"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:14-15 What on earth is Jesus talking about here? What was Moses doing when he lifted up the serpent on a pole in the wilderness? In the story of the serpent on a pole, let's note the context: as usual, the Israelites were complaining. "And the people spoke against God and against Moses: 'Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.'” Numbers 21:5 Imagine, he had fed them daily with manna from heaven, but they had the audacity to tell God they were sick of it and called it "worthless bread." Ouch! By this time the Lord was so fed up with their complaining that he allowed fiery serpents to go among the people, severely biting them, some even died. There are a few things the Lord particularly hates, and one of them is complaining. Why? Because God takes care of his people and sees to their needs. So when these Israelites perceived a lack, instead of praying for provision they turned on God and against Moses. Let this be a lesson to us: don't complain! We can bring our needs and desires to the Lord, but when we descend into complaining, that is actually a huge insult to God - so much so that judgment may come upon us. "Fiery serpents" might pop up in our lives to attack us. It's all in the attitude. Notice that Moses was eating and drinking the same provisions that they were, yet he kept his attitude respectful before God and approached him in humility. He had the same needs, but his attitude was entirely different. Well ...the fiery serpents made the suffering Israelites realize that they sinned in their complaining, and they repented. In response, God directed Moses to make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole. Then, whoever looked upon that serpent was healed. Why a serpent on a pole? All these stories in the Old Testament carry vital lessons for us. In this case, that serpent on the pole represented the One who would come later and become A CURSE on our behalf, as he hung on a pole, a Cross, and bore the judgment due us. "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having BECOME A CURSE for us, for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.'" Galatians 3:13 What that means for us is that when one has recognized his guilt, the remedy is to confess his sin and look at the Cross where Jesus Christ hung with the full force of the judgment due us - laid upon him. When one realizes the extent to which he went in order to secure our salvation, our hearts should rise up in heart-felt praise and worship to the One who was willing to give all - that we might be saved. "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:14-16 So much does he love us! Enough to hang upon a cross – in our place. "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." John 15:13 Look upon him on that cross, the one bearing the curse on your behalf. Instead of complaining, bow in humble humility confessing your sins and laying them at the foot of the cross. Instead of complaining, bring to him the thanksgiving and appreciation due him. He has done SO much for you! More about Jesus Christ
“The thief does not come except to steal,
and to kill, and to destroy.
I have come that they may have life,
and that they may have it more abundantly."
John 10:10
God records in the first chapter in Genesis how he created the world. After each thing he created, he said it was "good." And when he was finished, he said it was "VERY good."
Well it obviously isn't good now, corruption is everywhere in everything. Suffering is all around us.
What happened?
When Satan saw the creation of God, and especially when he saw the human beings in a lovely garden, he was enraged. He came against them and lured them into sin, and they fell for it. They sinned. They had no idea what the ramifications of their sin would be because they had never seen death or any kind of corruption. But in short ...it changed everything.
Sin brought a curse upon the creation, and the name of that curse is "death." Everything dies, even animals, even plants. And today we live with the results of sin, for all have sinned (Romans 3:23). Death is all around us, and what isn't dead is dying.
Not only did Satan succeed in bringing the death principle into the world, but when Adam sinned he lost his God-given authority over the earth. That authority had been given on the condition of his faithfulness to God. When Adam defied God by sinning, he lost his authority and Satan took over. Satan is now "the god of this world."
(2nd Corinthians 4:4)
But God so loved his creation that he sent his Son to take upon himself the judgment due on our sins and to give us eternal life. The price has been paid, but the obtaining of the reversal of the curse has to wait, because Satan still has the legal right until Jesus returns and deposes him. In the meantime, Satan's program on earth is to steal ...that is, to steal whatever sources of happiness a person has, to kill ...that is, to kill dreams and hopes, and successes, and people when he can, and to destroy ...that is, to destroy families, friendships, jobs, relationships, all that he can get his hands on.
It's not only sin that brings paths of destruction to us. Looking at the most righteous of men who served God throughout their lives, the "steal, kill, and destroy" principle still happens to all, even to the most faithful. Check out 2nd Corinthians 11:23-28 to see the incredible string of horrendous sufferings the apostle Paul endured. Not one of us could have survived any of that. So ...it's obvious that it's not only opening doors of sin that brings in sufferings, although that surely will; but anyone being a faithful servant of God is going to be hated above all and will be persecuted by "a messenger of Satan" (2nd Corinthians 12:7) who will never cease to cause never-ending suffering to those who love God.
But that's not the end of the story. There is a second part. Jesus said:
"...but 'I have come that they may have life,
and that they may have it more abundantly."
This reminds me of the passage in Psalm 23 which says, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." Jesus brings life even into situations of death. He brings joy even into times of great pain. He brings to the believer "the peace that surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:7) even when strife is all around him. We are never, EVER left alone for he promised:
"I will NEVER leave you nor forsake you."
Hebrews 13:5
And to the believer is the promise of an eternity of peace, joy and wonder where:
"God will wipe away every tear from their eyes;
there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.
there shall be no more pain,
for the former things have passed away.
Then he who sat on the Throne said,
'Behold, I make all things new.'
And he said to me, (John)
'Write, for these words are true and faithful.'”
Revelation 21:4-5
Shall the Bridegroom come for his Bride with a trump of JUDGMENT??? There is more than one kind of Trumpets. The Trumpets of the Book of Revelation are trumps of angels delivering the JUDGMENTS OF GOD'S WRATH. Every passage following the blowing of each trumpet results in unimaginable horrors falling upon the earth. There are two FUNCTIONS of Trumpets in the Bible: 1. the Trumpet call to war 2. the Trumpet call to assembly The silver trumpet calls for the assembly: "Make two silver trumpets for yourself; you shall make them of hammered work; you shall use them for calling the assembly and for directing the movement of the camps." Numbers 10:2 The seven trumpets of the Book of Revelation, however, are trumpets of war, trumpets of judgment, announcing God's wrath blown in a sequence as God releases His WRATH upon a Christ-rejecting world. The trumpet of the seventh angel in Revelation 10:7 is the last of seven judgment trumpets of angels releasing the wrath of God. The trump of 1st Corinthians, however, is not a trump of judgment; it is not a trump of angels, it is the Trump of God, a trump of ASSEMBLY. When Jesus comes for us with the Trump of God, it is the trumpet calling us to assemble to him. When Jesus comes with the "Trump of God," he's coming to assemble the Church, not to pour judgment on her. "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the Trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17 At this trumpet of assembly , those who died in Christ will be raised, and both they and those alive on the earth at the time will be transformed from our corruptible bodies to a body like Jesus had after his resurrection. "Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1st Corinthians 15:51-53 It is the TRUMPET OF GOD, that will sound, calling the dead to rise - is not a trumpet of judgment. Notice that when the trumpet of God is sounded no wrath takes place, but instead the glorious transformation and putting on immortality. People who only have a passing knowledge of Scripture can easily mistake the trumpets in the Book of Revelation for “the last trump,” thinking there are only seven trumpets, so the Rapture has to happen then. No, the Rapture has absolutely no correlation with the trumpet judgments of the Book of Revelation. And the Rapture takes place before even the first judgment trump is ever blown. In the Book of Revelation there are three sets of judgments, the Seal judgments, the Trumpet judgments, and the Bowl judgments. They each release the wrath of God upon the world that has rejected him. But a study of eschatology reveals that believers in Jesus Christ, those washed with his Blood – will be removed before the judgments of Revelation even begin. Believers are seen in heaven before the Lamb even opens the very first seal. The first three chapters of the Book of Revelation are all about the church. They are letters Christ gives to the churches. Then at chapter 4 it is written: "Come up here." And the church on earth is not seen again until the end. Believers in Jesus Christ are not appointed to the wrath of God. Why would his terrible wrath be poured out on the Bride of Christ? “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ...” 1st Thessalonians 5:9 If it were any other way, how could the apostle Paul, when speaking of the Rapture add these words: “Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1st Thessalonians 4:18 No one would be comforted if he knew the magnitude of the destruction described in the horrors of the Tribulation, right from the very first seal. No friends, as believers in Jesus Christ we are not appointed to wrath, but are comforted that before those awful judgments even begin, Jesus Christ will come for his bride and bring them to his home: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:3 Critics say believers are “escapists.” Is that true? Yes. Because Jesus Christ told us to be: "For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Watch therefore, and PRAY always that you may
BE ACCOUNTED WORTHY TO ESCAPE all these things that will come to pass,
and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:35-36
Believers in Christ will heed these words and pray to be accounted worthy TO ESCAPE the horrors about to be poured onto the world. Jesus likened those days to the days of Noah. Only eight people survived the flood of Noah. No unbeliever will escape the Tribulation. Be among those who will escape:
And therefore ...comfort one another with these words.
The Rapture