The Lord is Merciful

“And all those who heard marveled about the things spoken to them by the shepherds.” (Luke 2:18)

This Scripture is the account of what happened when the shepherds out in the field, who had seen and heard angels proclaim to them the Good News, shared the message in the city. God’s greatest gift to mankind had been given right in their backyards and they had no inkling of it. This reminds me of a time when I was living in a little town just outside of Houston and I heard of a great revival taking place less than 20 miles away, with angels appearing and people stopping their vehicles in mid road to go into this little unknown country church in the 1980’s some year. I have always wondered how God can be moving in such a great way and I was oblivious to it. It saddened me. But I know the Lord has a perfect time and place for each one of us.

The people in Bethlehem marveled or wondered with admiration which is the meaning of the Greek word that was used. Evidently, they were pleased with the news but not interested enough to inquire where to find this marvel. The Bible doesn’t record that any sought out the Lord. Jesus was born at a dark time in Israel. Israel was under Roman rule. Herod the Great who had been appointed by the Roman empire to rule Israel had been in power for a couple of decades. Mostly the population was poor and stressed under Roman rule by high taxes. There were only a few elites who pandered to the Romans. The spiritual divide between the Pharisees, Sadducees and Zealots further caused the people anxiety. The Zealots strongly opposed the Romans and their leader Judas of Galilee (not Iscariot) is mentioned by Gamaliel in a Sanhedrin meeting about what to do with the disciples of Jesus. “Then there stood up one in the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a doctor of the Law honored among all the people. And he commanded the apostles to be put outside a little space. And he said to them, Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, boasting himself to be somebody; a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves to him; who was slain. And all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered and brought to nothing. After this one, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the Registration, and drew away considerable people after him. Yet that one perished; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered. And now I say to you, Withdraw from these men and let them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will come to nothing. But if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be found even to fight against God.” (Acts 5:34-39) There were also a group called the Essenes who lived a communal lifestyle adhering strictly to the Torah and ritual and opposed temple worship. The people were uneducated and poor farmers, fishermen and craftsmen. The unrest between the religious groups and political groups kept the people subdued and suffering in silence. So when Jesus came preaching a radical message, the people flocked to Him. They saw Him as one who would overthrow Roman rule and make things better for them. Jesus preached His kingdom to come, but the people were not thinking in spiritual terms.

This is the way it will most probably be when the rapture occurs and when Jesus returns. The political and military powers that be will mostly likely be involved in some way, but for the most part people will wonder but they will not be moved unless they are directly affected. Many will be deceived. There is no need to wonder about it. Already we see where the media controls what people see and hear. It will be worse then. “For many will come in My name, saying, I am Christ, and will deceive many.” (Matthew 24:5) The news will be so slanted they will blame the Christians for the ills of the world, much like the Jews were blamed for Germany’s troubles causing the holocaust. “And many false prophets will rise and deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many will become cold.” (Matthew 24:11-12) Many Christians will stop seeking God and His Will. But there is hope in the words of Jesus. “But he who endures to the end, the same shall be kept safe.” (Matthew 24:13) No matter how bad things get, if we are faithful, Jesus has promised to keep us safe. These are those who will believe after the Rapture because the majority of the saints have left earth to be with Jesus. “For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall ever be with the Lord.” (1Thessalonians 4:16-17) When Jesus returns in His Second Coming, the raptured saints are with Him. “And may the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all, even as we also toward you, in order to establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” (1Thessalonians 3:12-13) But unfortunately, most of the population will be apathetic to the coming of Jesus which will affect the Middle East more so than the west. And people will be downtrodden with the persecution and unrest. The news networks will be suppressed or controlled, but they will not be able to control the appearing of Jesus.  “And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from the heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man shall appear in the heavens. And then all the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of the heaven with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:29-30) This Scripture makes it clear that every nation will morn the coming of Jesus. And even knowing that Jesus is God, they will come against Him, thinking their human methods will bring God down. This is how demonic those days will be. “For they are spirits of demons, working miracles, which go forth to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that day, the great day of God Almighty.” (Revelation 16:14) They are demonic, deceived and driven by the devil who still thinks he can come against God. “And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth and their armies, being gathered to make war against Him who sat on the horse, and against His army.” (Revelation 19:19)

Will there be any who will be preaching the Gospel at this time? Evidently the Gospel will be preached to the very end to give a last opportunity to turn to the Lord. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world as a witness to all nations. And then the end shall come.” (Matthew 24:14) Amos the prophet prophesies that there will be a famine of the Word of God at the end. “Behold, the days come, says the Lord Jehovah, that I will send a famine in the land; not a famine of bread nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the Words of Jehovah.” (Amos 8:11) Although the Gospel continues to be preached, it will be scarce. Those who are truly seeking Truth will find it. (Jeremiah 29:13) Then there are the two witnesses of God who will preach the Gospel before they are killed and risen to heaven. (Revelation 11:3-13) And a last opportunity is given when angels preach the Gospel. “And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those dwelling on the earth, even to every nation and kindred and tongue and people, saying with a great voice, Fear God and give glory to Him! For the hour of His judgment has come. And worship Him who made the heaven and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” (Revelation 14:6-7)

God is merciful until the end giving every opportunity for people to repent and turn to Him before the judgement. “The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness, but is long-suffering toward us, not purposing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2Peter 3:9) The Lord doesn’t want anyone to perish. He gives mankind every opportunity to hear the Gospel and to repent. But some are so deceived that even when they see and know that Jesus is God, they will not repent, but will rage against Him. “But the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 8:12) In this Scripture, Jesus is talking about Jews who will refuse to believe. But if even those who have the oracles of God and have been waiting for the Messiah thousands of years reject Jesus, I believe those who are not religious but deceived will also seethe against Him.

All in all, since the birth of Jesus, people will fall into different groups; those who believe and follow Him, those who are indifferent and those who hate Him. We say, “God have mercy,” and He does to the very end. We pray that eyes and hearts be opened to the Love and Gospel of Jesus.

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father God, Your mercy is never ending, showing mercy to those who hate You.  I know the time will come when mercy will stop and judgement will come. So I pray for those who don’t know You. I pray Lord that their understanding be opened to understand the Gospel and Your Love for them. I pray that those who don’t believe in You will get a revelation of You and Your mercy. I pray that those who reject You see the Truth and are delivered from deceitfulness. Father, You have given Your children power over all the works of the enemy. We take authority in the Name of Jesus and command evil powers to be bound and fruitless in those to whom we share Your Gospel. Allow Your love to be felt and received by those to whom we speak. Deliver them Lord by Your mighty right hand and glorify Yourself in Your work. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.