The Beast

In Esther chapter 3 we have a picture or a foreshadowing of the beast of Revelation. King Ahasuerus had promoted Haman and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. All were required to bow down and worship Haman as God. Mordecai, a Jew, would not bow down.

Jews would bow down before their kings as God's servants. But they would not bow before a king who claimed to be God. Mordecai's refusal to worship the king's representative would result in a decree for all Jews to be killed.

Jews will refuse to bow to the Antichrist, the beast of Revelation who will demand divine worship. Just as Haman was defeated in his plot to put away God's people so to will Satan be defeated in his last days attempt to set aside the divine program.

Satan is denied

Satan is thwarted in his attempt to destroy Israel. Rev. 12:15, 16 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. But the earth helped the woman (Israel) by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.

Satan is enraged at the woman (Israel) and turns his wrath upon the remainder of her descendants. Those who trust in Jesus. Rev. 12:17. The dragon or Satan gives his power to the beast who will wage war on God's holy people (the saints) and overcome them. This all happens during the Day of the Lord or seven year tribulation period. How do we escape this terrible time? Repent and trust in Jesus!

Believers are not appointed to God's wrath

The wrath of God is set against the ungodly and evil on the earth during the tribulation period. Believers are not to experience God’s wrath. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. How do we escape the day of the Lord (7 year tribulation period)? Repent and trust in Jesus!

The Day of the Lord

The day of the Lord is coming and many bible verses point to it. 2 Peter 3:10 says But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. The heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. The earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Jesus speaks of the day of the Lord. Matt 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Again Jesus says that things will be pretty normal and peaceful when describing the same time period. And then death and destruction. Matt. 24:37 so as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 37 “For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Daniel's Week of Years

Daniel 9:27 speaks of the day of the Lord. And he (antichrist) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (seven years or the day of the Lord). In the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

The wrath of God is set against the ungodly and evil on the earth. Believers are not to experience God's wrath. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.

How do we escape the day of the Lord? Repent and trust in Jesus!

Day of the Lord verses

• Isaiah 2:12 For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:
• Isaiah 13:6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
• Isaiah 13:13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

Revelation Chapters 6-22 describe the day of the Lord

• Revelation 12:14 1/2 of the day of the Lord is times, time, and half a time or 3 and 1/2 years or 1,260 days
• Revelation 11:2 1/2 of the day of the Lord is 42 months
• Revelation 11:3 1/2 of the day of the Lord is one thousand two hundred and three score days.

World Peace

World peace is a wonderful and noble idea. We are being promised world peace by a president who just might be able to deliver. But it will be short lived according to the bible.

Peace in the middle east has been long sought after. On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency, proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel. U.S. President Harry S. Truman recognized the new nation on the same day. Since that day, Israel has been at war. They’ve been in a hot war, cold war, or defending against terrorism since May 14, 1948. If the defeat of Iranian proxies Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis is accomplished and peace is established in Israel it will indeed be a glorious time for the world! But according to the bible it will not last.

Gog and Magog

Ezekiel 38:14-16 says Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “On that day when
My people Israel dwell safely, will you not know it?
“Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of
them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army.
“You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter
days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in
you, O Gog, before their eyes.”

From the far north they will come against Israel during a time of peace when Israel is dwelling safely in the land. The apostle Paul describes the same event in 1 Thess. chapter 5: 2& 3. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

The days of Noah

Jesus says that things will be pretty normal and peaceful when describing the same time period. And then death and destruction. Matt. 24:37 so as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 37 “For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Are we all doomed? No, Jesus tells us how to escape this cataclysmic apocalypse. Matt. 24:42. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

We need to watch and be ready! If we are not following Jesus, we need to repent and accept His free gift of salvation and start following Him!

What does it mean to BELIEVE?

 

Highlight

Acts 13:48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. What does it mean to believe?

Explanation

God chose some before the foundation of the world to be in Christ. Eph 1:4 & 5. He also said that whoever believes in Jesus shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16. So whether we've been appointed for eternal life or not, it doesn't matter, we all have opportunity to repent, believe in Jesus, and to be saved!

Application

To believe in Jesus is more than just a mental acknowledgement. According to the Amplified bible, believe means to trust in, rely upon, and cling to. Here's the exact reading of John 3:16 from the Greek manuscript.

Because, God has Loved in such a manner the satan's world, so that He Gave His Son, the only Begotten Risen Christ, in order that whoever is Continuously by his choice Committing for the Result and Purpose of Him, should not perish, but definitely should, by his choice, be Continuously Having Eternal Life. [Committing means putting your entire being under the orders of another.]

So, if we believe in someone, then we should express that belief by doing what they ask us to do. We should put our entire being under the orders of that person.

The bible contains examples of people who believe in a shallow way, merely mentally acknowledging Jesus and not putting themselves under His authority.

Simon believed and was baptized. Acts 8:13. Even though he believed and was baptized, Peter told him he better repent because he was full of bitterness and captive to sin. And perhaps the Lord would forgive him. (If repentance was genuine) Acts 8:22.

Response

Lord, help us to realize that to believe in Jesus is more than just a mental acknowledgment of who He is. To believe in Jesus means to trust in, rely upon, and to cling to Him. To believe means to put myself under His authority and keep His commandments.