Today she posted “When the Work Becomes Weary.” A short excerpt:

Sometimes, those of us who have immersed ourselves in ministry or volunteer work, we can become tired.

Tired of hearing about individuals hurting themselves or others.

Of them making poor choices.

Of pain and heartache.

Prayers that appear to be unanswered or slow to come to fruition.

Sometimes you become so tired from all of it.  You wonder if you can really go on.

It’s a post I needed today because it’s how I’ve been feeling of late.

Lest I seem to my audience that I’ve always upbeat and positive, this is more of an open-heart post. I’ve had periods of “the dark night of the soul” for at least the past two years. There have been times when I thought I was coming out of it and then things grow dark again. I’ve struggled with trying to figure out if I’m confusing life’s typical trials with something that is more longer term like “the dark night of the soul.”

My family is going through some rough times financially, as I think a lot of Americans are. Some of it is a direct result of poor choices we have made and others are simply adjustments that we need to make. I’ve wondered how long God will allow us to navigate these troubled waters and then I try with all my might to trust Him with it all.

But if I’m being truly honest with myself, I will admit that there are times when I feel like chucking it all. There are times when I feel like I should just live like the rest of the world instead of holding myself to a higher standard.

Times such as these, I cling to Jesus’ question and Peter’s answer as found in the book of John:

So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.” –John 6:67-68.

Jesus’ question follows right after He told His disciples “But there are some of you who do not believe” (John 6:64). As a result of Jesus saying this:

Many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. –John 6:66.

Is this how I want to live my life? Do I understand that if I make that choice to turn away, I’m saying to Jesus “I do not believe.”

No way. There is  absolutely no way.

After everything that God has shown me and lead me through, “to whom shall I go?”

Back out into the world?

Are you kidding me?

Do I want to be like a dog returning to it’s vomit? (2 Peter 2:22)

The Christian life is far from easy. Anyone who says to you otherwise is a liar. But this fleeting life with all it’s ups and downs is nothing compared to the joy that awaits us in heaven.

And this is the hope I cling to: that God loves me and nothing is hidden from His sight. He knows exactly what I’m going through and no matter how dark it looks, He’s there with me.

May He Increase!

To recap the previous five woes:

1. Covetousness
2. Drunkenness
3. Flaunting of Sin
4. Perversion of Moral Distinctions
5. Pride and Conceit

The Six Woes of Isaiah: Woe #6 – Drunken Leaders

Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine and valiant men in mixing strong drink, who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away the rights of the ones who are in the right! –Isaiah 5:22-23.

Again we see the warnings against drunkenness. The “heroes in drinking wine” speaks of those who can drink like an athlete can run. It’s similar to the “valiant men in mixing strong drink.” The “strong drink” is the Hebrew word “shekar” which means a “strong drink, intoxicating drink, fermented or intoxicating liquor.”

When are leaders are intoxicated, it’s an easy step to “justify the wicked for a bribe.” In the Hebrew, the word for “bribe” indicates a gift to corrupt a judge or to free oneself from punishment.

How picturesque of what occurs in so many boardrooms of corporate America nowadays. Does Enron or MCI bring to remembrance recent corporate scandals? Doesn’t this describe so many of the scandals of even our own elected officials?

At the same time, we get the leaders we deserve. Ancient Israel experienced the same. God tells the Israelites:

“Where now is your king that he may save you in all your cities, and your judges of whom you requested, ‘Give me a king and princes’? I gave you a king in My anger and took him away in my wrath.” –Hosea 13:10-11.

Israel had a king: the King of the Universe, God Himself. But it wasn’t good enough for them. In spite of God warning the people about asking for a king, they went ahead and did it anyway. The people foolishly went to Samuel and asked for an earthly king.

The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day–in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods–so they are doing to you also.” –1 Samuel 8:7-8.

Are we any different? If we continue to shove God out of our own lives, will we not let that pervade all of our decisions including the way we vote and the business ethics (or lack thereof) in our working lives?

What will happen if we do not heed these woes?

God pronounced His judgment on Israel through Isaiah, Hosea, and the other prophets. Specifically, through Isaiah, God says:

Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes stubble and dry grass collapses into the flame, so their root will become like rot and their blossom blow away as dust; for they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. On this account the anger of the Lord has burned against His people, and He has stretched out His hand against them and struck them down. And the mountains quaked, and their corpses lay like refuse in the middle of the streets. For all this His anger is not spent, but His hand is still stretched out. –Isaiah 5:24-25.

Make no mistake: God’s judgment is coming. It’s coming for those that reject Him in this life. God is not willing that anyone should perish. He would rather that you come to Him in repentance (2 Peter 3:9) and be born again! Don’t wait until you have no choice. It will be too late then. Repent! Give your life to Christ! He is waiting for you.

May He Increase!

So far, we have looked at the first two woes: covetousness and drunkenness. Today we will look at the third woe.

The Six Woes of Isaiah: Woe #3 – The Flaunting of Sin

Woe to those who drag iniquity with the cords of falsehood, and sin as if with cart ropes. –Isaiah 5:18.

The imagery here is that of a public display of sinful behavior, likened to that of a parade. It’s the blasphemous celebration of sin and the prideful display of it.

The word “drag” in the Hebrew, in the passage above means “to draw to one.”

The word “iniquity” is the Hebrew word “עָוֹן” transliterated “avon.” It means “perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity.” Its use in Isaiah is the “penalty of sin.”

If you put it together, it’s the drawing of the penalty of sin to oneself. How? By using “cords of falsehood.” It’s the joining of sin by falsehood or a lie.

Who say, “Let Him make speed, let Him hasten His work, that we may see it; and let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come to pass, that we may know it!” –Isaiah 5:19.

Putting the two passages together, you get those who would unabashedly flaunt their sin and thumb their noses at God. They tempt God by calling on Him to “do something about it.” Like so many who have gone before, they think that God’s delayed wrath means God won’t judge sin. This is an error of the most grievous kind!

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the father fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. –2 Peter 3:3-4, 7.

Make no mistake. God is just and must punish sin. It’s up to you if you will repent and let Jesus bear the burden of the punishment of your sins. Or, you can continue in your lustful pursuits of sin and bear the burden yourself for all eternity. It’s your choice!

What’s next?

The fourth woe we’ll look at next time is those who would pervert moral distinctions.

May He Increase!

Like Ephesus, Smyrna was one of the better churches. Smyrna, however, did not receive any word of condemnation. Jesus only had positive words to speak to Smyrna.

We will now study the third letter, the letter to the church of Pergamum.

Pergamum: The Pagan Church

Pergamum was located about 45 miles north of Smyrna. It had one of the finest libraries of antiquity, boasting over 200,000 volumes. It was the place where parchment was first used. At one time, it was the capital of the Roman province of Asia.

The word “Pergamum” in the Greek is “Πέργαμος.” Transliterated it is “Pergamos” which is the word used in the King James Version. The word means “height” or “elevation.” Quite picturesque considering that it was built on a mountain and was a fortified city.

Pergamum represents church history between A.D. 314 to A.D. 590. It was a period marked by the world moving into the church and the church moving away from the person of Christ.

Jesus’ Letter to the Church at Pergamum

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: the One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this.” –Revelation 2:12.

Here is the third description Jesus gives of Himself. The “sharp two-edged sword” is found in the Bible several times.

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sward, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. –Hebrews 4:12.

Also,

And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. –Ephesians 6:17.

And,

And out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword. –Revelation 1:16.

What is this sword? The scripture is clear: it is the word of God. What is the Word of God?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. –John 1:1.

It’s Jesus.

The Good News

“‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.’” –Revelation 2:13.

Jesus notes two things right away about Pergamum. He notes that in spite of Satan setting up shop there, Jesus acknowledges His faithful who dwell there and “hold fast [His] name, and did not deny [His] faith.” That’s a huge commendation.

It is also revealing that it dismisses that notion that Satan is in hell. This is such a common belief that it is almost taken for granted. There is nor has there been anyone in hell up to this time. That does not mean that hell does not exist. It very much does. It has already been prepared but no one is there . . . yet. Satan and all his fallen angels as well as those that are not in Christ, will be cast into hell much later in Revelation 20:10-15.

When I first read this passage and saw the name “Antipas,” I initially thought this was referring to Herod Antipas. That was until I read the description of this person that followed: “My witness, My faithful one.” I knew immediately that Jesus was not referring to Herod.

This Antipas–a name which means “like the father–was a Christian whom we know nothing about other than he was a martyr in Pergamum. Although we may know nothing about him, Jesus certainly does as He mentions him by name!

The thought ends much as it began. Jesus says twice that Pergamum is where Satan dwells and that it is the place of his earthly throne at that time.

The Bad News

“‘But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality.’” –Revelation 2:14.

The story of Balaam and Balak is found in Numbers 22-24. Balak had asked Balaam–a prophet–to curse Israel who had come into the land of Moab. Every time Balak asked Balaam to curse Israel, Balaam would actually bless Israel!

However, Balaam wasn’t necessarily a good guy. At that time, Israel fell into pagan worship of the god Baal. Later in Numbers we find out who counseled them to do this:

Behold, these caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among the congregation of the Lord. –Numbers 31:16.

Peter mentions Balaam as well:

Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. –2 Peter 2:15.

This is the covetousness of one who hires himself to do religious work only for personal gain.

The half-brother of Jesus, Jude, also mentions the “error of Balaam”:

Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam. –Jude 11.

Here, Jude explains that Balaam had hired himself out as a prophet. This epitomizes his deceit and covetousness.

Back to Revelation:

“‘So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.” –Revelation 2:15.

Remember back in the letter to the Ephesian church, Jesus praised them for hating the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Here it’s word of condemnation for Pergamum’s toleration of them!

“‘Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.’” –Revelation 2:16.

You do not want to be on the opposing side of a war with Christ!

The Promise to the Overcomer

“‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’” –Revelation 2:17.

“The hidden manna” here refers to Christ Himself.

“Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” –John 6:49-51.

The “hidden manna” notes the sufficiency of Christ for the believer’s needs.

The “white stone” refers to a vote of acquittal. In the ancient courts of justice, the accused were condemned by black pebbles and the acquitted by white. It signifies our assurance that we will be acquitted when we stand before God.

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. –Romans 8:1.

As for the “new name,” J. Vernon McGee explains:

It is helpful to learn that the people of Asia Minor to whom John was writing had a custom of giving to intimate friends a “tessera,” a cube or rectangular block of stone or ivory, with words or symbols engraved on it. It was a secret, private possession of the one who received it. Well, Christ says that He is going to give to each of His own a stone with a new name engraved upon it. I do not believe that it will be a new name for you and me but that it will be a new name for Him. I believe that each name will be different because He means something different to each one of us. It will be His personal and intimate name to each of us. –J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee.

In spite of the dire message to the church, Jesus ends His letter with a wonderful promise.

This is the pagan church: the church at Pergamum.

The next letter is written to the church at Thyatira: representative of Romanism. We’ll study that letter next time.

May He Increase!

In case you have never heard of him, “Dr.” Miranda claims to be the second coming of Christ. He officially calls himself “Jesus Christ Man” or “The Man Christ Jesus.” Jesus he is pictured below.

Now most Christians or anyone with a basic knowledge of the Bible–who haven’t heard of this guy–might question why there is a “666″ next to him if he’s Jesus. I mean, if he’s “Jesus Christ Man.” Well you see, the good doctor instructs his followers that 666, yes, does mean “anti-Christ” but it means the Jesus after Jesus of Nazareth. Confused yet? Dr. Miranda has somehow twisted the Bible around to show his followers that they are to look to him, not the first Jesus of Nazareth.

I guess I should apologize. This guy is so twisted I cannot even intelligently explain him. I’ll let you visit his site, Growing In Grace Ministries, or “God’s government on earth.” Yes, that’s what the header section of his site says: “God’s government on earth.” For the life of me, I cannot figure out how anyone who does even a cursory reading of just the New Testament can attend his services and not scratch their heads.

He quotes plenty of scriptures from the Bible which is nice. But I think he’s going to have a difficult time finding the prophecies related to Jesus coming back as a former heroin addict, from Puerto Rico and living in Florida. I could have sworn I read somewhere that Jesus was coming “on the clouds of heaven” at His Second Coming. Maybe Dr. Miranda thought that the “clouds of heaven” were clouds of crack smoke? I’m not sure.

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. –2 Peter 2:1-3.

Have we learned nothing from and since Jonestown circa November 1978?

May He (Jesus of Nazareth, the Almighty, the Eternal, the One True God) Increase!