THE UNHOLY TRINITY

Satan is not very original. He seeks to mimic God, as he twists the truth. In the last days, there will arise an unholy trinity, as is pictured in Revelation 13. 

There is the dragon—Satan himself who is a perversion of the Sovereign God. He is the head of this unholy trinity. His is the power at work behind human government at the close of the age.

There is the beast—the Antichrist who is a distortion of the Son of God. There is even a counterfeit resurrection which brings awe to the  world, as they worship this man of sin.

There is the other beast—the False Prophet who is an imitator of the Spirit of God. As the Holy Spirit bears witness to Christ, this evil personage calls for the worship of the Antichrist. 

The result is that a world that rejects the witness of the Holy Spirit, by refusing the work that Christ has done in bringing salvation, and will not worship the True and Living God, will be given what they want—a false god from hell, and a false messiah as a demonic dictator of global governance, and a deceiving prophet that directs a one world religion.

While we can, let us shine the light of the Gospel. May we point people to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The church is to be salt, resisting the rot of sinful society. I believe there is coming a day when the church will be removed from the world, and then all hell will break loose. That time may be very near!

OVERCOMERS

Revelation 12 presents an overview of the great cosmic conflict between Satan and God’s people. His war against God is futile, as he has not even a sliver of a chance to overthrow the Almighty, so he rages against the people of God. Yet, we are overcomers, and Revelation 12:11 displays how we defeat the Devil. 

We overcome BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB,  “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb…”. The word Satan means, “the accuser,” as he is described in the previous verse. He wants us to stand condemned, yet we can stand in confidence, for the redeemed have the righteousness of Christ. Our sins are cleansed by the blood!

We also overcome BY THE WORD OF OUR TESTIMONY, “And they overcame him…by the word of their testimony…”. Believers can confess the truth that rests in the testimony of the Word of God. That is the Sword of the Spirit. Jesus showed the pattern perfectly in defeating the Devil in the wilderness by speaking the word of God. We may follow His example.

Then, we overcome BY THE COMMITMENT OF OUR ALL,  “And they overcame him…and they did not love their lives to the death.” What is the worst Satan can do to you? Kill you?  Then you just go to heaven and isn’t that wonderful! There the martyrs are crowned and celebrate the goodness of God. You cannot strike fear into the hearts of those who have such faith!

Martin Luther stated it thus in his hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”

1 A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

2 Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God's own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.

3 And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.

4 That Word above all earthly powers
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still;

his kingdom is forever!

GIVE AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN TO YOU

Jesus gave a promise, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭38‬‬). You cannot out-give God. Now, this is not some, “name it and claim it, blab it and grab it,” prosperity gospel, that is not the true gospel at all. Scripture does not promote a, “get rich quick” scheme. 

So, what did Jesus mean? It means that we will have all we need to do all God calls us to do, and enough left over to supply our needs, (our need, not our greed). The promise is that we can exchange the coin of earth that will not last, for the currency of eternity that will abide forever!

Churches need to understand this too. Antioch was a giving church. As a newly established congregation, when they heard that circumstances would impact their mother church, Jerusalem, in a profound way, they immediately decided to send money to help the believers in Judea. 

As Jeff Iorg writes in his book, “The Case for Antioch: A Biblical Model for a Transformational Church,” one of the marks of such a church is “Generous Sacrifice,” (pp. 162-181, Kindle edition). He makes these vital points: 

1) ANTIOCH GAVE AWAY ITS MONEY, (Acts 11:27). This reveals our heart. Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” (Matt. 6:21). A church that hoards what it has discloses it cannot be trusted with more. 

2) ANTIOCH GAVE AWAY ITS LEADERS, (Acts 13:2-3). The two champions, Paul and Barnabas, who were so instrumental for the growth of the church at Antioch would be sent out as missionaries. Giving money is costly, but sacrificing leaders is more so. But, as I have heard, a church should be known more for its sending capacity than its seating capacity!

Church members need to support mission work. It does not stop there. Churches need to give sacrificially to missions.  Another statement I have heard and affirm is, “A great commitment to the Great Commission is what makes a great church.” 

WITNESSES TO THE WORLD

 

Revelation 11 presents two men who will be powerful witnesses to the world in the last days before Christ returns to earth to establish His Kingdom. 

There is an eschatological meaning. I believe that during the Great Tribulation—the last three and one-half years of the Tribulation period—these two prophets will arise to witness for truth against the Lie, incarnated as the Antichrist, (2 Thess. 2:9-12). While some see these as literally Moses and Elijah returned to earth, my understanding is that they are two prophets in the spirit of Moses and Elijah—as was John the Baptist, (Matt.11:7-15). Again, as I interpret Revelation, I believe the church has been raptured before seven years of tribulation—judgments on a Christ-rejecting world—yet, even so, God never leaves Himself without witnesses to the world.

Though there are others who interpret Revelation in other ways, what we ought to agree on is the practical message. These words had application for the first-century saints who received them and now twenty-first century servants who read them. All God’s people are to be witnesses to the world. In whatever age we live, there is the Gospel to proclaim. I want to focus on Revelation 11:4, where we see the Triune God involved in our mission and message. “These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.“

First, consider THE INSPIRATION FOR OUR WITNESS, “These are the two olive trees…”. Their light shines because it is fed by the olive oil. In Scripture, the oil is an emblem of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that it would be the Spirit who would inspire and empower His servants to witness to the world. To the teacher that stands in the Sunday School class tomorrow—you need to be filled with the Spirit. You may prepare a lesson, but you can only be prepared to present it, if the Teacher—God’s Holy Spirit—enables you. Preacher, will you be filled with the Spirit? You may put together a message, but as you stand behind that sacred desk to deliver it, there must be that Divine flow of Oil, as the Spirit equips you to proclaim it.

Second, note THE ILLUMINATION IN OUR WITNESS, “These are…the two lampstands…”. The light of our witness is about the Savior who declared Himself to be, “The Light of the World,” (John 9:5). As He now indwells us, we are to reflect His light, since the Lord has called us, “You are the light of the world,” (Matt. 5:14). As a disciple, I am to show Jesus in my life and share Jesus with my lips. This is our witness to the world. Christ is our model and our message. The old hymn by P. P. Bliss states it:

1 Brightly beams our Father’s mercy

From His lighthouse evermore;

But to us He gives the keeping

Of the lights along the shore.

Refrain:

Let the lower lights be burning!

Send a gleam across the wave!

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save.

2 Dark the night of sin has settled,

Loud the angry billows roar;

Eager eyes are watching, longing,

For the lights along the shore. [Refrain]

3 Trim your feeble lamp, my brother! 

Some poor seaman, tempest-tossed,

In the darkness may be lost. [Refrain]

Trying now to make the harbor,

Third, observe THE IMPLICATION OF OUR WITNESS, “These are…standing before the God of the earth.”  This implies that one day we will all stand in judgment before the Sovereign. His children will give an answer to the Father. He is keeping track of what we do and say. Are we faithful to His mission. The judgment for us is not to determine our entrance into heaven for that is settled when we receive Christ, but it will be about our enjoyment of heaven—the degree of reward we will receive there. 

The gravity of this for the lost, however, is the most severe implication. Judgment for them is to hear the decree of eternal fire and the degree of suffering based on how much light they had and evil they have done. This ought to motivate the believer’s witness to the world. It did Paul who said, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…” (2 Cor. 5:10-11a).