Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. We make no boast or claim that
we can interpret or delineate each and every verse in the book
of the Revelation, as some do. We put forth no chronological
schemes or futuristic scenarios that unfold at particular times,
nor do we try to pattern our thoughts around the commonly
held theories of the various mysteries contained within it.
But we do believe that the overall purpose of the book is to manifest
the absolute glory of Jesus Christ as the King of Kings, Lord of
Lords, and the Redeemer of His chosen people. It is an unfortunate
misuse of this book to make it into a biblical fairy tale, even
though such presentations can surely mesmerize those whose
desire it is to be regaled by biblical fortune-tellers and
predictors of the future. If a man can count every hair
on the white horse's tail and give an interpretation of each
one, but misses the glory of him who sits astride that horse,
then he has missed the whole point of the book. In like fashion,
a man may fancy that he can define every seal which is open, but
if he does not fall upon his face an adoring wonder at him
who alone is able to open that sealed book, then he is blind
to both the meaning of that book and the knowledge of him who
wrote it within and on the backside. Jesus Christ, that man who was
a lamb as it had been slain, is both the author of that sealed
book and the one who is able to reveal the purpose of God,
which was hidden from the foundation of the world. This book was written
within and on the backside, meaning that nothing can be added to
it, and because it is sealed, nothing can be altered or removed
from it, nor can it be seen by men apart from his revelation. Though men might behold the wonders
of creation, no man could ever have had any knowledge of the
true glory that surrounds the blessed God, apart from the revelation
of that glory which is seen in the man, Jesus Christ, who only
hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach
unto, whom no man hath seen nor can see, to whom be honor and
power everlasting. Amen. Many in the present day
are yet looking for a kingdom of flesh and blood. Yet the kingdom
which the Lord came to establish and which was prophesied from
the beginning is a mediatorial kingdom over which He rules without
rival, and which He has manifested by His certain and complete triumph
over all His enemies, most especially any who might bring any accusation
against those which He came to redeem from sin's curse and death's
grip. He has obtained their redemption
by the offering up of His own blood once, forever. To be brought
into a court of law when one is guilty of a crime or crimes
is a fearful thought. Yet if one has committed no crimes
and is completely innocent of any wrongdoing, then such a court
can only vindicate that man. The latter scenario is the case
of all those who are found hidden in the righteousness of Christ.
Christ's perfect righteousness is imputed to all who are found
in Him, and they are without fault before the throne of God.
Even as He did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.
They are seen by God as those who have never sinned. To stand
at the judgment bar of God, clad in anything else but the perfect
righteousness of Christ, is to surely perish before Him, who
will not at all acquit the wicked, or by any means clear the guilty.
Yet to stand there as one in whom his soul delighteth is a
most pleasant prospect for those who have been shown that Jesus
Christ is the righteousness of God and does so clothe the objects
of his love. The basis of election is the
love which the Father has had for all those whom he has given
to Christ. God has not randomly or haphazardly selected some
of fallen mankind to be saved. Rather, He has designed the redemption
of those whom He has loved from before the foundation of the
world. They were accepted in the Beloved before they ever
fell into sin and were enveloped in nature's night and the darkness
of unbelief. Even when they were found to
be dead in trespasses and sins, yet they were beheld by Him as
a people without fault, because they were hidden in the bosom
of Him who declares His love for them. Now when I passed by
thee and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love,
and I spread my skirt over thee and covered thy nakedness. Yea,
I swore unto thee and entered into a covenant with thee, saith
the Lord God, and thou becamest mine. All have sinned and come
short of his glory. Yet Jesus Christ has canceled
the sin dead of every one of those whom he has loved. They
were without fault by virtue of his love for them and their
inclusion into the righteousness of Christ. But they are doubly
so now. He has taken away their sin by
the offering up of himself on Calvary's cross. The law cannot
condemn them because he has made them without fault before the
throne of God. If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.