Are You On The Fence? It is time to pick a side!

"And the seventh angel sounded: and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ: and He will reign forever and ever.'"  Revelation 11:15


As we studied Tuesday night, this verse is a pivotal point in Revelation.  The blowing of the seventh trumpet begins the final battle between Satan and Jesus Christ.   With this verse, God will fulfill the promise He made in Genesis 3:15 - "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers, he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel,".  Here we see the beginning of the process, the lines are drawn, sides are chosen and the final battle begins - two kingdoms, two powers, two women....


The question we must all ask ourselves is "Which side am I on?"  And more important, we must decide now!


Chapters 12 - 18 very graphically depict the ultimate battle of good v. evil.  We witness the age old battle (Gen. 3:15) of Satan and the Woman (Israel) and then Satan is cast to earth (Rev 12) and given authority to rule for 3 1/2 years (Rev 13:5).  We see his unholy trinity (Dragon, Beast, False Prophet) make worshipers out of all the people of the earth. (Rev. 13: 8,12).  We see the warnings to reject the beast and "Fear God" or "drink the wrath of God".  (Rev 14)   Then we witness the direct assault by the Kingdom of God as the seven bowls are prepared and poured out on to the kingdom of Satan.  (Rev. 15-16).  Babylon, who first appears in Genesis 11:3-9, "the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth" (Rev 17:5), falls at the hand of God as He avenges the blood of the prophets and saints and all who have been slain on the earth (Rev. 18).  All of this ushers in the marriage of Christ to his bride (the church) (Rev. 19), the binding of Satan and the rule and reign of Christ and His bride for 1000 years, the end of which will bring final judgement for all. (Rev. 20)


It will be spectacular.  Both the power of Satan and the power of God will be displayed in awesome fury.  We will see the best of both.  However, only the ONE true power will prevail.  Those standing on the side of the kingdom of Satan will receive an eternal judgement in the lake of fire (Rev 20:15) and those who stood in faith with the Kingdom of God will dwell with Him for eternity where tears, death, mourning and pain will be no more. (Rev. 21: 3-4).


From all of this, you might be saying, "why would anyone pick the side of Satan?"  We all want to be winners, if we know how it ends, then of course we will pick the side of God.  Oh, if it were only that simple!  But the sad fact is, only 9% of those who profess to be Christian read their bible and know the Word of God.  Most people want the best of both worlds.  They want to claim the glory and favor of God but still live in this world.  They don't want to change their lifestyles or give up their idols.  However, this fact is clear, without knowledge of the Word of God, Satan has vast power of cunning and deception.  (2 Cor. 11:13-15; 2 Peter 2:1).  Those who do not know the truth will be easily deceived with false signs, wonders and miracles (2 Thessalonians 2:9). 


I will let you in on the awesome mystery of God.  We are now living in the hour of grace.  Your salvation is a gift, not something to be earned or purchased.  Right now, you can chose to stand on the side of the Kingdom of Heaven.  God has redeemed you from sin and death through the gift of His son, Jesus Christ.  All that is required is for you to BELIEVE God, which is distinctly different than believing IN God (Genesis 15:6; Romans 10:6; Ephesians 1:13).


Believing God, requires you to know God.  The only way to know God is through His word.  So you see, sweet friends, the time to chose sides is NOW.  You must be prepared for the battle to come.  You must read, study and understand who God is, through His word so that you will be able to recognize and stand on the side of the One power, the One Kingdom, the One woman. 

So, as Kay so eloquently put it, "Beloved, do you want a Kingdom that lasts or a kingdom that will surely be destroyed?"  The time to chose is NOW....the Kingdom is at hand.