As I listened and sang along with the church's Lessons and Carols service tonight, I pondered the verses in the light of what I have learned over the past few years.
Many of our carols and hymns were written long before the Dead Sea scrolls were found, before Israel became a nation in 1948, and before it became clear to scientists that global disasters tied to changes in the solar cycle would threaten humanity's survival. The Bible calls it the Wrath of God.
BOTH LAMB AND LION: Jesus came to save us from this Wrath, first born as a perfect Lamb approximately 2023 years ago, to die for our sins; and soon He will return at the end of the Wrath as the Lion of Judah, to slay the wicked and rescue Judah's remnant from destruction, and reign as King on earth for a thousand years.
The carol and hymn writers, like most in the church for the past two millennia, have confused the Millennial Kingdom with the New Heaven and New Earth. Much has been lost or hidden from us, and only those who read the whole Bible closely, and have the benefit of living here at the end of the Age of Grace and seeing many prophecies begin to come true, can make any progress in understanding the difference.
Remember that God is a covenant-keeping God. If He breaks His covenant with Israel (the Old Testament, or Old Covenant), there is no guarantee He would keep His covenant with the Gentiles (the New Testament, or New Covenant). The latter does not replace the former; it is a mercy offered for 2000 years to those who are called while Israel is blind, but the Scriptures tell us that the blind will see, the deaf will hear, and the dead will be raised when Jesus returns. His kingdom will include all who agree to be saved by Him—from every people, nation, tribe, and tongue.
As the church pulls further away from the Bible and falls into the foretold apostasy, keep reading the Scriptures and storing up extra oil for your lamps. It is not enough just to have a full lamp. The extra oil is needed for these latter days, the time of the apostasy, when there is not enough oil in the churches to keep the Light of the Gospel burning in them.
Jesus, of course, is Himself the Light of the world. On Pentecost He left us the flame of His Holy Spirit to live in each believer. Because we have the Holy Spirit in us, we believers are the light of the world right now. Our words and actions must be visible in this Light so that others see it reflected in us; as the moon reflects the sun's light, so they will know where our Light comes from.
"Let our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father, who is in Heaven."
Merry Christmas, brethren. ❤️
Wise words indeed, with all thet around us us crumbling and falling away, you are very sture in recognition of him in us God in us, God through us, God for us,. I absolutely believe that we truly are that light of the world. Yes, Jesus is our saviour but also true that he made us in His image. The Word, what we speak has power REAL supernatural power. Thank you and Merry Christmas dear heart!
Tammrae. Please - more writings from you. You have a remarkable gift.