December 30
Revelation 15:1-18:24
Paul Harvey had a radio program called "The Rest of the Story." He would present forgotten stories with unpredictable twists, turns and endings. He would leave out a key element, often the name of the individual that the story was based upon. At the conclusion he would say: "And now you know the rest of the story". Most live their lives convinced the importance of a story is only in the here and now. As we move towards the climax of the book of Revelation, it is the end of the story which really matters. For seven years those that came to faith during the Tribulation have been hunted, persecuted and executed. From an earthly perspective they lost the battle. We read in Revelation 15:2-4, "I saw before me what seemed to be a glass sea mixed with fire. And on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number representing his name. They were all holding harps that God had given them. And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed.”" "And now you know the rest of the story." These tribulation saints who appeared to be the world's losers were the real victors as they sing their song of praise in comfort and peace in heaven to their King, the Lamb of God.
We read of the other side in Revelation 17:1-2, "One of the seven angels who had poured out the seven bowls came over and spoke to me. “Come with me,” he said, “and I will show you the judgment that is going to come on the great prostitute, who rules over many waters. The kings of the world have committed adultery with her, and the people who belong to this world have been made drunk by the wine of her immorality.”" These people had made their choice and chose to pledge their allegiance to the Antichrist. They had their fun while it lasted and their seeming worldly advantage, but they did not "know the rest of the story" God poured down his final bowls of wrath upon the earth, seeing if any might repent, right until the end, but we read their attitude even under immense circumstances in 16:8-9, "Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, causing it to scorch everyone with its fire. Everyone was burned by this blast of heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had control over all these plagues. They did not repent of their sins and turn to God and give him glory." Despite all of these chances, they hardened their hearts and refused to repent.
For believers, we hold to the words from Jesus on the cross in John 19:30, "It is finished". Jesus' payment on the cross was complete and all of our sins have been washed clean from us. This marks the end of our old story and the beginning of our new story, as we read in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV), "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." We might undergo difficulties, but in the end we win, and we will be singing songs of victory in heaven. But for the others they desire their trinkets on earth, they think this is the best it will ever be, they believe that silly bumper sticker, "He who dies with the most toys win". So, which is it for you? It comes down to a choice on your part. If you make a choice for Jesus, you have already won, despite how it might look on earth, as we read in Romans 8:37 (NKJV), "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." For the rest, they don't know it now, but one day, sadly, they will know "The rest of their story".
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: