For we are slaves. Yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us protection in Judea and Jerusalem. -- Ezra 9:9
We were slaves to sin, to the old nature, to the powers and
principalities of this world and its darkness.
The deliverance of the Jews from their captivity and exile and their
restoration to Jerusalem foreshadows our deliverance through Christ who, as
Philippians 2:7 says, effectively made Himself a slave like us. He experienced the rejection of death and
exile in hell. Then He arose triumphant
-- just as He had said, at the end of three days, “reviving” and rebuilding the
true Temple of God – His own body.
The world is troubled in many ways today. There is fear and violence and
uncertainty. Financial crises loom. Terror and persecution stalk the lives of
innocent people in countries all over the planet. Fools cry, “Peace, peace”, but there is no
peace for those ruled and controlled by spiritual wickedness. The problems
faced by humanity cannot be solved by military interventions, global
initiatives, bail-outs, bail-ins, or changing flags.
When it comes to eschatology, as I have said before, there
is a lot I don’t know, but I do know the Lord gives wisdom to those who will
ask of Him. For those Christians who
have not asked already, I would suggest that now would be a really good time to
ask in earnest. I’m not saying that the
Lord has spoken to me about anything, but I have a feeling we are going to go
through some changes and difficulties such that most of us in the West have not
seen or experienced.
It will, I think, be a kind of exile. Keep Peter’s warning in mind: For it
is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with
us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
(1 Peter 4:17) People are hollering
about America being judged for court decisions and such. The Lord might decide to straighten out His
people before He starts on the world. We
should not be discouraged if that should be the case for it means we are closer
to revival, renewal, and restoration than ever before.
