Hold On

True prophets operate out of pure love for God and for others.  

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If there is something in these days that we need to take hold of for security, that something would be a someone–His name is Jesus.  

As I continue to read and see the validity of the Revelation of who Jesus is, my heart is receiving His Word and His love in a whole new way.  Times are changing, but He does not!  He’s told us to hold on and we will get through.  

John now is seeing the “beast coming out of the sea.”  (Revelation 13: 1)  He goes into great detail and description of what he is seeing.  As he’s watching, he says this, “The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.  One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed, the whole world was astonished and followed the beast.”  (Revelation 13: 2-3)  

Did you notice previously John speaks of his visions of heaven, now it’s shifting to the scene of the earth.  

This beast was given authority from the dragon.  Some Bible scholars allude this beast to the antichrist.  The antichrist speaks of anti, being opposition; and Christ being Jesus.  This antichrist will speak only lies.  

  • Satan has brought counterfeits into this world, but the Lord will expose them.  

Yes, there is an antichrist spirit in our world.  However, in the end-times rebellion against God is prevalent.  There are little antichrists that have been released.  

Daniel, Chapter 7, speaks of his vision connecting the government or the Roman empire.  His vision is very similar to what John is seeing here.  

This beast John is speaking of is a man.  Throughout history, man has bowed down to an image of a political leader.  The wound this beast has is a head wound, not a mortal wound.  Maybe it’s God’s judgment against the beast.   

This beast makes war with the saints.  That would be us, as believers.  

Here’s the sobering part:  “All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast–all whose names have not been written in the Book of Life–belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.”  (Revelation 13: 8)  

As a follower of Jesus, your name is written in this book, the Book of Life, which will be opened at the end.  “He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white.  I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, but will acknowledge his name before My Father and His angels.”  (Revelation 3: 5) 

This divine leger was first mentioned in Exodus when Moses was interceding for the people because he came down off of the mountain after receiving the ten commandments and they were worshiping a golden calf that Aaron had made. Moses cries out to the Lord, “Please forgive their sins but if not, then blot me out of your book you have written.”  (Exodus 32: 32-33)  

Wow!  The heart of this man. He’s going to the Lord, for the people, asking for mercy.  He’s even asking to take his name off the roster, so they can get in!  

  • A sign of a true man/woman of God, an Intercessor, is one who goes to God on behalf of others.  

There’s another beast John sees, this beast is called the False Prophet.  (Revelation 16: 13, 19: 20, 20: 10)  One commentary said this:  “There has always been a devilish supernaturalism in the world, running alongside of the supernaturalism of divine grace and salvation.” (Seiss)  

So how do we tell the difference between a true prophet and a false prophet?  The markings of a true prophet are love and truth!

The love of God and the truth of His Word are inside a believer and will be released out as evidence for all to see.  The authenticity and humility of a true prophet will exude this from within and pour out.   The essence of Jesus cannot be hidden, even though they may prefer to be hidden.  

  • Love and truth are the foundations of who true prophets are.
  • Recognize them by these characteristics.  

(Shared from Revelation 13, Modified)

Holding On To Jesus Brings Blessing

The Psalmist was remembering Israel’s long history of rebellion and a prayer for God to, once again save His people.  He recalled what the Lord has done.  “He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.”  (Psalm 106: 10)  

The Psalmist knows the importance of constantly doing what’s right in the eyes of God.  However, they “Soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.”  (Psalm 106: 13)  

He remembers how Moses interceded, “In the same camp they grew envious of Moses and of Aaron, who were consecrated to the Lord. At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped an idol cast from metal. They exchanged their glory for an image of a bull which eats grass.”  (Psalm 106: 19-20)

Yet, God in His graciousness moved upon the heart of this prophet.  “Had not Moses, His chosen one, stood in the breach before Him to keep His wrath from destroying them.”  (Psalm 106: 23)

  • Think it not a little thing if God has you praying and interceding behind the scenes.   
  • True prophets operate out of pure love for God and for others.  

(Shared from Psalm 106: 1-23, Modified)

Holding On To Jesus Brings Wisdom

King Xerxes honored a man in his court name Haman.  The king gave him a “Seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles.”  (Esther 3: 1)  All the officers had to honor Haman at the king’s gate by kneeling to him.  But “Mordechai would not kneel down or pay him honor.  (Esther 3: 2b)  

Mordecai had told the other officials that he was Jewish and Haman got word of it.  He decided to retaliate against Mordechai.  He, “Looked for a way to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.”  (Esther 3: 6)   

Haman approaches the king and tells him there is a certain people who are not obeying the king’s laws, so he asks for permission to destroy them.  The king takes off his signet ring and gives it to Haman, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.  

Then an issue is decreed with the seal of the king’s ring.  The king never realized that a certain people were the Jewish folks.

Mordecai learns of what happened and he grieves bitterly for his people and asks for Esther’s help.  She is urged to “Go into the King’s presence to beg for mercy  and plead with Him for her people.”  (Esther 4: 8)  

  • Another sign of a true servant of the Lord.  He/she goes into the presence of the king pleading for mercy for another.  

Ah, there’s just one problem here!  The king does not know that Esther is a Jew herself.  The law stated that for “Any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law:  that he/she be put to death.  The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him/her and spare his/her life.”  (Esther 4: 11)  

Mordechai encourages her, “If you remain silent at this time relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish.”  (Esther 4: 14a)  

That makes things pretty clear!  What will she do?  

Then Mordechai adds, “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”  (Esther 4: 14hb)

Esther in her courage lays down her life.  She asks Mordechai to join in fasting with her, and says, “When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.”  (Esther 4: 16)  

What a gal!  I think all of heaven probably turned in her direction when she said that!  

Hold on to what the Lord has called you to. He shall enable you to complete what you began. His courage will descend upon you.  It won’t be us completing our mission, it will be Jesus completing it through us.  It will be Jesus warring against the enemy to bring it to pass.  Hold On–To Him!  

(Shared from Esther 3-4, Modified)

 

 

 


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About the Author

Mary Beth Pecora, a faithful wife, mother, grandmother, friend, worshiper and servant leader, who loves life and loves people. More importantly, she passionately loves God and the fullness of who He is! For twenty-three years she has served in leadership positions within the ministry of Aglow International. Currently, she and her husband serve at The Secret Place--A Psalm 91 Ministry. It's a place for individual folks to come, be exhorted and prayed for, while being ushered to ministry stations within the room. They continue to serve monthly in the Prayer Room at their home church that they have been a part of for almost forty years. In April of 2022 they both received their Ministry License and were Ordained in May of 2023. She delights in encouraging folks of all ages within various walks of life. Her love of writing is now her passion, which led her to publish two books, "Restoration Explosion In The New Year," and "Navigating The Mysteries Of God." Above all that’s been accomplished and concluded, the BEST thing to her is knowing her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is her everything—her very best friend. Visit: Mybelovedsvoice.com