We Are All In A War, What is Your Role?

Will God let us see what is happening on earth during the Tribulation Period? We will probably have an awareness of what is happening but the Bible is silent on that issue. So often when bad things happen in the world, people are quick to point the blame on God. But that is so wrong. The Bible tells us exactly who is to blame.

1 John 5:19 ~ "We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one."

John 10:10 ~ "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." 

So if we want to place blame for all the evil things happening in the world, let's make sure to place the blame in the right place.

God told us prophecy in advance, not to scare us but to prepare us to know Jesus Christ, personally. You can find Jesus in a church, but we need to call out to Him alone. We need to divorce ourselves from religion and develop a personal relationship instead.

As we studied yesterday, about Satan's request to sift Peter as wheat and Jesus' response was that He would pray for Peter. Satan has that right today in your life and mine. The question we need to ask ourselves in situations like Peter and Job is did they win in the end? The answer should be an emphatic YES!!

Isaiah 54:17 ~ "no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me, declares the LORD."

If you want to grow as a Christian, know this, God will bring you right to the brink of things before giving you His grace and mercy. It's tough, but its how we grow. Sometimes as believers we have more problems than non believers do and a lot of times it is because they (non believers) are waiting to see what you will do when hard times come. Is your faith something that can be trusted when you are tested? That can sometimes be worth more than simply offering to take someone to church in hopes they might believe.

Remember this however, that Satan's days are numbered. Our victory is an overwhelming victory because our true enemy is overwhelmingly defeated.

Revelation 12:9 ~ "The great dragon was hurled down - that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled down to the earth, and his angels with him."

Notice how many references to Satan are found in simply this one verse. The "serpent" is a reference to the Garden of Eden where it all began. The "devil" or diablo is one who slanders or accuses. "Satan" is our chief adversary, and the "great dragon: is ruling over kingdoms and politics of the world. Let's rephase that verse now with a little more clarity.

The one who rules over the kingdoms and politics of the world, the one who started all of this in the Garden of evil, the one who accuses and slanders, our chief adversary, was hurled down to the earth and his angels with him.

In the New King James Version, this verse begins, "So the dragon was cast out." It is interesting to say it regardless where you put the reference on the word "SO." As a result of Satan's ways, so he was cast out.

1 John 5:19 ~ "We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one."

If you don't know Jesus personally, you are still lost and blinded by Satan's powers. This control can only be broken by the One who defeated Satan and that is Jesus Christ.

Beware of legalism, which is simply trying to live up to certain expectations within a church or religious group in order to gain favor with God. It's heresy and it won't work.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 ~ "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

Our true desire is overwhelmingly fulfilled and our destination is heaven. We see in this chapter those who have died, the Tribulation Saints or martyrs of the faith, as we draw close to the end of the Tribulation period.

Revelation 12:10 ~ "Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down."

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 ~ "However, as it is written: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him - but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit."

Our victory is an overwhelming victory because our true accuser is overwhelmingly stopped. Satan is constantly reminding God about all the condemnation of the human race both saved and unsaved before the throne room of God. Salvation is the victory of God.

This victory comes at a great price. This gift of salvation is of the Lord.

Revelation 12:11-12~ "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore, rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows his time is short."

The word of their testimony - is telling people what God has done and is continuing to do in our lives, that the Word of God is true. No one can say your lying about what changes you have seen God doing in your life. That is why the enemy tries so hard to keep you from sharing Jesus with others. He understands just how powerful our life stories can be.

There is no room in heaven for people who don't come there through Jesus Christ and that makes the world mad. He is the prescription for eternal security and spiritual victory. They had given up, surrendered to God so that He could live through them. That's how a Christian wins!

Those in heaven will rejoice!
The church having been raptured.
The Old Testament believers.
Those who are martyred.
All of these will rejoice in heaven!

This victory comes at a great price, this gift rejected leaves man no other hope.

By what means will you redeem yourself? How? Why is Jesus Christ such an issue for you? Why?

Acts 4:11-12 ~ "He is the cornerstone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

This gift is a once in a lifetime chance to escape. In order to get to hell, you have to willingly rejected Jesus. There is no other way out for you.

The meaning of this message must be that there is an epic battle being waged and we're in it.

The question is, what role are you playing?