Them That Are His
Today’s Verse:
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. ~Revelation 20:4
When we look at things from a human or earthly perspective, we think that bad things that happen to us are a curse or judgement against us. The Bible teaches us that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Others might mean something against us for evil, but God means it for good. This morning, we see how God never forgets the faithfulness of those who live for Him.
We see the slaughtered.
“I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God.” These are the people who will be saved during the Great Tribulation and become powerfully bold witnesses for the Lord and His Word. They will be motivated. Despite the pressure to conform to the world, they will be compelled to preach God’s Word and win people to Christ. They will be a movement. There will be 144,000 mighty witnesses that will fan across the world in taking the gospel everywhere. All of them will be unashamed of Jesus and His Word. They will be martyred. These precious people will be captured, persecuted, and beheaded for the faith. They will count the cost and count not their lives dear unto them.
We see the steadfast.
“...And which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads.” The great pressure during the Great Tribulation is that everyone will be required to worship the antichrist and receive his mark. It will be a capital crime to refuse to worship “the beast” and to refuse his mark. The water for this mark is being tested today with Covid vaccinations being mandated on people if they want to enter public places, see their healthcare provider, or be able to come on the worksite. These people will be steadfast. They will courageously say no to the mark of the beast. In the days we are living in now, there is a necessity for us to be steadfast.
We see the seated.
“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them… and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” "The Lord knoweth them that are his." The beast will do them evil, but God has good that will come out of it. These people will be resurrected. The devil and beast will want them dead, but they will be alive in Jesus. These people will be given rest. They will be seated, which means they will suffer no more. These people will be recognized. The Lord will give them thrones and responsibilities to judge during the Millennium. They will be heads over cities, and, perhaps, states and provinces. These people will be rewarded. They will live and reign with Jesus during the Millennium. These people will have a significant place in the Lord’s future kingdom.
Don’t let circumstances and pressures move you. Look ahead to the future and remember that the Lord knoweth them that are His. Be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.
Have a resolute God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Jeremiah 51-52