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…AND THEN THE END SHALL COME (REVELATION SERIES)
“…AND THEN THE END SHALL COME”
Study of The End of the Age, and The Coming Kingdom of God By Reydon Stanford
Revelation & The Need for Deliverance
Many people are often afraid of the dark and judgmental tone of the Book of Revelation. It is hard for them to understand how a loving God could be full of wrath and aim that wrath upon the kingdoms of the Earth in what is defined as The Great Tribulation. For us to understand God’s motives for this dark time, we must understand that it is a response not an action. Just as the Archangel Michael went to war against Satan and cast him and his angels out of Heaven, in response to Satan rising up against God, so is the Great Tribulation a response to Satan and his evil followers. It is “justifiable homicide,” if you will. Justifiable homicide means taking a life or lives that threaten the lives of others first, and must be eliminated to preserve innocent lives.
Most of us would agree that if someone broke into our homes with the intent to torture, abuse or murder our families or ourselves, and we had a weapon to stop it, we would stop it and be justified in doing so, because we are reacting to an act of evil…not starting one. This is God’s intent by unleashing His justifiable wrath upon the evil of the Earth during this age…the age that will be ruled over by The Beast…possessed of Satan to deceive the world.
“Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?” They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” Matthew 21:33-44 NKJV
In this passage we see that Jesus is using a parable to explain that God created the Earth, set mankind over it, but when He (God) wanted a people from it, by sending Prophets and Preachers to them, they beat and killed them…even His Son. Therefore, God will destroy them and take the Earth back away from them and give it to His people. Romans 1:18-32, tells us the state of mankind once Satan began to deceive him toward evil…
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise, also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:18-32 NKJV
Then again, we learn that when mankind is given over to evil…there is no conscience left and he is therefore nonredeemable.
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” I Timothy 4:1-5 NKJV
THE GREAT DECEIVER
Going back to the beginning…this story has its root in one individual…Satan. Satan…created by God as an Arch-angel, stood against God in order to take away The Throne of God. Although the Bible does not give us the full accounting of this event, we know that war broke out in Heaven over Satan’s deception of a third of the Angels. There was war in Heaven and Satan and His angels were cast out of Heaven. (Rev. 12:7-17). In this passage we see that following Satan’s defeat in Heaven and being cast to the Earth, He went to make war against two specific groups of people…Those who hold the commandments of God, (Israel), and those who have the testimony of Jesus Christ, (The Christians). This is extremely important information if we are to understand where the Enemy will come from…in order for God to REACT, to the murder of His people, and the events that initiate the 21 Judgments of God and the end of Evil.
By Reydon Stanford
Senior Pastor
Trinity Christian Center Church
Muleshoe, TX