All posts by Larry

Motive

Luke 12:5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!

If all you care about is escaping hell, you don’t get it.

John 6:26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.”

If all you care about is your physical needs, you don’t get it.

Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;

If you are waiting for a sign, you don’t get it.

Psalm 15:2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart;

If you think that your actions and words will save you from judgment, you don’t get it.

Matthew 22:36-40 English Standard Version

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

If you look to obedience to the law to save you, you don’t get it.

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

If you believe only God is faithful, you are beginning to get it.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

Are you willing to be tested? The testing of our faith is not self-examination but rather hearing Him and obeying Him, who dwells in us.

John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

Love Him and you got it.

Fated

Revelation 20:11-15 English Standard Version

Judgment Before the Great White Throne

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Are our fates sealed?

Revelation 13:5-9 English Standard Version

5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

The names were written in the book of life from the foundation of creation.

If any names were added it is reasonable to assume God would have given scriptures to encourage us that our fate was in our own hands. Verse 9 is meant for those who have spiritual ears. It can be assumed that this knowledge is not meant for everyone.

I say assume because it is pride that tempts certainty where God is silent on a matter.

Revelation 8:1 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

How long does a half hour in eternity take in earthly time? All will be revealed in good time.

Nothing was read from the book at the breaking of the seventh seal. At this point the Seven Trumpets were sounded. At the last trumpet blast, this happened. Revelation 11:19 ESV

“Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.” That which was hidden will be revealed, I assume.