Someone must have moved the Ark of the Covenant out of storage, remember that Indiana Jones movie scene? That government warehouse vault, boxed up and hidden in plain sight of endless boxes, lost in artifact lockdown? Safe keeping? Eh, it is a clever movie moment but God’s vault, always was and is where God could reach it.
We too are nowhere God can’t reach. (Psalm 139)
Revelation 11 – 14 scriptures tell us after the seventh trumpet sounds, that the Ark of the Covenant was opened. That sounds scary enough, but surely the next intense moments are more awe-filled: a dragon with a tail that knocks a third of the stars out of the sky, fighting in heaven against Michael and his angels, being hurled from the heavens to the earth, only to pursue a woman who birthed a child taken up to the throne. The earth, being merciful, swallows the woman who flew with wings to escape. The beast then has a meeting on the sea with a beast of 10 crowned horns and 7 heads.
I’m surely reading this yet NOT understanding the reality or symbolism or non-symbolism, and I can not comprehend even the length of these battles either, given with specific days. The fight between creatures being bloody and cruel, I get that. The causes of evil vs good, or evil vs evil, continues in all realms. The second beast appears urging more worshipping from those on earth being deceived. These creatures and their deceptions, that’s just sad and mayhem mania. This chapter ends with me not understanding either the symbolisms or the plain actuality. The confusion and distractions that existed? That I see painfully always.
What I do understand is the deceiver always aims to deceive. That evil plots against God’s children. The dragons would be clearly seen, but today’s evils linger deep and stealth as distractions and derision. Division, bickering, bad-mouthing, bleh…
I started to read the next chapter but will pause here to listen more deeply for where I can make and promote peace in my small realm of life. Where can we take a step back and NOT get swept up in distractions from our peacemaker positions or from our worship. How can we remain as un-defiled as possible? How can we keep our mouths shut and our hearts open? I only know the best advice: that we are to REMAIN IN HIM. Armor of God and all, Jesus is the Only Way, Truth, Life.
Chapter 14 of the Book of Revalation tells us the truths of us remaining in Him being played out: The Lamb appears with 144,000. An angel says in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” Another angel speaks of the wrath against anyone who follows the evil one. Then a voice speaks to John from Heaven says, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” – “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”
WE WHO ABIDE IN, REMAIN IN HIM WILL REST IN HIM AS WELL.
God has us, we must remain strong in our faith, not waiver in walking with Him. Keep going… Jesus showed us the Way, we are not uninformed. Sure, the heavens and earth battle, it IS a broken world, but we are to walk where we are led.
Let us: Worship Him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.
PRAY to see hear know – most importantly, where Jesus leads, GO.
AMEN
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Revelation 11 thru 14
Debbie Upper 