King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: The Seal of God
Date: Monday December 26, 2011
Chapters: Revelation 9-11
All Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version, words in red are quoted by Jesus.

Hello My Friend,

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.” - Romans 6:3-7.

There are two types of baptism for a true Christian, one, spiritual baptism, meaning to cleanse or purify the soul by applying the blood of Christ upon it. And two, water baptism, meaning complete immersion in water by a baptizer as a public profession of faith in Christ redeeming the soul. Water baptism is not needed for salvation, it does not cleanse the body from sin, it is a mirror of what Jesus did (getting baptized by John the Baptist, which means one who baptizes) and is part of the great commission commanded by Jesus, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” - Matthew 28:19.

To be baptized into the death of Christ means to enter into a spiritual union with Him, as the sinless Christ died for sin, we die to sin through His death on the cross, as the Crucified Christ was buried, we who have died to sin are buried with Him. As Christ defeated death by His resurrection we who are buried with Him in death rise in the likeness of His resurrection as a new creature, freed from the sin. We are no long dead to sin, but alive in Christ. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” -II Corinthians 5:17.

Jesus continues to give John visions of the great Tribulation that will be God's final judgment upon the earth, as the fifth trumpet sounded hell literally broke loose as the bottomless pit opens and evil like you have never seen emerges from it. “And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.” - Revelation 9:1-6.

Imagine a torment so severe that the only way imaginable to escape it is death and even death cannot save them? As with any judgment that God casts upon mankind, He gives a way to escape it. The locusts had no power to hurt those who had the seal of God. Those who have the seal of God are those who have applied the blood of Christ upon their foreheads. God's all-powerful, distinguishing grace will keep His people from this total and final destruction. “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:” - II Corinthians 2:14,15.

Another angel comes down and hands John a little book, “And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.” - Revelation 10:8-11.

The little book, is the symbol of God's Word, once it was digested, John was qualified to tell the world that the little book has a message that is exceedingly sweet to those who receive Christ as their Savior. Eating all of it speaks of understanding and living by all of the words in the powerful book. To those who have not received Christ those words will be bitter, indigestible, and cut through the heart like a sword. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” - Hebrews 4:12.

When these days shall come, God will send two messengers to earth to give the warning, they will be rejected, killed, and resurrected. Then the seventh trumpet will sound and Christ will take His throne here on earth and will judge the dead. “And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them...And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever...And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.” - Revelation 11:9-11,15,18.

When Christ returns every body will be resurrected, the dead, meaning those who who have ejected Christ before their first death, will face a second death, eternal damnation. Those who received Him as their Savior before their first death will receive immortality. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” -Revelation 2:11.

Those who receive Christ need not fear this great tribulation or the day we are resurrected from the grave, we have a wonderful life awaiting us as we enjoy eternity with our King, the King of kings, Lord of lords in His kingdom here on earth. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life...Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” -John 5:24,28,29.

There is only one way to be redeemed, to receive the spiritual baptism needed to cleanse the soul and set us free from this horrible fate. Water baptism cannot save your soul, it cannot cleanse your soul, only Christ can. Why? Our salvation is dependent upon One person, who died for us, if we seek any other way to get saved, we are depending on ourselves to save us. No one can do enough to save themselves, the only way they can be saved is by believing in and receiving Christ as your Savior. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation...For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Romans 10:9,10,13. This is the seal of God.

Today's Prayer:
God,
As the years go by it is devastating to witness the fall of our great nation, to see nation after nation fall. To think that it is only the beginning of sorrows is terrifying, but thank You for giving us a heads up on this and thank You for giving us a way to escape all this through Your Son. Only by putting our faith and trust in Him can we be saved. Lord, although things get crazy and life seems as though it is unbearable, keep my eyes looking up, remind me that this is only temporary and that You have a wonderful, sin free, sorrow free, pain free, life awaiting me as I endure all with my Savior by my side. In Jesus' name. Amen,

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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