davidbowerkingwood

God Wins, Satan Loses!

God’s victory over Satan is absolutely certain; watching world events play out at this point is more like watching a replay of a game that is already over and has been decisively won by the home team! We already know the final score and Satan crashes and burns!

The same God who works all things after the counsel of his own will has shared his plans with us in the pages of Bible prophecy.

Bible prophecy has long been a subject of great interest to me; the thought of the Lord’s return is indeed exciting to me and I look forward very earnestly to the time of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe it entirely possible that, even at my rather advanced age, I shall be a part of the terminal generation of Christians at the time of the Rapture, but that is in the Lord’s hands and I’m at peace with that thought!

In chapters two and three of the Book of Revelation, we read of seven churches which also symbolize the seven historic eras of the organized Christian church. While the seven eras indicate the overall condition of the churches worldwide, each of the seven types have existed in all the historic eras.

While reading Bible prophecy is exciting, living out the events described is filled with challenge! Today, many students of Bible prophecy see striking parallels between events taking place today with events described in the Bible for the last days and I include myself among them.

We are given a description of the last church age, Laodicea, in Revelation 3:14-22 where it is written:

¹⁴ “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: ¹⁵ “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. ¹⁷ Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. ¹⁹ As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. ²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. ²¹ To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

²² “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”

I find the word picture in verse 20 to be particularly touching, to think of the Lord Jesus Christ standing outside the door of the church and knocking to see if anyone will hear his voice, open the door and let him in is tragic and sad! Way too many churches today have closed the door to Jesus and opened the door to the world!

While a large part of the organized church is showing signs of the end times, we can also observe significant prophetic signs in society as a whole. In Matthew 24:4-8 it is written:

“⁴ And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. ⁶ And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. ⁷ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

In 2 Timothy 3:1-7 it is written:

3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, ^[b]unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! ⁶ For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, ⁷ always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The world seems to be filled with irrational behavior at all levels; decisions being made at the highest levels of government defy logic and common sense! It appears those who do not have the stabilizing influence of the Holy Spirit are being easily confused by Satanic deception!

How Can Christians Maintain a Healthy Outlook on the World Situation Today?

Jesus himself provides the answer to that question in John 8:31-32 where it is written:

³¹ Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

The Bible is God’s assembly instructions for life; it you would enjoy life the way God planned for you, then abide in his word, faithfully follow the instructions and apply them to your life every moment of every day!

Let the Holy Spirit lead in your life and manifest the fruit of the Spirit to all as described in Galatians 5-22-25 where it is written:

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Finally, it is important to rejoice in the Lord always as described in Philippians 4:4-9 where it is written:

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. ⁹ The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Embrace God’s counsel for your life, abide in his word and walk in the power of God, the Holy Spirit and the God of peace will be with you!