They were sharing this as a total demonstration of blessed Christian life and how much “Jesus Christ was in this.” The older brother said that “escrow had just closed” and pastor’s equity was in bank. The Christian involved in real estate said that what he did for pastor paralleled what someone years ago had done for him, and now he was returning favor—he felt so good about it that he just had to share story with everyone.

Well, increasingly, this is claptrap that fills airwaves in “Church of Laodicea.” I am not saying that this was not a help to this pastor; however, what I am saying: “High profile” stories like this of alleged “blessing” are preposterous and bespeak not of Him Whom Scriptures say: “Foxes have holes and birds of air have their nests, but Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head!”

So, where’s blessing? When we are content with NOTHING, but rejoice in Christ, Who is our all, then we are blessed indeed and in truth!

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count ALL THINGS LOSS for excellence of knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from law, but that which is through faith in Christ, righteousness which is from God by faith” (Philippians 3:7-9). (My emphasis)

I do not find emphasis in New Testament upon such financial gain as “blessing” but, to contrary, “RICH ARE PIERCED THROUGH WITH MANY SORROWS!” (I Timothy 6:10). By any standard, American Christians represent wealthiest of all God’s people on face of earth (materially); however, depraved Church in Laodicea is told that their boast: “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” . . . belies FACT that they are “wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked” (Revelation 3:17). That’s “wretched truth” of matter.

The prosperity gospel has now hit talk shows; and people are eating it like candy . . . entire programs on “wealth management” (and there are scores of such “Christian talk radio ‘money shows’”) extolling virtues of “Responsible Christian Financial Management” known as prosperity hype, as far as I am concerned. This is nothing more than an “other gospel” (Galatians 1:9).

Alas! What a sad ....

Due to space limitations we are asking that you visit our site to see rest of this article. Please click link below to go directly to it.

Chapter 13 This chapter parallels 5th trumpet (Rev. 9:1-12) describing midpoint of tribulation, abomination of desolations as beast and his minions from underworld invade earth and impose mark of beast. We see beast coming up out of sea. “It was granted to him to make war with saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue and nation.” Let’s be very clear here. This is not wrath of God, but wrath of Satan directed against church (as in Chapter 11)!

Chapter 14 The second group of 144,000 represents church - “redeemed from among men.” (verse5) Here is another picture of rapture as earth is harvested just prior to God pouring out His wrath in second half of chapter.

Chapter 15 The angels prepare final bowls full of wrath.

Chapter 16 The seventh trumpet introduces bowls of wrath. The seventh bowl is judgment of Babylon “Now great city was divided into three parts and cities of nations fell.” (Verse 19). Babylon clearly refers to all nations of earth who are now under dominance of antichrist. The seventh bowl of wrath is destruction of three part empire which is covered in next three chapters.

Chapters 17 Religious Babylon is seen riding political beast which turns on her and destroys her.

Chapter 18 This covers judgment and destruction of commercial Babylon.

Chapter 19 This is final judgment of civil/political Babylon and battle of Armageddon.

Chapter 20 This covers Millennial reign of Christ, final battle and then final judgment of all mankind, devil and his fallen angels.

Chapter 21 After judgment, we see new heaven and new earth and New Jerusalem.

Now, let’s go back to seals and bring chronology forward in some detail.

THE SEVEN SEALS:

Thank you for reading this portion of dene McGriff's book. We ask that you come to his web site to read rest of book. It's a real eye opener.

please click on link below to go directly to article