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REVELATION - Behold, I am Coming Soon
Studies in the Book of Revelation
BOOK 3 - THE CHURCH OF CHRIST AND THE TRUMPET JUDGMENTS (REVELATION 7:1 – 9:21)

PART 3.2 - SUPPLEMENT: THE UNANIMOUS TESTIMONY OF THE INNUMERABLE THRONG OF CHRIST'S FOLLOWERS BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD: “SALVATION BELONGS TO OUR GOD WHO SITS ON THE THRONE, AND TO THE LAMB!” (REVELATION 7:10)


What do the Martyrs Desire to Confess With Their Testimony? Whoever contemplates the cry of faith of Christ's followers before the throne of God will sense their spiritual struggle, along with the persistency of those tortured for their faith, in clinging to the promises of God. What was it these “perfected in their faith” wanted to say? What did they know of salvation, and what was it they were impatiently waiting for? We want to reflect on the fundamental principles of salvation in the Old and New Testament, for therein will be found the basis of Christ's revelation to John.


1. The Preparation of Salvation in the Old Covenant


The first mention of salvation in the Torah is found when the aged patriarch Jacob, shortly before his death, spoke forth some terrible prophecies over his sons. The elderly prophet cried out: “I have waited for Your salvation, O Lord!” (Genesis 49:18) Jacob longed for a restored, blessed life with God, without sin in his family, without malediction and fear of continual expulsion. He awaited the salvation of God and the descending of heaven to earth (Matthew 6:10; 13:43; Luke 12:36; Romans 8:19; Philippians 3:20; 2 Peter 3:13; Hebrews 9:28; 10:13; 11:10).

Fellowship with the Lord Produces and Preserves Salvation: Moses stood with his people at the shore of the Red Sea: Behind them, the dust cloud of the advancing riders and chariots of the pharaoh, before them, endless water. The helpless refugees were trapped. The aged Moses raised himself up and spoke with full confidence: “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today” (Exodus 14:13-14).

With dry feet they passed through the midst of the sea, with wind-swept waters creating a wall for them on their right hand, and on their left. The pursuing army of the Pharaoh was inundated. Moses recognized that the Lord not only gives victory and salvation, but is Himself salvation: “The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation”, he extolled” (Exodus 15:2). At the beginning of their wilderness wandering Moses and his people came to understand: Salvation is only to be found in intimate fellowship with the Lord. Without Him we can do nothing (Exodus 13:12; 15:26; 16:15; 17:1; 33:10-23; Numbers 6:24; Deuteronomy 2:7; 6:5; 7:11; 14:1).

Fellowship With God Leads to Repentance and Renewal: David testified together with the Old Testament community: “Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.” (Psalm 50:23) But King David fell badly, became an adulterer and murderer, and was forced to recognize: Salvation exists not just in a superficially well-tempered faith, nor in the prosperity of a nation. Salvation also leads to repentance, and the overcoming of one's own corruption. Only a new creation in our humanity can save us. David taught millions of people how to pray through example of his own ruin: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. (Psalm 51:10-11)

In Ezekiel we read of the merciful answer of God, in response to the prayers of repentance of many generations. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” (Ezekiel 36:26-27; 11:19-20; Jeremiah 31:33)

The prophets recognized and confessed: There can be no continuing fellowship with the Almighty, and no salvation, without repentance, forgiveness and renewal.

The Lord's Promise of Salvation to His Exiled People: The outstanding messenger of salvation in the Old Testament was Isaiah, who comforted his people during the Babylonian captivity. In the depths of their humiliation and misery, the Lord revealed Himself to them most gloriously: “I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no savior” (Isaiah 43:11). The Lord impressed upon Israel: There is no other God besides Me, a just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me. Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! To Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath: Surely in the Lord I have righteousness and strength (Isaiah 45:21-24; Philippians 2:5-11). Isaiah testified that all other gods and powers are non-entities. Therefore, the whole world needs a turning back to the Lord. Without Him there is no salvation and no peace, neither in the society, nor in the individual (Matthew 11:28-30; Romans 5:1-5; Ephesians 2:13-22).

The Servant of God and His Substitutionary Death: Isaiah heard the words God used in calling the coming Servant of God to initiate salvation: “It is too small a thing that you should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be my salvation to the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6) Isaiah recognized that fellowship with the Lord was not just a privilege of the Jews. Countless other people should be integrated into God's salvation. The statement of the Bible which testifies that the Messiah is the Light of the World, and the Savior of all peoples, is, until today, passed over in most synagogues (John 4:42; 8:12).

In His Psalm of passion the Servant of God prayed: “I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord” (Psalm 116:13). He was ready to endure every word of the remarkable prophecy of Isaiah 53:4-12. Without the substitutionary death of atonement of God's Anointed One there is no salvation.

The resurrection and ascension of the innocent and martyred Christ were prophesied numerous times: “The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.” (Psalm 118:14-16)

There is no Justification Except Through the Atonement of Christ: From the Jews in Medina Mohammed took numerous quotations from the Mishna and Talmud into his Koran. But the decisive core of the Old Covenant was totally missing: Communion with God in the Covenant the Lord had made with the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. For this reason, the recognition of sin and the sanctification of life in the presence of God are no central themes in Islam. Allah remains for Muslims the great, distant and unknown god, who misleads and guides whom he wills (Suras al-An'am 6:39; al-Ra'd 13:27; Ibrahim 14:4; al-Nahl 16:93; Fatir 35:8; al-Muddaththir 74:31). He does not attach himself to the followers of Mohammed. They remain his slaves in order to worship him, and could never become his covenant-partner.

The backbone of Islam is its law, the Sharia. The fear of Allah, and not love for him, dominate the sub-consciousness in the worship and life of a Muslim. They know only obedience to the Koran and submission under Allah and Mohammed (Sura al-Hujurat 49:14). Fear of death, the grave and judgment drive them to keep the law (Sura al-Anfal 8:50). A Muslim hopes, in view of his own efforts, and in the fulfilling of the law, to be able to enter the Islamic Paradise (Sura al-Baqara 2:25, 82 etc.). He hopes his good works will drive away the bad ones (Sura Hud 11:114). He does not see himself as unclean, lost and needing redemption, nor does he recognize the necessity of a comprehensive conversion and renewal of his mind. Since Muslims do not know the all- penetrating holiness of God's judgments, they recognize no need of a Savior, and are satisfied with their Islam.

A Muslim believes: Allah is truly with us! (Sura al-Tauba 9:39). He helps us to victory over our enemies with his hoard of spirits. For the sake of our victories Allah forgives us our sins (Sura al-Fath 48:1-2). The Muslim's battle against his own corrupted self remains largely foreign.

Mohammed maintained odd relationships with his wives. He married Aisha, an eight-year old girl, lured away Zainab, the wife of his adopted son, Zaid (Sura al-Ahzab 33:37), and slept with Maria, his slave from Egypt, in the room of his wife, Hafza, who happened to be absent. Shortly after he swore to his angry teenage wives never to do such again, there came Allah's command, to him and all Muslims, to annul their hastily muttered oaths. Allah had given them unlimited rights to their slave girls (Sura al-Tahrim 66:1-6).

Many people sin like David; few, however, repent like David. They do not know the Holy God of love. Communion with the Lord God of the Covenant, and acknowledgment of His preparations for salvation in the Old Testament, are totally lacking in Islam.

PRAYER: Merciful Father, we give thanks to You because You revealed to Your prophets that there is no salvation from Moses Law or blood sacrifices, but there would come the unique Redeemer who would take away our sins and die instead of us. Help us to resort to this only Savior and follow Him thankfully and full of praise.

QUESTION:

  1. Why are we not saved by our prayers, fasting, contribution, and good works, but only by the death of the Savior Jesus and our faith in Him?

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