23 And I will strike her children (her proper followers) dead [thoroughly exterminating them]. And all the assemblies (churches) shall recognize and understand that I am He Who searches minds (the thoughts, feelings, and purposes) and the [inmost] hearts, and I will give to each of you [the reward for what you have done] as your work deserves.
For no person will be justified (made righteous, acquitted, and judged acceptable) in His sight by observing the works prescribed by the Law. For [the real function of] the Law is to make men recognize and be conscious of sin [ not mere perception, but an acquaintance with sin which works toward repentance, faith, and holy character]. Romans 3:20
The Truth is that we will all be used by our Father, whether we believe in Him or not, to do works. We are shown that even Pilate and Herod were used by our Father, Acts 4:27-28. This is why our justification never depends on any work that we do, but on what our Father does. Jezebel was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. She and her followers were being scolded for what she was teaching, which was leading people to themselves and not towards our Father. Jesus will bring the teachings of Jezebel to and end. He will absolutely throw all of her lies into the Lake of Fire. But she and her followers will be allowed to stay as guests for eternity or what we also call the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
And those servants went out on the crossroads and got together as many as they found, both bad and good, so [the room in which] the wedding feast [was held] was filled with guests. Matthew 22:10
A Bride is not a guest at her own wedding. There will be good people and there will bad people who are allowed to stay for eternity as our guests. They will be allowed to stay because of Grace. Our Groom, Jesus, is the same yesterday, today, and forever, He never changes. Jesus forgave the Jewish leaders who lied about Him, who threatened His followers, and who even killed Him. If He forgave those leaders, why wouldn’t He forgive Jezebel? Why wouldn’t He forgive the false teachers of Pergamum or those who left their first love at Ephesus? Our works do not justify us, our Father’s work of Grace is what justifies us. Not everyone is called to be a Bride of Christ, but that doesn’t mean that our Father doesn’t love them and want to be with them. Grace allows everyone, both good and bad to stay with Him for eternity. The glorious thing is that the bad people will be forgiven and all of their bad works will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. The bad will be forgiven of much and they may even end up being the last in the Kingdom, but amen, they will still love much because they have been forgiven, Luke 7:47.
It is so easy to condemn people who are wrong. But Grace overcomes and overtakes all faults. Grace looks at what our Father accomplished through Jesus and nothing else. The Truth is that all of Jezebels works will be burned up and she and those who followed her will suffer lose. But amen, all of those evil works will no longer be, those works will die and be eternally done away with. The evil works will not follow the people who did them into eternity. The evil people will be saved as ones who passed through the fire of Hades. They will not be able to be the first in eternity, they may very well have to be the last, but praise God they will be there.
But if any person's work is burned up [under the test], he will suffer the loss [of it all, losing his reward], though he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has passed] through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:15
Remember this glorious Truth as we continue to study Revelation. We often judge so harshly those who will fall short during the Tribulation. But Grace still applies and its freeing power will overcome the most egregious failures of man. Hades will bring the wicked to understand their evil works, but the people themselves will be saved from being thrown into Hell. Our Father would that all men be saved and through Christ I truly believe that our Father will get His way!
No comments:
Post a Comment