Romans 5:1-11 KJV Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (3) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; (4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope: (5) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (6) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. (8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (11) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Romans 5:17 KJV For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Revelation 5:6-10 KJV And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. (7) And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. (8) And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. (9) And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (10) And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Romans teaches us that the blood of Jesus is the key that brought us into favour with God after being His enemies due to our sins.
And we then read that this peace and access to God causes us to be able to GLORY IN TRIBULATIONS. This is very important.
Tribulation works patience.
Revelation 1:9 KJV I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. John was in TRIBULATION.
The reason we see them work patience is because we CAN HAVE POWER THROUGH IT ALL.
The only saints who will rule are the saints WHO ARE EXPERIENCED. Experience will not make you ashamed.
Experience works a HOPE IN YOU.
We all know GOD IS ALL POWERFUL.
We already know God shed his love in our hearts when He saved us.
If God loved you that much, then MUCH MORE He will love you and rescue you and help you! Romans 8:31-35 KJV What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (32) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (33) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. (34) Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? HE WILL GIVE US ANYTHING, by hIs love for us, If He loved us so much that He gave his only SON!!!
After mentioning all of this, we read that whereas Adam brought the reign of DEATH into the world. Romans 5:17 KJV For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) God's POWER IS MUCH MORE POWERFUL THAN DEATH!
Revelation states the same thing as Romans says about RULING in Revelation 5. And IT IS THROUGH CHRIST THAT REVELATION 5 SHOWS the saints to be kings. Revelation is about the great tribulation of the early church, as we have studied.
Rom 5:(11) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. The reason we have PEACE and ACCESS to God is DUE TO ATONEMENT.
Recall that JESUS COMES INTO HEAVEN AS A LAMB and takes a book.
Now, this SAME PICTURE is found in Daniel 7. The chapter is full of beasts rising up from the sea of multitudes of people.
Daniel 7:8-9 KJV I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. (9) I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. AT THAT SAME TIME THE ANCIENT OF DAYS SITS!
Daniel 7:10 KJV A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. Books are opened in this awesome display of glory at the same time THIS ENEMY BEAST AND HORN are on a rampage.
Daniel watches until the beast is wiped out. And then Daniel sees something else in the vision.
You see, that beast was making war with the saints, before it was destroyed. Daniel 7:21 KJV I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Daniel sees this GREAT POINT: Daniel 7:13 KJV I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. Just like this: Revelation 5:7 KJV And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. Then we read this: Daniel 7:14 KJV And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. The beast and the horn that persecuted the saints and even prevailed over them for a time, is destroyed.
Daniel 7:18 KJV But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. It's the saints taking dominion when the SON OF MAN takes it! That is why Revelation 5 shows THE LAMB TAKING THE BOOK, representing TAKING DOMINION, and the SAINTS SAYING THEY SHALL RULE ON THE EARTH AS KINGS AND PRIESTS! ALL OF THAT IS SEEN IN TWO VISIONS -- DANIEL'S AND JOHN'S -- OF JESUS GOING INTO A PLACE NO ONE ELSE CAN GO.
BUT ATONEMENT IS NOT ALL HE IS IN THE MOST HOLY PLACE FOR. Hebrews 7:24 KJV But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. THROUGH THE HIGH PRIEST'S WORK, ISRAEL RECEIVED ATONEMENT.
And Romans 5 even mentions ATONEMENT. The reason John and Daniel see JESUS enter a MOST HOLY PLACE to TAKE POWER so the saints can ENJOY THE POWER, is WE HAVE PEACE THROUGH THE ATONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST, TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT ANY TIME WE NEED VICTORY OVER OUR ENEMIES..... Jesus is there in the MOST HOLY PLACE AGAIN FOR US!
Daniel 7 and Rev 5 involve WRATH coming upon God's people from BEASTS!
You see, we have PEACE with the ALMIGHTY GOD OF THE UNIVERSE!
God showed this to the early church in the great tribulation of the Nero persecution.
God wants you to know that if He loved you to such an extent that he loved you and sent His Son to die for you WHEN YOU WERE ENEMIES, how much more will he help you in times of trouble?
How shall he not give you ALL THINGS, if He gave HIS ONLY SON FOR YOU? Church JUDGMENT IS SET! God saw the devil tearing up through the beast.
We have PEACE with God through Christ, and ACCESS with God through Christ and also RULERSHIP IN LIFE THROUGH CHRIST! Everything we need is in the most holy place of Heaven where God's throne is.
Same thing is here: Revelation 12:1-5 KJV And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: (2) And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. (3) And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. (4) And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. (5) And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. When the devil goes wild to chase after the woman... Revelation 12:7-11 KJV And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, (8) And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. (9) And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (10) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. (11) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. ...The SAINTS overcome the devil BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.
There's more than peace and access with God!
ATONEMENT BROUGHT PEACE, ACCESS AND DOMINION WITH GOD That is why we see these things achieved in the same picture of a high priest going into the most holy place for us to achieve atonement, peace and access with God... AS WELL AS DOMINION FOR US! |