On The Eagle's Wings

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

The word hold literally means to "hold down", some translations use the word suppress.

19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever.

Amen! This little piece of scripture explains so much! It is like a little overview of history. God as creator expressed Himself in His creation, His eternal power and His Godhead being see in the things He created. We know that His image and likeness was expressed in mankind, the crown of His creation. He says men are without excuse since the invisible things of Himself have been 'clearly seen'.

The old covenant perhaps best express the hopelessness of man without a Savior. Even though His attributes were manifested in mankind, pride set in and men placed themselves above God, claiming to be wise they revealed their own foolishness, pushing down the truth within themselves by their unrighteousness, and trading the glory they had in Him, for the worship of themselves and animals and birds.

God is a perfect Father, and at a time when most earthly fathers would have thrown their hands up in the air in hopelessness, He reveals His patience. He steps back and rather than intervene and prevent His children from experiencing the painful consequences of their sin, He gives them over to their own desires.

God's wrath is a fearful and wonderful thing once you understand it. He is not an overprotective Father who will not allow His children to grow up. He is not an overbearing authoritarian, indulging in abuse. He is a perfect Father who understands the power of a lesson learned through the natural consequences that come from one's own disobedience. He is certainly no wimp when it comes to being a Father, His tough love is manifested throughout old testament history and only He could have endured 4,000 years of the agony of watching His children go astray time and time again.

He sees eternity, He sees the end, He sees the lessons learned through hard trials, and His love transcends the pain of having to bear His children's sin. In the end of the old testament we see them engaging, through their debased thinking, in the worship of pagan gods and the practice of offering infants to a burning death in the searing, red hot arms of Molech, a huge oxlike creature fashioned out of brass. Our Father's wrath burned within Him. What did He do? Well considering the stupidity that mankind displayed, it is not unbelievable to assume that He would take some drastic measures of punishment! If we read on in Romans, and I encourage you to read the whole thing for yourself, we get to theses verses:

Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.

God does not pick favorites, every man will suffer the consequences of what his own impenitant heart has treasured up for itself. But in His mercy He has gone further than this and has not left things in the hands of mortal men. 4,000 years had proven man's inability to live Godly lives.

"... through one man, Adam, judgement came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in the justification of life." (Romans 5:18)

We, in our adamic nature, have gone astray and have done our own thing and suffered the consequences for doing so. But through the free gift of Christ, all men are justified and this is to be seen in due time. God clearly expresses His purpose.

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

This goes much further into history than the revelation John received on the Isle of Patmos. I will quote from Louis Abbott's book concerning these things but first it must be noted that death will lose it's power so that the graves will no longer be able to hold the dead and every enemy will be made subject to God, for one purpose, that He may be all in all. There is only one Victor...there is NO OTHER GOD...there is no other power or authority in heaven or on earth.

Quote from Louis Abbot from his book 'Analytical Study of Words'.

Mr. Ray A. Van Dyke, compiled a comparison between the revelation given in Revelation and that given to Paul, as recorded in 1 Cor. 15:22-28. His comments are reproduced here:

"In the book of Revelation we do not have the final plan of God. Paul, in 1 Cor. 15:22-28 takes us much further into the future than does the book of Revelation. To illustrate this more clearly, study the following: 1 Cor. 15:22-28 as compared with the new heaven and new earth of Revelation 20:21-22:

In 1 Cor. 15:22-28, we have:

No more rule
No more authority
No more power
No more enemies
No more reigning
All subjected
No more death, death destroyed.
All made alive, immortal

In Revelation 20:21-22, we have:

Still rule (20:6; 22:5)
Son still reigns (22:1-5; 11:5)
Authority (21:24,25)
Power (21:24,25; 22:2
Kings (21:24-26)
Saints reign (22:5)
Second death still exists (21:5)
The nations still mortal (22:2)

Paul gives us a clear picture of what will happen at the end of the ages. John, in the book of Revelation, gives us a clear picture of what was "shortly to come to pass" at the end of that age. These things that were shortly to come to pass, literally came to pass in A.D. 70 and marked the end to the old covenant in the removal of the temple built with hands and also in the judgement that came upon unbelieving Jews. Just as scripture taught, when the warnings came those who were watching escaped from the city and were saved, those who remained having been deceived by false prophets, were consumed in the fires like Gehenna. The sheep were separated from the goats. And all the many things that Jesus spoke in parables were fulfilled, those who cried, Lord, Lord, and did not enter in, those who had not prepared their lanterns for the midnight hour arrival of the bridegroom, etc . More on that at another time, complete with an account of the signs in the heavens, the false prophets, the sun being darkened, and so on.

So much understanding has been lost because we have assumed that what our Lord spoke to the people in the first century didn't apply to them. But He Himself said many times, "this generation will not pass away till all these things take place", "some who are standing here will not taste death till all these things come to pass", "and all these things will come upon this generation," etc. It was precisely 40 years, a generation, while the inhabitants of Jerusalem were saying "peace and prosperity" that swift destruction came upon them. There was a coming of the Lord in judgement on a wicked and perverse generation, just as Jesus said there would be.

Ok, this is enough for today. But soon I will quote some very revealing passages from the historian, Josephus, who meticulously recorded these events. I remember a friend once asking why the Bible is no longer being written. I said, "It is my friend, it's just not being written on paper anymore, but on the tablets of men's hearts." The anointing which is in you teaches you all things.  Jesus said "My sheep hear my voice and they follow me."

How I long for the appearing of Christ, who is our life, when we also will appear united together with Him in Glory. (Col. 3:4)  I believe we will see, in this 7th one thousand year Sabbath day of the Lord, mankind progressively learning to abide in Him and by faith entering into His eternal rest.