Our Conqueror Will Return

Jesus return is mentioned in the Bible more often than his first coming.

Revelation 19:11-16 Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for He judges fairly and wages a righteous war. 12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on His head were many crowns. A name was written on Him that no one understood except Himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and His title was the Word of God.

14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. 16 On His robe at His thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

---

The moment that all of Heaven and earth have been waiting for is finally here! The event that we have been waiting for ever since the consequences of sin became known. (Genesis 3:15, 2 Samuel 7:1-29, Luke 1:31-33)

The plans of Satan to destroy God's most precious creation will be stopped, Satan couldn't stand to see God enjoying time with Adam and Eve each day in the garden, he couldn't stand that they were made in God's image so he went after Adam and Eve and tempted them to make the same choice that he made.

In all 66 books of the Bible we see the story of God redeeming sinful man and the ultimate return of Jesus to restore the kingdom. Next to the subject of faith, there is no other topic mentioned more often than the return of Christ. Jesus first coming fulfilled hundreds of prophecies but that is nothing compared to the number of prophecies that will be fulfilled when he returns.

For every time the first coming of Christ is mentioned, the Second Coming is mentioned eight times. And the Lord Himself refers to His coming twenty-one times and over 50 times we are exhorted to be ready for that great event.

-John MacArthur

It is amazing that a lot of people believe in the miracle of his first coming to be with us and all of the prophecy that it fulfilled but they ignore the fact that much more is predicted about his return and the severe consequences for those that are not ready.

Revelation 19 announces the victory that God's children have longed to see. Our conqueror rides out of Heaven on a white horse to instantly obtain victory just by speaking a word. He will bring his bride with him but she will not join him in battle, we will only be spectators of this extremely short battle, our Savior will execute God's judgment quickly with just one weapon.

Our Conqueror's favorite weapon is the sharp sword of God's word, think about it, God's word spoke creation into existence, it caused a fig tree to wither away, his word spoke to a legion of demons and instantly they fled, and now He speaks a word and the war of all wars is instantly over! (Revelation 1:16, 2:12,16)

Use God's Weapons

Isaiah 11:4 He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of His word, and one breath from His mouth will destroy the wicked. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 We are human, but we don't wage war as humans do. 4 We use God's mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. Ephesians 6:17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Our Conqueror shared God's word with us and applied it to almost every situation he encountered, whether he was teaching, rebuking or doing battle with Satan, he almost always quoted the Old Testament. It is amazing that we don't have a higher regard for God's word and have more respect for its power.

We need to be digging into God's word everyday so that we will know what it says. One thing that the Bible shows us is that Satan knows God's word and he knows how to use it improperly, distorting the facts to try and trip us up. God's children need to be well acquainted with our weapon so that we will know how to use it well.

Our Conqueror is preparing a place for us, a place that we should be longing to see, a place where justice and righteousness will rule, when it is ready he will return to earth to setup his kingdom.

Is He Your Conqueror?
John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, those who listen to My message and believe in God who sent Me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life."

Don't be conquered by Satan and his deception! Don't be conquered by religion and all of it's empty rules! And don't be conquered by your self defeating thoughts and bad habits. If we view ourselves through the reality of the gospel, the fact that Jesus loves us and is preparing a place for us, then we should never feel defeated. (1 John 5:4)

Our Conqueror came the first time to offer us the opportunity to be victorious as one of God's children. We can overcome this evil world and have true peace because the battle has already been won.

The Lord Of The Church

Jesus instructions on how to do church.

Ephesians 1:22-23 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made Him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is His body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with Himself.

Ephesians 4:15-16 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

---

It must have been difficult for the people that lived in the Old Testament world to adapt to the teachings of the New Testament. Suddenly their world was turned upside down as they are asked to live under a new set of guidelines that came as a result of one man's teaching.

The religious burden that their temple leaders had them under was no longer necessary. The days of going to the temple to restore fellowship with God are gone forever in an  instant. The temple has been been moved from a brick and mortar location to a supernatural place within God's children.

The days of going to a building to meet a man that would come to God on your behalf was replaced by a new and perfect High Priest that lives within each of us. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:14-10:18)

There has never been a church before so their church leaders didn't know how to do it. They didn't have all of the church plant research that is available today. God chose to give the church a detailed study of what he expects of the church and what she should look like and how she should behave. Revelation chapters two and three gives us examples that are still useful today.

Seven Church Profiles To Learn From:

Ephesus, The Cold Church You can be very busy serving God but if you are doing it just to follow the rules instead of it coming from an overwhelming love for him then you are no better than the religious leaders that Jesus opposed during his ministry. Smyrna, The Suffering Church - One of two churches with no criticism. Their stand for Jesus caused them to lose everything but in reality their suffering only increased their riches. All of the potential trouble makers are already long gone from this congregation, if church isn't going to be cool and comfortable then the hypocrites are not going to stick around. Pergamum, The Compromising Church Compromised beliefs have been around from the beginning of time when mankind decided to turn away from God's rule. From that day on world history has been filled with substitutes for the truth that we find in God's Word. Thyatira, The Corrupted Church This church would have been very popular in today's culture where tolerance is expected of everybody and absolute truth and values are not allowed. What God has said is wrong in His Word, many, even in the religious community, are now calling normal and holy. Sardis, The Feeble Church What a sobering thought to know that it is possible to think that we are working for God and doing things that we think that he wants us to do and then get a message from him letting you know that you are wrong. Philadelphia, The Faithful Church - One of two churches with no criticism. The church in Philadelphia had little strength but it didn't matter because they never denied Jesus, they were true to him, they knew the source of their strength. It came from Jesus and he would protect them because they have been faithful and obedient.  Laodicea, The Foolish Church - Only criticism with no commendations It is easy to be so well blessed that you forget where the blessings come from and you start to depend on the blessings instead of the one who blesses. The church at Laodicea didn't think that they were lacking anything.

Remember, these were some of the first churches that we know about, they didn't know how to do church, in mercy Jesus warned them with these letters so they could change and be successful in his eyes.

The church today has many advantages that the first churches didn't have yet the church still has a difficult time. If you consider all of the information on how to have a successful church that is available today you could wonder how a church could possibly fail.

We need to remember that it is Jesus church and only he can build the church when he have such a powerful adversary. We must depend on Jesus commands to the church found in these letters so that we will not hear him say: "I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of My God." (Revelation 3:2)

I think there are few churches today that have a zealous desire for Jesus, there are not very many that are wanting to experience the red hot church of the Book of Acts, most of us are okay to be a member of one of the churches represented in the Book of Revelation. I pray that we won't be satisfied when we fall so short of being the church that pleases Jesus.

RELATED ARTICLES

Seeing My Savior (diggingtheword.blogspot.com)

The Feeble Church

Do your actions please God?

Revelation 3:1-6 "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the One who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars: "I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive--but you are dead.

2 Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of My God. 3 Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to Me again. If you don't wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.

4 "Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before My Father and His angels that they are Mine. 6 "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches.

---

Busy people hate to know that all of the stuff they were doing doesn't matter to anyone, that is the ultimate letdown for a follower of Jesus, the worst thing that can happen is to find out that your work and sacrifice isn't pleasing God.

What a sobering thought to know that it is possible to think that we are working for God and doing things that we think that he wants us to do and then get a message from him letting you know that you are wrong.

"I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of My God."

The church of Sardis was a busy church with a great reputation with the community but it didn't receive the same praise from God. Physically they were very alive but spiritually they didn't have much life left in them. The community didn't have any reason to oppose these people because even though they were busy they were powerless.

Dead people don't accomplish very much so there isn't any reason to oppose them, the same is true of a spiritually dead church, their busyness doesn't concern Satan. The church didn't have any spiritual attacks against them because they were not effective for the Kingdom of God.

Don't try to impress the community with your programs that are built on your own strength, these will produce little for the Kingdom without God's approval, the plans must be his and the heart of the people doing his plans must also be his and must be right with him.

If we mess up either of those conditions then we will eventually receive the news that we need to make some changes, God will deal with us when we least expect it, like a thief in the night.

“Wake up! Be watchful! Repent! Remember the Word you have received and obey it!” 

The church is Sardis had a little bit of life left in them, God could have just sat by and let that spark die out but he desires better for us and gives us a warning that our actions do not please him.

God knows our weakness and our inability to totally follow his ways one hundred percent. The cure for this nearly dead church was to remember the way that they had first responded to the truth of God and to repent.

Thankfully he is a gracious and merciful father that gives his children a chance to change their ways.

RELATED ARTICLES

Autopsy Of A Dead Church (thomrainer.com)

The Compromising Church

A difficult environment never justifies compromise.

Revelation 2:12-17 "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the One with the sharp two-edged sword: 13 "I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to Me. You refused to deny Me even when Antipas, My faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan's city.

14 "But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. 15 In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching.

---

Everyone worships someone or something, Satan knows about this God given desire and he has limitless options to help you direct your worship where it doesn't belong, religious beliefs is a wide open category where you can pick and choose.

The church has always been in a battle to keep everything that isn't truth away from their beliefs. It is so important that most churches have a page on their website to tell you what their essential core beliefs are.

Compromised beliefs have been around from the beginning of time when mankind decided to turn away from God's rule. From that day on world history has been filled with substitutes for the truth that we find in God's Word.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

Jesus was pleased with the church in Pergamos for their stand for the truth in spite of severe persecution but they were not faultless. False teaching from the pagan culture that they lived in was being tolerated.

They didn't get any extra credit because they lived where Satan had so much influence. Judgment will come upon every church that accommodates the culture and seeks acceptance from man.

The world doesn't need a compromised church, they need to know that we have something that is worth living and dying for, the message of the gospel is too important. Jesus doesn't tolerate compromise, Jesus didn't look at their good side and ignore the bad and he didn't make excuses for them because of their difficult environment. The church must be a pure bride without blemish if it is going to attend the marriage supper of the Lamb.

The world doesn't need a judgmental and unloving church either, they need to hear the truth that will save them from eternal punishment but they also need to know that the church people are sinners that haven't forgotten their condition before the Gospel.

Let’s not compromise by seeing how close we can get to right; let’s stand on God’s promise to walk so close to Him that almost right becomes evil in our sight.

-Franklin Graham

God doesn't want any compromise at all but most of us look for the minimum amount of good that we need to do to please him. We go so far as to judge others that look less good to us but we don't know their circumstances. It is easier to look Christ like in some situations more than it is in others, we don't know what they have been called to stand against, they may have resisted far more than I have ever encountered.

Instead of just good enough we need to be seeking to become more like Jesus and stand for truth when it destroys our popularity. There isn't any room for this faulty logic when you realize our mandate is to be holy just as our God is holy. If we are new creations then we shouldn't look so much like our old self. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

RELATED ARTICLES

The Danger Of Compromise (oneplace.com)
The Sate Of Theology (thestateoftheology.com)

The Suffering Church

Their suffering increased their riches in Jesus' eyes.

Revelation 2:8-11 "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the One who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive: 9 "I know about your suffering and your poverty--but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan.

10 Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life. 11 "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.

---

It is easy for the cool and comfortable church to draw big crowds and be successful in the ways that man measures success but that isn't the kind of church that Jesus is pleased with. The church that did not get any reprimand from Jesus was the church that was the least cool and comfortable.

The church at Smyrna was doing church right, all of the potential trouble makers are already long gone from this congregation, if church isn't going to be cool and comfortable then the hypocrites are not going to stick around. The casual attenders that rarely come except at Christmas and Easter are not going to attend this church.

Eighty and six years have I served Him and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me? You threaten me with the fire that burns for a time and is quickly quenched, for you do not know the fire which awaits the wicked in the judgment to come and in everlasting punishment. Why are you waiting? Come do what you will.

-Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna

The members of the congregation were persecuted by the Romans and the Jews. They were persecuted by one group for refusing to say, “Caesar is Lord” and the other group persecuted them for saying "Jesus is Lord." The Romans would take away absolutely every material possession for not bowing to Caesar and the Jews would throw them out of the synagogue for their belief in Jesus. Historians tell us that Smyrna was the location of mass executions of Christians who refused to bow their knee to Caesar.

2 Corinthians 6:10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

Just as the church is Ephesus appeared to be an awesome church through the eyes of man the church in Smyrna seemed to be poor from a human perspective but Jesus saw them differently. God's ways are always opposite from our ways, in God's economy the poor are rich, the lost are found and the dead are alive and the circumcised are the uncircumcised. (Romans 2:27-29, John 8:44)

Their stand for Jesus caused them to lose everything but in reality their suffering only increased their riches. This church was serious about storing up riches that the world cannot take away. (Matthew 6:19-21, James 1:12)

“To everyone wanting a safe, untroubled, comfortable life free from danger, stay away from Jesus. The danger in our lives will always increase in proportion to the depth of our relationship with Christ. Maybe this is why we sit back and settle for a casual relationship with Christ and routine religion in the church. It is safe there, and the world likes us there. The world likes us when we are pursuing everything they are pursuing, even if we do put a Christian label on it. As long as Christianity looks like the American dream, we will have few problems in this world.”

-International Mission Board President David Platt

The prized American dream can get in the way of our dreams of working for our eternal kingdom. We have our roots dug down so deep that it doesn't look like we are planning to leave. If we really believe our Bibles then we should live like we are leaving and we should be sending our treasures ahead of time instead of being so attached to the world's treasures.

The church in America should use it's freedoms to serve more and make disciples more zealously both in our country and abroad. If your church is a cool place to be where life is easy and safe and the biggest persecution that you have is from another church attender that doesn't affirm your worship preferences then your church is due for a makeover.

The Cold Church

The church in Ephesus looked good on the outside.

Revelation 2:1-4 "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven gold lampstands: 2 "I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. 3 You have patiently suffered for Me without quitting. 4 "But I have this complaint against you. You don't love Me or each other as you did at first!

---

Ever visit a church that you have never been to before? Maybe you are looking for a new church home and you want to know that the church that you are considering is really a good church. You can visit a few weeks or maybe even read some reviews online but you can't be sure that the church is really a good church. We may be fooled but Jesus has the eyes to see the true condition of the church. (Revelation 1:14)

The church in Ephesus looked great, they had ministries and programs, they had good teaching, they defended the truth and didn't tolerate false doctrine but they missed one thing that Jesus wanted to warn them about.

This church was in a very pagan city with a culture that must have been influenced by the temple dedicated to the worship of the goddess Diana which was located there. Ephesus was an important and famous city, the temple was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, they had games that rivaled the Olympics, a library and a large amphitheater.

This church had an awesome start, the ministry started with Aquila, Priscilla, and Apollos worked at the new church plant and then Paul came into town and reaped a great harvest. Timothy served there and John was also there until his exile to Patmos. (Acts 18:24-28, 19:23-41)

The message to the church in Ephesus is that what we do for the Lord is important but so is why we do it! The church was serving sacrificially, they were defending truth and they were enduring persecution but their motivation was wrong.

You can be very busy serving God but if you are doing it just to follow the rules instead of it coming from an overwhelming love for him then you are no better than the religious leaders that Jesus was talking to:

Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied, "You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind."

Jesus spoke those words to some of the best people on earth. A lot of the religious leaders were really very good people that followed the rules and tried to do exactly what the law said they should do. The problem with that is, even the best religious leaders of Jesus day with good intentions, were guilty of serving and sacrificing without loving.

It may surprise you to learn that the church that is passionately serving must be careful to be passionately loving as well because it is possible to serve, sacrifice, suffer persecution and physical abuse and yet not really love Jesus Christ. Without love for Jesus it's just religion!

If you can be a church that does not passionately love Jesus in a persecuted country then the odds that a church in the United States does not love Jesus properly is very high. We live so comfortably that we begin to rely on ourselves and forget about the source of our blessings.

Psalms 32:11 So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey Him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

The intensity of my love for Jesus needs to burn strong everyday. His love for me never fails but my love for him needs to be cultivated and nurtured at all times. It will be so awesome when we get to live without sin and there will not be any competition from the world for my affection.

I need to stop and take time to remember the work that God has been doing in my life and continue to fellowship with him everyday because I love him and want to serve him joyfully.