NO.16/ ON ANTICHRIST #8a ANOINTED
“The question you and I will have to answer correctly is - Who is going to fulfill the second part of that scripture? Jesus is up in heaven and seated at God’s right hand. He isn’t coming back down to fulfill it!”
After posting #8, I began praying about Post #9 but couldn't shake the sense that, for some, what I shared in Post #8 was difficult to digest. I've decided to add to these thoughts with other points of reference to better establish what was conveyed previously.
Let me start with a simple re-iteration of Post #8. In both examples provided (15th and 14th Chapters), the Central theme is about the pouring out of God's Wrath. We're not given reasons as to why the wrath is being poured out; just that it is. Also in both instances, the means by which this is done is via Angels or as the Greek renders the word - Aggelos’.
This is where the images in the book of Revelation become tell-tale. The Angels in the 15th chapter are wearing "fine linen," which we're told in the 19th chapter is "the righteousness of saints." The Amplified Bible renders this same passage "for the fine linen signifies the righteous acts of the Saints." (Rev. 19:8). This is a more proper rendering IMO. Here, the "righteousness" is the result of having performed righteous acts! When applied to the 15th chapter, we see the acts performed by the seven Angels are the pouring out of vials full of God's wrath.
This same principle applies to the Angels seen in the 14th chapter, There, the Aggelos telling Jesus to "thrust in His sickle and reap" and the two Aggelos’ who gather the grapes to put into the "winepress" of God's wrath are all depicted coming from the temple - which is the BODY OF CHRIST.
If I might add, there are two more examples of this pattern in the book just as clear as the two I chose to share. Now let's look at other passages in the Bible to substantiate the pattern found in John's book.
In the 4th chapter of Luke's gospel, we find Jesus entering into the Temple (as was His custom) and asking for the book of Isaiah. After it is handed to Him, we're told,
"And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed, TO PROCLAIM THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD. Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, "TODAY THIS SCRIPTURE IS FULFILLED IN YOUR HEARING." (Luke 4:17-21 NKJV)
I would imagine that, if you're a lover of Jesus, you're familiar with this verse. It is often quoted in reference to the ministry Jesus performed throughout His short time on the earth.
There is, however, an important piece of information Jesus left out of this famous Isaiah passage - He stopped in the middle of the sentence and then gave the book "back to the attendant and sat down." Of course, you wouldn't know this unless you went back to Isaiah 61 and read the opening two verses. There, you would have found that what Jesus did not recite was the second half of verse #2 ... and for good reason.
The second verse in its entirety goes like this:
"To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, AND THE DAY OF VENGEANCE OF OUR GOD."
Can you see WHY Jesus didn't quote this? He had come as a High Priest to offer the sacrifice for the sins of the people. Even in His own words, Jesus declared, "I did not come to judge the world but to save the world." (John 12:47 NKJV).
However, that's not to say He wouldn’t ever judge the world. Jesus went on to say, "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him - the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day." (v. 48) This is an important passage of Scripture. Hold on to it ... and keep in mind that God's word is like a "two-edged sword." More on this in a moment.
The question you and I will have to answer correctly is - Who is going to fulfill the second part of that scripture? Jesus is up in heaven and seated at God's right hand. He isn't coming back down to fulfill it!
The good news is, Isaiah tells us who will proclaim the message - "ME" will do it; the ONE who is "anointed." By the way, that's you and I who comprise the church. "The anointing which you have received from Him abides in you ..." (1 John 2:27).
Of course this is so. Jesus now lives in and THROUGH His church. In fact, Peter tells us, "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God." (1 Pet. 4:11 NKJV). The NLT renders this same passage, "Speak as though God himself were speaking through you." Any questions?
The fact of the matter is, according to Paul in Galatians, "My old self has been crucified with Christ. IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME." (Gal. 2:20 NLT). The life we now live in Christ is not our own. We are His and we are to do His bidding. In Isaiah 61's case, WE will administer the second half of verse #2.
Let me give you one more example and then we'll move on. It can be found in the Psalms.
"Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, AND a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the written judgement-THIS HONOR HAVE ALL HIS SAINTS. PRAISE THE LORD!" (Psalm 149:5-9 NKJV)
I know this passage sounds a bit blood-thirsty, but did you notice the "two-edged sword" in the hands of the saints? They are armed with God's Word, not guns, tanks, and bullets! And did I mention that this Scripture has yet to be fulfilled?
Let me add to this by sharing a teaching from the apostle Paul to the Corinthians.
"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when Your obedience is fulfilled" (1 Cor. 10:4-6 NKJV)
Punish all disobedience when OUR obedience is fulfilled? I don't know about you, but what Paul is teaching here sounds very much like what we saw unfold in both the 14th and 15th chapters of John's revelation. Things to pray about for sure.
Just know this; our walk in Christ is not about dyingand going to Heaven. We are being taken to the end of ourselves where in losing our lives we will find His.
Then, we will go about HIS BUSINESS!
