Time as we know it will end. The gospel of Jesus Christ has judged the world, and will judge you according to the works you have done in this life. But Satan, the great deceiver, will do all he can to keep your mind occupied so you won’t think about it.
The apostle John described this deceiving spirit as a beast. He said, “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.” (Revelation 13:1)
The sea that John saw was the sea of humanity, as the word tells us. “And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” (Revelation 17:15)
John stood apart from the sea of humanity “upon the sand” and looked out over earth’s inhabitants. He saw the beastly nature of mankind rise up out of the heart of man, which Jesus had earlier foretold. “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” (Matthew 15:19)
The apostate church commits fornication with the world, selling herself for pleasures and riches, and hides her guilt in a cloak of religion. She claims the name of Christ, and she says in her heart, “I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.” (Revelation 18:7) But her ungodly deeds are open to the eyes of the Lord, and he rebukes her. “Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire.” (Revelation 18:8)
Spiritual death because she has broken her vows and openly shamed her Savior. Where once all things were provided for her well-being, she now finds herself spiritually destitute and mourning. Famine, as the prophet Amos declared, “not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.” (Amos 8:11)
“She shall be utterly burned with fire.” (Revelation 18:8) To a repentant sinner and an obedient servant, the word of God is a blessing and a comfort. But to an arrogant spirit and a deceitful heart, it becomes an instrument of punishment. “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 23:29) For her unfaithfulness and her refusal to turn from her wicked ways, she has evoked the fiery wrath of God’s judgment.
But there is good news! We can escape the hold that Satan has on the kingdom of darkness. The glorious light of the gospel of Jesus Christ destroys the lies and confusion of Satan and his workers. Not all will come to the knowledge of the truth. But Jesus said to all that love him, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6) And again he said, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
We are living in the last days; eternity is near. The gospel of Christ is God’s last call to mankind. Turn to him while he may be found.
