Then I saw another sign... Will you follow the signs?

 Revelation 15 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

ThenI saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.

² And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. ³ And they *sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

“Great and marvelous are Your works,
O Lord God, the Almighty;
Righteous and true are Your ways,
King of the nations!
⁴ “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy;
For all the nations will come and worship before You,
For Your righteous acts have been revealed.”

⁵ After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened, ⁶ and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes. ⁷ Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. ⁸ And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.

There are many people today who think of much of the Bible as a collection of stories, nothing more than the myths and legends of Greek mythology. For many if it weren’t for Disney’s depictions of some of the Biblical stories they would have no other knowledge of the accounts. This has become many people’s view of the Bible overall, but perhaps in particular the future prophetic writing of things yet to come is disregarded even more. The end of Revelation includes this warning found in Revelation 22:16-19

¹⁶ “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”  ¹⁷ The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. ¹⁸ I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; ¹⁹ and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

Surely the world and unbelievers will not be persuaded by a warning that comes from the Bible itself, after all they view it as nothing more than fiction, a good story at best.

What evidence can we offer for the accuracy and reliability of scripture? I believe that on this day, the day we prepare to celebrate the first coming of Christ into the world to fulfill the purpose and the will of the Father, we can find evidence to accept and believe that both Jesus is who He says He is and that we should believe He will come again. There are as many as over 300 Messianic prophecies in the Bible, written before Jesus birth, yet accurately fulfilled by Him. These prophetically written and fulfilled scriptures deal with things including Jesus ancestry, His birthplace and other place He would live, to names He would be called, life events and of course His death and resurrection. Certainly the list is far too long to begin to do justice to it here. But for anyone who is interested there are extensive lists and studies available on line and in books.

Many today are persuaded to believe things because of sound bites and headlines, brief statements on social media are accepted as truth. I encourage you today, whether a believer, an unbeliever or someone who simply questions the truth of scripture, to open both your mind and your heart to believe and receive the promise of Christmas, the long ago predicted coming of one who was sent to save the world. For the logical thinker who needs facts to believe there is far more evidence for Jesus Christ than there is for most human philosophy and scientific theory. It is there if you will open your mind. For the one who needs to know by faith, simply open your heart to the revelation of Christ. The key to faith though is also found in the word of God.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)

Whether through factual evidence or faithful evidence God will reveal His truth to those who seek it. Jeremiah 29:13 says:   “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”   Scripture says that wise men sought and found the child who was born to be king. The king will be found today by all who seek Him, whether wise men or those with the faith of a child.

 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. ² This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. ⁴ Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, ⁵ in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. ⁶ While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸ In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; ¹¹ for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”(Luke 2)

BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. 8"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:7-8)

Christ indeed has come and He is coming again. Open your heart and your mind, seek Him and He will be found by you.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, my Savior and King; precious Holy Spirit, the one who reveals all truth,  thank You for the revelation of Christ, provided through Your word, the truth which speaks to both the heart and the mind. Thank You for Your word and Your promise:    He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. ²¹ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. (Revelation 22)