As the judgement of God came upon the nation of Israel for their persistent apostasy and sin, so it will come upon our world for its godlessness and immorality. In a striking passage Jesus compares “the day when the Son of man is revealed” (i.e. when he returns to the earth), to the judgements of… Read More The New Testament and Judgement
God’s judgements And I saw another sign in the heaven, great and marvellous: seven messengers having the seven last plagues,1 for the wrath of Elohim was ended in them. Footnote: 1See 21:9. And I saw like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those overcoming the beast and his image and his mark and… Read More Kingdom Visions of God’s judgements and Marriage of the Lamb
Surely we all desire to experience goods days, to love and enjoy life. Well then, let us specially notice Peter’s advice that we read in his letter today – for his next words, to those above, are “let him (or her) keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn… Read More Today’s thought “Whoever desires to love life and see good days …” (December 13)
Today’s thought “Be astounded and perish” (November 3) As we proceed in reading the book of Acts we see the challenges Paul and Barnabas faced in spreading the good news about the true God and His son Jesus; we see the kind of opposition they attracted. “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those… Read More Today’s thought “Be astounded and perish” (November 3)
Today’s readings (August 24th).. (1 Kings 19), (Jeremiah 45,46), (1 Corinthians 4,5) Elijah showed he was a man of great faith when he challenged the wicked king Ahab on Mount Carmel, fire miraculously burnt up his offering and 450 prophets of Baal were killed. Then three and a half years of drought came dramatically to… Read More Today’s thought After the Challenge on Mount Carmel (August 24)
Paul’s letter to the Romans is a most meaningful letter for its 16 chapters cover the things that those who desire to truly believe in and follow Christ should understand. Paul is writing to those “called to be saints” (verse 7). Do you feel – in your heart – that this includes you? Prophesies through… Read More Today’s thought “The LORD will roar …” (August 04)
God’s judgements are necessary surgical operations. His mercy is over all His works; and this mercy falls first on Israel. A divine transformation is wrought upon the people whose stony-heartedness has become proverbial, and whose whole history is a testimony of waywardness. The few great and godly men that the nation has produced, among whom… Read More Today’s Thought (August 02): God’s mercy upon all
In the final day of judgement we shall not be able to excuse sterility in these essentials by reference to our strenuous labours to produce fruit for which Christ never asked. If any such excuses came to mind we should surely think of the unfaithful servant in the parable and become dumb. We have not… Read More Today’s Thought: A just Master
Today’s thought “Who has heard such a thing?” (July 10) Isaiah completes his prophecy as a message, not to kings, the high and mighty, but to a particular class of people. “Hear the word of the LORD you who tremble at his word” (66:5). Then comes a strange statement. “Before she was in labour she… Read More Today’s thought “Who has heard such a thing?” (July 10)
Today’s thought “I never knew you” (July 6) Many of the things Jesus said are very challenging, but few are more so than the words we read today about what will be said to some “on that day” (Matthew 7:22), i.e., the day of judgement. Jesus speaks of those who will come before him, but… Read More Today’s thought “I never knew you” (July 6)
Fame and infamy are attached to family names. Jeroboam the son of Nebat was a name to be shunned: to be spiritually associated with it was a sin and a judgement. “Son of man”, a title taken to himself by the Lord Jesus, is one we all bear. It takes us back in time to… Read More Whose son art thou?
In this world where there is more attention given to finances in the Eurozone and the Common Market we find more people loving money and turning away from belief in the true God as at Babel; more believing there is no God, no creator at all to whom they owe their lives.… Read More For in a single hour all this great wealth …
Behind every significant event in history has been the “will of the LORD” bringing about things that are “good” or things that are “bad” – more often the latter. This is even sometimes the case with seemingly insignificant events! In our reading of 1 Samuel 9, donkeys belonging to a Benjamite become lost and the… Read More It is what they deserve
As we continue reading the final message of Jesus in Revelation we reflect on how much heart searching it has caused believers in every generation. Its wonderful visions of an ultimate age of perfection and glory are balanced by the awesome series of woes beforehand. The last 1,900 years bear testimony to the judgements that… Read More Woe to those who dwell on the earth
“I will not fear …” We can read God’s word, putting the emphasis on the blessings it promises, or we can read it emphasizing the judgments it warns about. We pray we have so lived that we deserve the blessings – yet it is only through his grace that we can anticipate them. Isaiah 30… Read More Today’s thought “I will not fear …” (June 6)
Much has changed in the last three weeks. The recent build-up of Russian arms and military posturing has turned into a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Battalions from the north, east and south have crossed borders and begun pressing into the centre of the country. Major towns and cities are gradually becoming isolated and cut off.… Read More Build-up of Russian arms and military posturing
Our readings in the book of Revelation lead to a description of the ultimate climax of human history – we read of visions, largely, but not entirely, in symbol, picturing God’s judgements. It is a time for opening “the book of life” (3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12,15; 21:27). The seventh and only other reference to “the… Read More Today’s thought “Do not harm … until” (December 24)
As Peter completes his second letter he asks a question “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of the Lord …” (3:11,12). What is to be dissolved? He writes that… Read More Today’s thought “What sort of people ought you to be …” (December 15)
With our Belgian ecclesia we are like the ancient God’s elect, living as aliens scattered among the unbelievers like the ones who were living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia to whom the apostle Peter wrote. (1 Peter 1:1) We have not many real believers around us. That does… Read More Today’s thought “Elect exiles of the Dispersion” (December 11)
Today’s thought “Trouble in times of the latter days” (November 3) On the 1st and 2nd of November people remember their dead. Lots of them do not stand still for the days of the living and do not think of the days to come for the living and the dead. Believing the many theologians and… Read More Today’s thought “Trouble in times of the latter days” (November 3)
Belgian Ecclesia Brussel - Leuven 