YOU and GOD

This is a real-life, real-time story of the brother or sister who has a need (James 2:15)—and to whom someone who reads these blog posts might be able to lend a helping hand.

Marian Sebastian came to the United States in 1996 from his homeland in Sri Lanka, on the promise of finding work through which he would be able to earn money to send back to his family for their daily sustenance. As is so often the case, the promises were not authentic. They were made by unscrupulous people who planned to take advantage of him. In his own words, Marian says, “I came to America to earn money to buy a house for my family, my children’s education and their future; also to help my father, my brothers and sisters.” After a brief time in Florida, where he was supposed to get a job on a cruise ship, he ended up in Indiana, working in a restaurant for a calloused taskmaster—doing the work of two or three people, 13-15 hours a day, seven days a week.

Understandably, after months of this physical, emotional, and mental daily grind, Marian became very discouraged. “I lost hope. Day by day, my workload increased, and I became more and more depressed due to my feelings of loneliness. I told two other people about my situation, but they did not seem to care about me [and] there was also a language barrier. Finally, I concluded that I was unworthy to live any longer. I missed my wife, children, and country terribly. My body was at the point of exhaustion, and I was falling into deep depression. I resolved to end my life by drinking poison.” That was in September 1998.

Marian ended up in Methodist Hospital for 45 days. A social worker took him to Good News Mission on Indy’s east side, where he has resided ever since: “I lost my esophagus. I now need to be fed through a feeding tube. I still experience a great deal of pain and suffer frequent bouts of depression.”

At the Good News Mission, Marian began attending the evening chapel sessions, hearing the Word of God preached every night by different preachers. In a short time, he threw himself on the mercies of God and trusted in Jesus as his Lord and Savior, following Him in baptism shortly thereafter. He began reading God’s Word voraciously and enrolled in a local Bible college, which he attended for four years. Following his studies in college, Marian attended Indy Reads for several years, studying English. Now he is able to read, speak, and write English fluently. He feels that God has given him a second chance.

Marian has had multiple surgeries to repair his esophagus, but to no avail. He was taken to Mayo Clinic in 2021 for an examination but was unable to receive help there.

While at the mission, Marian has worked as a cook. He joined Thompson Road Baptist Church in 2012 and attends faithfully, participating in prayer meetings as he has opportunity. He prays earnestly, beseeching God’s throne of mercy. When one listens to Marian praying, one feels that he knows how to get in touch with his Heavenly father. His prayers are heartfelt and spiritually moving.

Again, in his words: “I have a confidence with Christ and His cross. The Lord said, ‘Take the cross and daily follow Me.’ (Luke 9:23,34) I have a powerful testimony in my life. The Lord Jesus Christ gave me a second chance of life. Many things the Lord has done for me and my family (for which) I praise the Lord. (Luke 19:10) He is the true and righteous God. The gospel message touched deeply in my heart. Today I am happy because of Christ. I believe one day the Lord Jesus will send me to my country to be united with my family. Amen.”

Marian has a wife and three children. He has received a Sri Lankan passport, is working on a T-Visa, has a legal ID card, and his desire is to have his wife come to the States to visit him. Because he cannot receive the medical help in Sri Lanka that is necessary for him to survive, he cannot visit his home country at this time (though he still holds out hope that he one day will be able to).

I was Marian’s pastor for several years and am still privileged to attend church with him at Thompson Road Baptist Church every Sunday and Wednesday. His love for Christ is genuine, and his testimony I can attest to. He has been accepted and loved and helped by our church family. The Good News Ministries of Indianapolis has been compassionate, generous, loving, and kind to Marian since the day he landed there from Methodist Hospital in 1998. They have provided comfortable housing, transportation, meals, clothing, and much medical assistance. As a pastor, close to Marian, I cannot say enough good about Dan Evans, Director of Good News Ministries, and the GNM staff for their loving kindness to our friend and brother in Christ, Marian Sebastian. They have been the Lord’s lifeline to this once destitute brother for more than a quarter of a century! Asking nothing in return.

How can you help Marian? Well, if there is an employer in greater Indianapolis that could provide a job for 15-20 hours a week, that is what he is praying for. He is limited physically in what he can do, but he still wants to earn some money to send home to his family in Sri Lanka. And, Marian covets your prayers for his family and for God’s continued guiding hand upon his life. If you can be of any help with employment for this brother, just reply to this blog. Or, if you would prefer, you can email Marian directly at sebastianmarian717@gmail.com.

And, pray for Good News Ministries in their amazing haven for the hopeless here in our city. Support it with your prayers and with your giving as God enables you to do so. They are an oasis of grace in this great metropolis.

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:2)

Anger unchecked boils over into acts that reveal the worst side of a person. The elder son of earth’s first marriage, Cain, was the first person in history eaten up with anger. (Gen. 4:5) He had disobeyed God and brought to His creator a sacrifice of his own concoction—rather than one that would answer to God’s commands. As a result, God did not accept Cain’s offering; whereas, righteous Abel obeyed God, brought the sacrifice that God had ordained, and it was accepted. Anger is an upheaval of the spirit that has slain many people since Cain, who in anger murdered his brother, becoming “wroth” with God not long after his parents were banished from the grand Garden of Eden due to their disobedience to God’s stated command. Anger is still one of mankind’s most active antagonists. It will be until time shall be no more.

Solomon wisely said that “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” (Provs. 16:32) Alexander the Great, Greek general and world conqueror, learned this in a most agonizing way. The young Alexander was a gifted leader, “energetic, versatile and intelligent.” He was usually quite level-headed, but at times he let his anger control him, to his woeful remorse. One of Alexander’s closest friends, Cletus, on one occasion became drunk, and in his drunkenness began to make fun of the Emperor in front of his men. Blinded by anger, Alexander quickly grasped a spear from a soldier’s hand and hurled it at his drunken friend, with the intent of frightening the general; but, Alexander’s aim was deft, and the spear hit its mark with deadly force, killing the Emperor’s childhood friend. Alexander was never the same, sinking into deep remorse and even attempting to take his own life. For days he lay sick, crying out for Cletus, cursing, and calling himself a murderer. Alexander the Great conquered the world before he was 34 years of age but he never was able to conquer himself—another victim to the sin of anger.

• The Sin of Anger: Anger is often birthed in rebellion. Man’s spirit stiffens itself against a person, a restriction, a perceived injustice, a jealous spirit, envy, revenge, and a multitude of other avenues that the fallen nature of man is quick to make available. The sin of anger is birthed in rebellion, ultimately, to the rule of God; it is also nurtured in pride and self-centeredness. Lucifer—son of the morning angel before being lifted up in pride and becoming the Devil—was angry that He was not on the throne of God, and in every deed the Devil has ever done there are the sister seeds of pride and anger.

• The Signs of Anger: A fallen countenance (Gen. 4:5,6); irritableness; impatience, tense voice; glaring stare; hurtful epitaphs, words designed to hurt, explosive threats and actions, silence, clenched teeth, heavy breathing, violent behavior. Almost daily, in most major cities and even small cities, the awful end result of anger is reported on the news: murder.

•  The Severe Consequences of Anger. Often, people overcome by anger become, as did Cain, fugitives. Cain lost his fellowship with God and, as a result, was made a fugitive and vagabond. (Gen. 4:14) In anguish, Cain remonstrated, “Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from Thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and vagabond in the earth….” (Gen. 4:14) Not only was living as a fugitive one of the severe consequences of anger, but Cain also became a slave to fear: “Everyone that findeth me shall slay me.” Under the law, by God’s grace, people who were unintentional manslayers were able to take refuge in one of several “cities of refuge” provided at God’s instructions. Nothing is worse than living one’s life as a fugitive, immersed day and night in fear. Sin’s consequences are severe and unrelenting.

• The Sad End of Anger: One person said well that “as long as anger lives, she continues to be the fruitful mother of many unhappy children.” A “resident” some years back in a wildlife park in the state of Victoria, in Australia, became something of a tourist attraction. It seems that a crocodile chewed the pipes in his tank and ate the filter, resulting in his normally green skin turning a bright orange. It is said that the change of color did nothing to improve his temper. His name was Snappy, and his keepers testified that the croc lived up to its name. That happens (with more tragic ends) with God’s creatures, who were created in his image—an image that was darkened by the fall of mankind into sin when our first parents disobeyed God’s command to not eat of the tree in the midst of the garden. So, Cain was overcome by anger: so was Saul, so were Esau and many others whose lives are a testament, in scripture, to the awful fruit of anger. Here is a short list of some other “fruits” of this sin: division, death, divorce, damnation, deceit, disfavor, destruction. That is why we read in the Proverbs: “Make no friendship with an angry man and with a furious man thou shalt not go; lest thou learn his ways.” (Provs. 22:24,25)
• The Solution for Anger: (1) Do right; (2) Find acceptance (with God and man); (3) Obey God and receive His goodness. “And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? And why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.”  (Gen. 4:6,7)

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the son go down upon thy wrath.” (Eph. 4:26) “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.” (Eccl. 7:9)

On this date, 60 years ago, I grasped the hands of “the most beautiful girl on the face of God’s earth” and vowed to love her “till death do us part.” I never would have thought that, 60 years later, we would be alive to celebrate our “Diamond Anniversary.” But, to the praise of God and with grateful hearts, we do humbly bow before our Savior, thanking Him for His kindness to us these past six decades.

I want to share with you a poem that I wrote a few years ago—not on an anniversary, but since I have never published this one, I thought our 60^th was the time to let it see the light of day:

“My dearest Ellen, on this day, I want to come to you to say ‘My love for you will falter never, I’ll love you always, dearest, ever’!

It was a day so long ago, to my delight I got to know, a girl named Ellen from Wilkes County, a girl that brought to my life Bounty.

You’ve proven sweet, true, kind and dear. I’ll always want you ever near; your beauty takes away my breath,

I’ll love you always unto death.

Our hearts were knit and we are one, ‘til our life’s journeys here are done. It’s been a joyous trip in life;

With you beside me as my wife.

God blessed us with our children three; they made our hearts beat fast with glee; we’ve seen them grow before our eyes, to give us grandkids as a prize.

We have a home, a place of love, blessed with God’s favor from above. We’re blessed in riches that abide, in God’s great grace we take our pride.

We’ve loved and laughed and even lost; at times, we’ve had to pay great cost. It’s part of life to face stark death, but God’s pure love gave baby’s breath.

So, Ellen dearest, this I write, to praise you for your life and light. You’ve been a beacon true and clear—To all who’ve known you far and near.

I pray your days left here below, will gladness, pleasure, blessings know; I’ll love you ‘till I cannot breathe,

And only then from your side leave.

I thank you dearest, my sweet love; and I do thank my God above, that He brought Ellen to my side, so that we could here abide.”

Marriage: “Two volumes bound in one complete, with thrilling story, old but sweet: No title needs the cover fair, two golden hearts are blended there.”

“And said, ‘For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.’” (Matt. 19:5,6)

The “You and God” blog of August 7 was entitled “My Heroes,” featuring a couple of men who impacted my life through their consistently faithful ministries. One of those was my father-in-law, Marvin Beshears, who pastored in North Wilkesboro, NC, for fifty years, and, who, though he had no opportunity to receive a “formal” education, knew the power of God upon his life in an extraordinary way—so much so that he “commanded” the respect of all who knew him or knew of him as being a real-life “man of God.” Upon reading this post, a pastor friend of mine, Dave Stertzbach, wrote to me sharing his experience as a young man in training for the ministry when he met such a man as Bro. Marvin. I want to pass this letter along, with Bro. Dave’s permission, believing that it will be a blessing to you as it was to me, with the thought that a ministry for Christ that will touch hearts has more to do with “Who you are” than” What you have.” Thank you, pastor Stertzbach, for sharing.

This hero’s article was particularly delightful to my soul. Thank you so much. I cherish it because of your love for Dr. Parker and your beloved father-in-law. It reminds me of one such hero of the faith that I met in the hills of Tennessee when I was a seminarian. It had a lifetime impact upon me.

Diane and I were newlyweds. She was finishing her senior year at BJU and, as a married student, I was doing my first year of seminary at BJU and working an almost full-time job. Diane wanted to go to Sparta, Tennessee, to see her great aunt, Lois Hutson, who lived in Happy Valley.  Upon arriving there, Aunt Lois had cold sweet tea waiting for us and a warm welcome to her favorite great-niece.  It was my first acquaintance with Diane’s cherished aunt, and she readily accepted me into the family, for which I was especially grateful!

Aunt Lois announced that she was going to church that night at her Southern Baptist church up on the mountain.  Bro. Pate Ford was the itinerant preacher who was speaking that night. She offered to take us along, which we readily agreed to do. I had graduated from BJU with a B.A. in Bible and was now studying to get my master’s degree.  I was pretty impressed with myself in those days and thought I knew a lot about the Bible, but that night was going to change me forever.

I briefly met the preacher before the service and Aunt Lois introduced me as, “This is my great-niece and her husband, David. He is in seminary at that Bob Jones University in Greenville.” I noticed that Bro. Ford was very cordial to this upstart young seminarian. And I viewed him as “just a country preacher” because of his simple vocabulary, his plain, out-of-style dress, and his soft-spoken demeanor.  Then … he mounted the pulpit to preach, and everything in my mind and heart changed!  He delivered a soul-stirring message from the Hand of God that was anointed by the Holy Spirit in a way I had rarely ever seen. His speech was plain and without the accoutrements of big theological terminology. His illustrations were folksy and heart-touching.  And his exposition of the Scriptures was illuminating to the mind, heart, and soul. That night, I heard a true man of God preach the Word.  He was a country preacher, but my respect for him was transformational indeed.

After the service, I was eager to shake hands with this new acquaintance. As I now warmly greeted him, I was anxious to know more about him, because he was obviously filled with the fresh oil of God. Since academia was so important to me in those days, I asked where he went to school.  He already knew where I was, but this humble man of God lowered his head and said, “Bro. David, I only went to Caney Forks Preacher’s School for six weeks. I learnt the rest by just studying the Bible & letting God teach me everything else. I ain’t never really been to a college or anything.”

It was obvious that I was standing in the shadow of man who was taught by God, which was evident by the powerful preaching I had just heard. I was so ashamed of my pride and judgmental attitude that I went home and got on my knees, repenting of my pride and surrendering to God to be taught of Him like my new hero in the faith.

I never saw or talked to him again, yet he had a great impact upon me for the rest of my life. And I wanted to emulate his humble obedience to be a servant of the Lord. I went on to be pastor for 48 years, but after that day I took on a new moniker. I was thereafter “the Country Parson,” with a desire to only please the Lord, serve Him and His people, and to glorify the Lord like Bro. Pate Ford.

So, my brother Slutz, you had your father-in-law, and I had Bro. Pate.  Praise the Lord for the spiritual influencers that God sent our ways and used in such life-altering ways, in both of our lives!  We are rich men indeed for such treasured servants in our past!

“Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men…not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God….” (2 Cor.3:2,3)

Note: Pastor Stertzbach (david.stertzbach@gmail.com) is retired from senior pastoring and is now affiliated with the Interim Pastors Ministry of Gospel Fellowship Association, Greenville, SC, Dr. Marsh Fant, Director. (mfant@gfamissions.org)

I have heard two preachers lately make references to their heroes. One hero was a Bible character, and one a contemporary person whose life and labors were deemed so extraordinary that his admirer labeled him a hero. The dictionary defines a hero as “a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” There are a number of biblical persons who might qualify as heroes by that definition. And there is surely nothing wrong with having men and women, forefathers or living, whom we respect and admire so deeply that they are, in our thinking, heroes. Nothing wrong, that is, unless we deify these people, forgetting that they are men and women who also have “feet of clay.” We ought, therefore, to remind ourselves of the biblical injunctions that we “have no confidence in the flesh” (Phil. 3:3) and that “an arm of flesh” is no guarantee of victory. (II Chr. 32:8)               

But since hearing the aforementioned pastors refer to their heroes, my mind was challenged to think of some of my heroes. Many come to mind, but here are two. Each impacted my life for good in the time that I knew him.

First, Dr. Monroe Parker—preacher par excellence, educator, and missionary statesman in the 20^th century. Dr. Parker was a staff minister and administrator at Bob Jones University, graduating in the first class of that school, which was founded so that young people could get a sound education without having their faith shattered by liberals who were bent on espousing Darwinism, so-called “higher criticism,” and other ideologies that have no basis in truth.

Dr. Parker was, for several years, president of Pillsbury Baptist Bible College and also a founding officer of Baptist World Mission, of which he was General Director when I joined that mission board in 1982. I had the privilege of getting to observe this southern gentleman up close and in person over many years; he and his wife were guests in our home—sometimes overnight guests—as they crisscrossed America in meetings.

Those of you who knew “the Monk” will affirm that Monroe Parker had a sense of humor that was, well, a sense of humor. His stories were endless, and his “punch lines” were never disappointing. He could make you laugh, and he could make you cry; his love and burden for lost souls was never absent in personal conversation or in his public ministry. Nothing about him was “affected”—he was transparent, discreet, and always in word and deed clothed in humility. When he was president of Pillsbury Baptist Bible College, the students there were singularly impacted by his chapel messages and his personal interest in them and in their ministry; scores of these young men under his tutelage went on to pastor some of our nation’s great Bible-preaching churches.

When I pastored my first church in Kansas and knew Dr. Parker only from a distance, I got tapes of his messages—the old reel-to-reel tapes—and played them to my folk in the evening training hour before the main service. Of course, the favorite was his “elevator trip to Hell” sermon. Later, I was blessed to have Dr. Parker speak at Thompson Road Baptist Church when I became pastor here in Indianapolis, and he was the first guest evangelist that I invited after I assumed the pastorate in 1979. Ellen and I, and our church family, will always cherish memories of Dr. and Mrs. Parker. They were, as it has been said, “the real deal!” He is one of my heroes.

The second hero that I would like to remember here is my father-in-law, Marvin Beshears. By the way, I have written previous posts on each of these men individually—“The Monk” and “God’s Man From Heaven Sent.”

I knew both men pretty well; and, although they were alive at the same time, they were worlds apart in most respects. But they shared an unwavering respect for God’s Word, an unabated love for souls, and a steadfast commitment to “preach the Word…instant, in season, out of season…reproving, rebuking, with all long-suffering and doctrine.” Ellen’s father was known all over Wilkes County, North Carolina, simply as “Brother Marvin.” He did not meet Christ as Savior until, during World War II, he failed a physical and was not accepted into active military service. So he went to Virginia to paint U.S. Navy ships that were sent across the oceans in military service. It was in these shipyards that Marvin heard the voice of Pastor Charles E. Fuller, preaching to packed congregations in Long Beach, California—filled with soldiers about ready to ship out to the war effort—pleading with these young men to accept Christ as their Savior. Marvin was not being shipped overseas, but God got ahold of his heart through the “Old Fashioned Revival Hour” preaching, and when he finally returned to his family in North Wilkesboro, NC, he was a new creation in Christ. He attended several of the many local Baptist churches looking for a place to grow in Christ, but in most all of them he noted men on the front porch smoking cigarettes. Sometimes these were deacons and even pastors. He just could not get past this, for when he got saved, he knew that such habits had to go.

Marvin got most of his education on his knees, with the book he revered, the Bible, opened before him. He was not able, in the difficult Depression years, to finish high school. He was working to help provide food and essentials for the family of nine children. He could not read with ease, mispronounced quite a few of King Jame’s English words, and spoke with a vocabulary unique to him. But anyone who ever heard him preach, or pray, could never forget the apparent “unction” of the Holy Spirit that was upon him! I was a ministerial student in Bible college when I became acquainted with Ellen’s father; but, in truth, I wasn’t even worthy to sit in the same classroom with this man of God.

He preached on the radio every Sunday morning, preached in prisons, preached in nursing homes all over Wilkes County. Mention his name and everyone knew “Brother Marvin.” He never had to sign a bank note—a handshake would seal any contract with this preacher, who lived what he preached until the day he died. I graduated from college and seminary with degrees, but my hero, Marvin Beshears, had the hand of God upon him in a way that I have never known. He was a mountain preacher—by the world’s standards, uneducated—but in truth he stood head and shoulders above most who were called “Reverend.” He was, by the way, also an astute businessman. He pastored the same church for 50 years and never received a salary or any benefits—but provided, with the help of a devoted wife, a living for his family, the benefits of which his children are still reaping. Yes, my hero, Dad Beshears.

I am out of space for now; maybe I will write about two more heroes next time. Stay tuned.

“And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” (I Pet.5:4)

Those were the words of the aged apostle John when writing to his “little children” in the faith—the last of his epistles, penned when he was in his 90s! He was no doubt aware of what Paul had written to Timothy twenty-five years earlier, shortly before his martyrdom, when he said in that second epistle to his young protégé, “Know this also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” (II Tim.3:1) John also had a vivid memory, no doubt, of that time on the Mt. of OIives when Jesus, heading for the hill, Mt. Calvary, to be crucified a few days hence, responded to the disciple’s query, “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matt. 24:3) In Matthew 24 and 25 Jesus gave a lengthy answer to those questions, climaxing in Matthew 25:31ff. with a statement concerning His age-ending second coming, in power and in great glory.

There always has been—and there is at this present hour—an interest in the cataclysmic climax of history, the world, and time as we know it. There is—even on the part of unbelieving peoples—an apocalyptic awareness that time can hardly continue as it has, with all the world powers having “red buttons” at their fingertips and at each-others’ throats daily. And, the “birth-pangs”—beginning of sorrows—signs that Jesus gave to the apostles’ questions about the end of the age/world have only intensified the past couple of millennia: with a multiplicity of antichrists; wars and rumors of wars; nations rising against nations; famines; and earthquakes in divers places. Doomsdayers have the small hand on the clock at midnight and the “minute hand” a few minutes before midnight.

With all of this in mind, here is a brief overview of what the Bible says about “things to come”:

• The Rapture (catching up) of the Church is next on the timeline of history that is yet future. Believers who are “in Christ”—members of His Body, the Church—will be resurrected and caught up to meet Christ “in the air,” while believers who are living at the time of His return will also be caught up (“raptured”) to and with them to enjoy, following the Judgment Seat of Christ, the marriage supper of the Lamb. (I Thess. 4:13-18; II Cor. 5:10; I Cor. 3:13-15; Rev. 19:7-10)
• The Seven-year Tribulation. Daniel’s 70^th week, during which three waves of seven divine judgments will be poured out upon the earth and its inhabitants, the last three and one-half years of which the Antichrist (Beast) and False Prophet, with Satan, will deceive the world with wonders, convincing millions to receive the “mark” of the Beast, conforming to the one-world religio-politico empire. (Daniel 9:24-27) The last of the 21 rapid-fire judgments will be marked by 100 pound hail-stones falling from heaven, resulting in the earth’s inhabitants blaspheming and cursing God. (Rev. 16:21)
• The Second Coming of Christ will occur as Satan, the Beast, and False Prophet come together to make war with the Lamb in Megiddo, waging what is known as the battle of Armageddon. Commercial-religio Babylon will fall to destruction and Jesus Christ, riding on a white horse, with a sharp sword out of His mouth, will smite all the nations gathered against Him, and He will be established as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Rev. 19:11-16). The False Prophet and Beast will be cast into the Lake of Fire, and Satan will be bound and cast into a bottomless pit, where he will remain for a thousand years.
• The Millennium. This 1,000-year period, during which Christ will reign on David’s throne in Jerusalem, capitol of the renovated, Edenic-like universe, will be a period of universal peace and prosperity. (Isa. 65:17-25) At the end of this period, Satan will be loosed from the pit, where he spent a thousand years; and, incredibly, he will go out one more time and assemble an army of unbelieving people from all the nations of the world—an army the number of which will be like the “sand of the sea”—to oppose the rule and reign of Jesus Christ. That unholy challenge to the King and Kingdom of God will, of course, be defeated, and Satan, along with all unbelievers (Great White Throne Judgment, Rev. 20:11-15) will be cast into the lake of fire, their eternal abode. The millennial earth will be destroyed by fire and replaced by a “new heaven and new earth,” which will come down from God out of heaven, the almost indescribable glory of which is recorded in Rev. 21,22.

One more thing: John saw Jesus in his vision, and saw a preview of His coming in glory, recording that when He comes, “every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him (the Pharisees who would settle for nothing but Christ’s crucifixion), and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.” (Rev. 1:7) Jesus, in the Mt. of Olives discourse, had told His disciples that he who endured to the end (of the tribulation) would be saved. (Matt. 24:13) Paul, in his “peek” into the future, revealed that when the fulness of the Gentiles had come, the blinders of His people would be lifted and “all Israel shall be saved.”(Romans 11:25,26) When they behold Him whom they (as a people) pierced, they will in mass wail in repentance—and, on the spot, accept Christ as King and Savior, thus entering into the Millennium as the Redeemed of the Lord.

Unlike the Second Coming, which must be preceded by the gospel being preached to all nations, (Matt. 24:14; Rev. 14:6) nothing must occur before the imminent rapture of the Church. We who are His Bride are waiting for the sound of the shout and the voice of the archangel of God, announcing to the dead in Christ that it is time for them to rise, followed by the catching up together with them in the clouds of those who are alive at His coming—and so shall we ever be with the Lord. “Even so, come Lord Jesus.” Amen.

“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness….” and, “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” (II Pet.3:11,14)