The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?" --- Nebuchadnezzar speaking in Daniel 4:30Long ago in a place known as Babylon (located in present day Iraq) there was a mighty ruler by the name of Nebuchadnezzar. His kingdom became the most powerful and far reaching at that moment in human history. He was a very proud individual and at times very arrogant in attitude, such you often see in 21st Century world leaders.
At one point he was told by the prophet Daniel that he would be driven from his kingdom and would be like an animal in the wild due to the loss of his sanity.
Time passed and he was still in full control of his majestic kingdom. He had the conversation with himself as noted above. Then suddenly without warning it happened -- he lost his sanity and was driven from his kingdom for a few years just as predicted by Daniel.
Finally his sanity was restored and he regained full control of his kingdom but with one significant difference. He now acknowledged the God Whom Daniel worshipped and served to be the only true God -- the God of the Hebrew people. Up to that time this man had been 100 percent raw heathen and devoted to a bunch of heathen deities in the Babylonian religious system!
However, a time is coming in the future when persons who take the original attitude of Nebuchadnezzar are going to be in for the biggest surprise of their lives.
So, here it is -- you who are heads of government or are a part of some governing structure; you who are very wealthy, powerful and influential in your position, whatever that may be; you who hold the status of a high profile "celebrity" because you have made a name for yourself in the realm of entertainment or professional sports; and you who may be influential church leaders but have rejected many of the eternal truths God has revealed through His holy Word -- be aware that a day is coming when you will try to hide -- you may even be loudly praying for something to happen in order to insure that you are fully concealed at that very critical time in your life!
It will become very clear to you you that Jesus Christ is all that the Bible declares Him to be, including the fact that He is the Judge of all and the majority are going to experience His wrath! Just read it for yourself right now -- do you see yourself in that crowd?
I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" (Revelation 6:12-17).We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:3-10).
And, second, you cannot win -- you are losers of the first magnitude. The message is very specific, is it not?
Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" (Revelation 11:15).You will lose your position -- Jesus takes control of this world with His saints and holy angels -- that means simply one thing -- all who did not take Jesus Christ seriously nor intentionally considered His personal sacrifice for the sins of the entire human race will be removed from their positions! Saints and angels will carry out the administrative affairs of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ throughout the whole world. Everyone reading this falls into one of two categories -- either you are a Christian or you are not! As God looks upon this world with its 7 billion plus population He sees all who are Christian whose faith is centered in Jesus as Savior and Lord. Likewise He sees all who are not Christian. The great majority of this world's population fall into the latter category - very sad, but very true as based on Jesus' statements in Matthew 7:13,14!
If you are not a Christian, consider what is involved in becoming a Christian and being reconciled to God so that He then looks upon you favorably and free from condemnation -- take a look at How to Become A Christian
Only Christians can face the future with confidence no matter the nature of events that are taking place. Here is how the apostle Paul spoke of a Christian's view of the future along with present responsibility:
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14)The apostle Peter worded this issue in a slightly different way:
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:10-13).Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20b).
Oh, by the way - a PS on this: the world leaders referred to above ALSO includes the president of the United States! Will he insist that Jesus Christ has "no right" to interfere in the affairs of the U.S. and its elected officials?
May 4, 2012
Clayton D. Harriger
Elder in Full Connection
Western PA Annual Conference
The United Methodist Church
and presently pastor of
Gipsy Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Gipsy, PA
AND Non-Affiliated registered voter, Cambria Co. PA
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
Galatians 6:7, 8 NKJV
A Significant Selah Moment!
O LORD, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? even cry out to You, "Violence!" And You will not save. Why do You show me iniquity, and cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; there is strife, and contention arises. Therefore the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore perverse judgment proceeds.
Habakkuk 1:2-2 (NKJV)
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