Chapters 19 & 20

God’s Diamond Word for these chapters:

“I will take you for my wife in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. I will take you for my wife in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord” (Hosea 2: 19-20).

Jesus continues with John of Patmos (J.P.):

“J.P. As my Father smelts away your hide-binding “Babylons,” he invites you to my marriage feast.

“That feast began a long time ago, when my Father married his people, Israel, in his righteousness – meaning, in his mercy, faithfulness and steadfast love (Hosea 2:19-20).

“Later, when he raised me from the dead, He extended that marriage to all people and all creation.

Your marriage robes were washed clean when I died for you on the Cross.

As your Risen Lord and Savior, I welcome you to my Father’s marriage feast.

Even though you enjoy new life in my Resurrection, new “Babylon”cities will arise to wall you in and whisper, ‘You don’t need God; just live up to your potential.’

“J.P., You slipped on that banana peel when you pastored those seven cities in Asia Minor. You liked to be ‘super Pastor’! You felt you could handle Jezebel all on your own. You believed you could avenge those who murdered Antipas in Pergamum. You even imagined you could fire up those tepid Christians in Laodicea!

Your new “Babylon” attitudes box you into yourself. It’s all “Me, Me, Me.”

Time to step back, J.P., and let me take over your life. Enjoy the wedding feast. Your “Babylons” just make you miserable.

Let me throw them all into the burning lake of fire for a “thousand years.” That’s Revelation’s way of saying, “for as long as it takes to get the job done.”

God’s “Book of Life” doesn’t keep track of all the good and bad things you’ve done. No, it records all the tossings you’ve been through and all the tears you have shed in your whole life time (Psalm 56:8).

God forgives you. His compassion embraces you . You stand upon the rock of His steadfast love.

Feast on God’s love, J.P, and let God cast all your devils and hells into the fiery lake of sulfur forever and ever.

* * *

I recently discovered a “Babylon” wall that has imprisoned me since I was a child. As a small boy I had been sexually abused. This discovery helps explain anger and fears I’ve carried around for over 80 years.

Thanks be to God for revealing this to me. Now I can enjoy the Lord’s resurrection feast of life more than ever before.