Spirit of Prophecy

Revelation 19:5-7,10 - Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!” And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he [the Angel of the Lord] said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

The spirit of prophecy. Those words popped out. It fits right in with what's been on my heart all week. The Word of God. Jesus, the Word, who speaks to us through His Word, through His Spirit, to testify of Himself and reveal Himself to us from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. It's all about Him. He is what we who know Him testify of. And His Word testifies of Him and it IS the spirit of prophecy...of things to come, of He who is to come.

The rejoicing above was in response to the fall of Babylon. Today's reference to Babylon is considered the world view, an anti-God view. Those who do not seek God and His ways are part of that world. It's those who accept the ways of a "changing" society and align with it because it seems right and because the majority of people have. ...“Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! (Revelation 18:2) The world has fallen... The rejoicing was for the defeat of evil and the beginning of what peace was meant to be.

And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities (Revelation 18:4-5).

We are called to come out from among the world. If we are true worshippers of Jesus Christ, we will want to come out. We will see what we are and have been, what we are called to be and who we are in Christ. We have no longer submitted ourselves to the lies like the world but to the truth. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. (Romans 1:24-25) It's spelled out right before our eyes. It is prophesied. We are shown. We are victorious if we have come out of the world...and we will overcome the Day of the Lord which is yet to come.

I rejoice as those share these beliefs. That Day of the Lord will be a glorious day, to be sure. Glorious in that God's power and glory will be revealed. It will not be a pretty sight, however, when ...the day of the Lord of hosts shall come upon everything proud and lofty, upon everything lifted up—and it shall be brought low—(Isaiah 2:12). But those who know the Lord can be glad because they will not be a part of this lowering. It will be time, at last, when God will raise up His people.

All of creation, all of life, all we are here for can simply be brought very narrowly down to one truth, Jesus. Whether you rejoice at His name or cringe, it's all about Him. Life is in His hands. Death comes from one much lesser than Him. You either choose life or death. If one chooses to not believe and understand the things Jesus teaches, death occurs...no matter what one's church has to say about the afterlife.

Not all are headed for heaven, sadly. Not even those who think they are basically good people. It's not about us or our good deeds but about Christ alone. We are only accepted and victors when we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. And that is the glorious thing. We cannot understand all the intricacies of God's wisdom, His ways, how He sets about to bring people to Him...but if you even suspect He is calling, respond. It is so worth it. It is life rather than death. And you will be among those who will rejoice with the great multitude.

All of creation, all of life, all we are here for is simply to become the testimony of Jesus. All the Word has to say about Him...the most important Book, the most important words...are the spirit of prophecy. The Book was written that we may know Him, not just of Him, but literally know Him. We can hear Him speak in those words. We can know His desires for us. We can know His promises. It's all about Jesus. When we choose to know Christ we will be filled with the Holy Spirit who will guide us in all truth.

One day there will be a great throng of people rejoicing. I doubt, however, that the great throng will be as great as the throng who will be mourning after they realize their choice was wrong. I am glad I will be among the throng rejoicing. As children of God we become a holy people, a royal priesthood, whom God raises up. Won't you join me?

1Corinthians 6:14 - And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.