and because of oppressive control, few thought the old civilization worth saving. (pg. 29)

So I do think of Shaeffer when I see the images of our cities burning. And though very sad, I refuse to ever give up hope.

The images today of poverty, war, crime, and violence can wear down anyone's optimism.

In 2011, a friend encouraged me to check out the AMC show The Walking Dead. I rolled my eyes and laughed at him....."That will not happen... I'm not into zombies."

"You have to see it," he said, "it has little to do with zombies...it is about human beings in crisis. It is fascinating!"

And so I tried it out and the Netflix binge took over.

Now, I cannot recommend all aspects of the show..but the struggle of faith and hope in a world of chaos and despair is mesmerizing. The writers and actors are exceptional.

And it makes me have to answer the question? Do I give up and let evil run its course without resistance?.. or am I willing to continue to serve, believe, work, and hope?

I want to do the latter:

But if we are to do this.. there has to be a clarion call of unity and a willingness to find understanding.

There is a difference in protest and riotous criminality.

Disagreement with authority is not an excuse for un-civil disobedience.

Freedom of speech is NOT a license to destroy.

Freedom of religion is NOT freedom from religious expressions

Would it help to think of a spiritual battle...almost like the living vs the zombies?

This is not a veiled justification of violence........ you don't kill these zombies..but they don't get a say so in the struggle.... and they do get locked up when they go astray.

The living upholds virtue and the rule of  law.

The living believes in the goodness of values and life.

The living pull together in hope and support.

The living cry and weep at pain and suffering.. they heal wounds and share water/food.

The living sacrifice for the good of others.

The living believe in a political party or system, but country needs outweigh partisan divides.

And the zombies?

All zombies do is destroy according to their insatiable appetites.....

zombies have no god....no law.... no care

zombies are found among all people groups, creeds, socio-economic status, and faith traditions.

zombies spread the infection of chaos and self motivated destruction

zombies do not respond to appeals for reason

zombies have no community and no cares

It is way past time for the living to pull together and resist any justification for actions of the zombies.

Our very future is at stake!

[13] He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, [14] in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13–14 ESV)

How The Book of Revelation Rocks My World- Pt 2

 

I never intended for the last post to have a part 2. But being immersed in Revelation these last several weeks has me going through some thought experiments, and I usually feel the need to write it out and process it.

As I mentioned in my last post, I have been compiling a list of 'apocalyptic type' news headlines the last few weeks and this week was no exception. So much so that a TV news anchor said, "the news feels almost Biblical today, where is Pharaoh?" and his crew laughed in the background of the newscast in response to the comment.

We had a major earthquake northeast yesterday- add to that the eclipse coming on Monday and an approaching trillion cicada hatch and the apocalyptic mood can creep in for sure!

And of all things, my Sunday School class schedule has me teaching Revelation Chapter 6 tomorrow.

I want to do something a little different as we begin the rather strange sections in this wonderful and soul fighting book. I want to go to a Scripture that few might use as a parallel passage to these seal, trumpet, (thunder) and bowl judgements.... let's look at Jesus in Luke 13.

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. [2] And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? [3] No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. [4] Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? [5] No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1–5 ESV)

We most likely are familiar with the age old debate regarding the existence of God and the problem of evil. If God is God and God is good, why is there pain, suffering, and evil in the world?

Indeed, the entire debate has its own area of study  called Theodicy (the justice of God,  from the Greek words theos ("God") and dik ("right, justice, judgment"). 

Jesus takes the topic head on here in Luke 13 when confronted with two terrible tragedies- Pilate killing some Galileans and a tower falling and killing 18 people.

Jesus doesn't answer why and He emphasizes that these events are NOT in direct result of exceeding sinfulness in comparison to others... NO- he asks the question that we all should ask in light of disturbing tragedies.

Not, WHY did it happen but instead, if that had happened to ME ...where would I stand with God?.

The Book of Revelation is no different, it is a constant clarion call for repentance.

In the NIV Bible, the words "repent" and "repentance" are mentioned 75 times in the Book of Revelation.

That "R" word can be a problem for modern evangelicals (like me) who have Jesus on the lips but no real change of behavior that runs counter to God's commands.

I watched a video recently of a man who was feeding an alligator... you can predict where that may be headed... but I feed my wild and dangerous nature all the time, where is that going to end up?

Here is my growing list of 'headlines" in the last several weeks:

• Earthquake in NY
• Eclipse
• War in Israel and Europe
• Red Heifer Cows Ready for Sacrifice in Israel
• Bridge Collapses
• Cicada Invasion about to hatch
• Planes falling apart
• Suspicious fires
• Series of train derailments
• Chemical plant explosions
• Food production facilities being burned down, planes crashing into them
• Thousands of mysteriously dead cattle
• Jewish Chabad and the New York Underground network of tunnels
• Southern border crisis
• Havana Syndrome
• Human trafficking scandals
• Transgender Awareness Day on Easter Sunday
• Inflation
• Aliens

I found it interesting what Martin Luther said around 1530! (That was a long time ago!)

“The first thing for us to understand is that although the signs preceding the judgment day are many and great, they will all be fulfilled, even though none or very few men take note of or esteem them as such. For two things must take place according to the Word and prophecy of Christ and the apostles: first, that many and great signs will be made manifest; and secondly, that the last day will come unawares, the world not expecting it, even though that day be at the door. Though men see these signs, yea, be told that they are signs of the last day, still they will not believe, but in their security mockingly say: “Thou fool, hast thou fear that the heavens will fall and that we shall live to see that day?”

When the earthquake hit yesterday in NYC, the news reporters were interviewing people on the street and the common response was ... "Oh well, no big deal"...

A major purpose of this Book of Revelation is to NOT LET THAT HAPPEN… we must see the signs and keep getting reminded of the plans and purposes of God. No need to panic but we do need to pray and encourage all we can to not be caught unaware or unprepared.

This was funny from James Spann yesterday:

SYMBOL OF THE 4 HORSEMEN

The first of the seals unleash a famous and well known Biblical image: four horses of color who wield judgement on the earth. We also see similar horses in Zechariah:

ZECHARIAH 6:1 Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of bronze. 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, 3 the third white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses—all of them strong.4 Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 And the angel answered and said to me, “These are going out to the four winds of heaven, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth.

Remember- this is all figurative language.. no one believes in actual four corners or a real horse running across the sky... don't be snarky!

I spent some time this week about how thoughts about a horse might be different in our day than they were in Biblical times. This is an animal we know but in a world of tanks, jets, submarines, and air craft carriers we might have lost the sense of power and prestige that these majestic animals had on man in centuries past.

I was reading a book entitled, "The Heart of Everything That Is - The Untold Story of Red Cloud, an American Legend" by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin and became so enthralled about the importance of horses to the American Indians.

Mustangs were the most prized possession of Sioux warriors in the Black Hills. Introduced to America in the 1500's by Spanish Conquistadors, this new breed of horse was fast and easy to break.

"In the eyes of the Indians the horse endowed the European invaders with seemingly supernatural powers, and some tribes even believed that the mounted conquistadors were immortal."

We have to remember when it comes to the apocalyptic genre of Revelation that symbols can create issues in our interpretation of prophecy:

Can you symbolize parts of Scripture and still keep a high view of Scripture? Should we weigh literal interpretations more accurate than figurative interpretations?

 I never have had an issue with Scripture having symbolism and yet is still accurate, authoritative, inspired, and true! Is this the Real Reality? No, these are visions…but they represent deeper truths!

These seals, trumpets, and bowls represent a type of “pre-judgment judgment” and “pre-wrath wrath”…. and they will ebb and flow in intensity until He breaks through on a Day of Judgement.

And Jesus has the authority to wield these judgements, He is worthy and I also believe He is fair and compassionate!

In a sense, we have freedom to live within God’s boundaries or to rebel… but make no mistake, choices come with consequences that are contained in the activity itself! Everything suffers because of sin!

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. (Romans 8:19-22 ESV)

THE 6TH SEAL

The 6th seal is not as clear…..

When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Jesus uses similar language in the Olivet Discourse:

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:29-31 ESV)

The 6th seal is more of a cataclysmic event than the previous 5. I often think of it like a volcanic eruption or possibly a nuclear explosion. Those of a preterist mindset (The word preterism comes from the Latin preter, which means “past.” As in, the prophecy has already been fulfilled in the past) may point to something like Mt. Vesuvius in AD 79. I tend to think of the sun darkened and stars falling more like burning embers falling, smoke, and debris from a major cataclysmic event. But who knows?

If I follow a recapitulation theory (growing birth pains).. it would be there is always a growing pressure of all the signs and even major events that ‘erupt’... making every type of warning to human beings to repent while the door of mercy remains open!

Again- the purpose of this post is WHERE ARE WE? not "What are the seals" or even "Why the seals".

THE TRUMPET JUDGEMENTS

Quick story (and long post... sorry)

When I was in 11th grade, I stayed overnight at a friends house near my high school He and his mom went to the store to get some breakfast food and I was alone in his house, still in bed on a lazy, coolish summer morning.

As I laid there half asleep, it heard a distant trumpet sound. It woke me a little.

A few counts more, and I hear it again LOUDER... I sat up!

Then, on rhythm, a few counts later, and entire blast of instruments! Like a loud orchestra!

I jumped up and RAN to the door... was this Jesus returning!?

On the front porch I looked out and a marching drum and bugle core was marching down the street practicing for a competition later that day. They popped their horns up and gave another BLAST and kept marching.

It wasn't Jesus... but I did think it was cool that I was excited and not scared. My heart was racing in anticipation.

My prayer is that you LONG to see Jesus and are not terrified at His return.
Today is a great day for salvation! Come to Him NOW! Please, do not delay even one more day!

If the problem of evil disturbs you, think of it as a fish hook in the shape of a question that penetrates your heart. Meditate on these thoughts and verses... 

 A Biblical Apologetic of Evil and Existence of God

NEHEMIAH 9:6 You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.

ISAIAH 55:6,7 “Seek the Lord while he may be found;

call upon him while he is near;

7 let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts;

let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,

and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

There has to be majesty and mystery if there is a true God.

IS 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

The very definition of ‘God’ means a transcendent being beyond us.

If you can understand everything about your God- maybe that is a god made in your image.

Origin of evil came as a result of real freedom in the garden.

Genesis 3:2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

The growth and pervasive nature of evil is now a product of our bondage to sin.

EPHESIANS 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

ROMANS 7:15-25 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

God is not the author of evil, but he channels it to His good purposes. The cross is the greatest example of man's intended evil and God's intended good.

GENESIS 50:19-21But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Evil still exists because of God's patience.

II PETER 3:8-12 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!

The day of evil will close but also the day of mercy with it.

ACTS 17:30-31 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.

Evil is goodness spoiled- you can have good without evil- you cannot have evil without good.

The existence of evil actually points to the existence of God. Bad things happen to all on this earth- it points not only to God’s existence, but the need for salvation.

LUKE 13:1-5 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Jesus endured hell for us- to turn Him away is the height of offensiveness, foolishness, and perversion.

HEBREWS 4:14-16 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

We are limited in mind and feeble of spirit- yet accuse God of wrongdoing and injustice.

ROMANS 9:18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God?

Do we want justice or mercy? Give me mercy!

ROMANS 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

We are as blind as a bear in the bear trap analogy (The bear sees a man wanting to get him out of the trap and thinks he is hurting him by pressing his foot in the trap. He doesn't understand he has to do it to free him from the trap.) We see only in part.

II CORINTHIANS 4:3-4 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

The gospel overcomes all evil.

ROMANS 3:21-24 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

Our sufferings are momentary and light....

II CORINTHIANS 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

EVIL WILL BE ABOLISHED

REVELATION 21:1-3 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

We know God exists- but we suppress the truth.

Romans 1:18-22 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

The Bible does not debate the existence of God.

Psalm 14:The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds,
there is none who does good.

There are eyewitness reports of the truth of Jesus. These men died for this testimony.

I JOHN 1:1-3 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Assuming God is reasonable, but reasons alone are unsatisfactory- not because of our head... but because of our heart.

I CORINTHIANS 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

II CORINTHIANS 4:3-4 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Stop hiding from God - and experience His love and mercy.

JOHN 10:10-11 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

JOHN 10:27-30 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

It is life changing......

JOHN 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

The boss is in his office- you know he is there.

JOHN 20:28-29 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

JOHN 5:39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me

You will meet Him at the right time.

JOHN 14:1-6 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

If you saw Him now as He is.... you would be rent in two.

HABAKKUK 2:14 For the earth will be filled

with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord

as the waters cover the sea.

ZEPHANIAH 3: 17 The Lord your God is in your midst,

a mighty one who will save;

he will rejoice over you with gladness;

he will quiet you by his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing.

ROMANS 8:31-39 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Finally, I believe in God because I have experienced Him- there is nothing wrong with this defense.

JOHN 9:24-25 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

But beyond this, the arguments for God’s existence that have weighed the most helpful in my heart are:

1) The design of the fine tuned universe and existence of life. Information and design came from a designer- Life from life. Not only that order exists, but also it is discoverable. The basic equations of the universe are able to be understood and communicated. We were placed in a world of discovery and accomplishment from the hand of God.

2) The moral argument- we have a deep sense of ‘ought ness’- even if the substance or details of our moral laws vary- we judge fairness and justice according to an unseen force of moral law. There is a moral lawgiver, and we are made in His image.

3) My desires point to God. I need relationship, security, and significance. My God is the Great Thirst Quencher- I need Him!

4) The testimony of the gospel and the triumph of the church. The spread of the gospel is the greatest phenomenon in the history of the world. Men and nations have been conquered through a story of love and sacrifice. The story of creation, fall, redemption captures us in movies, literature, art, and music in ways that I know this gospel story is grounded in reality… in truth.

5) The Bible. It is too unified and uncanny in predicting, explaining, and comforting to be the words of man. This is a supernatural experience. When I want to spend time with God, I just sit down and open His word!

II TIMOTHY 3:14-16 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

HEBREWS 4:12 For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!

ROMANS 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

I CORINTHIANS 2:2-5 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

II CORINTHIANS 13:5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!