WHO CARES?

November 18th, 2008

Revelation 20:6

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Santiago el Grande, Dali 1957

I had a nagging feeling all the way through the service on Sunday last. The service was about the first resurrection. Difficult to imagine really with our limited range but it does sound wonderful to the receptive soul.  In the bible it tells us that, after the Lord comes to collect his Bride (those being the worthy souls on the other side and those still living) they will experience the miracle of transformation and receive a glorified body, enabling them to return with the Lord for the marriage feast of the lamb in heaven.

All the while, I kept thinking about the misery and affliction that would be left in the wake of this sudden event and how long will this period last before the Lord returns with his bride to intervene, bind Satan and mark the beginning of the thousand years of peace. Not soon enough, I’d say….for even one godforsaken hour would be too much to bear.

You might say…
So what if I don’t take part in the first resurrection, who cares?
So what if I’m heading towards the second death, whatever that is, who cares?
So what if I don’t want to be a priest of God and of Christ with his armies on horseback. Can you imagine me being one anyway, I can’t even ride a horse!
A thousand years of peace, hah…you’ve got to be kidding….that’ll be the day.

Well the prophecies have been right so far and there’s really no reason to believe they won’t be in the future.  I don’t honestly think I can imagine or even want to imagine what life will be like after all the goodness has been sifted out of the world as we know it in an instant!  In Matthew 24; 21:22, it states…”For then there will be great tribulation such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time. no, nor ever shall be.” “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved… 

It doesn’t sound pretty does it? Scaremongering you might say, not really. It’s only because I care that I feel I need to warn you. What keeps us on an even keel (in Europe at least)? Is it the goodness derived from respectability and decency, which in turn comes from a good old fashioned social and moral upbringing? For the time being most of us are able to enjoy the privilege of social freedom, order and protection and for now God has patience with us, just long enough until the great work of salvation is complete. The conclusion of God’s plan is a new creation and I think it would be really great if both you and I care about what’s coming and act sooner rather than later.

What do you think?