The children of Judah

“Egypt will be a desolation, and Edom will be a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.”

In this verse Egypt and Edom are used as examples of nations or groups of people who have oppressed the people of God and inflicted terrible injuries on them including the death sentence. The voice of the martyrs always cries out to the Lord for recompense and restitution. God will bring justice to them at the appointed time. He will execute vengeance for those who have lost their lives because they belong to Him. God does not bring down justice straight away, but waits for guilty people to repent and change their ways. He waits, and so we can imagine that He does not see and does not value His people. It can cause us to think that God is not really involved with those He loves, but He waits in His long- suffering mercy. He is not willing that any should perish…

The voices of the Hebrew slaves in Egypt went up to God for some time before He instructed Pharaoh to let the people leave and go to their own appointed land. The oppression of the ungodly seems to go unchecked, but God will release His chosen people at the appointed time.

“Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword. They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.”

Hebrews 11:36-38

God’s people suffer in every generation, from all kinds of persecutions and stresses and oppression from the prevailing culture of the day. This is the way the Lord Jesus walked and should not we also find ourselves in this position. We must walk worthy of Him, whatever the prevailing circumstances might be and stay obedient to the heavenly vision. God has all things in view for us and will keep our souls and our hearts right to the end and bring us safely home. He will avenge His suffering people and justice will be done.

“Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets; for God has judged your judgment on her.” A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all.”

Revelation 18:20-21

The systems and structures that oppress the people of God will be destroyed. All who involve themselves with its great evil and oppose the holy God will find themselves on the receiving end of His wrath. God will not permit the lack of regard for the shedding of innocent blood, but will bring all perpetrators under the judgment of his holy law. God’s people will be free and will be vindicated before the eyes of the watching world. The voice of the martyrs still calls out for vengeance and the Lord will recompense them for their suffering for His sake.

“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had. They cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, Master, the holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” A long white robe was given to each of them. They were told that they should rest yet for a while, until their fellow servants and their brothers, who would also be killed even as they were, should complete their course.”

Revelation 6:9-11

A fountain come forth

“It will happen in that day, that the mountains will drop down sweet wine, the hills will flow with milk, all the brooks of Judah will flow with waters, and a fountain will come forth from the house of the LORD, and will water the valley of Shittim.”

This is what is surely coming. When the old order of the filth of sin and death is finally over, the new kingdom of the Lord will take hold and fully come in all its glory. The land of milk and honey will finally arrive and the people of God will have made it to the other side of the Jordan river in victory. The very mountains and hills will be covered with the vineyards of heaven and the wine and milk will flow into every redeemed soul. The waters of Judah will flow for cleansing and blessing and refreshment. All will be for the enjoyment of the people of God, both practically and spiritually. The hills will literally flow with the blessing of God and the lives of the saints will exhibit the full graces of the Holy Spirit in their walking with God.

The whole renewed earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord. The word of the Lord will flow like a fountain and water the valley where the Shittim trees grow. Shittim wood is smooth and strong and was used in making the implements in the tabernacle of the Lord. The refreshing streams of the word of God enervate the growing trees that furnish the place of God. That holy Word will always take centre place in the eternal kingdom as the river of gospel truth that runs forever for the people of God. It is like the growing stream in the vision of Ezekiel.

“He brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward; (for the forefront of the house was toward the east;) and the waters came down from under, from the right side of the house, on the south of the altar.”

Ezekiel 47:1

The water starts as a trickle and become increasingly deep until it is deep enough to swim in. The Word of God will always be relevant and we shall understand more deeply the truths that are revealed within it. In the heavenly kingdom we shall know even as we are known and God will be our everlasting portion, for His word will be known by us and deeply understood.

“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.”

1 Corinthians 13:12

The Pathway

THE PATHWAY: available on Amazon… This is a collection of posts from the daughters of the kingdom, focusing on the Christian pathway as we walk each day in our lives with God. The posts focus on the difficulties we have as we fight to live for Christ and scriptures that give us strength to overcome. I hope you will find it interesting…

If you search the name of the book and the authors name you will find it.

The pathway Shirley Hamilton

I am the Lord

“So you will know that I am the LORD, your God, dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain. Then Jerusalem will be holy, and no strangers will pass through her any more.”

The coming kingdom will be a unique and everlasting time, a whole eternity with the Lord and His holy people dwelling together in peace and tranquillity and eternal joy. Sin will be gone, forgotten forever, and will never darken our psyche ever again. We will be sure about our Lord and God and nothing will ever separate us from Him ever again. All souls will praise the Lord, those in heaven with Him and those in hell away from Him. The wrath of man will surely praise Him. If we have any doubts about the goodness and greatness of the Lord, they will have gone. We will see Him who our souls love, in all His beauty and we will be like Him. All the related problems of sin, like doubt, shame and fretting, will all have passed away, not even to be remembered. We will have our hearts desire to be free of the sin that so easily besets us in our life at the moment, and have total and forever freedom.

No outsiders will even be passing through our homeland of heaven, but only the redeemed people of the living God, bought with that precious price of blood by their Saviour Jesus. He will be forever on the throne and lifted up with His people to reign forever. It will be complete peace and tranquility and all judgments will be righteous and fair and all that brings sorrow and death will have long gone.

We will see the Lord and know Him, as the one on the throne of Zion, the city of God and His situation on the holy mountain as the exalted Lord of all. The Jerusalem of God will be a holy place reserved only for those who belong there and want to dwell in the courts of the Lord forever.

“Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the Lord’s house forever.”

Psalm 23:6

Beloved, may we not be cast down by what we see and hear in this life, but have our view transfixed on that coming reality. The kingdom will come and we make sure we are ready for it and are living our lives in the power of its eternal glory. This world is not our final home, we pass through, so that one day soon, we will pass into the eternal ages of the kingdom where there will be no more grief.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:4

Stronghold

“The LORD will roar from Zion, and thunder from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth will shake; but the LORD will be a refuge to his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel.”

The Lamb of God is now the all conquering Lion of Judah. The Lord our God roars from Zion against His enemies. He has stayed his hand through the aeons of human history and now the day of grace is over for humankind. All who have trusted in him are safe and secure, kept by the covenant of grace until this final time. God thunders from the holy city of Jerusalem and the full weight of the the law and the penalty for sin that it brings, falls on the unrepentant. The still small voice that calls us to repentance and faith, is now replaced by the thunderings of the holy God against the destruction that has been meted against His creation as the result of human sin and rebellion. No more will the wrath of man militate against His holy commandments, but will praise Him in the destruction of the wicked.

The whole created order will shake and tremble at the sound of the mighty God. There will be no place to hide for the day of God’s mercy and grace is over. God will not tolerate the sin of the ungodly forever, but will bring every human soul into judgement for its lack of fear of Him and its avoidance of repentance.

But, the Lord is the refuge of His people. This is the message of comfort and encouragement to the people of God in this message from Joel and also in the book of Revelation. Both the thunderings of the law and judgment are related to us in these texts, but the clarion call is to courage and strength for the people of God, as the LORD Himself is their stronghold in this supreme day of trouble. God will be the eternal refuge of His people because of who He is and because of His many and precious promises. Not one soul will be left out of the eternal kingdom and the glory of the Lord will be revealed in the lifting up of His holy people who He has rescued from sin and death. This is the destiny of all those who belong to God. It is so high and lifted up, we are not permitted to see into the glories that will be ours, but we rejoice in hope and faith. And yet we do know something of these glories, because we walk with Him in His delightful presence each day and rejoice with increasing joy at the the blessings of the LORD.

“… But as it is written, “Things which an eye didn’t see, and an ear didn’t hear, which didn’t enter into the heart of man, these God has prepared for those who love him.” But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

God has revealed His blessings to us In our personal lives and we experience His goodness and love to us every day. He gives insight into all those who love Him and we understand His ways and His heart. We do not know all that awaits for us in the coming kingdom, but we have the precious presence of the Lord Jesus and the indwelling Holy Spirit who ministers to us and teaches us.

Beloved, let is not be cast down about anything but rejoice in all that is kept for us and that will soon be revealed. Our Stronghold will keep us to the very end and lift us victorious in His great might.

Withdraw their shining

“The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.”

Heaven and the created earth hides their eyes from the bloody scene of mass destruction.

The created order obeys its Lord and Maker and becomes darkened like the hearts of the people who have turned against their Lord and God. The emancipation of creation is at hand. After the long centuries of groaning under the weight and effect of sin, it will finally be free.

“The fourth angel sounded, and one third of the sun was struck, and one third of the moon, and one third of the stars; so that one third of them would be darkened, and the day wouldn’t shine for one third of it, and the night in the same way.”

Revelation 8:12

The darkness seems to prevail for a short time. The ungodliness of the human has taken hold of the inhabitants of earth and the outworking of justice is about to unfold. The people of God return to the earth with their Lord and ride on white horses, robed in white linen as the sign of the inner righteousness that they now possess. The darkness does not affect them, as all fear is past for them and only joy remains.

There will be those that shine brightly and their star never goes out. They stand in contrast to the seething mass of suffering humanity and know that the justice they love is finally meted out. Those who shine like the heavens do so with the radiance of the Lord Jesus, who has bought their freedom at such a great price. They have suffered for Him and now stand as bright stars in the temple of the Lord in voluntary glory in His person. They shine with the righteousness that they embraced on earth and the sacrificial joy by which they willingly laid down their lives for their Lord.

“Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.”

Daniel 12:3

The lights go out on human history, but are shining brightly, forever, in the kingdom of God. Joy reigns supreme and the light of God brightens the way of the redeemed and never goes out…

REVELATION

REVELATION: This devotional commentary is available on Amazon. It tracks the revelation of Jesus Christ in the days of human history and in these last days in which we live. The Lord Jesus will return soon, and we should gain the insight and comfort that God provides for us in his word. We live in frightening times, but there is refuge in the only Saviour…

If you search the name of the book and the authors name you will find it.

Revelation Shirley Hamilton

Valley of Decision

“Put in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the winepress is full, the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great.” Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near, in the valley of decision.”

The scenario is sickening. The bloodletting is sure. The judgment has come in the form of the Lamb of God who has taken away the sin of His people and now calls the wicked out to battle.

“I looked, and saw a white cloud, and on the cloud one sitting like a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. Another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Send your sickle, and reap; for the hour to reap has come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe!” He who sat on the cloud thrust his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.”

Revelation 14:14-16

The angel with the sickle is none other but our God and Saviour Jesus Christ. He has returned to get for Himself the victory over all wickedness and unbelief. All who resist Him are gathered in like the harvest of bloody grapes, and thrown into the wine press of the wrath of God. There is no escape. The offer of salvation is over and the great day of final reckoning has arrived. Only those who are covered by the precious blood of the Lamb slain for them are safe. They shelter under the mighty wings of the grace of God.

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. Dominion was given him, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom one that which will not be destroyed.”

Daniel 7:13-14

The all-conquering Lord has returned to claim His kingdom, His people and all the power and glory. The holiness of God has now overcome all evil and evil is being dealt with in the place of the wrath of God – the plains of Armageddon. The Lord Jesus is finally calling out His enemies and His people are with Him, rejoicing in the triumph of the name of Christ their all- conquering Lord and God. He alone is able to pronounce and execute judgment on the nations that forget God and He alone treads the wine press of the punishment for sin. All will succumb.

“Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his Anointed, saying, “Let’s break their bonds apart, and cast their cords from us.”

He who sits in the heavens will laugh, The Lord will have them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his anger, and terrify them in his wrath: “Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.”

Psalm 2:1-6

The rebellion in every human heart will be broken and each will face the consequences of its folly. Those who have followed the kings of the earth, will now received the just recompense for their treachery against their Saviour and rightful Lord. The bonds of sin and death will be broken for the people of God, but for the ungodly, they will receive the second death that they have chosen. The Lord will laugh at them and will put them to eternal flight. No one will escape the justice of God and all will be terrified. The Lord Jesus Christ will be set on high and have His true position over the kings of the earth and all who follow them.

It is called the Valley of Decision, not because they can decide for God, but because their dreadful fate is finally outworked and applied to their souls. Their souls are lost to God for good- such is the terrible and frightening position of God-haters and all who embrace folly.

I sit to judge

“Let the nations arouse themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the surrounding nations.”

The beast of the sea and the beast of the land is awakening and the Antichrist is gathering his troops, the nations of the whole world against the cause and person of Christ. God is directing all the proceedings and empowering the nations to have the motivation against the Lord Jesus. They have hardened their hearts against the Lord and now they find they cannot go back, because God has irrevocably hardened them. They are compelled to go to that Valley of Jehoshaphat to face the wrath of the Lord and the ignominy of total rout.

This will be the demonstration of the final outcome of the rejection of the nations of the world of the Lord Jesus Christ. The folly of the human way will be seen to be what it is and will find they can do nothing but bow their knees in force to the Lord of the Universe. The Lord Jesus will have ceased to be the Saviour of the world and will now be its judge. The sentence will be passed. It will be immediate and thorough, for all flesh will die and the carrion birds will pick the flesh off the bodies.

There will be no fighting for the saints of God, for Christ will despatch the sentence from His own mouth and His word will not fail.

“Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and tell Gog, Thus says the Lord God: In that day when my people Israel dwells securely, shall you not know it? You shall come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you, and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army; and you shall come up against my people Israel, as a cloud to cover the land: it shall happen in the latter days, that I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when I shall be sanctified in you, Gog, before their eyes.”

Ezekiel 38:14-16

God will bring up the forces of evil against His holy people and they will fail. They may come as a mighty army with great intimidation and seeming force, but it will not succeed. The prophet Ezekiel has prophecied this end for the people of earth – all who hate God and refuse Him. God will gain all the glory and honour at this great event and his purposes will finally be seen and known. The LORD will be sanctified before all the human race and all will know that He alone is the Lord.

“At the time of the end shall the king of the south contend with him; and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass through… But news out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him; and he shall go forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to sweep away many. He shall plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.”

Daniel 11:40,44-45

At this point there is no hope for the wicked. But we have not reached this point as yet. There is still a door of mercy in Christ that is open to all who repent and believe. The offer of mercy still stands, who would pass it over?

Gather yourselves

Photo by Felipe Hueb on Pexels.com

“Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves together.” Cause your mighty ones to come down there, O Lord”

The people of the pagan and false religion of this world are impelled to gather for this last great onslaught against the Lord and His anointed king. 

“I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, something like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs; which go forth to the kings of the whole inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of that great day of God, the Almighty. “Behold, I come like a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his clothes, so that he doesn’t walk naked, and they see his shame.” He gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew, Megiddo.”

Revelation 16:13-16

The Lord will call the pagan nations of the great valley where they will gather to make their last stand against the Almighty God. They can never succeed, but are gathered there, under the compulsion of the will of God. We must be ready for that day and have our souls ready for the end of all things. All will face this day, but only the redeemed people of God will be kept safe from the following carnage that will envelope the aggressing nations.  

The people of God will be kept safe from the aggression because the armies of heaven will come down and fight for them, indeed the Lord Himself will destroy them with a word from His mouth.

“The armies which are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen. Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Revelation 19:14-16

This will be the most fearful day. But not for the people of God. This is their deliverance day from the oppressions of the wicked. All that has vaunted itself against the Lord will now come to grief and the final end of the matter. God will destroy all who refuse to bend their knees to the Lord Jesus and they will face the judgement and the last great assize of the wicked.