Within a weary land

Jordan says, “You look at all the conflicts in the world today and you come to that verse and you say, ‘You know, there is an answer!’

“Now the great climactic event that moves us from the kingdoms of this world to becoming the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, is Armageddon, which is a Bible event.

“It’s actually not as pervasive in Scripture as it is in discussions about it. There’s only one passage that uses the term and talks about it by name although there are many passages that describe events associated with it.

“The great climactic battle at the end of the 70th week of Daniel when Jesus Christ comes back in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, when the Son of Man shall come in His glory with all the angels with Him to sit upon the thrones of His glory, takes place around this event called Armageddon.

“Rev. 16:13 says, ‘And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.’ Just put that picture in your mind. You got the dragon burping out three frogs. Frogs in the Bible are unclean. You remember God plagued Israel with frogs? So these are all connected with things in prophecy.

“You’ve got the unholy trinity there! The dragon is Satan (the power behind the throne), the beast is the Antichrist (the political leader the world submits to) and the false prophet is the religious leader (who points people to the political leader). Oftentimes people say the pope is the Antichrist but he couldn’t be because the Antichrist is not a religious leader.

“Rev. 16:14 goes on, ‘For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.’ When you see something you think is a miracle, or you want God to work a miracle in your life, don’t forget that verse, will you?

“II Thessalonians 2, in talking about the Antichrist and his coming, says, ‘Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

[10] And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.’ ”

*****

Here’s a great old Hymn I had forgotten existed:

Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,
the shadow of a mighty rock
within a weary land;
a home within the wilderness,
a rest upon the way,
from the burning of the noontide heat,
and the burden of the day.

2. Upon that cross of Jesus
mine eye at times can see
the very dying form of One
who suffered there for me;
and from my stricken heart with tears
two wonders I confess:
the wonders of redeeming love
and my unworthiness.

3. I take, O cross, thy shadow
for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
the sunshine of his face;
content to let the world go by,
to know no gain nor loss,
my sinful self my only shame,
my glory all the cross.