Rise of the Fallen (45 page)
Read Rise of the Fallen Online
Authors: Chuck Black
HAPTER 21
The Judgment of Souls
This chapter is filled with many elements of spiritual warfare, but the most sobering is the judgment of the souls of men and women at the point of their death. As much as the world wants to believe that there are many ways to heaven, from “being good” to belief in a variety of “higher powers,” the Bible is explicitly clear that there is only one way to heaven. Jesus said He is “the way, the truth, and the life” and that “no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). As we discovered in Luke 16, when people who believe in Jesus die, the angels carry them to heaven. When a person dies without Jesus, he or she is delivered to Hades, where the “worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:44).
And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. (Hebrews 9:27–28)
The judgment of an unbelieving soul is a very sobering thing. Such a reality should rouse us to action to be passionately engaged in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with everyone we meet.
HAPTER 22
The Great Prophecy of Messiah
This chapter portrays an epic battle between the Prince of Persia and the archangels Michael and Gabriel. This scene is derived from two passages in the ninth and tenth chapters of the book of Daniel. The first passage is of the prophecy given to Daniel by Gabriel regarding the coming Messiah. It is the
first explicit reference to the Messiah given in Scripture to the people of Israel, and it is one of the most profound and precise prophecies regarding the coming of the Son of God. With some biblical study, you will discover that from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem given to Nehemiah under King Artaxerxes to the announcement of Jesus as “the King” on the day of His triumphal entry, what we now call Palm Sunday, was exactly 483 years (69 weeks of years x 7 = 483 years). Historical records give evidence that this prophecy was fulfilled to the exact day! This prophecy is also why Jesus wept in Luke 19:41, because the people did not know of the time of His visitation even though they had been foretold by the prophet Daniel.
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. (Daniel 9:25)
Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” (Luke 19:41–42)
HAPTER 23
Vexer-Possessors
The Bible describes numerous instances of demons both vexing and possessing humans. We find evidence of both in the following verses:
And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. (Luke 6:18,
KJV
)
When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. (Matthew 8:28)
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. (2 Corinthians 12:7)
Being “buffeted” by the Enemy is something all believers will face from time to time, but it is not something to fear. God promises to deliver us “from every evil work” (2 Timothy 4:18). Demon possession is also something believers never have to fear. Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior have the Holy Spirit residing within them, and there is no place for an evil spirit there. Jesus alluded to this when He described the state of a man cleansed from evil spirits in Matthew 12.
When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. (Matthew 12:43–45)
An “empty” man lives in a dangerous state. The only way for men and women to be protected from such demonic activity is to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior so that the Holy Spirit dwells within them and “occupies” their souls, keeping them safe from evil.
HAPTER 24
Inside Information
God reveals things to people who are devoted to Him. It might be an unexplainable need to pray for someone in trouble even though you don’t know it. It might be a sense that a brother or sister in Christ has an emotional, physical, spiritual, or financial need. It might be the revelation of truth in your own life revealed by reading the living Word. It is even possible that God may reveal to you mysteries of fulfilled prophecies and truth as He did to Paul in Ephesians about the Gentiles being fellow heirs of the gospel. God gave Simeon and Anna special revelation as to the identity of Jesus Christ and His mission even when
He was just an infant (see Luke 2). That only comes to one who is walking daily with God in His Spirit.
Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel. (Luke 2:29–32)
Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34–35)
It is exhilarating to receive a special word from God, because only His Spirit can reveal inside information that the world will never understand. Walk close to God, and listen for His whispers to your heart.
HAPTER 25
Drew, the Good Samaritan
Jesus used stories to dramatically make His points. His story of the good Samaritan is perhaps one of the most poignant examples there is of living the life of a follower of Jesus. Drew does this without understanding that he is fulfilling exactly what Jesus has called us to. It takes courage to love the needy and the hurting, and yet we don’t even have to defend people from dangerous gangs. God asks us simply to offer mercy and compassion when the need arises.
“So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:36–37)
Let us pray that we will all have the courage to “go and do likewise”!
HAPTER 26
Satan’s Attempt to Kill the Messiah
From the time of Mary’s conception by the Holy Spirit to Jesus’ death on the cross, Satan tried multiple times to subvert God’s plan for the Messiah to save mankind from sin. The first attempt was to use Herod to kill all the children in Bethlehem, but the Magi had been warned and so had Joseph. One could speculate that the spiritual battle for the Christ-child must have been as distressing as the physical tragedy that happened to countless innocent babes.
Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” (Matthew 2:12–13)
Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” (Matthew 2:16–18)
HAPTER 27
The Foolishness of Preaching
In this chapter, Validus states, “The message of the gospel has been given to men to share, not to angels.” This is not to say that angels do not have a mission in presenting the gospel to the world, for one of the first declarations of the gospel was by the angels to the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth. However, the winning of souls does seem to be the exclusive duty of men and women and
not the angels. First Corinthians gives us an interesting perspective on why God chose this way:
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. (1 Corinthians 1:21)
When people become prideful about how wise they may be, it becomes a stumbling block to finding the real truth. God chose to use what appears to be foolishness so that the prideful and arrogant do not find it. Only when people humble themselves will they find true wisdom and truth in God.
HAPTER 28
The Powerful, Meek, and Lowly Savior
One definition of meekness is “restrained power.” Jesus demonstrated this in the extreme. On the cross hung the Creator of the universe with all the power and ability to make the pain, suffering, and shame go away with one thought, and yet He bore the cross in silence. He restrained His mighty power so that we might be saved by His blood sacrifice once and for all. At one point Validus makes this point when he says, “These puny men had no idea with whom they were dealing. At this very moment the particles of creation by which they existed were being held together by His loving hand, and they were about to deliver Him to Apollyon, the destroyer.” Colossians gives us this depiction of the power of Jesus Christ.
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist [are held together]. (Colossians 1:16–17)
He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)
The rest of the bold text refers to the following Bible passages:
Hades: Matthew 8:11–12; Mark 9:43–48
Peter drawing his sword: Matthew 26:51; Luke 22:50; John 18:10
Jesus healing the guard’s ear: Matthew 26:52; Luke 22:51
The power of darkness: Luke 22:52–53
Peter tempting Jesus not to go to the cross: Mark 8:32–33
HAPTER 29
God’s Heart Toward Children
At the end of this chapter, Validus and Ral are reminded that Tren is a guardian angel charged to watch over children. It is clear in Scripture that children hold a special place in God’s heart. We ought to take heed and value these little ones with just as much intensity.
Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” (Luke 18:15–17)
I can only imagine the response of a guardian angel whose charge has been harmed by the hands of an evil person. Jesus’ warning is to be taken literally.
Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 18:10)
HAPTER 30
The Mystery of the Indwelling
In this chapter, Danick and Brandt talk about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the believers who are spreading out from Israel. The Bible tells us that this indwelling was a mystery that was hidden from the beginning of time. Not
even Satan could have imagined such a thing. It is through the power of the indwelling Spirit of God that men and women have the courage to spread the gospel of Christ across the globe in spite of the efforts of the Enemy. What a marvelous work of God!
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:2–4)
I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:25–27)
HAPTER 31
Laying Down Your Life for Another
Ral gives his life to save Drew. Jesus said that this was the ultimate form of love.
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. (John 15:12–13)