365 Reflections

In 1 Kings we have a divided nation of Israel. If we continue the premise from my previous post that the southern kingdom of Judah represents those under the lordship of Christ and the northern kingdom of Israel represents those under the lordship of Satan, we get to see how these kingdoms play out over the course of human history. So what should we expect from the kingdoms of this world? 1 Kings 16:8–10 (ESV)  In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah, and he reigned two years. 9 But his servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him. When he was at Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah, 10 Zimri came in and struck him down and killed him, in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place. Elah dies what is perhaps the most ignoble death possible. While his army is out fighting Elah is drinking himself into a stupor...

Jonathan and David present many pictures of the Lord Jesus Christ for us. In previous posts, I have related David to the Church as those "in Christ" and Saul to the world's systems/governments and domain. Now Saul stands in many ways for not just the system of the world but the evidentiary wrath of God imposed upon the community of men who have forsaken His Word and sought their own adulation. Remember how Romans 1 describes the wrath of God - not as some sort of future state of the ungodly (although it is) - but as a present handing over to the desires of men's hearts: Romans 1:24 (ESV) Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts t o impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, Romans 1:26 (ESV) For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passion s . For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; Romans 1:28 (ESV) And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a ...

Revelation 20 brings us to the Millenium. Some people deny it, some people radically defend it, others spiritualize it. I always wondered one thing: What is the point of it? Why doesn't Jesus simply come back, wipe out the wicked and establish the New Heavens and New Earth and be done with things? A-millenium people believe that's how it will happen. But there are valid arguments for it's reality. For instance, why does John describe the resurrection and who these people are so vividly in Revelation 20 if this is a spiritual idea? Surely these people do not "spiritually" resurrect but truly come to life again. So assuming the Millenium is a prophesied reality, why does it happen? Why will the Lord have 1000 years where He reigns on this Earth only then to release Satan for a time to deceive the nations? I think I have an answer: The Millenium proves that even perfect conditions do not change the human heart. Look at what happens when Satan is released: ...