"Woe for the earth and for the Sea!"
In John's Revelation Jehovah has done, what Isaiah has penned, in the following verses in his account. He has made known the end from the beginning, and what is still to come; as well, assures us all there, that his purpose will stand, and he will do all that he pleases.
He has informed us all in John's account, just what it will be like in the time of the end. Just what effect it will have on the people of this World. To be truthful, it's not what anyone would call a pretty picture, by any means.
9 "Remember the former things, those of long ago;
I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.10 I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say: My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please."{Isaiah 46:9,10 NIV}
What is it, that could possibly trigger this Woe for the earth? John explains that:
12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens
and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, {Isaiah 57:20}
because the devil has gone down to you!
He isfilled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."{Revelation 12:12 NIV}
So, this Woe is the devils doing, as we might expect, but how bad will this Woe become, and what effect does it have on the people of this earth?
13 "As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"{Revelation 8:13 NIV}
Extremely severe conditions will prevail; so bad in fact people are going to be wishing they were dead, but will not be able to die! John explains that also:
6 "During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them." {Revelation 9:6 NIV} Nows the time for judicial punishment to come upon them; so Jehovah would reserve their deaths to himself, at this time. No one is getting away that easy, at Armageddon. What they get will be well deserved, as noted in the following:
5 "And I heard the angel of the waters saying, "Righteous are You, who are, and who were, Holy One, because You judged these things; 6 for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it." {Revelation 16:5,6 NASB}
This of course is the time period for the Christ to take Kingdom Power, and John again, notes the results of that, in the following:
7 "BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen."Revelation 1:7 NASB} Matthew also reports on this event! Note his words:
29"But 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 the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
30"And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory.
31"And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other."{Matthew 24:29-31 NASB}
The only place any rejoicing is being done is in the invisible, Spirit Realm after satan's departure from them. But all Hell on earth breaks out, all over this Planet! Great Fear is the order of the day now! Evidenced by these following words of John: {Luke 21:25-28}
2 "I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" {Revelation 6:12-17 NIV}
At this time, how many of them will be able to stand? Very many? Let's ask Zephaniah, maybe he'll know:
14 "The great Day of the LORD {JEHOVAH} is near,
near and rapidly approaching.
Listen, the Day of the LORD {JEHOVAH}
there the warrior's cry is bitter.
15 That day is a day of wrath,
a day of trouble and distress,
a day of destruction and desolation,
a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and blackness,
16 a day of trumpet [blast] and battle cry
against the fortified cities,
and against the high corner towers.
17 I will bring distress on mankind,
and they will walk like the blind
because they have sinned against the LORD. {JEHOVAH}
Their blood will be poured out like dust
and their flesh like dung.
18 Their silver and their gold
will not be able to rescue them
on the day of the LORD's wrath.
The whole earth will be consumed
by the fire of His jealousy.
For He will make a complete,
yes, a horrifying end
of all the inhabitants of the earth." {Zephaniah 1:14-18 HCSB} {Isaiah 24:1-6}
30 "As for you, you are to prophesy all these things to them, and say to them:
The LORD roars from on high;
He raises His voice from His holy dwelling.
He roars loudly over His grazing land;
He calls out with a shout, like those who tread [grapes],
against all the inhabitants of the earth.
31 The tumult reaches to the ends of the earth
because the LORD brings a case against the nations.
He enters into judgment with all flesh.As for the wicked, He hands them over to the sword—
[This is] the LORD's declaration.
32 "This is what the LORD of Hosts says:
Pay attention! Disaster goes forth
from nation to nation.
A great storm is stirred up
from the ends of the earth." {Jeremiah 25:27-36}
It is taught by the Governing Body of the Watchtower Society, that the War in heaven was fought in the year 1914 with satan and his demons being thrown down to this earth! That World War 1 & 2 were the fulfillment of Matthew 24:7 with Nation against Nation and Kingdom against Kingdom. That reasoning has to be incorrect! Why do I say that? Because Matthew 24:6 is still undergoing filfillment! He Told them: "You will hear of Wars and rumors of Wars, do not be terrified, the end is not yet." Has the end come as yet? No! It hasn't! Wars and rumors of Wars is still in progress; which means "Nation against Nation and Kingdom against Kingdom, is not fulfilled, that War in heaven has not been fought even yet. satan and his demons have not been thrown down yet; but when they are, all hell will be let loose on this planet; and then Matthew 24:7 will see fullfillment! Then as this scripture pointed out; 'Disaster will go forth from Nation to Nation, and a 'great storm will be stirred up from the ends of the earth,' and 'the wicked will be handed over to the sword.' It will be during this World Battle that the Christ will come into kingdom power, because this final World conflict will create the great tribulation Jesus and the Prophet Daniel both spoke about. It would be just prior to this great storm, when disaster goes forth from Nation to Nation that the War in heaven had been fought with satan thrown down, that Matthew 24:7 was fulfilled. This will be the time period that would have to be cut short or no flesh would be saved. The time for the harvest season to begin, that was to be done at the end of the age; where Christ would quickly gather his anointed Brothers, and then do the separating between the sheep and the goats. When finished that harvesting work he would then turn his attention, on this Warring World, and Armageddon would begin, with Zephaniah's and Jeremiah's Prophecies seeing fulfillment. {Matthew 24:6,7} {Revelation 12:7-9,12} {Matthew 24:20-22, 33,34} {Matthew 13:24-30-36-43} {Matthew 24:29-31;25:31-46} {Daniel 12:1} {Revelation 16: 14-16}
One thing to focus attention on now, is this great figuratative earthquake John foretold, and the meaning behind it, which will explain quite a bit, note these words of John's Revelation:
18 "Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake.19The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath." {Revelation 16:18,19 NIV} What has happened here? John will next explain the fall of the entire Religious empire on this earth, leaving not a vestige of it remaining, devasting her great riches. This fall has been instigated by Jehovah himself, as we'll next see:
16 "The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.17For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God's words are fulfilled."17 "In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!' {Revelation 18:17 NIV} {Revelation 17:16,17 NIV} A second angel reports on this fall:
8 "A second angel followed and said, "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries."{Revelation 14:8;17:16,17} This Religious empire is pictured as a Woman astride a scarlet colored wild beast. I'll let John tell you about her:
1 "One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. 2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries." This intoxicating wine, that so effects the adherents to this Religious empire, is the false teachings, that poison the minds, of these so-called believers, making them appear intoxicated, or resemble spiritual drunkards.
3Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. 5 This title was written on her forehead:
These seven heads, are the devils ruling World Powers in their continuing forms all down through History; beginning with Egypt, Assyria, Neo-Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and the British American World Powers of today. That include the European, Asian, and African Nations, as well. This Religious harlot, has been seated on the Back of this seven headed scarlet Beast for many Centuries now. To continue, in her description:
MYSTERY
BABYLON THE GREAT
THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES
AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus." { Revelation 17:1-6 NIV} Notice just what these many waters, that this Woman sits on are:
15"Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages."{Revelation 17:15 NIV} Notice what John tells us, about this Woman who sits on many Waters; her authority over them:
30 "How weak [is] thy heart, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, In thy doing all these, The work of a domineering whorish woman." {Ezekiel 16:30 YLT} Notice too, this accusation against her; how she is drunk with the Blood of the Holy Ones. Even more than that though, as John goes on to explain:
24 "In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints,
and of all who have been killed on the earth."{Revelation 18:24 NIV} Does Jesus in any way connect up with John here? Listen to his words to those early Jews:
33"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 34Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation." {Matthew 23:33-36 NIV}
Consider the crucification of Jesus! Who was responsible for that? {Matthew 27:28-50} Or the Apostle Steven when they stoned him to death? {Acts 7:51-60;8:1-3} Notice Jesus words as to the effect their teachings would have on their converts:
15`Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye go round the sea and the dry land to make one proselyte, and whenever it may happen -- ye make him a son of gehenna twofold more than yourselves." {Matthew 23:15 YLT} These were spiritual fornicators, warping and twisting the Bible Truths to mislead others into becoming subjects for Gehennah even more so than themselves; as next noted:
1 "One of the seven angels who had poured out the seven bowls came over and spoke to me. "Come with me," he said, "and I will show you the judgment that is going to come on the great prostitute,who rules over many waters. 2 The kings of the world have committed adultery with her, and the people who belong to this world have been made drunk by the wine of her immorality." {Revelation 17:1,2 NLT} As I said: "Spiritual drunkards!
I Like the way the message Bible describes Jehovah's Rocking of of the earth at this juncture, describing the cleaning out of Banylon the Great:
"So don't turn a deaf ear to these gracious words. If those who ignored earthly warnings didn't get away with it, what will happen to us if we turn our backs on heavenly warnings? His voice that time shook the earth to its foundations; this time—he's told us this quite plainly—he'll also rock the heavens: "One last shaking, from top to bottom, stem to stern." The phrase "one last shaking" means a thorough housecleaning, getting rid of all the historical and religious junk so that the unshakable essentials stand clear and uncluttered." {Hebrews 12:25-27 The Message}
Great lamentation when this Massive World-Wide Religious Organization falls, creating the figurative earthquake mention by John that will rock this World from end to end, due to the fact that it encompasses and permeates our entire Globe; but at the same time, un-be-knowns to Mankind a War will be being fought in the Heavenly Spirit realm, between Michael the Archangle, and his Angels, and satan and his angels. At which time, satan and his demon angels will be thrown down to this earth, and Woe for the earth and for the sea will begin! {Revelation 12:12} Then, "Nation will rise against Nation and Kingdom against kingdom"... and then, "Woe, Woe, Woe," for the earth and its people, as Ezekiels Prophecy begins to undergo fulfillment, as the maddness increases: {Revelation 8:13;12:7-12}
20 "The fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, every creature that crawls on the ground, and every human being on the face of the earth will tremble before Me. The mountains will be thrown down, the cliffs will collapse, and every wall will fall to the ground. 21 I will call for a sword against him on all My mountains"—the declaration of the Lord GOD —"and every man's sword will be against his brother. {Ezekiel 38:20,21 HCSB} Woe-Woe-Woe, indeed! This will create the greatest tribulation this World has ever seen or will ever see again, as Jesus and Daniel foretold! Christ then, after the tribulation of those days, will come into kingdom power; to first, gather his anoited Brothers, to save their lives, or no flesh would be saved; and then do the separating work between the sheep and the goats, just prior to Armageddon; and then, when the harvest season was completed, he would turn his attention to the Warring Nations, and Armageddon would be fought.
What would be the end result of that final War? Isaiah will explain that to us, in his propecy, to follow:
1 "See, the LORD is going to lay waste the earth
and devastate it;
he will ruin its face
and scatter its inhabitants-
2 it will be the same
for priest as for people,
for master as for servant,
for mistress as for maid,
for seller as for buyer,
for borrower as for lender,
for debtor as for creditor.
3 The earth will be completely laid waste
and totally plundered. The LORD has spoken this word.
4 The earth dries up and withers,
the world languishes and withers,
the exalted of the earth languish.
5 The earth is defiled by its people;
they have disobeyed the laws,
violated the statutes
and broken the everlasting covenant.
6 Therefore a curse consumes the earth;
its people must bear their guilt.
Therefore earth's inhabitants are burned up,
and very few are left." {Isaiah 24:1-6 NIV}
What does it mean to scatter its inhabitants? The prophet Jeremiah will will explain that for us:
31 "The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth,
for the LORD will bring charges against the nations;
he will bring judgment on all mankind
and put the wicked to the sword,' "
declares the LORD.
32 This is what the LORD Almighty says:
"Look! Disaster is spreading
from nation to nation;
a mighty storm is rising
from the ends of the earth."
33 At that time those slain by the LORD will be everywhere—from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned or gathered up or buried, but will be like refuse lying on the ground.
34 Weep and wail, you shepherds;
roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock.
For your time to be slaughtered has come;
you will fall and be shattered like fine pottery.
35 The shepherds will have nowhere to flee,
the leaders of the flock no place to escape.
36 Hear the cry of the shepherds,
the wailing of the leaders of the flock,
for the LORD is destroying their pasture."{Jeremiah 25:31-36 NIV}
We have learned that the entire empire of Religion will be wiped out, even the Pasture, constituting the flocks of these Religions will be destroyed, according to Isaiah. So, with now, no shepherds to guide them, no leaders left; where does that leave all the Flocks who depended upon these shepherds and leaders? Isaiah predicted they would all be destroyed, didn't he? When then, is the time to act, to avoid this terrible fate? It would be, right now, wouldn't it?
We know Isaiah predicted that there would be a few survivors, so that's a slim hope, isn't it? Does that hope get any better, as we search through the scriptures? We might look at now, at what Jesus himself had to say about this matter of survival:
13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." {Matthew 7:13,14 NIV} {Joel:32}
So! There is a way to survive through this perilous time of World Distress, isn't there? All we must do is locate this gate Jesus here mentions; so we can be one of the ones of the few who finds it. Where do we begin looking? Jesus will show us that:
1"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd."{John 10:1-14 NIV}
So! Jesus himself was the Gate he spoke about! He it was, and is, is the good Shepherd. He is the one who laid down his life, to take away the sin of this entire World. Could any of the Religious leaders of Christendom's vast array of Churches, make a claim the like of that? His position as we've learned here is far superior to that of any human Religious leader; but he said a lot more than that, that puts him even higher, as we'll learn next:
6 "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." {John 14:6 NIV}
Consider that statement, for a moment. Jesus is here telling us that he was the WAY to the Father! That he was the one, who could teach the real truth of the Bible! That only through him could we gain life. Best of all! He said, NO ONE could come to the Father, EXCEPT THROUGH HIM! This one statement of Jesus all alone, unseats every self appointed Religious Leader on this earth. No Question about it! But he said even more than that as to how to gain that approach to his Father. Wouldn't you just know it? Jehovah himself is deeply involved in this approach to him, for it is he that decides just who will be allowed to approach himself. As we might have guessed! Consider this:
44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day."{John 6:44 NIV}
This is not a decision that you and I make! Jehovah makes the decision as to whom he will draw to his Son; after an examination of the heart of each individual, because Jehovah does not just look at outward appearances. As he told Samuel, he sees what the heart is:
7 "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD {JEHOVAH} looks at the heart."{1 Samuel 16:7 NIV}
Something else Paul said, that exalts the Christ over every self appointed Religious leader on this earth, and unseats them all is the following:
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time." {1 Timothy 2:5 NIV} Jesus earned the office as the ONE mediator with his very life; should he relinguish that office to someone trying to ursurp his offices, because of wishing to lord it over others, looking for power, praise, position, and prominence, for themselves alone; seeking worship from their flocks, by setting themsleves up in offices that do not belong to them; dressing themselves up in their fancy garb, that sets them apart from their flocks, like the way the Scribes and Pharisees did in Jesus time period? Taking on themselves high sounding titles; such as Reverend, Right Reverent, Most Referent; Father, Holy Father, Most Holy Father. Makes you a touch sick does it not? They'll pay the price for that, and a heavy one at that!
Lets look further at the lofty position of the Christ now, and see what he will tell us himself:
18 "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."{Matthew 28:18 NIV}
Here's one other scripture that unseats every self appointed Religious Leader on this earth now, all by itself; needing nothing to bolster it. It is Jesus who holds all authority, on this earth since his ascension in the first Century. Any who claim that authority for themselves, are ursurping the power and position of the Christ. There's even more that lifts the Christ even higher, that is the following:
15 "For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." {Ephesians 1:15-23 NIV} How dare Christendom's Religious Leaders claim offices of the Christ, while the Christ holds, Rule authority, power and dominion over every title that can be given and his Father has placed all things under his feet, and appointed him head over everything for the Church? Paul tells us more yet:
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in [the] very nature [of] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father."{Philippians 2:5-11 NIV}
When you think about it, it's really funny, in a way, these Religious Leaders today make claim that the are Shepherds and teacher's; leaders of their flocks, but they know absolutely nothing about the Book they claim to be teachers of. Not a blessed thing! They are completely and totally in Spiritual Darkness, and they cannot even see clearly enough to see that!
In summary then! How then, does one, get through this gate herein mentioned? One place to begin, would be very intense prayer to Jehovah for guidance and direction to that Gate! Following that, paying close attention to the words of Jesus at Luke 13:24 which words was:
24 "Strive to enter by the narrow door [force yourselves through it], for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able."{Luke 13:24 AB} No easy task! But some will find it, and get through it!
As for the self-exalted ones? Isaiah has a few words for these types:
"And their land is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land also is full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots. 8 Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made. 9 And the mean man is bowed down, and the great man is brought low: therefore forgive them not. 10 Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty. 11 The lofty looks of man shall be brought low, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day. 12 For there shall be a day of Jehovah of hosts upon all that is proud and haughty, and upon all that is lifted up; and it shall be brought low; 13 and upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, 14 and upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, 15 and upon every lofty tower, and upon every fortified wall, 16 and upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant imagery. 17 And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; and Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day. 18 And the idols shall utterly pass away. 19 And men shall go into the caves of the rocks, and into the holes of the earth, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake mightily the earth. 20 In that day men shall cast away their idols of silver, and their idols of gold, which have been made for them to worship, to the moles and to the bats; 21 to go into the caverns of the rocks, and into the clefts of the ragged rocks, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake mightily the earth. 22 Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for wherein is he to be accounted of? {Isaiah 2:7-22 ASV}
16"They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!" {Revelation 6:16 NIV}
How long have we been reading this following scripture, and not getting the true sense of what it was saying, or why it was saying it? Read it again now:
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."{Matthew 11:28-30NIV}
Some might be wondering, just how, now, can we learn from the Christ, since he's not here on earth, at this time? Why! The same way that Paul did after Jesus ascended to his Father's right hand. How was that? Lets look:
11 "Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not based on a human point of view. 12 For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation from Jesus Christ."{Glatians 1:11,12 HCSB}
1 "For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 you have heard, haven't you, about the administration of God's grace that He gave to me for you? 3 The mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have briefly written above."{Ephesians 3:1-3 HCSB}
The same is true of the Apostle John's Revelation! The entire twenty two Chapters from the invisible Spirit realm:
1 "The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave Him to show His slaves what must quickly take place. He sent it and signified it through His angel to His slave John, 2 who testified to God's word and to the testimony about Jesus Christ, in all he saw." {Revelation 1:1,2 HCSB}
He could teach the Apostles, at that time from the Spirit Realm in the heavens, so too, today, he can also teach us by the same means as he did them, then.
Considering the high and lofty honored, exalted position now of the Christ, at his Fathers right hand, why wouldn't we want to come to him, and, as he said, learn from him? Who now is more qualified to teach the truth of his Father's word, since he is the only one who is the way of the truth? Could anyone teach us more than he? He is the one who said to all of the first Century Christian's; "Everything I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." Do we not wish to hear everything he hears from his Father today? Only one way to do it! Learn how to access that Gate! So we will be found walking on that cramped narrow, difficult road leading us to everlasting life. {John 15:15}
"Woe, Woe, Woe, for the earth and for the Sea," will be the saddest of news for those on the broad road to destruction; but for those who are able to access that Gate, and are allowed to pass through it by vigorous exertion on their parts,will traverse that narrow road, right on into everlasting life, under God's Kingdom, by Christ. Wannabe
