In the letter to the church of Thyatira, Jesus pronounced a severe judgment on “Jezebel”, a prophetess who was misleading His church into a corrupt lifestyle of idolatry, adultery, and fornication. This was in direct contradiction to the will and direction of God, and was endangering the spiritual life of believers there, just as Queen Jezebel in the Old Testament had done against her subjects. This false prophetess was leading people into darkness, placing them in danger of great tribulation, and ultimately, eternal death.
But even at this point, Jesus offered Jezebel an opportunity to repent, to turn away from her sins and follow Him. But she would not. As John’s letter states:
21 I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality. Revelation 2:21 (NASB)
In Luke 15, Jesus tells three parables demonstrating His tremendous patience for the wayward in giving opportunities to turn away from sin and towards Him, the Light of the world. Because of His great love, God gives us second, third, fourth chances, even hundreds or thousands of opportunities to confess our sin and turn to Him and His righteousness. Jesus will forgive us if we confess our wrongs and seek Him in our hearts.
These parables of mercy can be summed up in one verse:
7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. Luke 15:7 (NASB)
The mercy of God is abundant beyond comprehension. But we are told that this era of God’s grace will at some point come to an end.
The unfolding of the book of Revelation outlines the end times, the coming Day of the Lord, a much-prophesied final battle between good and evil. It will be won without question by the risen and glorified Christ. Jesus will at this point grant His eternal kingdom to all those who have trusted in Him. But unfortunately, those who have rejected Him and remain unrepentant to the end will be left in outer darkness.
In one final attempt to turn the stiff-necked back to Him, God will send fierce judgments throughout a seven-year Great Tribulation period. These plagues will be unleashed against the ultimate worldly authority, Satan, as well as his kingdom of demons and human “followers”. Many of these followers may not even understand why they had rejected God and His Christ, having been groomed and misled by the Jezebels of the world. But these people, too, will be given ample opportunity to repent of their sins, encouraged to do so by the fires of God’s in these dark and immensely troubling end times.
Jesus loves each one of us, and laid down His life for our eternal salvation, a holy atonement for our sins. Christ and His angels cheer whenever anyone, anywhere decides to turn to Him in repentance, no matter what they have done or where they have been.
It is mercy and forgiveness far beyond what anyone deserves, an offer too good to be true. Yet, it is true.
Reflection
Where in my life have I been following the wrong leader?
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us. We confess all the times we have followed the Jezebels of the world rather than following You. Help us to turn from our sin and walk closely with You, following Your will and Your word. Cleanse us and strengthen us in Your righteousness. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Have a blessed and beautiful day following the Lord today.
Times and Seasons - The Book of Revelation FOR TODAY 