Jesus Will Demonstrate What Matters Most

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The Lord confronted Apostle Peter in a vision a few months after Jesus returned to Heaven. The meaning of the vision dumbfounded Peter until there was a knock on the door.

 

“At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion [a captain over 100 men] in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing [Cornelius may have become a believer in Jesus through the centurion in Capernaum whose servant Jesus healed. (See Matthew 5:8-10) Nevertheless; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, ‘Cornelius!’  Cornelius stared at him in fear. ‘What is it, Lord?’ he asked. The angel answered, ‘Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa [about twenty miles away] to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.’” (Acts 10:1-5)

 

Four days later, “As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. ‘Stand up,’ he said, ‘I am only a man myself.’ Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them: ‘You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me [in a vision concerning unclean animals] that I should [abandon this practice. God told me that I must] not call any man impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?’

 

Cornelius answered: ‘Four days ago I was in the house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, “Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter.  He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’

 

So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. [Read the following sentence twice:] Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.’ Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts [uncircumcised] men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.’” (Acts 10:25-35, insertions mine)

 

I am sure that Peter, with his Jewish paradigm, was completely overwhelmed by this revolutionary thinking. He must have been astonished by their willingness to embrace the gospel of Christ. Peter’s visit with Cornelius transformed the thinking of the early church. Peter’s experience would later underscore Paul’s transforming theology. Up to this time, most of the converts to Christianity were Jews and as such, they were still Jews in terms of culture and behavior, but Christians in terms of theology. Due to their Jewish thinking, they were unwilling to contaminate themselves by entering the home of a dog (a term used by Jews to describe unclean meat, that is, a Gentile. (See Matthew 7:6 and Mark 7:28.) In a vision, God revealed a profound truth to Peter. Cornelius was just as much a child of God as any Jew, even though Cornelius was not a Jew. This concept is important to understand because it will be demonstrated again during the Great Tribulation. God will soon demonstrate to the whole universe that within every religious system on Earth, there are thousands of people like Cornelius! Such people have the right hearts, even though their heads are messed up. God loves to bless such people. On the other hand, God cannot help individuals with arrogant hearts and hard heads.

 

The Demonstration

 

The whole world will implode with fury during the sixty days of the Great Tribulation. There will be thunder, lightening, rumblings, a global earthquake, meteoric firestorms, two asteroid impacts, and darkness. Death and destruction will occur on an unimaginable scale. Infrastructures will disappear. The world will be ruined beyond repair. The recent destruction in Haiti is a prophetic sample of God’s coming wrath with the exception that the nations of the world will not be able to rush in and help. Every nation will be helplessly paralyzed like Haiti.

 

The essential difference between a natural disaster (such as the earthquake in Haiti) and a divine judgment (such as the seven trumpets of Revelation) is purpose. When God sends a divine judgment, there is a divine purpose. The purpose is revealed before God acts. For example, God gave Noah a message and a mission before sending the flood. God sent Jonah into Nineveh before destroying the city. God sent two angels into Sodom before destroying the city. For over 100 years, God sent many prophets to Jerusalem before destroying the city. And, today God is sending a warning to the world through the prophet John. The book of Daniel has been unsealed and the book of Revelation speaks clearly about God’s coming judgments, and unfortunately, few are willing to listen and spiritually prepare. Jesus said, “As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:37)

 

During the Great Tribulation, the Holy Spirit will give power to God’s servants who will give a clarion declaration of the gospel of Jesus all over the world. This time, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit power will dwarf the experience of the disciples at Pentecost. The 144,000, located in every nation, will boldly proclaim the gospel message of Jesus Christ with signs and wonders and the Holy Spirit will ensure that everyone hears God’s servants.

 

The overwhelming shock and awe caused by the first four trumpets will shatter religious paradigms. Presently, many people are closed to the gospel because of religion and culture (arrogance and ignorance), but this overwhelming surprise will humble individuals’ hearts and people will become receptive to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  In a setting of global ruin, the world will thoughtfully listen to the 144,000. Many, like Cornelius, will receive Jesus as their redeemer. Many more, like Pharaoh, will only harden their hearts, but there will be a small window of time when Jews, Moslems, Hindus, Atheists, Catholics, Protestants, and Pagans will thoughtfully consider a gospel that may be contrary to everything they believe. What rebuttal is there given the circumstances, the awesome display of signs and wonders, and the message that the 144,000 will proclaim? The 144,000 will announce the sovereignty, glory, and love of Jesus Christ and they will invite every living person to join His coming kingdom. The price for admission will be submission to the authority of Jesus Christ, the coming King of Glory. Bow down before the King of kings and give Him the love and allegiance He deserves!

 

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