Author: words and signs

The White Horse

“And behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow. A crown was given to him, and he came forth conquering, and to conquer.”

Revelation 6:2

This is the visions of the horses that come out of the open book with the seven seals. The Lamb of God was the only one worthy to open this seals and reveal the history that was to come. The for living creatures, speaking with the voice of thunder, invite John to “Come and see!”

John sees a White horse coming from the book with a rider. The rider has a bow and arrows and He is given a crown. He comes forth from the book of history, or prophecy, to conquer. He is the conquering Saviour, who came into history to win over the hearts of women and men through the sacrifice of Himself on a cross of shame.

The horse is majestic and swift and designates the swift spread of the gospel in the Apostolic age, of which John was the last. The purity of the gospel message is demonstrated by the White horse which goes into war with the world, without fear and full of authority and saving power. It is the power that changes lives and can turn the mind and heart from darkness to light.

The majestic rider, the King and Kings, has a bow and arrows. the bow is the Word of God and the arrows are the truth of God that proceeds forth from the Word. This is the weapon of the King, and the weapon of every Christian.

We read in Habakkuk chapter 3 of the conquering Lord of all.

“Was THE LORD displeased with the rivers? Was your anger against the rivers, or your wrath against the sea, that you rode on your horses, on your chariots of salvation? You uncovered your bow. You called for your sworn arrows. You split the earth with rivers. The mountains saw you, and were afraid. The storm of waters passed by. The deep roared and lifted up its hands on high. The sun and moon stood still in the sky, at the light of your arrows as they went, at the shining of your glittering spear. You marched through the land in wrath. You threshed the nations in anger. You went forth for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your anointed.”

Habakkuk 3:8-13

The rider on the White horse comes for His own people. He comes to rescue them for the clutches of a fallen and deceitful world and bring them safely into His kingdom to come. All things fall at His feet and are conquered by Him, including death and hell. He holds the keys for these two enemies of His people.

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me, saying, “Don’t be afraid. I am the first and the last, and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades.”

Revelation 19:17-18

Christ is still going forth with the gospel to conquer and and to overcome the heart of all who will submit to Him and be saved by Him. He is the Soul winner and will bring all His people into the eternal kingdom.

“Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and pure, follow Him on white horses. And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Revelation 19:11-16

This is the vision further along in this book of Revelation, of the all conquering Lord and Saviour. No one can stop His rule and reign. No one can challenge what He is doing. This is our LORD and GOD and the only response we can make is to worship Him. He will conquer all His people. He will conquer our sin and all our unrighteousness and bring us perfect and whole into His kingdom, which is come and will be completed soon. All His people are being gathered in and no one can stop Him.

Worthy is the Lamb

“One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome; he who opens the book and its seven seals.”

Revelation 5:5

The elders know who the Lamb is and what He is capable of. He is their everlasting Saviour and has given His life to save them from sin and death. They always live to praise His name and worship and adore Him who their souls love. They cast their crowns at His feet, once pierced for them, but now glorified and lifted to heavens highest place.

The Angel calls for the books to be opened and the seals to be revealed. There is no one found worth to open the seals and reveal the history they hide. John finds tears drenching his face in disappointment and hurt at the fact that no one can be found.

“One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome; he who opens the book and its seven seals.”

Revelation 5:5

The worthy One is none other that the Lion of Judah, The very root of the house of King David, He is the King above all Kings and He has overcome sin and death and is therefore worthy to open the books.

The Lion of Judah will conquer all our sin and release us from the power of death and hell. He is the all conquering Saviour and the Lord of all. Only He is worthy to open the books of life and the only One who is worthy of our praise.

Twenty four elders

“The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!”

Revelation 4:10-11

The book of revelation is a symbolic book. On the best authority I believe the twenty four elders to be the redeemed saints of God. We shall receive white robes and crowns denoting authority with Christ and purity. All our sins will be finally gone and we will enter into the full salvation of body, soul and mind that has been promised to us.

These elders sit around the throne on their thrones, signifying that we will reign with Christ in the eternal kingdom. His bounty and love for us includes sharing His kingdom, with His people, who are kings and priests to God forever.

“I was in the Spirit. Behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones. On the thrones were twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white garments, with crowns of gold on their heads.”

Revelation 4:2-4

These elder continually worship the Lord before the throne and serve Him alone. They cast there crowns before his feet and laud His name with singing. They sing the song of heaven. When the seals of time are to be opened, there is no one found worthy to do so. The elders know that Christ alone is worthy to open these seals and they comfort there angel and the Apostle John, who is seeing this vision, with this worship of the name of Christ…

“Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome; he who opens the book and its seven seals.” I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain…”

Revelation 5:5-6

We comfort ourselves with this fact, that Christ Jesus is able to judge and open the seals on that great day, and He will keep His holy people until that great day. He will bring us surely home to heaven and we will see His face and serve Him there. We do not know what exactly we will be doing, but it will be glorious and will fulfil all we are as human beings and people in Christ. This is the glorious destiny of the Christian. We are not weary in this world about what we are doing for our Saviour, for it is the forerunner of our service in that magnificent place where our treasure is stored.

We do not weep, for as the people of God, we know the future is ultimately bright and no one can take away our reward.

The Midnight cry…

“ Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me.”

Revelation 3:20

The foot of the Beloved stands ready to step over the threshold into marriage supper of the Lamb. Soon this troubled world will reach its end conclusion, for we are at the end of human dignity and respect. We have no regard for the Lord or His holy commandments and the media is full of rampant sin, which is accepted and promoted. It is everywhere, and at every level and relates to every commandment of God. I am not talking here about any particular sin, but all sin.

The scene is set for the great day when Christ will return to take away those who have not succumbed to the evil in every society of our world. He will take His waiting people away and bring to judgment all who have blatantly and with knowledge and intent, have broken His laws. We are law breakers at heart, every one, but some repent and believe in the only Saviour of the world. This is the only hope we have to escape the judgment on this great day.

For those who believe, the people of God, this is our triumphant hope in Christ and is sure and certain, for it is promised in the Holy Word.

It is time to gather our clothes and ensure our lamps are lit and ready for the wedding call to come away.

“My beloved spoke, and said to me, “Rise up, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.”

Song of Songs 2:10

The Over-comer

“ He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne.”

Revelation 3:21

The Christian life is not easy, if fact, it is impossible to life in this world for God, without His power in our lives. The person who has never been forgiven is not able to live it or sustain it to the very end of their lives. Salvation of our souls starts with God and ends with God. The whole pathway in between is full of trouble and doubt and hardship. We know this because Jesus walked the road before us and He was known as the “Man of Sorrows.” He had nothing of this worlds goods and suffered at the hands of the authorities of His day, who eventually put Him to death on the cross.

I have heard Christians leaders say that Jesus failed in His mission. This is a really foolish thing to say, as it shows that have no understanding of there spiritual aspect of the life of Jesus, which was why he came in the first place. Jesus came to save sinners like you and me. Only He can set us free from the power of sin and death and give our souls life to God. We cannot know God, or come to God without Him.

The people who killed Jesus, where fulfilling the plan of God to show how our salvation would be procured. All the Old Testament sacrifices were pointing to this monumental event in history. All of human history revolves around this point. The cross of Christ is the very centre of our time and space and fulfilled the law of God so that we can go free and be forgiven. This is necessary for our spiritual life and the avoidance of spiritual death forever.

Jesus died on that cross in utter agony and seeming defeat, but it was the triumph of eternity, as he paid the terrible price for our sin. He did this because of His great love for us and to buy us out of the slavery of sin, and have a people for Himself, who would be with Him forever in heaven. This He did and paid that price for us, so that we will never die to God. We can know He really did this because He rose from the dead on the third day. He is the dying Saviour and the conquering King. No one can thwart the plans of God, and His ways are not our ways. Death is the only price for sin, and Jesus came to pay that price. What a rescue plan that was! It was made in the eternity even before the world was made, and is worked out before our eyes in the Holy Scripture.

The cross of Jesus was the triumph of human history, for those who understand and have eyes to see the glory of what Jesus did. It is not how we would do it, but we are sinful and selfish and have no idea of the holiness of God. God works all things in conformity with His will and not according to human ideas.

We embrace the truth and reality of it in wisdom, which comes from God. This is the mindset of the Christians and we walk the road to heaven in the light of God and in fellowship with the Holy Spirit, who dwells in the life of the Christian so that they can walk their lives to please God and reach heaven and home.

This is the way of the Over-comer. It is the road that Christ walked and full of trouble, and we will be disappointed if we expect an easy life. However difficult it gets, God will never leave us or forsake us, but will bring us safely to the end. At the end is eternal glory, and the eternal reign with Christ in heaven. We will be with our Beloved forever and have such glorious and delightful things to do and enjoy. All will be peace and joy and our sin will never bother us again. We will enter into our inheritance with Christ and enjoy His presence and power forever.

This is the destiny of the Christians person, even though this life is so difficult. Our view of heaven will encourage us to keep going and the hope we have for the eternal redemption will give us the power to persevere.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Hebrews 12:2-3

Zealous, therefore

“I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.”

Revelation 3:18-19

How can I please the Lord of heaven and earth? How can a sinful person please the holy God?

He tells us to repent. He counsels us to come to Him and buy gold refined in the fire so that we can become rich. This is not earthly gold, to make us rich in this world’s terms, but the gold of holiness and righteousness that makes us rich towards God. Only then are we able to enter His presence to praise Him, worship Him and put our petitions to Him.

We also need the garments of purity and holiness to cover our nakedness before the Lord. In our natural selves we are naked and covered with shame, but God takes away our shame, by covering us with His robes of righteousness. These were bought for us with the precious blood of Christ. Jesus our Saviour covers us with the robe of His righteousness and makes us worthy to stand before the Father who sits on the throne of heaven.

Our eyes are naturally blind towards God, and we do not understand His ways, His person, or anything about Him at all. We are blind and do not want to see the Lord, for He is not like us. He is high and lifted up and our Creator and we are afraid of Him, because we are sinful. We should seek the eye salve of salvation, to cure our blindness and clear our vision so that we can see the king in all His beauty. Only when our view of the Lord Jesus and what happened on that cross at Calvary is clear, are we able to truly see. The only way to get this is through repenting of our sin and putting out faith in Jesus and what He has done for us.

We will never seek these blessings on our own. We must experience the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the chastening of the Lord, to bring us to Christ in the first place. Throughout our Christians lives, we experience the reproof of the Lord, as He teaches us and and directs our footsteps to Him and not to another. He does this because He loves us and does not leave us on our own to work it out. He is a loving God and will supply all of these amazing remedies for our needs, if we will but come to Him.

We will find Him to be our loving God, our Saviour and Lord and He will empower us to live righteous lives for His glory and for our good.

Be zealous therefore, and repent…

Pitiful, wretched, blind…

“You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.”

Revelation 3:17

We don’t always have a correct view of ourselves. Mostly it tends to be rosy, except when we are down and feel self-pity about our situation. Then we feel we need and deserve help and support. It is important that we listen to what God says about us…

When we are self-confident we are full of the positivity of life and think we can do anything and that have all we need. We may have all we need for the moment, but it can change so quickly. God can take away our wealth, whether riches in terms of money, or our ability to do things and He can make us very poor indeed. Our self-respect can go and we can be humiliated by the circumstances of this world and made very low indeed. Our own view of ourselves, suddenly becomes irrelevant. We realise there is something else in play here.

God sees me in real terms, in His terms, I am wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I don’t like to think of myself in these terms as it brings down my self-confidence and courage to face the difficulties in my life. I don’t like to be made to feel weak, as I have no strength to face each day and be an overcomer.

This is the very point God is making. We cannot face anything on our own terms, we need Him at all times and in all ways. Of ourselves, we are nothing, but in Christ we have the riches of God. Only in Christ do we have the riches of God.

God’s description of us needs meditation and analysis to apply it to ourselves and see how poor we really are towards God. Before He even saves us, we are dead in our sins! We have no life, no ability to change and no hope without the Lord. It is He who has done everything for us – raised us to a new life in Christ and gives us the strength each day to life our lives for Him. Without Him we are wretched, pitifully, poor, blind and naked.

If I believe what God says and humble myself before Him, He will renew me and give the strength to face the troubles of life and be a strong and resilient person. Without Him I am nothing and have no power at all. With Him, all power is given. I will be rich, from the view point of God, and not from my corrupt human heart and mind point of view. I will then have a correct view of myself.

I am dead in sin before Jesus the Saviour comes to resurrect my soul. I have no power without Him to fight anything, and I am totally dependant on His mercy and grace. I must trust in Him at all times and build my faith, to love and serve Him better and be His humble and obedient servant.

I will not be wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked any longer, but will be filled with His power, and be clothed in the righteousness of Christ. I will see the Word of God clearly, and grow in grace and knowledge of God and therefore myself. I will see myself truly and not through the rose-tinted spectacle of this fallen world view.

We each decide what we want. We ask the Lord for wisdom to chose His way and not our way. He will lead us in all truth, for He is not willing that any should perish.

Sovereign God

“He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things:”

Revelation 3:7

The Lord our God is a holy God. There is no imperfection in Him. Every decision He makes and every law He utters is righteous and true. This is speaking of the Lord Jesus, the Eternal Son of the Living God. Jesus holds the keys to death and hell and is the Saviour of the world, soon to be its judge. He holds the keys to the kingdom of God, which is given to Him, with a people for His names sake, which are the Christian believers through all time, who have had a change of heart from sin to righteousness. He has the key of David, who as the greatest earthy king, and denotes Jesus the Lord as the King of all Kings and the Lord over all. He gives the understanding of the Word and opens the deadened mind to understand the deep things of God.

Whatever the Lord our God decides for us, is for the best and for our good. We bow our knees and our will to His sovereign will and know that he is in control and will work all things for our good. Whatever He opens no one can shut and whatever he closes, no one can open. All power and decision belong to Him alone.

Christ opens the door of the heart to believe and accept Him. He opens the doors of opportunity for us to hear the gospel and opportunities to believe. May we not pass them over. He opens the doors of churches to preach His word and proclaim the gospel to a lost world. He opens the lips of the Christian to speak for Him and tell others the good news that they can be forgiven and enter heaven triumphantly.

God closes the door of opportunity, for He will not always call us, and should we continually refuse, the door of opportunity will close. Our hearts are then closed to Him and He will harden them and keep us out of the kingdom. He closes the ears of some so that they do not hear the words of love and salvation and they will refuse to come. The things of this life take over, as we preferred them to the presence of the Lord. This is a dire state to be in and we must come when He calls us and not procrastinate or fly to a false Saviour or refuge.

The church that this is addressed to is a church that is faithful and holy and has kept itself from error and the influence of the world. The Christians have some strength, but not much. They are constrained to build their strength in the Lord, strengthen their faith and be bold in the face of danger. Some of these Christians faced death for the sake of Christ, and gave glory to God in the face of this terrible end. They were given the grace to go through these trials and be over comers.

God also softened the hearts of enemies to accept the gospel, by the faithful and loving witness of Christian people and the church is able to grow. To those who have, more shall be given. There are rewards for believers and for those who overcome, by the blood of the Lamb, and are victorious in life and death for the sake of Christ, as he was victorious for us. So we emulate the Saviour in all we do for His sake and glory.

This is God’s will, that we overcome and grown in grace and faith and power. This we do through the inner working of the Holy Spirit and the strong guidance of the mighty God. He is able to save to the uttermost all who are His, and we follow Him to the very end conclusion of our faith.

If God is calling you, do not delay. He is sovereign over all things and will watch over you and guide you continually. Bring your sins to Him, for only He can deal with them. Only He is able to forgive because of the payment He made on the cross at Calvary for sin. He is the sin-bearer and the Saviour of all who believe.

To put this off is folly, for tomorrow is never guaranteed and today is the day of salvation.

“Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.”

Isaiah 55:6-7

Behold, He comes…

“Behold, the Lord is coming, with myriads of His holy ones…”

Jude 1:14

Surely there has never been a time like this time, with such world wide trouble. The stage is set for the coming of the Lord. No one knows the time, but we can see the signs of the times.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

Matthew 24:9-14

The minds set of people is changing too. Many live in fear of many things and suffer the effects of disease, famine, pestilences and global warming, which we cannot stop. There is also a underlying anger in the hearts of people, for God is rejected and there is nothing to fill the void. We are overcome with violence and using substances to help us through our lives. This is the birth pains of the end.

But we are not discouraged. The Lord is coming soon, and we are glad. He will come and every eye will see Him and the host of His eternal glory. It will be the biggest spectacle yet, or ever. We will be caught up to be with the Lord forever. No fear, our sins finally gone, and only joy, peace and love to look forward to! What a future we possess. We should be watching the skies daily to see if there are inklings of His coming. Our hopes will never be dashed, since His word is sure and we base our whole hope on Him.

It should make us the happiest people in the world. Our dearly Beloved is returning to take us to heaven and home. Who can stop us from doing anything? Who can deter us from the glory what He will ours?

If we do not grasp the magnitude of His coming, we will be discouraged and our eyes will be on the things of this life, and our ears full of the gloom for the media. We have nothing to be gloomy about.

“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

What a glorious promise. Forever with the Lord.

We look on our world with temporary eyes and see things that will pass away soon. We build our spiritual life and we look to Christ the coming King, who is our hope and our true love. Everything is for Him and all we are is to be in relationship with Him, who we love. We are not weary in well doing, or incredulous, or worried about the future – it is safe in Christ our Saviour, and He will put all wrongs right and all our joys will come to full fruition…

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful. Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.”

Hebrews 10:23-25

The Morning Star

“Nevertheless, hold that which you have firmly until I come. He who overcomes, and he who keeps my works to the end, to him I will give authority over the nations. He will rule them with a rod of iron, shattering them like clay pots; as I also have received of my Father: and I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.”

Revelation 2:25-29

Jesus is speaking to those who have kept the faith and not given way to false teaching and false teachers. The church in Thyatira was almost overcome by error and falsehood and rampant with sexual sins, but a few held to the faith of Christ, as revealed in the Scripture.

These believers are encouraged to hold on to the end, what they know to be true and keep doing the works of Christ, as He would want them to do. They are promised their inheritance with Christ, to rule and reign in the everlasting kingdom. They are joint heirs of that kingdom with Christ. Their faithfulness will be rewarded by the faithful one who keeps His promises, and as they have been faithful in the smallness of this life, they will be rewarded by the great power and glory in the life to come.

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

Romans 8:17

Those who suffer with and for Christ will share in His eternal glory. They are His daughters and sons and His beloved bride.

More than this, they are promised the Morning Star, who is Christ Himself! All who trust in Him and persevere to the end, will be saved and possess the prize of the Morning Star. Not just at the end, but in their lives as they walk to heaven and home. To possess Christ is the prize above all. This is the mark of the true hearted believer, that they are not enamoured by the promise of the glory, but by the presence and close relationship with their Saviour.

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates. But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”

“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.”

Revelation 22:14-17

We keep our robes clean from the contamination of falsehoods and the lack of love so prevalent in these days. We stay clean from the seed and root of sin, and from all who love sin and tolerate its presences and ways. Only those who keep to the pathway of Christ can be over-comers and gain the right to eternal life and enter the city through the gates of glory.

The churches have been ministered to by the angel, and now is the time for repentance and change. The Lord Jesus is the Lord of all His people and His mighty church, a great body of people, down through the centuries who have remained faithful and true to Him and His ways. They will possess the Morning Star, Himself, and enjoy the glory of His presence and power, even as they walk this sinful world and suffer for His sake.

This Morning Star is saying “Come” the living water is available to you… drink freely and your desires for Christ will be satisfied. Study the Scriptures, and drink in the wells of salvation, and find eternal life….

Daughters of the Kingdom

Women who glorify God