The End…

 

How appropriate to read of the end of evil and the promise of a new life on the last day of a year. While the events seen by John in Revelation may not happen in 2026, just thinking about it builds anticipation in my heart.

Evil’s ending includes the final judgment on a ‘woman’ who represents immoral living. She “glorified herself” but “her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her” and those who profited from her will fear and mourn yet the “saints and apostles and prophets” will rejoice. 

“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” (Revelation 19:1–2)

After (?) this, more celebration, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”. . . . These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19:6–9)

Then a white horse ridden by the righteous Judge called Faithful and True, clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and named the Word of God, with the armies of heaven, following him on white horses. He strikes down the nations and rules. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Even so, the beast and the kings of the earth gather to make war against Him. They are defeated and thrown alive into the lake of fire or slain by His sword.

An angel binds Satan for a thousand years, shutting and sealing the pit, then allowing his release for “a little while.” Those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 

The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:1–6)

Satan is released “to deceive the nations. . . .  to gather them for battle” against the saints, “but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Then John saw a great white throne with the dead standing before it. God opened the book of life and these were judged and, “if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” 

Finally John sees a new heaven and a new earth, the holy city. . . . coming down out of heaven. . . . and 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. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. . . . It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:5–8)

Then he describes the Bride of Christ as a city of jewels without need of light “for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb . . . . But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:27)

He saw the river of the water of life, the tree of life, knowing Jesus’ servants will reign forever and ever. And He says: 

Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. . . . I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. . . .  Let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. (Revelation 22:17)

PRAY: Jesus, on the eve of a new year, prepare me for twelve new months of both groaning and growing in grace, yet glorify Yourself in all that will happen.

Glorify God in marriage…

While this is not a popular teaching nor is it often preached, the Bible says this:

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:22–33)

Rather than stumble over that “submission” word (it does not mean doormat), I see the bigger intent in this passage; the relationship between a husband and wife is supposed to mirror the relationship between Christ and the church. 

Sadly, I remember the Christian woman who said if her hubby acted like Christ, she would be willing to do what he wanted. The other side is that many men will do what their wives want to avoid stress or conflict of any kind, so they do what she says. Both excuses fail to demonstrate what God intended. 

I don’t know the stats, but Christian couples are not immune from fights, separation, splits, divorces, and unfaithfulness. God stresses the seriousness of this, not only because of the emotional damage to families, but the spiritual purpose of love and respect. A divorce and whatever causes it does not reveal how Christ is toward His bride nor does it reflect how the church should respond to our Lord and Savior. 

In reading 1 Corinthians  this morning, I felt deep sorrow. God told to Paul convey this to the church:

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” (1 Corinthians 5:9–13)

He also wrote about our responsibility to judge any sins, and not take disputes to a court of law. Nor are we to think that someone in the church who is caught in any sin is okay.

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9–11)

And this includes cheating on your spouse and calling it severe because, “Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." (1 Corinthians 6:18–20)

PRAY: Father, we know the weakness of many who cannot exercise self-control, and how badly they need to marry rather than let passion rule their behavior. Your Word stresses walking in the Spirit for the Spirit produces the ability to say NO to temptation. Today I pray for those who need to yield to You, both men and women, that each of us is able to reflect Your great love for us and our response of love to You — with the way we live and the way we relate to our marriage partners. And may those who are not married also rely on the Spirit to keep their lives pure so they glorify Your goodness.


 

No graves, no museums

We walked through part of Arlington Cemetery yesterday and watched the changing of the guard at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I wondered if he had a wife who mourned? Or left children without a dad? Were his parents told? Or did they wonder until they died what happened to their son?

We also walked along the Vietnam Memorial with more than 53,000 names engraved in marble, I also thought about the spouses left behind and the tears of sorrow for families as they realized their sons and daughters, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers were gone from them. Hundreds, even thousands died in war. These were sobering scenes.

This morning, I read these verses about my beloved Jesus, to whom I have been betrothed, and think about the realities of this union and how He will never leave me or forsake me. This is wonderful, yet does not dull the pain of those who mourn the deaths of their earthly spouse.

My beloved is mine, and I am his…. I am my beloved’s, and his desire is for me. (Song of Solomon 2:16, 7:10)

I feel humbled to be part of the Bride of Christ. He has blessed me with a deep sense of His love, of belonging to Him. He offers me all that He has that I might live in peace and joy. There will be no gravestones that separate us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 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. (Romans 8:35–39)

Today we go back to that area of DC and have a look at part of the Smithsonian. A couple of days will give us only a small glimpse of what mankind has collected and marked as historically valuable. As I walk through the immense buildings, I will remember what is important to God. He created people to be in intimate relationship with Him, to know and enjoy Him forever. He sent His Son to die so we could be forgiven our sin and become pure and holy, a bride fit for this heavenly Bridegroom.

The stuff we collect, the lives that we live, are important, but not nearly so valuable as our eternal souls because all that stuff and all those lives eventually wind up in museums or graveyards, or even in places marked “unknown” -- whereas the souls that are united to Him can look forward to becoming imperishable and spending an eternal honeymoon with Jesus. 

Carried by Joy

Weddings are most often joyful occasions, as is the honeymoon. So also is that spiritual union Christians have with Jesus Christ, the ultimate Bridegroom, only with Him the honeymoon is never over. One reason is that amazing reality of belonging: “My beloved is mine, and I am his….” (Song of Solomon 2:16)

Another reason is His assured and eternal provision. Because I belong to Jesus and He belongs to me, we share everything. He takes my sin, I get His righteousness. I am also given His eternal home.

Apparently, the ancient Romans had a custom whereby when a new wife was brought home, she was given the keys of her spouse’s house, committing to her the treasure and custody of the house. In similar fashion, when Christ brings His bride to the home He is now preparing for me (and all His followers), He will also hand over the keys and we will be as rich as heaven can make us.

Another reason is the spiritual fruit Jesus brings into the marriage, the joy of the Lord. In being made one with Him, that alone calls for joy, but the joy He gives is part of His nature and therefore part of the union. This joy is a “for better or for worse” joy and because it comes from Him rather than circumstances, it is mine all the time.

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. (Habakkuk 3:17–18)

The only times I cannot rejoice is when I harbor sin in my heart. Actually, it is a sin NOT to rejoice. This dishonors my heavenly spouse and grieves His joyful heart. Certainly there are times to feel sorrow, pain and weeping, but as the above verses say, I can be joyful in Him even when other things are less than perfect. Joy is about Him, not about having everything go my way.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)

Christ loves a cheerful bride. It’s very likely that the purpose of sadness is to give Him opportunity to make us rejoice. We sow in tears and reap in joy. Excessive sadness could make others afraid to embrace Christ, while our joy even in life’s challenges is a testimony to His grace and power.

Joy is also power, my source of strength. The Bible says this to God’s people when they were mourning their sin…

Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Being a happily married woman is a good thing. Being happily united with Christ is even better. Jesus gives me a delight that no one or nothing can take away. He saved me more than forty years ago, and even though I disobey and disappoint Him far too often, He still carries me on the wings of joy.

More comfort from my spiritual Spouse

Glancing at today’s devotional verse, I realize I’ve more to learn about the nature of my union with Jesus Christ. This verse says we belong to each other, but do I fully grasp its significance?

My beloved is mine, and I am his…. (Song of Solomon 2:16)

The person who wrote the devotional lived in the 1600s. His interpretations are as timely now as there were then. The first thing he says is that my spiritual Spouse is kind. Today’s news is showing videos of a man who veered back and forth along a street hitting all pedestrians in his path. Would his wife (if he has one) say he is kind? What about those wives who are abused and mistreated? What about the woman whose spouse is always at work, or in the bar, or cheating on her? I don’t know if all women desire a kind man, but this is important to me. However, even the kindest husband can slip from thoughtfulness. Jesus never does.

My spiritual Bridegroom sticks by me in weakness. Human marriage vows say for better or for worse, but at the time they are made, no husband (or wife) can imagine the worst-case scenarios that could test that vow. I know a man whose wife was on life-support and he could not handle it. He left her. Jesus does not and never will do that. When I am weak, He offers me His strength.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Normal human marriage is “’til death do us part” but in my spiritual union with Christ, death is the physical beginning of that spiritual union I enjoy now. When I die, I will go to be with Jesus. In this world, God wisely allows change and trouble so I am weaned from its appeal, even longing for the day that my soul is divorced from it and from my body to be married to Christ.

The Bible says that each person dies once, and then there is judgment. I’m not afraid of that either, for my spiritual Husband will be my judge. Satan may accuse me, and often rightly, but my sins are obliterated in the blood of Christ. As the devotional writer says, He cannot pass sentence against His spouse without passing it against Himself for Christ and His Bride are one.

As for suffering, I have a Husband in heaven that cares about all that happens to me, but He and I know that one day those sorrows will be over and He will replace the cup of trembling with the cup of consolation.

He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 25:8)

On that day, I will forget all sorrows and the challenges of life as I enter the banqueting house of heaven and sit down to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

A marriage that lasts forever

In some circles, marriage seems to have fallen out of favor. Yet for those who choose Christ, they must also choose marriage, a union of a similar sort but that goes beyond “’till death do us part.” In this marriage, there is no parting and death is just the beginning.

God speaks of this marriage in both Old and New Testaments. His promise is amazing…

And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. (Hosea 2:19)

And He hints at it in allegory, painting word pictures that are not fulfilled until the Bridegroom comes for His Bride…

My beloved is mine, and I am his…. (Song of Solomon 2:16)

When Jesus arrived, He identified Himself when asked why His disciples did not fast, again using slightly veiled language…

And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. (Mark 2:19–20)

The New Testament identifies this marital union with the Bridegroom as one of faith, but it is closer than our normal understanding of marriage where God says two are made one flesh. Betrothal to Christ means that He and His bride are made one spirit…

But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. (1 Corinthians 6:17)

As Hosea says, this union is forever. There is no divorce because the Bridegroom has made a commitment to love His Bride forever, no matter what she may do. However, the more Christians understand that love, the more we love Him.

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, (1 Peter 1:8)

One day, the Bride will see Him face to face. For that, He has planned a grand celebration, a feast…

And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19:9)

This marriage is a never-ending joy, a union that never ceases for there is no more death to end it and no more sin to create any reason for separation. Our relationship of love will be perfect.

In this life, we have the contract, a covenant made with God. It begins with a choice, not ours but His. He sets His eyes on those who will become His Bride and by faith we give consent. We desire Him for we realize His love for us and our need for that unconditional, eternal and glorious love. Faith is the bond of the union. We are joined to Him by His Spirit and faith ties the marriage knot.

The result is that I am His and He is mine, a reality so wonderful that my mind can scarce take it in.