“The Cry of the Martyrs” Revelation 6:9-17
One fourth of all people in the world will have died in the first four seals but God is still giving the world opportunities to repent and be saved. That means that God’s grace, kindness, and patience has not run out yet, there is still time for unbelievers to repent and turn to Jesus for salvation. As devasting as this judgment has been until now, God demonstrates His love in giving people yet another opportunity to turn to Him before He brings final judgment. But we must not presume upon God’s patience, Jesus said that as it was in the days of Noah (Mt.24:38-39), people were eating and drinking (going about their daily routines) so also will the coming of Jesus be. They were caught by surprise, wickedness abounded then, as it does now, let’s pray for revival! Revival always begins in the church when people repent, pray, and seek the Lord (2 Chron. 7:14). The church, especially in the west, for the most part is either asleep or compromised. Affluence and peace lead to complacency; the Bride of the Lord has become the mistress of the world but don’t get too comfortable, persecution is coming to a church near you! Maybe even this one.
The true Bride of Christ has been persecuted for 2000 years and the persecution is only increasing, but after the rapture when Jesus takes His bride home the worst persecution the world has ever known will increase exponentially. I believe the world has not seen a revival as great as the one described in the Book of Revelation (7:9). Just listen, “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes (ethnicity), peoples and tongues (languages), standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands”. The antichrist and the false prophet will persecute the tribulation saints (not the church, she will be with Jesus in heaven celebrating the marriage supper of the Lamb).
So the next great event (prophecy) to happen is the rapture; we could have a revival before that happens but not necessarily, otherwise it negates the imminency of the rapture.
Maranatha!
Pastor Alfredo
“When Patience Runs Out”
Abiding in the Vine
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:1-5 Ever feel like you’re hanging by a fingernail? Well at least you’re still hanging on! Jesus doesn’t want us to “just barely” be hanging on, He wants us to be firmly attached in Him but in order for this to happen we need to be resting in Him, drawing our sustenance from Him, enjoying the life-giving Spirit that flows through our being so that when we are in the midst of the storm we are not blown off. The Father desires for us to remain in Christ as He prunes off the deadness of pride, unforgiveness, anger, and as He clips away the excess of “time-robbers” to give us the room we need to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and in wisdom and understanding of His word. Just imagine the sweet abundance of fruit that will grow in you and me as we bring glory to the Father. “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” v. 8
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The Power of the Resurrection
“The Power of the Resurrection” Matthew 28:1-15
The greatest day in human history was not Christmas or the Day that Christ died on the cross, the most glorious day was the day Jesus rose from the grave, that validated and confirmed everything He ever said and did.
The resurrection is the stamp of approval by the Father that the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross paid for all our sins. Jesus took our sins and nailed them to the cross.
The resurrection is the “AMEN” of the Father to the words of Jesus from the cross: “It is finished!”
Matthew 28:6-8 “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you. So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.”
Acts 1:9-11 “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Acts 2:22-24 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know. Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
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