Lessons from the Heart
God's mercy in the last days
By Eric J. Haley

Haley

On Sunday mornings the family here at Calvary Chapel Carroll County has been working its way through the book of Revelation. It has been a bit of a challenge to find application for daily living from verses about pale horses, the Mark of the Beast and people crying out for the rocks to fall on them, but as we have been studying and praying we have found something wonderful in this book. We have discovered that this book (like the rest of the Bible) is full of God's mercy.

That may come as a surprise to you as it did to me, because it is so easy to read through Revelation looking only for God's judgment. Make no mistake, judgment is there, but it is always laced with mercy until the very end.

The book starts with the Letters to the S e v e n Churches in Asia. While there are various viewpoints concerning to whom these letters are really directed, they are certainly authored by Jesus Christ, himself. And He placed at the end of each letter a word of encouragement to those who overcome (by the Blood of Lamb and the Testimony of Jesus Christ). Even that disgusting, lukewarm, spity o u - o u t - o f - m y - m o u t h Laodicean church got this word from the Lord:

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. ~Revelation 3:20-21.

Now that's mercy! It doesn't sound like they deserved that kind of mercy, but then, that's what mercy is all about-not getting what you deserve.

That kind of mercy continues as John takes us though the Great Tribulation period and the Seven Seals to time salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren (Satan) is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. ~Revelation 12:10.

Judgment is a sure thing. It's going to happen. But God is merciful to those who cry out to him, even in the Last Days. He has provided a way of salvation for us through His Son, Jesus Christ.

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. ~Psalm 100:5

Eric Haley is pastor at Calvary Chapel.

Pray for our nation to seek God

Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. John 3:5 Pd. Adv.