Have you ever wanted to go home to an old house that was not yours anymore? Past schools and hometowns are very sentimental for many people. My heart hurts to hear that my elementary school was torn down. Some places mean more than others do. Some of us have tried to go home to find out that we cannot because everything has changed. God always has a place with His people. That gives me comfort to look for the home that He gives.

            In the Hebrew Scriptures, God designated His people of Israel to build a tabernacle to worship in Him in the Promised Land. Now, that physical temple has changed to a spiritual house. God has a place for His Holy Spirit to dwell and that is in His holy temple even today.

            The church of Christ is God’s holy temple on earth (Eph 2:19–22). God’s temple possesses God’s Holy Spirit (Eph 2:22). Each member is a stone that builds up the temple of God (1 Pet 2:5). That temple stands upon the foundation that is Christ’s apostles and prophets and the cornerstone is Jesus Christ (Eph 2:20; 3:4–5). Every Christian is a priest attending this temple with spiritual sacrifices of good works (Heb 13:16).

            Christ made the church holy having sanctified her to have no spot or blemish (Eph 5:25–27). God’s temple is so important to Him that God will destroy anyone who destroys His temple — the church (1 Cor 3:16–17). The apostle Paul made this point about careless teachers and leaders among the church who do not build on Christ as the foundation or teaches the wisdom of the world (1 Cor 3:10–15, 17–20).     

            God promised that His Spirit would dwells within His people. Through Ezekiel, God promised, “And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God” (Ezek 36:27–28 ESV; cf. 37:13–14). Jesus also promised the Spirit to His apostles, “You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:17b).

            The church of Christ is God’s Holy Temple. For this reason, God declared, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet 1:16). The Christian’s body is the temple as the dwelling of the Holy Spirit. Because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in each baptized believer, the Christian must not sin against one’s body with sexual immorality — sex outside of marriage (1 Cor 6:18–20).

            As we recognize God’s holiness in His righteous and greatness in His works, Christians see that they must be holy as God’s Spirit dwells within them (Exod 15:11; Isa 5:16). The faithful must see the importance of the church to God and God’s command that the church be holy. The life and works of Christians is a holy life for Christians are saints — God’s holy ones. God’s holy church consists of holy living and holy teaching. God has sanctified His people and He continues to sanctify His people throughout their lives. We are God’s holy temple and a holy priesthood to offer spiritual offerings to God. Thank God for this great gift! Depend on God who helps us to live a pure life.

Jesus of Nazareth died on a cross having been sentenced by Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea. Why is Jesus’s death more significant than any other person born into the world? Jesus is holy unlike any other, and the Christian must take this truth to heart. Because Jesus is holy, death could not hold Him, and so Jesus bodily rose to life.
            Peter commanded, “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy” (1 Pet 3:15). Jesus makes holy sanctifying those who come to Him by faith (Heb 2:11; cf. 1 Cor 6:11). Jesus is the only source for a person to be made holy (Heb 2:11). Jesus’s blood sacrifice purifies the conscience from dead works to serve the living God (Heb 9:14; 13:12). Jesus’s sacrifice perfectly sanctifies once for all time (Heb 10:10, 14).
            Jesus is holy because He is God come in the flesh. In the beginning, God spoke the Creation into existence, and thereby, the Word was with God and was God in the beginning (John 1:1). The Word became flesh and dwelt among humanity (John 1:14). Jesus is the fullness of God bodily (Col 2:9). Jesus left the form of God to take on the form of a servant to help humanity (Phil 2:6–8). God calls Jesus “God” (Heb 1:8). For this reason, He must manifest the same holy nature as God the Father and Creator.
            Jesus’s sinlessness attests to His divinity, His resurrection, and His inerrant teaching. Isaiah prophesied that the Suffering Servant would die, yet “he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth” (Isa 53:9). He is the “righteous one, my servant” (Isa 53:11). Jesus lived a holy life without sinning (2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:22; 1 John 3:5). However, Jesus was tempted in every way (Heb 4:15). The Christ was to be pierced for transgressions and crushed for the iniquities of humanity (Isa 53:5). The LORD laid on the suffering Servant the iniquity of all (Isa 53:6). Thereby, Christ was the offering for guilt by which God was thus satisfied (Isa 53:10–11). Only by Christ will a person be “accounted righteous” (Isa 53:11). Therefore, the Suffering Servant is the one who makes intercession for sinners (Isa 53:12).
            The righteous of Jesus Christ reveals the holiness of God. Just as Isaiah prophesied, the sinless Messiah appeased the justice of God’s law by enduring and overcoming the punishment of death releasing the faithful from the condemnation of sin and death (Rom 3:20–26; 8:1–4). Christ makes holy, blameless, and without reproach before God those who continue in the faith (Col 1:21–23).
            May we all sanctify Jesus in our hearts. John revealed that those who hope in Christ purify themselves as Christ is pure (1 John 3:3). This is just as Peter urged Christians to be holy in all conduct and not to conform to former passions (1 Pet 1:14–16). Peter taught the faithful to conduct themselves with hope and fear knowing that they were ransomed by the blood of Christ and are now without blemish or spot (1 Pet 1:13–19). Thank God that we can be holy as God is holy!

Are you a holy person? Are you a saint? Most people would not hesitate to say, “No. I’m no saint.” However, the New Testament Christian should confidently confess, “Yes. God makes me holy.” A saint means a holy person. The verb “sanctify” means to make holy. All Christians are saints (Eph 1:1). No one can be saved except by the sanctification of the Holy Spirit (2 Thess 2:13–14). The Holy Spirit makes the believer holy as the Christians chooses to live a holy life.
    God’s Holy Spirit serves God’s purpose of making a holy people. The work of God’s Holy Spirit includes transforming believers into the image of Christ (2 Cor 3:17–18). God wants the faithful to be holy. God declared, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet 1:16; cf. Lev 11:44). Christians are to be holy by being holy in all their conduct (1 Pet 1:15).
    Jesus revealed in His prayer to the Father that God’s Word is the truth that sanctifies — makes holy. Jesus declared in the hearing of His disciples, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth” (John 17:17–19). The Holy Spirit delivered all truth in words to the apostles (John 14:26; 16:12–13; 17:8). The Scriptures make evident that the Spirit operates by the Word of God that as the sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17). 
    God promised to send His Spirit into His people to change their hearts and cause them to obey His commands (Ezek 36:26–27; John 14:16–17). The Holy Spirit must dwell within believers for Christians to receive salvation (Rom 8:9–11; 1 Cor 6:14). The Holy Spirit sanctifies the faithful so that they are holy before God (1 Cor 6:11). For this reason, the apostle Paul urged Christians to live holy lives apart from sexual immorality along with abandoning greed, thievery, and profaning others (1 Cor 6:9–20). Paul further explained that sexual sins are sins against the body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:18–20). The body is meant for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
    Furthermore, Paul expressed, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;” (1 Thess 4:3–5). Paul also revealed that God called His people not for impurity but for holiness, and anyone who disregards holiness disregards God who gave the Holy Spirit (1 Thess 4:7–8).
    As Christians, we cannot dismiss God’s commands for holiness. The shows and movies that we listen and watch affect us (Luke 11:34). What unholy things do we consent to enjoy for our own entertainment? How permissive are we of unholiness in the world and then in our lives? Should we no longer be disgusted by the unholy behavior around us for the sake of “tolerance” or fake “love”? Too long have Christians overlooked unholy lifestyles so as not to offend anyone, and then we give ourselves leeway to sin and no reason to share the gospel. “That person would not listen anyways.” However, Jesus evangelized to the Samaritan woman who had 5 husbands (John 4:7–42). Share the gospel that those who believe must repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38).
    Thank God for sending His Spirit of holiness and that we can live holy lives.

Begin with the title: Have you ever felt unworthy before God? In the presence of Jesus glorified in an apocalyptic vision, John fell at the feet of Jesus as though dead. Jesus laid His hand on John and comforted, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades” (Rev 1:17). God’s holiness has a presence of fearful conviction and yet overwhelming comfort.
    The prophet Isaiah recounted a vision of God on His throne high and lifted up. Isaiah saw God having a robe with a train that filled the temple (Isaiah 6:1). Angelic beings called seraphim covered their faces to their feet with their six wings (6:2). In Isaiah’s vision, the angelic beings called to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts.” God is holy and separate from the heavenly creatures. However, God’s glory filled the whole earth (6:3). The voice of God trembled the foundation of temple, and the smoke of God’s presence filled that spiritual house (6:4). Isaiah’s vision captured God’s glory invoking fear.
    Before God’s awesome presence, Isaiah exclaimed distress and grief because of his own sinfulness. The prophet expressed, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (6:5). The prophet saw God’s holiness and knew that he was not clean. The prophet realized his wickedness and those of all flesh before God. How could he even speak? Isaiah experienced this vision to hear the voice of the Lord call for whom to send to Israel, and God sent Isaiah (6:8).
    Many of us have felt unworthy and unholy before God like Isaiah. The Scriptures depict a sense of sinfulness and humiliation that overcomes all who experience God’s presence. In God’s presence, humanity realizes its uncleanness and shame. God’s holiness exposes the wicked works of humanity (John 3:19–21). Job heard and saw God, and for this reason, Job despised himself and repented in dust and ashes (Job 42:5–6). Jesus commanded Simon’s boat to cast their nets on the other side, and they caught so many fish that two boats could barely hold them. Peter declared to Jesus, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8).
    Why do we experience great fear and humility before the greatness of God? God’s holiness is absolute contrast to evil. God’s nature is counter to the filthiness of sin. The basic problem for humanity with holiness is that God is holy and He desires fellowship with sinful humanity living in a fallen world (cf. Hab 1:13). Because God cannot become less holy, humanity must become holy by way of being made holy — sanctification (1 Thess 4:1–8).
    Every one of us has been alienated and hostile in mind toward God in doing evil things (Col 1:21). However, through Jesus’s death in the body, He makes those who continue in the faith holy and blameless before Him (Col 1:22–23). In Christ, the faithful will put of the works of the flesh being buried with Christ in baptism, so the faithful are raised with Christ by God’s powerful working and made alive having received the forgiveness of sins (Col 2:12–13).
    Furthermore, John wrote of continual fellowship with God stating, “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:6–7). Thank God that you can have fellowship with Him and receive the cleansing of ALL sin by the blood of Christ.
 

Moses stretched his hands over the Red Sea and the waters of the sea came back upon the Egyptian army destroying every one of them. Thereby, God saved Israel from the hand of the Egyptians. Israel saw God’s power, and they believed in the Lord. For this reason, Moses and Israel sang, “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15:11 ESV). The basis of God’s holiness is that no one is like God.

            God is holy as His works reveal the attributes of His nature. God is the source of holiness. God makes holy. When God appeared to Moses on Mount Sinai, God called, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground” (Exod 3:5). God’s presence makes holy as God’s presence made the inner room of the sanctuary to be the holy of holies. God is set apart from all other peoples and their gods, and even more so, God’s presence makes a place holy set apart from all others. However, God is present throughout the earth by His Spirit (Ps 139:7–12). God makes a place holy by His presence in the sense of revealing Himself and His message to humanity in that place.

            God decides what He makes holy. In Genesis 2:3, God made the seventh day marking His rest as a holy day by blessing it. The Sabbath day is consecrated and special. How does God resting make a day holy? In the seven days of creation, the seventh day was set apart as God rested meaning that He ceased from all of His work in creating the universe and all life. The seventh day marked the completion of creation. God spoke from Mount Sinai to Israel revealing, “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy” (Exodus 20:11).

            What do we do with what God has given us to keep holy? Do we keep our spouses and children holy (1 Cor 7:14)? Do we keep our bodies holy (1 Cor 6:19–20)? Christians must keep holy what God has set apart to be holy. The church are His people to be unlike others and separated from wickedness and sinfulness of the world. God has called all believers to “be holy for I am holy” (1 Pet 1:16).

            When each Christian consecrates his or her life, the believer will not tie oneself together with unbelievers (2 Cor 6:14). They are sacred and have no partnership with Satan (2 Cor 6:15). Concerning the church, Paul observed, “For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, ‘I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,’” (2 Cor 6:15b–17; cf. Lev 26:12; Isa 52:11).

Many people speak of God as just another man rather than the eternal Being and Creator of the universe. By definition, God is beyond the universe as the Creator of the heavens and the earth. The cause of the universe must be transcendent of everything and thus metaphysical and supernatural. This uniqueness separating God from all creation and existence is God’s holiness.

            His holy nature is pure, right, loving, and just. Isaiah’s rhapsody reflected that God shows Himself holy in righteousness (Isa 5:16). Because of God’s holiness, the Psalmist called for exaltation and worship of God (Ps 99:9; cf. 1 Chr 16:29). According to the Song of Moses, God’s majesty displays in His holiness (Exod 15:11).

            God has called all believers to “be holy for I am holy” (1 Pet 1:16; cf. Lev 11:44–45; 19:2). According to 1 Peter 1:14–16, God is the standard of holiness in righteousness. To live holy lives is to live in the likeness of God. Peter urged Christians not to conform to passions of lust but Christians must become holy in all conduct and behavior. This is why obedience to God is essential. Peter further revealed that Christ ransomed Christians by His blood as He is without spot or blemish (1 Pet 1:18–19). Despite sins, everyone can pursue a holy and righteous life with God through Jesus Christ.

            Hannah professed in her prayer, “There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God” (1 Sam 2:2). God is totally set apart from all evil. The Hebrew for holy is godesh meaning “apartness” or “sacred.” The root idea of holiness is separation. That separation of holiness is a divine quality of God’s righteous nature (Isa 5:16). Holiness is godliness.

            Holiness is one of the greatest moral attributes of God by which believers commune with God. Unlike divine attributes that are maximal as God such as being almighty and all-knowing, humanity can share in God’s holiness and must to be saved (Heb 12:10). Holiness is both transcendent in God and yet morally applicable for humanity made in His image.

            As one scholar noted, God’s holiness is comparable to the rooms of the tabernacle. The first room of the tabernacle is the “holy place” dedicated for priests to serve God daily. However, the veil separated the priests from the most holy place (Exod 26:33). The most holy place is separated from evil and sin as the Holy of Holies that contained God’s commandments within the Ark of the Covenant. God’s separation from sin demonstrates His complete righteousness. David expressed, “And who shall stand in His holy place?” (Ps 24:3).

            The writer of Hebrews revealed, “For the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (12:14b). The holy nature of God demands a people who are holy, consecrated, pure, and set apart from the defiling acts of the world (1 Pet 2:5, 9; cf. Exod 19:4–6; Josh 24:19–20).

            Thank God that He has made the faithful holy, because people cannot make themselves holy. Paul revealed, “He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him,” (Col 1:22). Paul also declared, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (2 Cor 7:1).

Many churches teach the need for multiple baptisms including a spiritual baptism, a water baptism, and a Holy Spirit baptism. Why does the Bible teach “one baptism” and yet many churches teach the need for more than one (Eph 4:5)? The answer is that the leadership of these churches have been breaking the one baptism into parts and forming other baptisms. Furthermore, many people do not like water baptism as the Pharisees who rejected the baptism that John taught (Luke 7:30).

            What is the one baptism in the Bible? The one baptism must be the baptism that Jesus commanded in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit when He resurrected from the dead (Matt 28:19–20). As Jesus commanded, baptism is in His name, which is baptism in water, throughout the Book of Acts (Acts 10:47–48; cf. 8:38). No one receives salvation without the work of the Holy Spirit by being washed in Jesus’s name (1 Cor 6:11; cf. Rom 8:9–10). The one baptism must include the blessings that Jesus promised to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 1). Peter preached the one baptism in Jesus’s name for the forgiveness of sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

            The power and authority of baptism comes by the command of Jesus Christ not man. The Bible never calls baptism a work of man. However, God works salvation raising the repentant believer from baptism into new life (Col 2:12–13). God accomplishes all the work of forgiveness through baptism (Col 2:13).

            Baptism partakes of the power of God for salvation in the Gospel (Rom 1:16). Of first importance to the Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ that saves the believer (1 Cor 15:1–4). Baptism symbolizes the burial of the believer with Christ as the believer dies to oneself in repentance and is immersed in water uniting with Christ (Rom 6:3–5). For this reason, Christ revealed, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).

            As the believer becomes a disciple by baptism, God adds the baptized to His church. In the Book of Acts, Luke reported that those 3,000 baptized were saved and added to the body of disciples — the church (Acts 2:41, 47). Likewise, Paul agreed when he wrote of the one baptism that is by the Spirit and joins the believer to the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:13).

            What should believers do about churches teaching more than one baptism? They should seek out the church that Jesus built and who teach the truth (cf. Matt 16:18). Jesus is the head of the body, His church (Eph 1:22–23). Disciples of Christ will seek out of the church of Christ.

            For the unity of all saints in the church, Christians can unite and teach with one voice as Peter declared, “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” (1 Pet 3:21; cf. 1:3). By baptism, believers appeal and call to God for forgiveness and salvation.

            To all who love Christ and have yet to be baptized, “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16).

As followers of Christ, our hearts hurt to see others fall away from the faith. What did they not know, believe, or practice? What shame upon on us if we do not finish making disciples by teaching them and we do not continue living as disciples by observing all that Christ commanded.

            When Christ rose from the dead and was about to ascend into Heaven, He left instruction for the disciples to make disciples by teaching them to observe all that Jesus commanded (Matt 28:19–20). When Paul faced His death, he instructed Timothy to continue in what he learned by knowing the sacred writings and all the God-breathed Scriptures that profit for doctrine and equip one completely for every good work (2 Tim 3:14–17). As Peter came near to death, he wrote the churches throughout the Anatolia to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 3:18 ESV).

            The common instruction through the Scriptures is that Christians are to grow by remaining in God’s Word. Jesus revealed, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31a–32 ESV). That freedom is to be free from the slavery of sin (John 8:34–36). How can the followers of Christ abide in His word? The apostle Paul noted that he wrote Scripture for believers to read and know the mystery of God revealed by the Holy Spirit to His apostles and prophets (Eph 3:3–5).

            As disciples of Christ, believers should commit scriptures to memory upon the heart so as to meditate and dwell upon God’s Word (Heb 8:10). “Let the word of God dwell in your richly” (Col 3:16a). The Psalmist expressed, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Ps 119:11). How else is the mind to be renewed and the life transformed? The apostle encourage, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12:2 ESV). Anyone who wants to see transformation in their life must commit the Word of God to their hearts and minds.

            How can Christians encourage one another to keep reading the Word? They all need the encouragement of other believers (Heb 3:13; 10:24). With 260 workdays in the year, Christians can at least read 5 chapters a week and read all 260 chapters of the New Testament in a year. People keep what they learn when they use what they learn. The Christian needs to share their reading, study, and memorization with others whether they meet with brethren in the church or with others at work or in the community. Sharing what you read with others is going to make disciples and open doors for others to understand the gospel and obey it. Furthermore, Christians can share their reading and study with their family encouraging salvation and growth. In fact, the overflow in one’s own life will make a great difference.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers” (Ps 1:1–3).

“Is there an afterlife?” Everyone faces this question when a person considers one’s coming death. Many people conclude with a pagan picture of afterlife thinking that they will be spirits living in ghostly bodies and in a state or place of heaven much like Elysium believed by the ancient classical world.

            How real is eternal life and the world to come to you? Many of the descriptions of the heavenly kingdom and eternal life have become unclear. Do you look forward to being transformed into a glorious body to live in a heavenly kingdom (Phil 3:20–21)? Christians should anticipate the one hope of eternal life by the redemption of the body (Rom 8:23–25; Eph 4:4).

            Many if not most believers are hesitant of what to accept as literal or figurative in the Book of Revelation. Revelation includes promises to the faithful including the gift of a morning star (Rev 2:17, 28; 3:5). Is the text describing reality? Sadly, many revert to the common perception of “heaven” within their imaginations. However, knowledge and understanding of other books of the Bible help readers to understand Revelation especially its picture of eternal life. Biblical texts like the Epistle to the Hebrews describe the reality of the heavenly country.

            In Revelation 20, John saw earth and heaven move away (Rev 20:11). After God’s judgment of the world, He also saw “a new heaven and a new earth” (Rev 21:1). According to Hebrews, the heavens and earth will perish and yet change (Heb 1:10–12; cf. Rom 8:19–23). Hebrews calls this “the world to come” (Heb 2:5; cf. 6:5). Peter predicted the new heavens and new earth when he described the reality of the Creation, the Flood, the coming destruction of the heavens by fire, and fire exposing the earth (2 Pet 3:5–12). Peter added in declaration, “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pet 3:13 ESV). The reality is that God promises a better country that is heavenly for the faithful to live eternally (Heb 11:16; cf. 2 Tim 4:18; 2 Pet 1:11).

            John also reported of the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming out of heaven from God (Rev 21:2, 10–14). Hebrews affirmed that God has prepared a city for the saved (Heb 11:16). Revelation symbolically describes the city as Christ’s bride, the church, and yet alludes to a real city. John saw the city surrounded by 1,380 miles of walls foursquare and made of reddish jasper with 12 open pearl gates, and within its streets of glassy gold, the river of life flowed through the middle and the tree of life bore its fruits on each side (Rev 21:15–22:4). Revelation captures the glory of God’s eternal city whether the details are figurative or not. The reality is that God has a city for His people. According to Hebrews, Abraham looked forward by faith to “the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (Heb 11:10). The writer encouraged Christians as they have come “to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,” where angels are in festal gathering with God and Christ (Heb 12:22).

            Jesus will bring His people into His glory (Heb 2:10). For this reason, Revelation displays the wonder of God’s promises in astonishing words, and texts like Hebrews attests to the reality of God’s eternal blessings. All of this is recorded for the earnestness and full assurance of hope until the end (Heb 6:11–12). “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful” (Heb 10:22–23).

Everyone wants to see justice done. Many people wonder about the justice of God. However, no one can escape God’s just wrath without Christ appeasing justice and making one just before God (Rom 3:23–25). God’s justice toward all does not negate the Christian from desiring justice toward the wicked. The Book of Revelation teaches believers how God brings judgment.

            John’s Revelation depicted the first-century enemies of the church as two beasts. One is is “the Beast” a ruler of Rome and the other beast is “the False Prophet,” the false media promoting worship of the Beast (Rev 13). Because of their wickedness upon the earth, a voice called for God’s wrath to pour upon the earth (Rev 16:1). Plagues described as 7 bowls of wrath came upon the earth. God’s justice came upon the people who worshiped the Beast and bore the mark of the Beast (16:2). In the third plague, an angel declared, “You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due” (Rev 16:5–6 ESV).

            After enduring the plagues, the wicked did not repent and glorify God but cursed God (Rev 16:8–9). Likewise, humanity endures today the consequences of sin and many curse God instead of turning to God. In the fifth plague, God exercised His wrath against the throne of the Beast plunging his kingdom into darkness. That wicked kingdom gnawed in anguish, did not repent, and cursed God again (16:10–11). The faithful can expect that many in the world would rather rail against God than submit to God’s love and justice.
            Satan, the Beast, and the False Prophet deceived the kings of the nations to go to war for threat from the east (16:12–14). Their army of the nations assembled at Armageddon meaning “Mount Megiddo” (16:16). The valley of Megiddo is notable for its fertility providing crops and for being a place of battle. Most notably, Mount Carmel overlooks the valley and is where God demonstrated His power by consuming Elijah’s offering with fire and allowing Elijah to slaughter 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kgs 18). God’s justice comes to those in obstinate rebellion.

            The nations gathered for war at Armageddon, but God gathered them for judgment. John reported that a great earthquake from God concluded the Battle of Armageddon before it started. In this symbolic presentation, God overcame the nations and the city of Rome (Rev 16:17–21). Furthermore, John saw the city of Rome as a prostitute drunk on the blood the saints and witnesses of Jesus (17:1–2, 7, 18; cf. 18:24). As the nations with the Beast made war on Jesus, Christ conquered them as the Lord of lords and the King of kings (17:14). God put it into the hearts of the nations that their kings turn against Rome to devour and burn Rome (17:16; cf. 18:8, 17–18). Rome falls by the violence it stirred (18:21).

            In Revelation, John revealed Christ leading His army to Armageddon where Christ came conquering with a sword from His mouth and ruling with a rod of iron (Rev 19:11–16). The Beast and the armies of the nations that gathered for a battle never engaged, yet God had already won. Christ’s army captured the Beast and the False Prophet and cast them into the lake of fire (19:17–21). “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb 10:31).

            Living by faith through difficult trials includes trusting and having confidence in God who will work justice now and on judgment day. No matter who is ruling in this world, “Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments” (Rev 16:7).