Sacrificing the earth

Victor Hugo let his disdain for the Catholic Church poison him against Christianity, but he never became a true atheist. Although he is often quoted by atheists, he himself said that even after Christianity disappeared, men "would still believe in God, Soul, and Responsibility." He espoused the religion of a Rationalist Deist, much like that of Voltaire, or Thomas Jefferson. Remember that Jefferson wrote a version of the New Testament that took out any reference to miracles, thus leaving Jesus dead and in the grave.

Rational deism is a religious philosophy that arose during the Enlightenment of the Eighteenth Century in response to the Scientific Revolution. Although it accepted the idea of a supernatural creator, it rejected the idea of ongoing supernatural intervention in the world. To the rational deist, God was the First Cause, the one who set the world into motion in accordance to understandable principles. For God to have to continually intervene in his creation was to suggest that his original act of creation was somehow faulty.  So while God was the "original cause" of all things, the rest of the world was ordered by Reason.  If you couldn't reason it, or experience it (or in the case of Science, duplicate it in a lab), then it could not be True.

This lack of faith prompted Hugo to write, "Sacrificing the earth for paradise is giving up the substance for the shadow."  In other words, if you give up all that you know on earth--what you can see, hear, smell, taste and touch--in the hope of gaining heaven, then you are a fool, because no one can claim to have experienced heaven.  The whole idea of paradise is but a shadow.

Paul addressed this in his first letter to the church at Corinth:

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."  Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength." --1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  And John the Revelator did actually see the end of time as we know it.  In Revelation 8:1-5, he described a holy ritual that played out in heaven, where he actually saw the earth being presented as a sacrifice to God.  We can either accept the testimony of John as true, or not accept it because it has not been duplicated by science.

When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.  And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.  Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar.  He was given much incense to offer, consisting of the prayers of the saints, on the golden altar before the throne.  The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand.  Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. --Revelation 8:1-5

 Remember what the first six seals symbolized? Conquest, War, Famine, Death, followed by a petition from the martyrs, and the deconstruction of the earth.  Now the seventh seal is broken, and it is followed by silence.  This is not a silence related to peace, but rather of foreboding--waiting for more bad news to follow.  Those washed in the blood of the Lamb have nothing to fear at this point, but for everyone else, this may be a time of fear and trembling.

Seven angels are assigned seven trumpets.  When blown, these trumpets will call in seven plagues more severe than those ushered in by the seven seals.  In Old Testament times the trumpet served to announce important events and to give signals in times of war.  Isaiah 27:13 says, "And in that day a great trumpet will sound.  Those who were perishing in Assyria and those who were exiled in Egypt will come and worship the Lord on the holy mountain in Jerusalem."  Zechariah 9:14 says, "Then the Lord will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning.  The Sovereign Lord will sound the trumpet; he will march in the storms of the south."  But in the New Testament, the trumpet often signals the call of the elect into the presence of God.  Matthew 24:31 says, "And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."  1 Corinthians 15:52 says, "In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed."  1 Thessalonians 4:16 says, "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with it the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first."

But in John's vision, the trumpets are not yet blown.  Another angel, who serves a priestly function, performs a ritual sacrifice.  To the Jewish reader, this would sound very familiar.  See, way back in Exodus 30, God commanded Moses and Aaron to make a golden altar to be used for burning incense to God.  Hebrews 9:3-4 describes it in detail: "Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant."  In short, this was where God met with man, represented by the High Priest.  And Leviticus 16:12-13 shows what was done on this altar.  "He (Aaron, or the High Priest) is to take a censer full  of burning coals from the altar before the Lord and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense and take them behind the curtain.  He is to put the incense on the fire before the Lord, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover above the testimony, so that he will not die."  In other words, the smoke covered the ark so that the high priest would not see the glorious presence of God, for "no one can see God and live."

In the Old Testament, the smoke from the incense was a covering for the priest and the people, but it was a fragrant sacrifice to God.  In John's vision in the Revelation, the sweet smelling incense is actually the prayers of the saints.  Remember Revelation 5:8, that says, "Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints."  Psalm 141:2 makes this connection for us: "May my prayer be set before you like incense;  may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice."  Mankind longs for fellowship with God.

Now look closely at Revelation 8:5, where the angel takes the censer, just like the priest in Leviticus; he fills it with fire from the altar, just like the priest in Leviticus; but where the levitical priest burned finely ground incense in the censor, the angel of God hurled the censer to the earth.  This caused fire from the golden altar before the Lord to consume the earth, much like a burnt offering of an animal or grain in the Old Testament.  In essence, the earth is offered to God as a sacrifice, and it is burned before Him.

This is followed by peals of thunder, flashes of lightning, rumblings and an earthquake.  These are often signs that mark an important event connected with the heavenly temple.  In this case, it signals the beginning of the seven trumpet judgments, which we will study in detail later.

Just as man longs for fellowship with God, God also yearns to meet us where we are and reveal himself to us.  Deists unfortunately limit God; they don't believe that God would have a need to set things right.  Their premise is faulty, because God does not make error that He needs to correct; we humans have made the mess that takes a Divine Hand to repair and renew.  Rationalists try to limit our knowledge to what can be reproduced by the Scientific Method.  God, however, asks us to open our minds wide enough to conceive of Him, and then take that next step of faith to believe in Him.

Rather than the Scientific Method, we should think more along the lines of the Rules of Evidence.  In a Jewish court, it took the testimony of two or more witnesses to verify anything.  We have seen how the testimony of John lines up with the testimony of Moses: John saw in heaven a golden altar, on which fire burned, the purpose of which was to lift the prayers of the saints to God.  Moses was shown by God how to make a golden altar on earth, and how to fill it with fire so that incense could be burned and the sweet smell of it could waft into heaven into the presence of God.  These men lived thousands of years apart, but their testimony mirrors each other, the one corroborating the other's as factual.

God sacrificed His son for you.  Soon, the earth will be given to God as a sacrifice.  There will be a marriage feast, where the Church, the Bride of Christ, will be carried away home.  Where will you be then?

For you (I swear)
For you (I will)

For you I will sacrifice for all of my life
You and me will be together
For better or for worse
I vow through ups and downs
Here and now until forever
I'll sacrifice

Baby, you and me
Made it through so much
So many storms have come and
Still we're holding on
And I would be a fool to find your love
And then just let it go
It's me and you and you already know that...
For you I will sacrifice for all of my life
You and me will be together
For better or for worse
I vow through ups and downs
Here and now until forever
I'll sacrifice 

You're sure that you love me unconditionally
Do whatever, you'll stay by my side
You're the one I trust with all my secrets
All my hidden fears
I run to you and you are always there
For you I will sacrifice for all of my life
You and me will be together
For better or for worse
I vow through ups and downs
Here and now until forever
I'll sacrifice 

Sacrifice my love, my life
Baby, I know I will adore
I know but see into you
To you, to love, I'll hold on tight
No matter what may come my way
I'll do whatever it takes
For you I will sacrifice for all of my life
You and me will be together
For better or for worse
I vow through ups and downs
Here and now until forever
I'll sacrifice 

Shepherded by the Lamb

In the streets of Jerusalem
I'll never be the same
A man that they called Jesus
Healed my boy, who was lame
His eyes, they were so gentle
But His words, they seared my soul
He said he was the Shepherd
The Shepherd of the fold. 

How could these things be?
Why would the Shepherd die?
How could he be the Christ? 

In the Temple I had sung of some
In knowledge hope I stand
We're the people of his pasture
The sheep of his hand.
But if Jesus really is the Christ
And we are his sheep
Why did he abandon us
And leave us without keep? 

How could these things be?
Why would the Shepherd die?
How could he be the Christ? 

But if Jesus was God in the flesh
If God became a man
Then maybe this dear Shepherd's death
Was of a higher plan
And as God took on a human form
So Shepherd became Sheep
Could this be the Paschal Lamb
With this thought I weep 

Blessed mystery!
Help me understand:
The Shepherd is the Lamb.

So as God gave up his heavenly throne
To come and live as man
So Shepherd left his rightful place
To become a Lamb
And as Jesus healed my precious son
Even so he was He'll be
His blood was shed to wash my sin
and by his stripes I'm free 

Blessed mystery!
Jahweh's perfect plan:
The shepherd is the lamb.
Blessed mystery!
Now I understand:
The shepherd is the lamb.

A while ago on Facebook I saw that someone had posted a summary of the life of Joseph in the context of good coming out of bad situations, like when he was sold into slavery because his brothers were jealous. Not only did Joseph suffer for his own sins (bragging to his brothers about his dreams, and wearing the multi-colored coat that signified he was Jacob's favorite son), but some of his sufferings were brought about by his faithfulness (being framed by Potiphar's wife and subsequently imprisoned for not accepting her sexual advances).  Both of those life changes might be considered bad in human terms, but it was all a part of God's plan to save Joseph's family from drought, and to bring the family of Israel into Egypt.  In recapping this story, I was reminded that God works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform.

Like putting Joseph in prison so he could be in the right place when Pharaoh had a bad dream.  Or like in the song I found and transcribed above, outlining how the Shepherd became the Lamb. (By the way, I could not find the words to this song--I only found it one place on YouTube at this link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nb-PQD9N9R4
I know I have gotten some of the lyrics wrong; if you can make it out any better, please let me know so I can make the corrections).  Anyway, the reason I was looking at this mystery is because I read Revelation 7:13-17:

Then one of the elders asked me, ‘These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?’ I answered, ‘Sir, you know.’ And he said, ‘These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’

You may remember last week when we studied the middle of chapter 7, when the multitude from every nation, tribe, people and language sang a song of Salvation and Praise to God.  An angel choir answered in verses 11-12.   But wait.  Think about that.  The angels were created to praise Him--that's what they do.  The saints who shouted "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb"--these were folks who had just gone through a Great Tribulation.  They were faithful, but it did not result in their comfort or security: some had been martyred, some had survived, but all had been persecuted for the sake of Christ.  And still they had a song in their hearts, as they were now in the presence of God, and of the Lamb who had shepherded them through their troubles.  This is foolishness to some, and a stumbling block to others.  And as a reward, they were given white robes.

These robes were made white by their being washed in the blood of the Lamb--another mystery, for sure.  On earth, robes dipped in the blood of sacrifices was stained red as crimson, to remind people of their sin.  In heaven, robes dipped in the blood of the Lamb turn brilliant white, to remind them of their faithfulness to Him.  Revelation 22:14 says, "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city."   Hebrews 9:14 says, "How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God."  And we see in 1 John 1:7, "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin."

So we are made pure by the blood of the Lamb.  And we are rewarded for our faithfulness.  But how? My wife's grandmother, near the end of her life, made an observation: she said she was NOT looking forward to going to heaven, because she had always been told that we would lounge around on clouds and strum harps forever.  This did not sound like fun to her.  She had spent her life in service to her family--raising a garden, harvesting vegetables, cooking meals, and cleaning up after.  Well, the Bible says that the saints in heaven are busy serving.  I'll bet she's right at home.  God rewards us, not with a halo and wings and a harp, but an opportunity for service.  The rewards of heaven have at least five benefits: service, shelter, sustenance, safety, and security.

Service
Vince Lombardi once said, "I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out for a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle, victorious."  Work is fulfilling.  Revelation 7:15 says, "Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in His temple."  We will have a job in heaven, but it will be fulfilling and joyful work.  It will not be drudgery, for we will not be working for money that is here today and gone tomorrow--we will be working for God, who gives us every good and perfect gift.  Revelation 22:3 says, "No longer will there be any curse.  The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him."

Shelter
Revelation 7:15(b) says, "and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them."  Imagine being Samuel, whose mother Hannah gave him to God.  From the time he was weaned, Samuel lived in the Temple of God, and was busy doing the work that was necessary there.  Whenever the word "tent" is used in Revelation, it refers to a Tabernacle, of which the Tabernacle made by Moses was only a copy.  Isaiah 4:5,6 says, "Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy.  It will be a shelter and shade from the head of day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain."  God promises that "the sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat."  Psalm 27:5 says, "For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock."  Isaiah 25:4 says, "You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat."  But this will not be in some remote out-building; there are no servants quarters in heaven.  Revelation 21:3 says, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.  They will be his people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God."

Sustenance
Revelation 7:16, 17 says, "Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst...For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water."  John 16:35 says, "Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life.  He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.' "  John 4:14 says, "But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give him will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life."  For those of us who are forever dieting, the Lord will be our sustenance, and we will never hunger or thirst.  For those of us who enjoy eating (or those less fortunate who have seldom had a decent meal), there will be a time of fellowship and breaking bread together at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.  There will still be the enjoyment of consuming good food; there just won't be any need or want, no shortages or famine.

Safety
Ezekiel 11:16 says, "This is what the Lord says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone."  This goes back to the mystery of why bad things happen to good people. God has a plan for us, and whether we realize it or not, He provides a sanctuary for us in whatever situation we are in.  Of course, when we get to heaven there will not be any enemy to attack us, because Satan and all that he stands for will be thrown into a lake of fire.  God willing, we will get to that verse later in our study of Revelation.

Security
This would include both physical security and emotional security.

• physical-- Revelation 7:17(a) says "For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd." John 10:11 says "I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."  Psalm 23 begins, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."
• emotional-- Revelation 7:17 (b) says, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."  Isaiah 40:11 says, "He tends his flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young."

There are so many other benefits of knowing Christ.  There is no way to list them all.  Ephesians 2:6,7 says, "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus."

Even now, Lord Jesus, come quickly.  Amen.

So what becomes of those small unwanted soulsWho spend their lives breaking their backs?Those who dig the gold for the rich and powerfulWho place their feet upon their necks?
The Shepherd is the LambDo you understandThat God became a man?The Shepherd is the Lamb
Where can the junkies go when high has laid them low?Are they truly on their own?It seems we've lost our way like sheep we have gone astrayCan anybody lead us home?
The Shepherd is the LambDo you understandThat God became a man?The Shepherd is the Lamb
The Shepherd is the LambDo you understandThat God became a man?The Shepherd is the Lamb
Who is the champion? The friend of the suffering?Of those who were never born? The King with the crown of thornsAnd I'll consecrate a verse to the kingdom in reverseWhere the least are most and the last will be the first
The Shepherd is the LambDo you understandThat God became a man?The Shepherd is the Lamb
The Shepherd is the LambDo you understandThat God became a man?The Shepherd is the Lamb

Salvation Belongs To Our God

(with apologies to Marty Robbins, Arlo Guthrie, and whoever else recorded this song)

A Parody

As I was out walking the streets of Laredo
As I was out walking in Laredo one day,
I spied a young cowboy all dressed in white linen
All dressed in white linen as bright as the day.
"I see by your outfit that you are a cowboy.
You see by my outfit that I'm a cowboy, too.
We see by our outfits that we are both cowboys.
You buy a cowboy outfit and you'll be a cowboy, too."

I confess that I am a bit impatient.  There are great prophecies in the book of Revelation that I just can't wait to study, and having studied, to share.  On the other hand, I don't want to miss anything that God might have in store for me.  So I am in a quandary.  When I look at the last half of chapter 7, I see singing, which I went over in my study of chapter 5 (see "Everybody Sing", June 22).  I see saints in white robes (see "If you want to get to heaven, wash your clothes", April 16).  I see elders, and four living creatures, and angels, and lots of other images that are familiar to me as I have read through the prior chapters in John's vision.  I want more!

But it may be that this lull, this re-cap, was on purpose.  Maybe we need a bit of the familiar before we start chapter 8 and read of the Trumpet judgments and the introduction of the Beast and other unfamiliar, unfathomable images.  Besides, God is convicting me of being shallow.  We always want to jump to the end, to see who wins.  We are often in such a hurry that we miss the depths of the message He has for us.  So here goes.

"After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.  They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.  And they cried out in a loud voice: 'Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.' " (Revelation 7:9-10)

The family of God is eclectic. It is inclusive.  It is diverse.  It includes all ethnicities, all colors, all families and all dialects.  But please note: it does not include who people choose to worship differently--no room for all religions or creeds, for God is a jealous God, and will not suffer those who bow the knee to false gods.  Also note this: it does not create a protected class of people based on who they choose to have sex with (sexual orientation), for God did not create us for perversion.  Let me be clear: there is no one sin that is any worse than any other.  "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  Your murder is no worse than my lying.  Your homosexuality is no worse than my adultery or pornography--but make no mistake: homosexuality is sin.  All sin separates us from God, and it all requires forgiveness. I think those who bow at the altar of diversity go too far: they are right in making no distinction between race, color, ethnicity, language--all those things are who we are.  The problem is when we make no distinction about religion or sexual orientation--these are things we choose (no matter how loudly one might say "but God made me that way").

This is what Scripture says.  But people have chosen to ignore God and follow their own way.  Except it is not their own way--it is the way of sin.  Revelation 13:7 says "He (the Beast) was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them.  And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation."  This is why some people think we are already living in the End Times.  But this has been going on since ancient times.  Daniel 3:4-5 says, "Then the herald loudly proclaimed, 'This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations, and men of every language: As soon as you hear the...music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.' "  And so it will be until the end of the world.  Revelation 17:15 says, "Then the angel said to me, 'The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.' "

I, for one, will not bow at the altar of diversity.  Not as long as it includes false religions and makes protected classes out of sinful people because of the sexual sin they choose.  You may say, "You Christians are so narrow minded and bigoted."  I'm not bigoted.  I'm just following God and reading His word.  He will judge, not me.  Many people get defensive, and ask why God would send people to Hell, as if that settled the argument.  One Christian writer I know says this: God is loving and merciful; if you did not want anything to do with Him in this life, He certainly will not force Himself on you in the next life.  Outside of the confines of this earthly existence, Heaven is where God is; Hell is where He isn't.

What does it mean to say that "Salvation belongs to our God"?  God is preparing a wedding feast like none other ever seen.  He invites everyone to attend.  But people who choose not to answer that invitation will not be allowed in once the party starts.  It's God's party--He can include whomever He wants.  Thankfully, he wants me to live forever with Himself.  He wants that for you, too.  But you can't reject Him in this life and expect to be able to change your mind once you find out how wonderful Heaven is, and how dark and lonely Hell is.

Psalm 3:8 says, "From the Lord comes deliverance.  May your blessing be on your people."  Genesis 49:18 says, "I look for your deliverance, O Lord."  Jonah 2:9 says, "But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you.  What I have vowed, I will make good.  Salvation comes from the Lord."  Why would you choose to  follow the Beast and the Prostitute of Revelation, when the Lord offers deliverance?  I've heard lots of my secular friends say, "Why do you Christians use the word 'Saved'?  Saved from what? I don't need salvation."  They need it, they just don't understand the concept.

The song that I quoted at the beginning--not the parody, but the actual "Streets of Laredo" song, speaks of a dying cowboy, whose fatal wound is from a gunfight.  This week I learned that it is a derivation of an English song called "The Unfortunate Lad."  The narrator also comes upon a dying man, but this man is dying of syphilis.  You can tell, because it speaks of salts and mercury pills, which were thought to be cures for this particular STD.  Apparently the chap really took a liking to a prostitute, for this is how the song goes:

As I was a walking down by the [Lock] Hospital,

As I was walking one morning of late,

Who did I spy but my own dear comrade,

Wrapp'd in flannel, so hard is his fate.

Chorus.

Had she but told me when she disordered me,

Had she but told me of it at the time,

I might have got salts and pills of white mercury,

But now I'm cut down in the height of my prime.

I boldly stepped up to him and kindly did ask him,

Why he was wrapp'd in flannel so white?

My body is injured and sadly disordered,

All by a young woman, my own heart's delight.

My father oft told me, and of[ten]times chided me,

And said my wicked ways would never do,

But I never minded him, nor ever heeded him,

[I] always kept up in my wicked ways.

Get six jolly fellows to carry my coffin,

And six pretty maidens to bear up my pall,

And give to each of them bunches of roses,

That they may not smell me as they go along.

[Over my coffin put handsful of lavender,

Handsful of lavender on every side,

Bunches of roses all over my coffin,

Saying there goes a young man cut down in his prime.]

Muffle your drums, play your pipes merrily,

Play the death [dead] march as you go along.

And fire your guns right over my coffin,

There goes an unfortunate lad to his home.

That home, my friend, is not Heaven.  Is that how you want to end up? Click on the following link to hear a version of the song sung by the Redeemed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RihfmBH8JbQ

S.W.A.C. (Sealed With A Cross)

JESUS MY HELP, I CALL ON YOUR NAME

I CAST MY CARES ON YOU

JESUS MY HOPE, MY TOWER OF STRENGTH

MY FAITH IS FOUND IN YOU

I SEE YOU PIERCED, WOUNDED FOR ME

WHEN I LOOK TO THE CROSS I SEE

I SEE GRACE, SEALED BY YOUR SACRIFICE

I SEE LOVE REACHING FOR ME

PRECIOUS BLOOD WASHES AND SANCTIFIES

HEALING FLOWS SETTING ME FREE, I SEE GRACE

BEARER OF SIN, AFFLICTED AND TRIED

YOU PAID REDEMPTION’S PRICE

BEARING MY CURSE

YOU SET ME ON HIGH

YOUR DEATH HAS BROUGHT ME LIFE

I SEE YOU PIERCED, WOUNDED FOR ME

WHEN I LOOK TO THE CROSS I SEE

I SEE GRACE, SEALED BY YOUR SACRIFICE

I SEE LOVE REACHING FOR ME

PRECIOUS BLOOD WASHES AND SANCTIFIES

HEALING FLOWS SETTING ME FREE, I SEE GRACE

(I See Grace is written by Karen Lim of New Creation Church, Singapore.)

Many of us have seen the phrase "Sealed With A Kiss", or SWAK.  When I was in Middle School and had to give out Valentines cards to the entire class (even the girls), I said they were SWAK--Sealed With A Knee.  But in our passage today, God says we are SWAT--Sealed With A Tav.  Now you may know that a tav is the last letter of the Hebrew Alphabet, and it looks like an "x" or a "+".  Remembering the scripture, "I am the first and the last, the beginning and the end," we see that if we use the Greek alphabet, then He is the Alpha and Omega.  But if we use the Hebrew alphabet, it starts with an Aleph (representing an ox, strength, and leader--indeed, the word "aluph", derived from the name of this letter, means "master" or "lord"), and ends with a Tav (which looks remarkably like a cross). So saying "I am the first and the last, the beginning and the end," could mean "I am your strength and your shield", as well as all of the other meanings we associate with it. This will all make more sense later, I promise.

"After this, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree.  Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the Seal of the Living God.  He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 'Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a Seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.' Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.  From the tribe of Judah...Reuben...Gad...Asher...Naphtali... Manasseh ... Simeon ...Levi...Issachar...Zebulun...Joseph...and Benjamin, 12,000 (each).

Wow!  So rich.  First of all, did you realize that myriads of angels stand at the ready, and if God commanded, they would destroy the earth and all who live in it? Daniel 7:2 says, "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up from the great sea."  Zechariah 6:5 says, "The angel answered me, 'These are the four spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world.' "  So these mighty angels have the ability to go to the four corners of the earth in an instant, and carry out the spoken will of God.  Yet by God's mercy, he does not destroy us; his will is to redeem us.  Matthew 24:31 says, "And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."

But how will the angels know whom to gather and whom to leave behind for death and destruction? Revelation 9:4 says, "They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads."   Remember how God orchestrated the Exodus of His people out of Egypt? He protected them from the Egyptian plagues.  

• "But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the Lord, am in this land." (Exodus 8:22)
• "But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die....The only place it did not hail was the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were."  (Exodus 9:4, 26)
• "No one could see anyone else or leave his place for three days.  Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived." (Exodus 10:23, the plague of darkness)
• "But among the Israelites not (even) a dog will bark at any man or animal.  Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Israel and Egypt." (Exodus 11:7, the angel of death)

Before that last plague, the Israelites were instructed to kill a lamb for the Passover meal, and to sprinkle the blood of this lamb on the top and both sides of the door frames of their houses.  As the blood dripped from the top of the doorframe onto the threshold, there were four points of blood; if you connected the dots, the left with the right, and the top to the bottom, you got an image of the Cross.  So the angel of Death, when he saw the image of the Cross and the blood of the lamb there, he would pass over that house and move on to the next one.  This is the origin of the Jewish Passover. Unfortunately, most Jews do not see the spiritual significance of the Blood of the Lamb and the image of the Cross, or the tav, in this yearly celebration.

Similarly, Christians in the last days will have a mark on their foreheads, to show that they have been sealed with the blood of Christ.  Ezekiel 9:4 says, "Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it."  That mark was the Hebrew letter tav, which resembled an "x" or a "+".  This is the "seal" of Revelation.  We will be sealed with the sign of the cross, so that when the angels are sent to do God's bidding, and unleash terrible winds (e.g. hurricanes, typhoons, tornadoes, and whirlwinds), we who have the Seal on our foreheads will be spared.

In ancient times there was no post office.  Letters or documents were folded and tied, and a lump of clay was pressed over the knot.  The sender would then stamp the hardening clay with his signet ring, or roll it with a cylinder seal, which authenticated and protected the contents.  The sealing in Revelation chapter 7 results in the name of the Lord being stamped on the forehead of his followers.  Its primary purpose is to protect the peple of God in the coming judgments. Revelation 22:4 says, "They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads."

Praise God for his provision!  Praise Him for his protection!  Praise Him for his pronouncement that all of us with the seal of God on our foreheads will be saved, just as the Israelites were protected from His judgement on Egypt so many years ago.  Revelation 14:1,3 says "Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads....And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders.  No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth."

Some take this number literally, and see a reference to members of actual Jewish tribes, the faithful Jewish remnant of the great tribulation.  Others take the passage as symbolic of all  the faithful believers who live during the period of tribulation.  Remember when the disciples asked Jesus how many times they should forgive? They chose what they thought was the number of completion: seven. If they forgave someone seven times, then surely God would bless them.  But Jesus plan was for them to not keep track of the number, but to forgive an infinite number of times.  What did he say? Not seven, but seventy times seven.  Now, we know that he did not actually mean we could or should count 490 times to forgive, then stop at 491.  He meant that we should always forgive.  I think the same thing applies to this number, 144,000.  The number twelve is also a complete number: it was the number of the Tribes of Israel, it was the number of Apostles.  So the text says 144,000, which is twelve times twelve, multiplied by a thousand.  That could be an infinite number, or at least a multitude that cannot be counted.  This is the number of those who are faithful to God, who will be protected and sealed against His final judgment.

Revelation 14:4 says, "These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure.  They followed the Lamb wherever he goes.  They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb."  This describes the martyrs of God, but it could also describe all committed Christians, who repent from sin and turn their hearts toward God.  Using another Old Testament reference, many times God differentiates between those who fall into idolatry and those who shun idols and worship the true and living God.  In our passage from Revelation 7, verses 5-8 list the Twelve tribes of Israel.  Missing from the list of tribes is Dan; this omission is  probably due to Dan's early connection with idolatry (Judges 18:30).  Taking his place is Joseph's son Manasseh.  In Genesis 48:5, Jacob the Patriarch (son of Abraham, whose name was changed to Israel, father of the twelve tribes) essentially adopts Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.  As adopted sons, they would share equally among Jacob's ten other sons; they would take the place of Joseph, who was blessed, and of Dan, who fell into idolatry.  This is a picture of God adopting us as His children, and including us as joint-heirs with Jesus.  We are included in God's provision and His estate, not because of our family lineage or blood line, but because of His grace.

What happens to those who do not accept the grace given by God?  Jeremiah 10:10 says, "But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King.  When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath."  I urge you, friends, to turn away from false gods and their false promises.  Turn instead to the living God, whose grace will make you whole.  2 Corinthians 6:16 says, "What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God.  As God has said, 'I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.' "

I have seen the best of times,
And those times when I’ve been low,
But I can take all that life may give,
And still come back I know,
And the rivers that run through the land,
And tumble free and fine,
Well, they don’t need your helping hand,
They’ve got the rest of time.
Chorus:
But God Protect The Children,
Wherever they may be,
Protect them from the raging storm,
And from the angry sea.
Verse:
Protect them in the villages
And cities near and far,
Sheltered in their mothers’ arms,
Beneath your guiding star.
Chorus:
God Protect The Children,
Wherever they may be,
Protect them from the raging storm,
And from the angry sea.
Bridge:
And when a child’s voice is heard to cry
In hunger or in pain,
Please move the stars, and change the tide
‘Till that child can smile again.
Chorus:
God Protect The Children,
Wherever they may be,
Protect them from the raging storm,
And from the angry sea.
Protect them as they grow and dream,
Long after day is done,
God Protect The Children,
Protect them ev’ry one.

You can run, but you can't hide

It Doesn't Matter, by Pat McCurdy 

It doesn't matter if you're old  

It doesn't matter if you're young 

It doesn't matter if you're smart 

It doesn't matter if you're dumb 

It doesn't matter if you're big 

It doesn't matter if you're small 

It doesn't matter if you run 

It doesn't matter if you crawl 

It doesn't matter 

It doesn't matter if you're plain 

It doesn't matter if you're pretty 

If you're living on the farm 

If you're living in the city 

It doesn't matter if you will 

It doesn't matter if you won't 

It doesn't matter what you wear 

It doesn't matter what you don't 

It doesn't matter

It doesn't matter It doesn't matter It doesn't matter

Now you might think that you're the center of the UniverseIt doesn't matter

It doesn't matter if you're good 

It doesn't matter if you're bad 

It doesn't matter who you know 

It doesn't matter who you've had 

It doesn't matter what you say 

It doesn't matter what you do 

It doesn't matter where you are 

Or where you might be going to 

It doesn't matter

It doesn't matter if you're black 

It doesn't matter if you're white 

If you're standing in the dark 

If you're standing in the light 

It doesn't matter what you want 

It doesn't matter what you need 

It doesn't matter if you beg 

It doesn't matter if you plead 

It doesn't matter
It doesn't matter It doesn't matter It doesn't matter
Now you might think that you're the center of the Universe 

It doesn't matter
It doesn't matter if you're rich 

It doesn't matter if you're poor 

It doesn't matter how you look 

Or what you're looking for 

It doesn't matter if you laugh 

It doesn't matter

The ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum thrived near the base of Mount Vesuvius at the Bay of Naples. In the time of the early Roman Empire, 20,000 people lived in Pompeii, including merchants, manufacturers, and farmers who exploited the rich soil of the region with numerous vineyards and orchards. None suspected that the black fertile earth was the legacy of earlier eruptions of Mount Vesuvius. Herculaneum was a city of 5,000 and a favorite summer destination for rich Romans. Named for the mythic hero Hercules, Herculaneum housed opulent villas and grand Roman baths. Gambling artifacts found in Herculaneum and a brothel unearthed in Pompeii attest to the decadent nature of the cities. There were smaller resort communities in the area as well, such as the quiet little town of Stabiae.

At noon on August 24, 79 A.D., this pleasure and prosperity came to an end when the peak of Mount Vesuvius exploded, propelling a 10-mile mushroom cloud of ash and pumice into the stratosphere. For the next 12 hours, volcanic ash and a hail of pumice stones up to 3 inches in diameter showered Pompeii, forcing the city's occupants to flee in terror. Some 2,000 people stayed in Pompeii, holed up in cellars or stone structures, hoping to wait out the eruption.

A westerly wind protected Herculaneum from the initial stage of the eruption, but then a giant cloud of hot ash and gas surged down the western flank of Vesuvius, engulfing the city and burning or asphyxiating all who remained. This lethal cloud was followed by a flood of volcanic mud and rock, burying the city.

The people who remained in Pompeii were killed on the morning of August 25 when a cloud of toxic gas poured into the city, suffocating all that remained. A flow of rock and ash followed, collapsing roofs and walls and burying the dead.

In the sixth chapter of Revelation, a similar scene will unfold.  The difference is that it will be world-wide, not confined to a small area affecting only a few cities and towns.

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.  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.  FOr the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" --Revelation 6:15-17.

The kings, princes, and generals, the rich and mighty, might have thought that they had the resources necessary to keep themselves and their estates secure.  But when the day of the Lord arrived, they were as powerless as the slaves and peasants who worked for them. Their wealth and power will never compare to the dread of the Lord and the splendor of His majesty.  Isaiah 2:10, 19, 21 says, "Go into the rocks, hide in the ground from dread of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty!...Men will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from dread of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when He rises to shake the earth....They will flee to caverns in the rocks and to the overhanging crags from dread of the Lord and the splendor of His majesty, when He rises to shake the earth."

Many of the most secure people on earth will suddenly wish for death.  Hosea 10:8 says, "The high places of wickedness will be destroyed--it is the sin of Israel.  Thorns and thistles will grow up and cover their altars.  They they will say to the mountains, 'Cover us!' and to the hills, 'Fall on us!' "  Jesus himself quotes this scripture when he speaks of the last days. In Luke 23:28-31 Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.  For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' Then they will say to the mountains, 'Fall on us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!'  For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"

It won't matter who you are or what wealth you have accumulated over your lifetime.  Amos 3:14-5 says, "On the day I punish Israel for her sins, I will destroy the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.  I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses adorned with ivory will be destroyed and the mansions will be demolished, declares the Lord."  Even the signs of opulence--a summer home, a winter home, or expensive imported decorations, such as carvings and inlays of ivory--could not benefit their owners on the day of God's judgment.

Make no mistake, my friends.  The day of the Lord is coming.  Joel 1:15 says, "Alas for that day!  For the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty."  Later, Joel says "Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming.  It is close at hand--a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness.  Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come....The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command.  The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful.  Who can endure it? The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord."

So in the face of such destruction, who can stand?  Remember the last blog entry, when God promised that those close to His heart, who keep his word on their mouths, will survive.  But for those who reject Him, "His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before him." (Nahum 1:6)  Malachi 3:2 says, "But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire, or a launderer's soap."  What is the purpose of a refiner's fire? To burn away the dross, and to purify the gold, silver and precious metals that will be left, reflecting his beauty.  What is the purpose of a launderer's soap? To wash away all filth and stains, and to leave clothes spotless and white.  Those who desire the Lord's coming must know that clean hands and a pure heart are required.  White clothes signify purity.  "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." (Matthew 5:8)

I urge you, friend, examine your heart.  Are you like the rich, young ruler, thinking that you can buy your way into heaven? Jesus told him to sell everything he had, so that nothing would stand between him and God.  Are you holding on to sin and disbelief?  Do not let the stain of sin separate you from God's mercy; wash your hands (your body, your self) and your clothes (what you surround yourself with, what you are intimate with), so that nothing stands between you and God when the day of the Lord comes.

1.      Just as I am, without one plea, 
 but that thy blood was shed for me, 
 and that thou bidst me come to thee, 
 O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

2. Just as I am, and waiting not 
 to rid my soul of one dark blot, 
 to thee whose blood can cleanse each spot, 
 O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

3. Just as I am, though tossed about 
 with many a conflict, many a doubt, 
 fightings and fears within, without, 
 O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

4. Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind; 
 sight, riches, healing of the mind, 
 yea, all I need in thee to find, 
 O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

5. Just as I am, thou wilt receive, 
 wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; 
 because thy promise I believe, 
 O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

6. Just as I am, thy love unknown 
 hath broken every barrier down; 
 now, to be thine, yea thine alone, 
 O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

What do you do when your world falls apart?

These images are titled "De-Creation".

When the world falls apart
I will hold you in my arms like a friend

When the world’s unkind
I will make you smile
I will stay right by your side until the end

Through the dark of night
When no hope's in sight
When the walls start closing in
I’ll be your friend

When the world falls apart
If you should ever feel so broken that you can’t go on
If your world falls apart
I will hold you in my arms like a friend [x2]

‘Til the end… [x4]

When the world’s unkind
I will make you smile
I will stay right by your side until the end

Through the dark of night
When no hope's in sight
When the walls start closing in
I’ll be your friend

When the world falls apart
If you should ever feel so broken that you can’t go on
If your world falls apart
I will hold you in my arms like a friend

‘Til the end… [x2]

"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, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.  The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.: --Revelation 6:12-14

 In Genesis 1, God created the heavens and the earth in six days.  Everything beautiful, everything necessary, everything good was all made in under a week.  But it only took one hour for sin to be introduced, for temptation to be yielded to, and for Man to be banished from the Garden of Eden.  From then on, it was what man would make of it; the earth would go on, but without the splendor, without the grandeur, without the Father being able to walk with his children and show them the marvels He had made. And on the seventh day, He rested.

In the end, as Revelation records, God takes six days to clean up Man's mess.  And the seventh seal is not grouped with the first six, and its purpose in chapter 8 will be to introduce the seven Trumpet Judgments.

In the Genesis 1 account of Creation, the first three days are spent taking a formless void and forming the earth, sea and sky; and the next three days are spent filling the earth with good things. See the chart below:

Days of Forming	Days of Filling
1. “light” (v.3)	4. “lights (v.14)
2. “water under the ex- panse….water above it” (v. 7)	5. “every living and moving thing with which the water teems…every winged bird” (v.21)
3.a. “dry ground” (v.9	6.a. “livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals” (v.24) “man” (v.26)
b.  “vegetation” (v. 11)	b.  “every green plant for food” (v. 30)

In the sixth chapter of Revelation, God de-constructs the universe in a similar pattern.  Four days are spent emptying the earth of sin, peace, prosperity, and life. The next day is spent scheduling judgement. The last day is for wiping out anything that divides: mountains and islands (that had divided men) are removed, and the sky (which had divided heaven and earth) is rolled back.

One of the signs of judgment in the Old Testament were great earthquakes.  Psalm 97:4 says, "His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles."  Here the land and the continents on the earth are personified--they tremble as a frightened person would.  This signified hope for the world--if the earth (men, not land) repented, then destruction would be averted.  But here in the New Testament, the Great Earthquake is not meant to shake things up (pun intended).  It is meant to signify the beginning of the end.  Romans 8:22 says, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time."  When a woman begins having labor pains, she can be in a hospital room for many, many hours before it is time to deliver the baby.  But when the baby is ready to come, the doctor arrives and brings the new life into the world safely.  Similarly, the earth has been in pain ever since Man was thrown out of Eden.  But the time will come when the Great Physician will draw back the curtain, and a new Heaven and a new Earth will be born.

The "day of the Lord" is described as one in which the cosmic (world) order is disrupted, and light is turned to darkness, as if creation is being undone.  Jesus described it this way to his disciples: "Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken." (Matthew 24:29)  Isaiah 34:4 says, "All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree."  This sounds very much like John's vision in Revelation 6; many of his readers would no doubt be familiar with the passage in Isaiah.  But the familiarity should not give comfort.  What is being described is a horrific event.  Can you imagine the star gazers and horoscope writers of today seeing this cosmic event unfold?

Further, John describes the darkness as if the earth was covered in "sackcloth made of goat hair."  Sackcloth is a coarse, dark cloth woven from the hair of goats or camels.  It was worn as a sign of mourning and penitence.  Since the earth will not repent of its sins in sackcloth and ashes, God will do it for them.  If Adam had sought out the Lord instead of hiding from Him; if he had covered himself with sackcloth instead of a fig leaf, don't you think God would have shown mercy?  Similarly, if all men had repented in sackcloth, removing themselves from their comfort zone and showing true repentance, maybe the final judgment would not be necessary.  But since God knew we were obstinate, entrenched in sin, a "stiff-necked people", it will be His will to come to judge the earth.  2 Peter 3:7,12-13 says "By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men....That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.  But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness."

Wickedness will get what wickedness deserves.  It will be destroyed by fire.  The only ones that will survive the fire are those who are pure in heart.  Impurities will burn away; purity is only refined by fire.  Remember the Old Testament story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?  Daniel chapter 3 tells of these three men who would not bow down to the king and worship him, nor would they worship his image.  In a rage, the king threw them into a furnace that was so hot that the men who threw them into the furnace died.  But when the king looked into the fire, he said, "Look!  I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like the Son of God." (Daniel 3:25).  The three faithful men were not harmed by the fire, and they fellowshipped with Jesus there.  2 Peter 3:10 says, "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.  The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare."  How do we escape? By holding fast to the Word of God.  "The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them.  Surely the people are grass.  The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:7-8)

“It Is Well With My Soul” is one of the most well-known hymns of our time. The music was composed by Philip Bliss in 1876, after having heard the story of the man who wrote the lyrics. In 1874, a French steam liner, the “Ville de Havre,” was on its way back to France from America, with a large number of passengers. “On board the steamer was a Mrs. Spafford, with her four children. In mid-ocean a collision took place with a large sailing vessel, causing the steamer to sink in half an hour. Nearly all on board were lost. Mrs. Spafford got her children out of their berths and up on the deck. On being told that the vessel would soon sink, she knelt down with her children in prayer, asking God that they might be saved if possible; or be made willing to die, if that was his will. In a few minutes the vessel sank to the bottom of the sea, and the children were lost. One of the sailors. . . found Mrs. Spafford floating in the water”.  Mr. Spafford soon received a wire message from his wife in England, which simply read, “Saved alone.” He immediately made the trip to England to pick up his wife and bring her back to the states. Standing on the deck of the ship heading across the Atlantic, Horatio Spafford soon saw with his own eyes the very spot where his four daughters and 226 other people drowned . Only because of his faith in God was he able to write, “When sorrows like sea billows roll. . . it is well with my soul.”

What do you do when your world falls apart? You rely on God.  The last verse of this hymn goes like this: "And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll, the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, “Even so” it is well with my soul."  Spafford referred to the final judgment, a passage that should strike fear in the heart of evil men.  Yet he looked forward to the time with great peace and rejoicing, for that is when Jesus calls His children home.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul. 

Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul. 

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul. 

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! 

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul. 

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul! 

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.