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Written Down
Chapter Five
Written Down
And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world.
The great voice from the throne has uttered: "It is done". The seven seals have been opened. The seven trumpets have all sounded. And the seven fearful vials have all been emptied. And yet the people in our text have survived. They are in awe at the terrible judgment of the great whore...which follows the seventh vial.
Moreover, when Babylon falls...after the judgment of the great whore...we read of all the people who stand afar off weeping, as that great city is brought to ruin. Again; when the Word of God descends from heaven upon a white horse, people are still around. For the angel who stands in the sun invites all the birds of the earth, to come and feast upon the flesh of:
The kings of the earth, and captains, and mighty men, and horsemen, and all men free and bond, small and great.
Even following the 1,000 year millennial reign of Jesus Christ on earth, people are still everywhere. This is the seventh 1,000 years...the seventh day...the day of rest. But at its close; Satan is loosed from the bottomless pit, and goes about to deceive the nations of humanity. And finally; in the very last chapter of Revelation, there appear to be people outside of the new Jerusalem, who are not allowed in:
For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie
What the King's children come to realize; is that every day of our short lives, we look into the eyes and souls of those whose names are not written down. We rub shoulders with them at work...wait in line with them at the market...share the restaurant dining rooms with them. And what a fearful thought indeed, that one's very name is not written down...and never has been. Yet the stark reality is, that they are the majority. Across the pages of time, they are the worldwide majority.
The book of life was written at the foundation of the world. And my Lord could simply look at a crowd of people, and tell whose names are written down. Recall when the disciples returned rejoicing, and saying:
Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
Jesus' response was surely a bolt of enlightenment for the young disciples:
Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Written down in heaven...since the days of Adam and before. By the time you trickle down to our day, that is some incredibly complex genealogy. And yet nearly 6,000 years ago names were written down. The names of people walking the planet today. And of those 7 billion people walking the earth today; the harsh truth is that some names are written down, while most, plainly are not.
If scriptural history offers any precedent, it is that those who are written down are very few in number. Unwittingly; the rest become channels and vessels for a myriad of spirits, constantly assaulting the children of the great King. People whose names are not written down...not 6,000 years ago and not today...opening themselves up to every wandering spirit now confined to the earth. From lone wolf spirits, to spirits in concert, hunting the souls of men. And oh! the wisdom and beauty of my Lord's plan; to cull the few from the many, while slaying the law of sin and death.
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