Rev. 12:1,3 LOOKING INTO HEAVEN, MARVELS TODAY

Rev. 12:1 LOOKING INTO HEAVEN

"And there appeared a great wonder in heaven" (Rev. 12:1) 

When people say positive things about something I've written in Japanese, there's always a part of me that holds back, says they're just being nice. Especially because I haven't been to Japanese school to know what good writing is, haven't had any instruction or seen examples of poor writing. I suppose in one sense you might say that's a good thing: the only "standard" I've actually known of writing in Japanese is from reading books; and if you think about it, people that write well, since these are the professional authors I would be reading, wouldn't be the students in the classroom who'd be getting D's and C's...even the B students. The regular Japanese writing practice for me has been in the company of, if you think about it in this way, the A- to A+ students! 

Scripture tells us to set our minds in the heavenlies, on things that are good, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report," to study and practice what we want to be instead of thinking about what we need to avoid, (altho' that may be handy to know)!

After all, painters do this thing called masters' study in which they simply devour works of great artists and try to get their thought processes in their minds. I know writers have awed at the way classic authors folded together words to evoke clear images. Composers analyze geniuses' symphonies in which stirring techniques achieve exact intents and can only marvel.

All men look UP for great wonder in heaven; something in us lets us know we will not find it here on earth. We look HIGHer, do not say let us find the BEST among the AVERAGE.

Rev. 12:3 MARVELS TODAY

"And there appeared another wonder in heaven;" (Rev. 12:3)

...Ron Sisco sounded a note of caution about the Hero Comics. People don't realize how slowly and gradually those values seep into the unconscious mind. Be careful, he said. Those characters champion Satanic, unbiblical qualities, and Christians, unaware of this, are adopting them.

So true. To want to be strong, fast, first, on top. God never told us to aspire those "I WILL" things Isaiah 14 shows were the downfall of the archangel Lucifer, another "Superhero" who flew to his own demise and took a third of the angels with him. And don't most of those characters don body suits -- at least the female ones do -- unconsciously emphasizing the physical over the spiritual, methinks.

And do tell me, which superhero encourages us to seek after humility? meekness? self-sacrifice? purity? joy in suffering? gratitude? powerful prayer? giving? Without realizing it, we have a whole slough of "Superheroes", and none of them point towards those things we need to be working towards! At best, they hint at it as a license to parade the rest.

I am so glad Ron Sisco said what he did...and it applies to not just Superheroes, but "idols" all across the board.

I personally think it would gladden God's heart to see a man that would quietly tend his garden but be quick to give a lift to the airport over an hour away or to help at a moment's notice in a friend's move or an emergency visit to the hospital or nursing home (or the mission field, for that matter); to sound a rallying cry for the love of God. We need more heroes like THAT, I think, today!

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Okay, so no one reads those comics anymore. But keep reading. The principle is similar in that even those who claim to be born again are battered down by watching worldly values over and over that they begin to think they are normal.

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I remember a movie about a young writer, struggling in his work, who befriends an elderly widow. They succeed in having all her friends believe he is her grandson. I realized, after the movie was over, it had been framed to have the viewer hoping they would not be found out; siding against the true grandson who is lied to his face and kicked out of the room. The writer's good looks, sharp mind, and loving ways are valued; dismissing immorality (his sleeping with his girlfriend is portrayed as virtue of a balanced person, of course) or lying (truth, after all, is relative, is it not?)

When, at the end of the movie, he leaves the scene of his now-deceased "grandmother's" bedside; the intended aim was to have the viewer feeling it had been a "beautiful movie of watching someone make another person's last few years of life full of joy and full of warmth".

The great red dragon does not tell you it had been a deceptive illusion of a handsome young smooth talker getting a grandson turned away from his grandmother and letting her sit in a lie, no matter how good it felt, until she died, then walked away without telling her friends what he'd done. It helped him (side story) do his writing, after all -- she'd given him ideas so he could write a work, which he left on her headstand, which would no doubt, be discovered later, and his real name was on those papers, not the grandson's name.)

I've had to think long and hard about this one, but isn't it saying, in the long run, if you're going to be happy, you gotta take matters into your own hands (sin if you must) -- that is, again, it's an "I WILL" approach to life instead of taking what God hands me, isn't it?

ARMORBEARER THOUGHTS (from I Samuel)

Actually, the entire below post was deleted once and then rewritten...I guess God would've let me forget whatever He knew was unnecessary and let me recall that which was okay to be communicated, so... here 'tis. My three "armor-bearer friends" below thought the article was worth transmitting.

1. GOLIATH's Armor Bearer "one bearing a shield went before him" (I Sam. 17:7) What stays with me about this story is not Goliath or even David, who felled him, but his father. The king, impressed with the shepherd boy's bravery, asked, "Whose stripling is this lad?" I'd love it if people's first reaction to incredible encounters in my life were to wonder about My Heavenly Father.

2. JONATHAN's Armor Bearer "Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said unto the young man that bore his armor, Come, let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side...for there is no restraint for the LORD to save...the LORD saved Israel that day" (I Sam. 14:1,6,23) It's not so much the battle as what happened afterwards. The people should've been thanking God for the victory but barely saved Jonathan's life from King Saul's misplaced judgement.

3. SAUL's Armor Bearer "Then said Saul unto his armorbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through with it...his armor bearer would not" (I Sam. 31:4) We see when this record of Saul's death (even his closest soldier could not bear to kill him) reached David, he mourned for him. Christians often think they are unblameworthy if they do not retaliate when wronged, if they do not get angry or take matters into their own hands. But do they ask God to cleanse their hearts such that when misfortune strikes offenders, the reaction would be to grieve for them?

Rev. 11:19 NO CHURCH IN HEAVEN

"And the temple of God was opened in heaven," (Rev. 11:19)

Yesterday, after viewing the local Gushikawa Baptist Church's online worship service, I rushed over to the MCC online fellowship. (How grateful I am for these ways God sends encouragement; several decades ago, and this wouldn't have been possible.)

This old photo from Koriyama is what I found as I was viewing evens older photos of our participation in ecumenical evangelism, musing my Japanese writings, thanking God for His life-bringing redemption -- that which the "campfire girl" and Bonnie (on the recess playground) found, which I'd encouraged Judy Baker to receive there on the volleyball court -- it's the way it has been thrown in "with a rat trap", so to speak -- the very thing to bring life was scrambled for people like Kayo-chan and other decision-makers in various Christian crusades  sabotaged by the unregenerate.

I long for Heaven, when we'll see a pure temple, with none of the suffocating, frustrating, "something's wrong" confusion forever! It has been promised us that God will take His great power to Himself and reign. That will mean unadulterated, uncluttered truth. The temple in heaven will not be filled with voices demanding cooperation with religious institutions that do not believe in the exclusive, holy God of an outdated archaic Bible and declare a higher good, a more Divine pleasure, an eradication of boundaries, of mutual endeavors, a working towards "greater understanding and love" with fellow men while completely ignoring what we did to Jesus. We need to be heartbroken--appallingly repentant about that, but we don't hear about that, and anyone who dares say anything along this line is unwelcome.

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The above was journaled; the below was written today:

Some people think we'll never find a perfect church until we get to Heaven. That's only half true. When we get there, we won't have need for church, because God Himself will be there, and truth will be in our hearts--nobody will have to teach anybody anything; we'll all just ENJOY it!

It's kind of like our brother's weekly talks telling us about his early days with the Master all of us in the room love to hear, when the Master Himself comes walking in through the back door and sits down on a chair and smiles. When we realize HE'S HERE, our brother announces (really no need to) "THAT'S ALL!", since all heads quickly turn to him for permission then everyone rushes around the Master's side. No one is interested in the weekly talks anymore -- not even our brother himself!

Rev. 11:18 THE KING REMEMBERS

"and that thou shouldst give reward unto thy servants, the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name" (Rev. 11:18) 

...God doesn't just deal with the people that give Him a hard time, but He SPENDS TIME WITH THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ON HIS SIDE too. Human leaders tend to frown on enemies and exert effort squelching opposition, think less about acknowledging and appreciating those who sacrifice for them; GOD DOESN'T DO THAT.

(photo of Ryukyu Crested Serpent Eagle)

He went back to the healed demoniac in the graveyard who testified of him to the ire of the villagers. He went and searched out the cured blind man who'd been excommunicated for saying Jesus had caused him to see. Mephibosheth, the lame youth, found himself dining at the king's table for his father's loyalty. Many of David's children sat on the throne due to their father's love for God. Even those who did not see fulfilment of promises during their lives on earth will come back to life and be set on thrones again to know it firsthand.

Peon humans may not be able, but the God of heaven can say STOP EVERYTHING! I want to reward my own! My servants, prophets, saints, those that fear my name, small and great -- I want to reward them all. And HE CAN DO IT.

If anything ever happens in life that makes people think, "This isn't right." That's okay. One day, God is going to say, "STOP EVERYTHING!" And He will set it right. Isn't that fantastic? "You there that's been shoved off into a dark corner, sidelined unjustly, come out." I can almost see Him -- If He had a body -- walking over to the strong human bully, withering him with a look and disabling him from any more unrightful oppression in the future (possibly switching the position of the two?)

Rev.11:18 ends "shouldest destroy them who destroy the earth." Hm. Maybe the oppressors, the bullies (formerly) end up in the shadows, and the ones they had been unrightly forcing there will replace them in positions of power and decision-making? But unless their hearts are regenerated, they will become just like their oppressors once were. Father, help us mites see none of us are more noble than others; it is only those of us YOU have chosen to extend, by Your Grace and Mercy, Your Life, we can hope to be any different. 

Rev. 11:18 MAIDEN VICTIM'S FATHER'S WRATH & WISDOM

"And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged" (Rev. 11:18)

It is the wrathful side of God that most unregenerate folks see. Why would God send plagues and wipe out helpless enemies, they say. Of course, they're referring to the 10 plagues of Egypt before the Exodus. Such a Big Bully they cannot understand. They see the first part of Rev. 11:18 and the words "destroy them..." while ignoring the last phrase "who destroy the earth."

They forget God is not just a drifting entity, but a feeling, everlasting FATHER. He sees the raping, the degrading, the humiliating, of His own children on earth by the men on earth with power to do so and turning an impudent face to heaven, daring any to try stop them. THIS Father does not stand by forever to do nothing but DOES step in, to judge righteously, to vindicate, to send peace to the heart where it had known only chaos and conflict, shame and hostility before.

Right about then, God brought to mind a court scene. A criminal had been convicted of brutally murdering a girl, and her family was in attendance. At the very end, the murderer got of scott free on a technicality, and when he smirked, you could see the rage rising in the father's face. "I'LL KILL HIM!" No one calls that father a monster. That anger is just an expression of how much he LOVED his daughter.

GOD is NOTHING LIKE MAN; we know that. But do we have to call Him a Big Bully for sending his plagues to make people stop mistreating his children (He'd put up with it for 400 years) or call the judgments in Revelation monstrous overkill and not allow even part of His expression of Love for His Own, His animals, His creation, His truth?

And a God of Love somehow knows how to do it in such a way that when the smoke clears, there is not, what humans naturally would respond to with HA! Now-you'll-get-it, but His offer of unbelievable Reconciliation and Love. Again. Writers are not supposed to repeat words, but I have to repeat myself. The God of Love offers a relationship of an incredible peek into Love for humans who would accept His salvation!

Captors who have the power to pummel the wicked in their hand have been surprised, no doubt, by the God of Grace who did not give Elisha's enemy the treatment they deserved when they were captured. They were given bread and water before being sent home (2 Ki. 6:23). Today, as back then, captives treated thusly rarely create future problems; instead, often respond with surprising submission and loyalty. (Tengan Black Crowned Heron: so they just went home?)

These were just some of the things the Holy Spirit whispered to me about the "outward coating" of Rev. 11:18 of a loving Father's wrath and the surprising way He seemed to deal with offenders. As I said before, these are just shallow thoughts; I have to look into them yet, could change my mind completely about stuff yet...

Rev. 11:17 HEAVY-HITTER SACRIFICE

"because thou hast taken unto thee thy great power, and hast reigned." (Rev. 11:17)

Babe Ruth has ruled the baseball diamond since the invention of the sport, and what's more, altho' he had the ability to whack the ball clean out of the park, IF NECESSARY, HE WOULD SACRIFICE to bring someone Home. There was hardly anyone better to send into the batter's box.

To those who might not be acquainted with baseball terminology, a quick explanation: usually, a good player, would simply hit the ball hard when it was his turn to bat. Rarely would he let himself look bad for the sake of a teammate, but apparently, Babe Ruth did this.

On the Cross, Jesus had the authority to call 10,000 angels and show everyone He was God. But He sacrificed Himself for my sake, that I would be able to get to Heaven. It didn't make any difference that He didn't look good and people would say He was weak and helpless against those who nailed him to the Cross. Jesus has the power. 

Something else God tried to tell me:

"That's my grandson." a proud grandmother at a little league game beamed at the achievement of a boy on the grounds. SHE KNOWS HIM PERSONALLY--HE IS FAMILY.  "Let not the wise, the rich, the mighty boast; but even the weakest person can boast: I know Him - He's my Father! (Jer.9:23,24)

It doesn't really matter how weak and insignificant a person feels; if he's been adopted into God's family, "JESUS is BIG BROTHER"! I'm playing on HIS team (A lot of us assume God is playing on our side instead of asking to play on God's side). HE can hit ANY BALL out of the park OR sacrifice without a moment of hesitation for me, if it becomes necessary! 

Babe Ruth ruled the baseball diamond, maybe. Jesus has reigned as King of the Universe!

(Daddy played a lot of baseball when he was younger, did a lot of coaching too. I found a photo of him in 1948 but hoped I could post it without all my readers forgetting the rest of the post. I'm sure Daddy would be saddened if he thought a photo of his own baseball years, instead of furthering God's truth, lessened interest in it! That won't happen, will it?)

Rev. 11:17 DEPRIVED OF SAND CASTLES

"saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty," (Rev. 11:17)

But even when the Christian leader's task would be to speak to men, let him ever be conscious he speaks for God, and altho' any visible forces and audible voices may be turned to those of the earth, our hearts and invisible desires must always be turned to Him, our Lord God Almighty, the Changeless One, Whom we thank for reigning in His great power.

I still don't see why He doesn't just crush us, but I'm so glad He hasn't done so.

I have decided I do not want "to leave a mark" in the playground of the mind, in the kingdoms of this world. After all, its best edifices are but sand castles. No, I want to side with a mighty God Who sends boulders rolling to squash those fortresses (Gideon's story), and erects eternal towers into which the meek and humble can run and be safe (Prov. 18:10).

Go ahead and have your beach parties and "We have made a difference building this castle" affairs -- I hope you have the best time you can possibly know. I'll stay at home comfy and cared for, ok? The crowd feels sorry for me while I have meat they know not of -- steak -- and walk around on a shag carpet in a centrally air-conditioned yacht home sheltered from real damage listening to whispered nothings from a Confidant Who is Rich, Powerful, Good, and crazy about me for life. How poor I am...?

It may drive them mad to see I do not envy them for their juicy mud pies, exotic bungalows with natural shades and cool ocean breeze, exciting raft rides admiraled by veteran oarsmen...the person must be, they say, a hermit denying reality. 

Rev. 11:16 FALL IN AWE...BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!

"fell upon their faces, and worshiped God," (Rev. 11:16)

Is this not the attitude-response we creatures ought to automatically have towards our Creator? Too many of us say, "I don't know what God is doing, but I'll trust Him anyway. Isn't He fortunate to have such a loyal, worthy subject?"

No, we don't form those words consciously, but many of us feel them as we congratulate ourselves for being one of God's faithful, pious ones. Our focus must always be on GOD Who is merciful to us! We fall off our pedestals, our thrones, or whatever else holds our faces up; and we worship HIM.

Let us peons see we cannot take a grain of sand and imbue it with life as Omnipotent God can (pearls are sand irritations in oysters, after all), or make two of the same thing, bringing pairs into a vessel that has taken over a hundred years to craft out of materials, again, I myself have created, and design some storyline of rescuing life forms from a natural disaster of a phenomenon I will cause: deluge of a sphere of clay which I have formed, to remake into a different globe...taking care that sufficient life forms will be salvaged to start up the new one. (Water droplets, Izena Beach)

We created peons, of course, who have no capacity to create life; have no capacity to work miracles either, which is why that word was actually made. It is a label given us peons who are limited; the Creator is not.

He can raise from the dead as well as rise Himself as many times as He pleases; and virgin births are no problem; turning water into wine or walking on it or drinking poisonous water are not problems. The winds and waves obey Him; as do all the creatures in it; even the fire falls from the sky; and God can get the sun to stand still.

IF GOD THE CREATOR WISHED, HE COULD LOOK DOWN AT ENEMIES MARCHING OUT AGAINST HIM AND WITH ONE THOUGHT CAUSE THEM TO DISAPPEAR. But He loves them too much to do that.

I often think of the television host that spoke of seeing 2-year-olds on his show who thought they were so smart and answered all his questions with the stupidest answers. But they were SO CUTE, he said. He just wanted to take them up and squeeze them; they were so adorable!

Is that comparable to the way God sees us? Even the greatest of us is "so darling" in His sight, and He has extended personal, unthinkable reconciliation to All!

Recently, I was re-reading a memory of Judy Fingeroot, (a friend of one of my sisters) who told me if she believed what I did, she'd crawl on broken glass to tell people about my message. Father, there is some truth to that sentiment, altho' we cannot be driven by that alone, I know; but we need to see the reality of the situation, don't we? Let us, Your children, be empowered, with Your Love, to implore compellingly:

"Be ye reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20) before it's too late!

Rev. 11:15 GLIMMERING KINGDOMS

"the kingdoms of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever." (Rev. 11:15)

I think this part of this verse was so easy to "memorize" because it's been sung so much before. I'm sure the angels and redeemed will turn their faces toward each other when it's time to sing this in the "actual revelation", and not in the written prophecy; so many created beings will have mouthed those words in chorus during their earthly pilgrimages too.

And I think of Miss Powell's voice of instruction to her high school class, how these were merely the lyrics set to a great musical composition we were going to experience (she had to say that; the majority of the students were Jewish!) Perhaps that was so for those who could not access the true value of "the experience", not aware there was gold underlying the shiny -- even radiating coating of the "composition". The musical radiation of the Messiah is praiseworthy, to created men. To the kingdoms of this world.

But when we know of the life-purpose of the Eternal I AM under that "sheer veneer," we even question the concept "Worth", almost the same way anyone would speak of how wonderful the epidermis of man is while the others in the room know about his intellect, his compassion, his desire, his will and determination, his ability to form organization and improve with education and training and regulate with government and enrich with art...and someone whispers from the corner,

"Yes, and he has a wonderful epidermis! His covering is something all of us can agree on, even if we disagree on other things, yes? Let us celebrate his excellent SKIN!"

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...The artist that says "look at the beauty that I create!" is wrong. He is part of "the kingdoms of this world." But we see art everywhere: in the glowing sunset, in the glorious clouds of the summer sky with its rainbows, in birds' wings, in flowers, in luscious greens, in gurgling waterfall and brooks, in crystal rays, in frosty snow, in patterned butterflies, and we hear them and feel them and they make us smile and go ahh --  God is so perfect -- this is "the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ!"

When men want others to sigh and go -- this is the way it's supposed to be -- not try to grab them for themselves in any way --I wonder if God doesn't smile at that too. I don't know, but I wonder.

Rev. 11:14 AS LONG AS WE WANT

"The second woe is past," (Rev. 11:14)

God has laid out things in our lives for our learning, and we can decide to take as long as we want to learn them or choose to get out of uncomfortable situations more quickly perhaps by being willing to swallow them completely. I usually do not like the humiliation of utter surrender and unconsciously cling to a last ditch claim to justification, vindication...and it isn't until the little monkey lets go of the bananas in his hand he can slip free of the trap...but the moment he does, his "woe is past."

Circumstances in this world may not change, but the heart can be totally emancipated from them, move free despite them. Even the monarch of the land is bound by its laws -- King Herod cowed to his advisors; and Ahaseurus got rid of his wife; Darius was strongarmed to send a dear friend to a lion's den. But a simple prophet boldly followed the instructions of his God, period! It didn't matter to him if he were defamed, removed from his post (actually, he had none to lose), or even executed, which he was -- he felt absolutely unrestrained to do what he felt he wanted to do to honor his God. His woe was past him.

* Every child of God should be able to say "There is NO CONDEMNATION that can hold me down -- my woe is past!" Do I live like it? -- or --

"and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly." (11:14b)

Am I too busy looking past what I could be living like today by worrying about what I'll be facing tomorrow? Shouldn't I be facing  tomorrow's trials with tomorrow's grace, and TODAY'S walk should be lived in TODAY'S GRACE? O Lord, help me to do so.

Rev. 11:12 SIGHTS SET ON GOD'S HAND

"And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies beheld them." (Rev. 11:12)

When Moses' life on earth ended in the Old Testament--well, when God was through with the task He wanted him to do--He raptured him "silently," you could say; and his body, bones, could not be found. But this next time, in Revelation, it is an audible call Home to Heaven in a Cloud on which his enemies behold clearly; there is no mention of an invisible rapture.

When Elijah's life on earth ended in the Old Testament--when God was through with him and wanted to take him Home in front of Elisha--it was also a rapture on chariot and Horses of Fire that only the younger prophet was to see. But in Revelation, Elijah's corpse, first seen for 3 1\2 days before secular eyes, then becomes infused with life and stands on its own to go to Heaven. Again, he has no part of an invisible, secret rapture.

What is the "Rapture" of the people of God supposed to indicate? I could be all mixed up with the following, but this is the impression that came to me:

Perhaps if you think of it as a husband who has watched his wife being offended. An invisible rapture seemed akin to the wife quietly running back to the husband in the middle of the night.

However, the last trumpet and call where Jesus has enemies see wronged Christians vindicated--some even resurrected before eyes of blasphemers--speaks to me of a husband that says, "NO ONE does that to my bride and gets away with it," and he vents his fury on perpetrators of offense toward His beloved. I am thinking in the ultimate spiritual reality, our God has potential to tear down our enemies. 

Some may counter this is not necessarily the case in our broken world, that often it is the wicked ones who have greater power and can squash those under them who would rise up to complain. Husbands, it will be argued, cannot defend their spouses or mothers to their children. God, can You show me how to deal with this?

Meanwhile, the truth remains that the eternal, infinite, powerful GOOD God is fully ABLE to overpower the -nthest fiend of earth, that argument is just a distraction from what He may want to do.

He says NO ONE does that to my bride and gets away with it. A secret rapture would be cowardly for a husband if he has the power to exact vindication for his wife!

More and more, I am thinking people get the wrong conclusions when they look at things from the HUMAN perspective instead of from GOD'S side. I mean, if you simply think about OUR secretly, silently, stealing away, it doesn't sound so bad. But that's if you're looking at it from our side only. If God has nothing to do with it.

When the people of God our insulted, offended, hurt--God watches, but is NOT CONSIDERED IMPORTANT?! And the "Rapture" is taught as Christians stealing away--Christians are the acting nouns here--while God becomes the accepting, receiving arms...just the passive parts of the equation. No one is expected to apologize to--even face, or acknowledge GOD--about the matter whatsoever; Christians just "steal away; God isn't considered worthy of consulting before coming and going; He's just background, right?"

WRONG.

We need to keep GOD central. He is the active subject, and we humans merely respond to what He decides! If we really feel a sovereign God would watch His bride being insulted, shamed, offended, humiliated, hurt, violated, pressured, forcibly held under conditions against her will; and she not only did not enjoy it but repeatedly shed tears of distress; AND HE HAD THE POWER TO PUT DOWN THOSE THAT WERE BULLYING HER

Now wouldn't you think my computer broke if my next words were: "but He told her He didn't want to get His hands dirty or tire His nerves dealing with evil men; perhaps, when the bullies were caught sleeping, he'd send a secret whistle for a secret meeting in the clouds.  Actually, I don't know why she would want that, since if evil men came wanting her, He would not hesitate to hand her over again, not wanting to tire His nerves.

Yet if we believe there is a Sovereign God Who sees the tears of His Bride, something wells up within Him that says, "No one does that to My Beloved!" We do well to believe in an audible trumpet call; the groom ANNOUNCES His presence; He calls His Bride to His side and says, "No more of this foolishness!"

And the rest of Revelation shows us how He makes all of the world right away, how it was SUPPOSED to be. The groom is going to set up house for his bride, making sure: all the thermostats are set right; the birds are chirping, the fish are in the pond (clear, unpolluted); the neighborhood is safe (free of criminals, good legal system and officials set in place); the weather, everything.

JESUS is the only groom that can do this. And He does. (I found a pic of us on the way to our honeymoon right after our wedding in 1987!)

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About what to do when the Unrighteous Oppressor is STRONGER:

I think I grinned real big when I think I heard this back from God.

To some extent, we do see repeatedly we must put up with quite a bit of nonsense from fools above us simply because they have more power. But isn't that why God tells us to endure (wait! hang on; there's more), and is that not what makes longing for Jesus, the last Adam, sweeter (wait! there's more!)...

At the same time, I do believe that God can give wisdom here and there to resist powers of evil, to stand up against wrong, to make it difficult for them and not merely "lie down and take it". This is where one can constantly pray for wisdom.

We are hearing more and more wartime stories now, for example, of civilians in occupied countries who could not outwardly fight back resident soldiers. They carried no weapons yet acts of resistance ended up costing enemy forces thousands of lives, and a bonus was that some of them were aiding persecuted Jews, so hundreds of their lives were saved too.

In other words, while it is true that individuals may feel like mere ants before oppressive wicked forces, there is always a way to fight. Tho' not immediately apparent, it's just as real and strong. We pray, and not only are we told how to deal with the Mighty Titan Ant we must face, now we see him crawling around on God's palm.

Rev. 11:10 DOES MY WANTER HAVE EARTH-SIZE LIMITATION？

"And they that dwell on the earth" (Revelation 11:10)

It occurred to me God is saying here to John, to the angel, "Look, look. This is what the people down there are doing. And they call it "reality". That's all they see. Some of them say they'll believe only what they can see and hear and touch and know. As far as they're concerned, in their little minds, what they can't perceive doesn't exist.

Altho' it seems a little...almost pitiful that little insects would not understand that there could be an entire world, something actually functioning and moving around them, that they could possibly have no knowledge of: human beings way larger than they could perceive with their vision or distances they could fathom, ages...even things like reason, emotion, education, finance, creativity, falsehood, eternity, god, architecture, politics...insects could not understand how human beings exist, other than in terms of expressions used in their own limited lives!

I began my above sentence "Altho'" because I was thinking that's what some of us do too, in a different way, so actually, we're just as pitiful. We may not call God a giant hornet; some realize we cannot limit God to being a mere super hero; yet there are Christians who, w/o realizing it, feel we can keep God w/in the level of human understanding and actually insult an infinite God. The very fact that most people, yes, I claim guilt here too, want God to explain Himself to us says we think GOD IS ON OUR LEVEL! (Actually, He has explained Himself, but created man is so far inferior to an infinite Creator;  most of us have a hard time hearing what He says; cannot understand it; nor want to accept it anyway.)

Rev. 11:9 UNBURIED BODIES

"shall not permit their dead bodies to be put in graves" (Rev. 11:9)

I am thinking it is a sin perhaps, to not put dead bodies into graves and to allow a dishonoring, even a concrete scientific corruption of physical decay. But isn't it just as wrong to allow decay and dishonor before a person has died? Actually, isn't that unthinkable?

Maybe it's unintentional, but sometimes it feels like now the younger folk at church (yes, the one my family got started, but no one there even knows I was there then or about that time) no longer have need of me.

Call it silly wishing. I dreamed of having ONE HUMAN BEING rush up to me with the sentiment, "June! You're finally back after all these years! What has God given you for us?"

When I'd left Okinawa, it had been with a dream of returning to a field white unto harvest to help out with the work. I thought the people would be glad to have me back. And I went to Tokyo for language training then was led into a Japanese marriage and family life for three decades. But God proved His faithfulness ever stronger through it all.

But, it's rather tragic (that's understatement) NOT A SINGLE PERSON PRESENT at our 1976 Furugen grassroots home meetings, even one person of the church Charter Members when it was formed in 1981 in the Tairagawa clinic building, IS STILL ALIVE AND PRESENT AT GUSHIKAWA BAPTIST CHURCH built in 1987. 

The county ladies who collected personal spending money and handed me an offering on that last Sunday before leaving for my Stateside training are all gone now. "Come back," they'd said, "and serve the Lord with us." And some had sent audio encouragement during my years in college.

They're all gone now. And none of the people in Gushikawa Baptist Church today even know about how the church got started. Maybe it's silly, but I'm "just" the sister of Miss Oshiro (Joyce), the pianist. I don't think the people even know I used to be a missionary.

The customary questions were asked if I could come to certain activities but I have medical limitations now, restricting them (Even regular church attendance!). I can, however, write--I feel that is a gift God has given me--and prayed and submitted something I felt the Lord could use (including the story of God's faithfulness in church beginnings), but heard no response. After I die, the church people may do the outwardly respectable thing and aid in taking care of my remains (at least, I hope they do).

I remember when I was little, I read about how the young ought to respect the elderly because they'd want the same thing when they got older. But I felt I did my very best when I was younger yet feel shoved aside today anyway. Okay--there's one young person, Saaya, who seems to be reading all my writing and has responded with comments showing she's really thought about it; and there's someone nearer my age: Ai-chan, who seems to respond positively too...but others want sensationalism and technically good art...well, that's not what I want people to WANT/VALUE me for.

I know when I was young and met older folk, I asked God to show me the real value behind their experiences, the wisdom in the years God had given them that others did not possess, and I felt I gleaned from friendship with them. Those things were, when I got older, what younger folk would get from me too. But it feels like they don't want those things anymore, and I feel like I will die with a lot "leftover" to give in writings I haven't been allowed to put out.

So I'm just posting some things here for whoever would like to take. I realize now that's what Jesus' written word is, isn't it? His Words for free.

Rev. 11:8 CONDITIONAL CONSECRATION? GRACE!

"shall see their dead bodies...their dead bodies shall be in the streets..." (Rev. 11:9,8)

"he did that which was right...but not with a perfect heart" (2 Chron. 25:2)

I am thinking I number among the Christians who would like to sound the phrase "living sacrifice" saying, "I am living for God" because I am willing to offer myself wholly to Him "for His glory," I claim piously; but I have absolutely NO INTENTION of serving Him on His conditions, on shaming myself; on doing something that makes me uncomfortable, in other words, to "die daily".

The witnesses in Revelation were called not just to live and stand and proclaim, as many of us who say we "consecrated Christians" are willing to do -- but also to be KILLED, MOCKED, SHAMED, DISRESPECTED AS CORPSES -- to be "dead bodies".

How many girls say they will serve God but demand a husband? How many men say they will go into the ministry but want to be given a pulpit and flock, salary? We can't do that. We do not bargain with God. Jesus didn't bargain for our lives; He DIED.

Creator God fashions umpteen g'zillion grains of sand and stars and human beings in as many years -- well, He originated even this thing called time outside the framework of which man cannot even think -- and can fashion the servants He needs to do His bidding, does NOT need those pitiful little creatures saying, "I'll serve You if You'll -- !"

He chooses to let us participate in His activities, not because He is abject poor and would dwindle down in any way if He "lost us" -- but because He is such a Loving, Merciful God and cannot refrain from picking us up and hugging us, saying, "Just you wait. I am going to form you into being so much better than this, you adorable little thing."

Until we reach perfection, He's arranged Jesus' blood to sign the pardon slips for all the silly offenses we make!

Yes, He will see even our dead bodies...what humans would see as disgusting, pitiful, lifeless things...and the pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His Hand. Because superimposed on those bodies will be the death of His Son Who shed His lifeblood for US!

• Unregenerate eyes will see only corpses. The God of Heaven will see corpuscles, through which His lifeblood would flow. Altho' for a few heartbeats, they would lie unmoving on the streets of a city on earth, soon even those eyes would see those corpuscles filling up again with life from heaven.
• 
  Detour. Let me get back to the lovingkindness of our Father-God. I have been getting astounded repeatedly with His patience with us. I mean, look at Moses, who ended up being called the meekest man in the history of the world. Who would've thought that at 40 yrs. old, he would've been a cheeky Hebrew-by-blood-adopted-into-Pharaoh's-house murderer! And look at King David, named a man after God's own heart, yet at one time slept with one of his loyal subject's wives and then murdered him to cover it up! Abraham was called the friend of God, yet when he was younger once put his own wife into a dangerous situation in order to save his own skin! Peter, who was considered the pillar of the church, denied Christ 3X, and Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament Epistles, persecuted Christ in the Church!
• Don't we see, down thru' history, former "bad guys" turning around 100% and fearlessly championing the cause they were once fearful enemies of? Slave trader becoming a spokesperson for emancipation. Rebellious teens turning into pastors. Many of today's counselors battled through turbulent experiences and found resolution from bitterness into freedom and social good. Our Heavenly Father has seen all this, and He will not throw away a "bad apple" when one comes along; He has seen how they can become the best product, with work, in the future.

Rev. 11:7 'DRUTHER THEY HATE ME

"And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast...shall overcome them, and kill them." (Rev. 11:7)

Yes, there are many things the witnesses must do during their lives. But it felt like if I hadn't mouthed the writing of this Japanese autobiography, this testimony of God's greatness and faithfulness, I would have more time away from hostile threat. But...would I want it that way, I asked myself. Don't I feel honored to be counted worthy of having to bother with? In fact, wouldn't it hurt terribly if forces of darkness pretended not to care if you wrote, June, that if nothing you said posed a threat to them? (photo is of olive tree in Uruma, Okinawa)

Some Christians think they want to have an easy life, and they don't want to have trials. They haven't thought through what they're saying. What this means is they're saying they won't be a threat to the powers of darkness. They feel they can leave you alone, not give you any trouble, and you'll do everything their way, won't upset their applecart.

I don't know about you, but I feel funny about going through life feeling the powers of darkness feel comfortable with my lifestyle, and I make it easy for them to live. Well, if the beast feels a need to overcome me, if he feels a need to make war against me, that is because I've made him angry, and I don't know about you, but I feel good knowing I've upset someone who hates the One I love.

Rev. 11:6b MINI BEAST EXTERMINATOR

"and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will." (Rev. 11:6)

If God could give His witnesses that much power, would He be interested in giving some to me?

"Now unto him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us" (Ephe. 3:20)

I didn't know what to do for Keima's birthday this year, and according to my journal, I'd just asked God yesterday if He wouldn't please give me an idea. Well, in the middle of the night, thoughts came to me about writing a blog post about Keima's situation in the house with the roaches coming in the kitchen; and that linked into the memory of his interest in FPS; my wishing he'd develop a new game to shoot down enemy pests like roaches-ants-spiders-millipedes.

I ended up drawing up a certificate for Keima in full recognition of his abilities as MINI-BEAST (nickname for Cockroach) EXTERMINATOR, now giving him the rank of EXPERT X-MAN, and the cake would, of course, be the chocolate chiffon one God showed me in the store on a walk with Kinya the other day.

A cartoon Mini-beast was drawn standing on the rim of the plate, claiming the cake for itself and beginning to laugh "Ha-Ha-Ha", not realizing that behind him, on the chocolate boulder, was a large sign, completing  that phrase with "Happy Birthday, Keima!" The cake was to be handed him with the explanation that he was now fully qualified to shoot down that monster and get that cake for himself.

So God WAS kind to bend down and give me a fun idea. I know it doesn't save anyone's life or seem to really matter, but that's the way our God is with His power, meting it out to even us tiniest folk who are scared of roaches, not just fire-breathing prophets! Wow.

Rev. 11:6 POWER...REALLY

"These have power to shut heaven" (Rev. 11:6)

I realized altho' people make much ado about the power of the two witnesses -- and they are very real -- you can look back at verse 3 and see the power has been given them by God Himself. It's not as if THEY were powerful beings who came before God and offered themselves to God for His service! GOD gave them that power, good grief!

I would find it ludicrous if any of the animated creatures I wrote fictional stories about came before me and bragged to me of their virtues -- I had, after all, thought them up and written them into existence -- no human creature can really think he is embued with power somehow on his own, and it's completely separate of the Creator's fashioning him to make him that way! As a matter of fact, much less than the power to work miracles, even the very ability to take the very next breath, for the brain waves to move and electrical impulses to vibrate through nerves -- GOD CONTROLS THAT.

It'd be like the Six Ravens of Iwatsuki Park (Midnight, Arrow, Necktie, Stealth, Einstein, and Leonard) I wrote stories about cawing among themselves about what great birds they are...apart from the author who thought up their personalities, wrote about the black iridescence of their wings, the very fact they could fly, or even the fact that Necktie and Arrow were still alive altho' their parents had been killed. Special friendship between two crows in Iwatsuki and Koriyama resulting from the 2011 earthquake...did the birds really really think they managed that, or June wrote about it, so it all happened?

The way people talk, their appearance and abilities, whether they're even alive or not, what happens in various circumstances and relationships...does man really really think he is the captain of his soul?

Rev. 11:4 SHH; JUST BEAR FRUIT

"These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks, standing before the God of the earth." (Rev. 11:4)

While walking the earth, Jesus came on a fig tree and saw it had no fruit, only leaves, and cursed it -- would I want the Lord to be disappointed in me for having given me life-giving boughs but showing only leaves for shady refuge? No -- I dare not. And scripture also says light was not meant to be hidden under barrels, but on a hilltop, to give clear illumination to all.

It feels like God kept me from writing way back in 1987, in the early 2000's, and even when I was in Iwatsuki. Maybe, as an allegory, these would've been times for Gideon's army to place pitchers over their torches and set themselves in array around the enemy camp, simply to move in silent, unquestioning obedience to some of God's mysterious ways. But now, here in Uruma-shi, 2026, it feels like all the people God wanted out of the way are gone -- it was the same with Jesus' birth; there was a period of waiting up at Nazareth before the inauguration of His public ministry too.

And Moses' ministry with the people of God didn't start out the moment He'd decided, in the palace of pharaoh, to identify himself with the people of God. And when it comes to Moses' life, it was as a result of the death of the Potipher who knew Joseph that God worked the emancipation of His people from Egypt!

So we just do not dare claim to possess the wisdom of God's infinite ways. All we know is God's answers are wiser than our prayers, and we must simply trust and follow Him.

"The God before whom I stand," Eliijah had said in the Old Testament. It seems to me, this was the burning fire that controlled him. No, of course God does not want us living by feeling or functioning according to surface, constantly changing factors like the verses we happen to be reading at the time. He wants us to be grounded into spiritual principles of what it is truly like to be a child of God, regenerate, walking in Christlikeness and genuine holiness, loving and thinking as God does.

But something tells me one who grows in godliness also develops a sensitivity to outer touches and would not resist or resent (feel demeaned by) what would be called "lesser things". He would not depend on them of course, but would he not find them "easy to wear"? I do not know how else to state this.

THE GENUINE CHRISTIAN KNOWS WORKS WILL NEVER SAVE HIM AND CLINGS TO THE CROSS YET FINDS HIMSELF WANTING TO TELL THE TRUTH AND LOVE HIS ENEMY ANYWAY. ANY SAINT WHO DISDAINS THE UNRELIABLENESS OF A SHALLOW EMOTIONALISM WOULD GIVE HEARTFELT PRAISE AT GOD'S FAITHFULNESS.

Rev. 11:3 JUST KEEP ON KEEPING ON

"and they shall prophesy" (Rev. 11:3)

Hm. Lord, is that what You want done with that material "I now have"?

Because I have absolutely no problem with writing about my formative, primary, and elementary years. But when it comes to relating my jr. hi years and on up,

Part of me wonders how much needs to be published, since I don't hold these feelings in the same way anymore.

I also know that putting this out like this will result in pushback eventually. If I left it alone, there might even be positive response -- but would I want that if I knew, in the back of my mind, I kept backk the whole truth so that I could benefit? Nah -- I'd feel horrible, wouldn't I? I know there are voices from powers of darkness sent to poke accusation:

"You're writing just to get attention or stir up trouble just to get famous, etc..."; but we all know that is far from true!!!

I hear another voice: June, isn't it the same with witnessing when it comes to the Gospel message: we just put truth out there. There's bound to be offense. But we leave God to deal with that. And yes, THE MAJORITY WILL REJECT WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY. Only a small minority will accept, benefit, respond in any way to let you know God has worked His Life through your words. But that is what Isaiah was told too, wasn't it? THEY WILL REJECT the wisdom of your words, but keep giving them truth until their ears fall off!

That is the way God's Truth Lives. He being dead yet speaketh. Weeds keep growing well after edifices crumble; you've seen that, June. No history books record great accomplishments and kingdom establishments of weeds, vines, and wildflowers; yet they are the ones that survived, bore fruit, continued living through the centuries (and are present at ruined castle fortress sites!)

Cannot the anointed child of God also REFUSE to be robbed of the heritage to remain a living witness too? Even if the enemy would "tread on him" outwardly, temporarily?

Rev. 11:3 POWER TO DIE

 May 19, 2026

"And I will give power unto my two witnesses" (Rev. 11:3)

I was noticing the contrast between this and Acts 1:8 in which believers were promised power to be witnesses. Takashi pointed out in a previous message that often, we see the central message of the word "witness" is martyr. We need to be willing to die for God. In truth, the two "witnesses" in Rev. 11 actually do die for Him, then are raised for Him!

Is not the message clear to us, that if we would want His power given to us, it may be given to us to die and show His glory in rising for Him too?

After all, the power every Christian needs to "rise", to walk, to serve Him, to follow Him: does that not come because the Holy Spirit indwells our hearts, and HE is the One Who causes us to see things in the Word then Leap to our feet and charge around the Temple like a wild boar (Martin Luther), even when no angel stirs the surface of the water (Jn.5:1-9)! We should not lie around and wait for someone to come give us help--that would destroy us (Mic.2:10)--but get up and get moving.

BRAKING IN REVELATIONS, Rev. 11:1,3

 "Just start recording," I felt led.

I'd put up one post per chapter of the thoughts God had sent me while reading through Revelation in doing my memory work. But it felt recently like God has really put on the brakes from chapters 11 (over 25 entries per chapter). I went back in my journals and well...I'll stop talking and just start recording.

*******

May 15, 2026

"measure the temple of God" the angel said to John.  (Rev. 11:1)

Sometimes, children of God may wonder why God asks them to do some things. I mean, what is the reason in measuring the temple? It's not going to change anything, is it? The price of the property isn't going up or devaluing nor the condition for the entrance to Heaven changing as a result, and surely, there will not be second thoughts as to the feasibility of its being able to fit in as many spirits as desirable to worship there? I mean, that will be a spiritual thing, not physical, so even the properties of space will not actually limit them then...so why the instruction to "measure"? It has to be for my good: the concepts of time and space are units created for finite beings, yes?

Yes. But that is as far as I will go. Anything farther than that, I will leave for God to show me a little at a time; my mind is tired.

Meanwhile, today...(more of journal entry)

May 18, 2026

"And I will give power unto my two witnesses" (Rev. 11:3)

I've been spending much time going back and forth communicating with Saaya. She and Rana will be coming, "Lord willing," Wed., for lunch and fellowship...I wonder if she knows how the Tomiokas were the ones who prayed for our getting together from before we were led into marriage; how she sang at our wedding and he officiated it; they prayed for us as a family in Bangladesh and even shed tears when we had marital problems? It was at the Tomiokas we had lunch as a newlywed couple, I remember, and now Saaya and Rana are eating at our place...and I was remarking to Kinya, next year, we will have been married 40 years!!! Time has gone by so fast. I remember Mrs. Tomioka telling me how 10 years goes by quickly!!! Lord, would You have me share old photos with Saaya? (How old? The youngest daughter pictured here has her doctorate!)

JAKE'S CAFE (Woman at the Well, Jn. 4:5-39)

The barista saw that half-breed every noon, standing on the corner across the street, waiting until everyone was gone then coming over and ordering her daily cup. Hiding behind that thick scowling mask and loud costume seemed to be a lonely, guarded female in survival mode, but Jake wordlessly poured her coffee then left her alone.

He remembered that day however, when someone new to the neighborhood stepped into the cafe. The whole place was empty, but he chose the stool...next to the customer who HATES social interaction!

She seemed startled at first but didn't dislike it, and responded to his greeting.

They were actually talking for a little bit. She seemed to get animated. Jake wondered if they knew each other from before. Who knows what happened next, but she jumped off her stool and flew out of the shop, leaving her coffee untouched.

"What did you say?!" Jake rushed over and asked the stranger; "Did you hurt her feelings?"

"No!" Someone standing at the door answered, coming in. She wanted to stay longer but wanted to go call friends and neighbors right away." I happened to be coming, and she crashed into me on her way out.

Turning to the stranger, he said, "She said, 'He knows EVERYTHING ABOUT ME but still cares about me and will give me everlasting life. She says I MUST hear what you have to say. She sounded pretty mixed up, but by what I saw in her (and this is the most I have seen her talk), I think I want to hear anything you have to say. LAY IT ON ME, BRO!"

5, 10 minutes later, there were streams of curious folk pouring into JAKE'S CAFE, all friends and neighbors who wanted to see this stranger who could've caused their foreigner friend to change so much.

Yes, you probably got it. This is the story of the woman at the well (Jn. 4:5-39), told in modernized version...the barista? There was no barista in Jesus' day...Jacob was long gone.

Oh-oh; now readers will remember the barista, and not what happened at the coffee shop!

She left her pot to go call her friends, relatives, neighbors

REVEVATION 13:6 MALFUNCTIONING MOUTH

 "And he opened his mouth" (Rev. 13:6)

Let us imagine a boy anticipating a fully functioning piece of incredible technology as he switches it on. He has been working on it for some time. But instead of just serving its purpose, it turns to the scientific prodigy and lets him know he has no more use of him. He is, after all, fully automatic so can think for, regenerate, repair, improve himself with no outside help, and, in fact, will one day soon become the Controller of all functioning things. He also sees no need for aspects like love, beauty, character; they complicate matters. It seems almost reasonable that the self-determination chip installed in this formerly considered "marvel" would be declared faulty and need to be removed and rewritten before being reinserted or could be hazardous.

"and he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name," (Rev. 13:6）

I know a creation that goes around claiming he is his own person and no one can tell him how to live. When his circuits hiccup, he spouts, "Oh my God" or "OMG". Altho' once pronounced Crown of Creation, now he says he will be Master of his own soul, even teaching others they need to TAKE LIFE INTO THEIR OWN HANDS BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE WILL. Of course, the mainstream model of this device has no use for attributes of holiness, deity, denying the Creator that formed him. Man's only hope, at the foot of the Cross, is the removal of a wrong heart and instilling of a new life.

"I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh." (Ezek. 36:26)

REVELATION 12:6 WOMAN FLEEING INTO WILDERNESS

 "The woman FLED into the wilderness," it says in Rev. 12:6. I shared with some friends today about this passage. I hadn't realized how many characters in the Bible actually fled. Because I've berated myself in being such a big chicken, a coward, running away. I hear about people facing dangers so bravely...I know I probably wouldn't do that. I'd be looking for EXITS out of the room and using any energy to figure out the most efficient way to use them.

Sometimes I feel as Brave as a Worm...

But wait. Bible characters? Jacob fled from Esau's wrath. Joseph fled from Potipher's wife. Moses fled from "murderer!" David fled from Saul's men. Elijah fled from Jezebel. Jeremiah fled from Jonathan the scribe. Joseph and Mary fled from Herod. Paul fled from the Pharisees. And yes, the Woman in Revelation 12 fled from the Dragon.

And what I saw, in the phrase right after the comma after the information that she ran was what blew me away: "where she had a place PREPARED BY GOD"! I still remember the time Jesus defended a woman, "Leave her alone; she's MINE." (When she was criticized for extravagant use of oil.) I thought then, I'd love someone to think of me like that. A heartbeat later, I realized SOMEONE does! 

And then this verse affected me in the same way: GOD HAD TAKEN SPECIAL PAINS to prepare a special place out in the wilderness for a loved one HE KNEW would come running out there and would need a shelter! The God of the Universe gave the woman V.I.P. treatment!

Readied Room

He didn't call her a coward. He caught up the infant she'd given birth to (v.5); made sure His bride would be nourished 'til fully recuperated (v.6); and told Michael the archangel to get the servants under him to confront and expel any threatening renegades unhappy with God or heaven (vs.7-9).

Some people would say the woman of Revelation 12 is Israel, and the prophecy there is not for all. This is true. We cannot "claim" these promises to be ours accurately. But...

There was a Gentile mother who, when Jesus looked at her and told her He'd come to give bread to the Jews, and it would be wrong to take bread away from the children to which they were intended and give it to the puppies, she responded by saying even they'd be happy with the crumbs under the table. I am thinking the God who'd receive a mother in the wilderness--who'd run away from a dragon--and not call her a coward would be large-hearted enough to allow her to have a puppy, and whisper to those feeding the woman to make sure her bread is the extra crumbly type. Even Boaz told his reapers to allow handfuls of barley to fall for Ruth to glean, didn't he? Can we not hope for our Lord to be at least as gracious as a human lord?

Again, after reading these few verse and thinking these thoughts, I found myself saying, "Hey--I'm not supposed to be feeling this way. I'm reading in Revelation, not Psalms."

MCC - where Ron Sisco taught Revelation

One of the friends I was talking with was the person I had to thank most for giving me real desire to look at the book again. Ron Sisco, a retired missionary and interim leader-pastor of the English department of a church up in mainland Japan I fellowshipped at 10 years ago, preached through studies in Revelation, and his messages then got me interested. They were recorded then posted on the church website several years later. I've listened to them repeatedly since. He'd emphasized then the blessing that comes along with its reading. A lot of people avoid it, he said, because Revelation looks scary-difficult.

Maybe I'm a bit strange, but if it's not being studied, I think it feels kinda good.