When Jesus was born more than 2000 years ago, he came into the world in the humblest of circumstances. He was born in a stable because there was no room for him in the inn. His earthly father was a carpenter. For some time he and his earthly family lived in Bethlehem and then in Egypt, staying away from the evil Herod before returning eventually to live and grow up in Nazareth. Jesus surely was trained in and learned Joseph’s craft of carpentry, and when he was thirty he left home to become an itinerant preacher.
For three years he went around teaching, preaching, and healing, bringing the kingdom of God to those who would believe, amazing people with his healings and miracles and with his casting demons out of people. Finally, he went to the cross, carrying all the sins, sicknesses, diseases, pains of the human race and overcoming all that, along with death, shame, regret and more. He overcame all that by his death and resurrection, restoring the right for people to have a relationship with God – if they will just recognize who Jesus is and have him as their Lord.
People this Christmas season again are in so many ways celebrating the baby that was born in the manger so many years ago. And surely that event deserves all the celebration we can muster! But that baby is not there. He has not been there for more than 2000 years. Several years ago Cathy and I were sitting in a Moravian Church on Christmas Eve, and while the service was underway the Lord spoke to me so clearly: These people are celebrating my birth, and here I am getting ready to return.
In our day this Lord is returning to earth, first to collect his believers and take them with him and then to lead an army of his holy ones – his angels and believers – to fight at Armageddon against all the evil forces arrayed against him. He is not returning as a baby in a humble situation. He is returning as the King of the Kingdom of God and the ruler of the government of that Kingdom. He is the King of all kings. Everything is under his feet. At Armageddon he is completely victorious, destroying the enemy with the sword coming from his mouth, the WORD. All soldiers in the opposing army are killed, the antichrist and the false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire for eternity, and the devil is locked in a deep pit. The Lord then sets up in Jerusalem the government of the Kingdom of God, with believers holding positions of authority in that government. He will be King over the whole earth.
And we will then see the line in the Lord’s prayer fulfilled: thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
And also the words of Isaiah written so long ago:
…the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever. – Isaiah 9:6-7
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever. – Isaiah 9:6-7
Be ready. Stay in the right relationship with the Lord.
December 2023
Copyright © 2023 by John Newlin
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KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS!
JOHN NEWLIN MINISTRIES
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